We went to the Kroc center this afternoon to workout and swim. After my run, I walked over to the water fountain and saw one of the lifeguards watching an indoor soccer game from outside the gym. I walked up and asked if he was just getting off of work or taking a break. He said he was happy to be going home and was ready for some sleep. After a little small talk, I invited him to church and he said, "You know, I've been wanting to get back to church but I've just had some bad experiences at churches." I promised he would find just what he needed at Good News Church and then I asked how he got involved in church in the first place. He said he was really involved as a kid when the local church sent a van into the neighborhood to pick kids up.
I told him I didn't want to assume anything just because he attended church and that I needed to ask him an important question. Then I dropped the million dollar bomb on him. He said he thought he'd go to heaven because he was a good person. He said that he felt like the more good you do, the closer you get to God and the more bad you do, the closer you get to the devil. I told him that I could tell he seemed like a good person, but ultimately how good do you have to be to get into heaven? He nodded his head like he understood. I then shared the gospel with him and pointed out that there's no way we can be good enough and that's why God sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us. I shared Romans 10:9 with him and asked if he'd ever prayed a prayer like that. He said he thought he had when he was a kid, but wanted to do it again because he felt like he needed to. I was happy to oblige and so I led him in the prayer of salvation. After our prayer, he said, "I really needed that today. I feel good now!" I continued to share with him about the benefits of salvation and encouraged him to come to church to grow in his faith. He said he'd like that.
Who can you share the gospel with today? Go out and give life! You could encourage someone. You could lead someone else to Christ. You could challenge another believer to share his faith. You could lay hands on the sick and heal them. You could do the works of Christ and join the most important ministry there is: the ministry of the believer!
Showing posts with label eternity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eternity. Show all posts
10.13.2011
10.05.2011
.shockwave challenge - day 46
Karis came to church with Kristen this afternoon and told me she wanted to go invite people to church. So we went across the street to the park where we met a lady who was there with her 3 year old daughter. After we invited them to church, I asked her if she needed prayer. She had an ace bandage wrapped around her hand and she told me I could pray for her thumb because she had broken it when she was working out.
I shared with her from Acts 10:38 and John 14:12 and then told her a testimony of when I prayed for a woman with a similar condition and she was healed. I asked if I could lay hands on her in Jesus name and she agreed. Karis and I prayed for her and then I told her to go ahead and move her thumb. When she did, she smiled really big and said the pain was gone! She said, "For real! It's all gone. I didn't know it would be instant!!" I laughed and told her that's what happens when you take God at His word! I then shared the gospel with her and she prayed with me to receive Jesus because she didn't know if she would go to heaven when she died. She was adamant that she would be at church on Sunday because they were new to the area and she wanted to meet some new people.
Karis and I continued to invite people to church and at one point, I saw her chasing a little boy with an invitation card in her hand. She invited a number of kids to go to her church right across the street! We also got to pray with another woman who was already saved, but needed a job.
I missed an opportunity at lunch today, but I wonder if I would have gone to the park if I had shared the gospel with someone at lunch. Maybe I didn't miss it at all because I believe meeting Rina at the park was a divine appointment. She knows that God's power is real and now she knows that heaven is her eternal home.
Make a divine appointment today and see how God can use you to reach people in your world! You'll be amazed at His goodness!
I shared with her from Acts 10:38 and John 14:12 and then told her a testimony of when I prayed for a woman with a similar condition and she was healed. I asked if I could lay hands on her in Jesus name and she agreed. Karis and I prayed for her and then I told her to go ahead and move her thumb. When she did, she smiled really big and said the pain was gone! She said, "For real! It's all gone. I didn't know it would be instant!!" I laughed and told her that's what happens when you take God at His word! I then shared the gospel with her and she prayed with me to receive Jesus because she didn't know if she would go to heaven when she died. She was adamant that she would be at church on Sunday because they were new to the area and she wanted to meet some new people.
Karis and I continued to invite people to church and at one point, I saw her chasing a little boy with an invitation card in her hand. She invited a number of kids to go to her church right across the street! We also got to pray with another woman who was already saved, but needed a job.
I missed an opportunity at lunch today, but I wonder if I would have gone to the park if I had shared the gospel with someone at lunch. Maybe I didn't miss it at all because I believe meeting Rina at the park was a divine appointment. She knows that God's power is real and now she knows that heaven is her eternal home.
Make a divine appointment today and see how God can use you to reach people in your world! You'll be amazed at His goodness!
10.02.2011
.shockwave challenge - day 43
While we were at church this morning, I saw one of the people I met at Wal-Mart and invited to church. I've invited a number of people to church over the past six weeks and I'm excited that one person finally came! I hope she continues to come and gets plugged in because it's life and death where you go to church. Make sure you're in a Bible-believing church that preaches about salvation through Jesus Christ and presents an image of God as portrayed in the Bible as a loving Father who wants the best for His children.
After church today, we went out to Chili's for lunch and while we were waiting for our table, I stepped outside to talk to a guy I saw taking a smoke break. I invited him to church and offered to pray with him. He said he could use prayer for a new position at his job that he wanted. I told him we'd pray about that later, but first I wanted to ask him an important question - the million dollar question! He said he knew he'd go to heaven when he died and I learned after he said he believed the right things that what he believed about getting to heaven was actually right! He had confessed Jesus as His savior when he was a child and even though he wasn't doing what he thought was right at this time in his life, he knew he was going to heaven because of Christ. I was encouraged about his answer and began to talk to him more about his life. I then ministered to him and prayed with him about his job.
What about you? Can you invite someone to church and then use that opportunity to investigate into their eternal destination? It's so simple that you've probably psyched yourself out of doing it too many times over nothing. Just be yourself and allow God to show Himself through your words and actions!
After church today, we went out to Chili's for lunch and while we were waiting for our table, I stepped outside to talk to a guy I saw taking a smoke break. I invited him to church and offered to pray with him. He said he could use prayer for a new position at his job that he wanted. I told him we'd pray about that later, but first I wanted to ask him an important question - the million dollar question! He said he knew he'd go to heaven when he died and I learned after he said he believed the right things that what he believed about getting to heaven was actually right! He had confessed Jesus as His savior when he was a child and even though he wasn't doing what he thought was right at this time in his life, he knew he was going to heaven because of Christ. I was encouraged about his answer and began to talk to him more about his life. I then ministered to him and prayed with him about his job.
What about you? Can you invite someone to church and then use that opportunity to investigate into their eternal destination? It's so simple that you've probably psyched yourself out of doing it too many times over nothing. Just be yourself and allow God to show Himself through your words and actions!
9.27.2011
.shockwave challenge - day 38
We went out to lunch for my mom's birthday today at Salsa's. While we were on our way out stopping to grab Karis some mints, we ran into (literally almost) a few ladies who were doing the same. While we walked out, I casually invited them to church and offered to pray with them. One of them said she had already prayed this morning and the others said they were good, too. I asked the million dollar question and they all answered with an affirmative exclamation. When I asked why they were so confident that they would go to heaven, one of them said because she was so strong in her faith. The other two didn't respond. After asking specifically whether they had asked Jesus to come into their lives and hearts, they assured me that they had.
I have often wondered why so many "Christians" don't immediately answer with "Jesus is my Savior" when asked why they know they would go to heaven. My hypothesis would be that there's a tremendous lack of biblical teaching in the body of Christ. People believe that Jesus saves them, but in order to stay saved, they must live up to a standard with their works. I would assume that the standard most people believe they must live up to is impossible to say the least. That is why we need a Savior!
I have met so many people who have told me they know they would go to heaven based on the fact that they haven't sinned a LOT. And after sharing the gospel with them and giving them the invitation to accept Christ, many have said, "Oh, I've already done that." You're kidding, right? If you've already done that, why didn't you mention Jesus Christ anywhere in our conversation? I know why. They don't understand that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ was enough. And I get it. Shouldn't there be MORE we have to do to earn such a luminous place in eternity? I mean, our entire society is performance-based. Do poorly on your job? Get fired! Do poorly in school? Repeat the 9th grade. Do poorly in your relationship? End up with a divorce. Herein lies the problem with modern Christianity. People, believers even, think that the kingdom of heaven operates like the world's system. God's system is unfair in its own right. He simply requires that one believe in the resurrection and accept His free gift of salvation in order to be saved. (Romans 10:9) It doesn't seem fair that a murderer could call out to Christ before being sentenced to death and get a spot in heaven with all of the others who called out to Christ, but ALSO went to church every Sunday, paid their tithes, ironed their clothes and gave to the poor. (See Matthew's story about the "five o'clock people" in chapter 20 for a great parable of the unfairness of God's kingdom.)
Now, I know this rant is a bit out of fashion for my usual shockwave challenge report of the day, but I've encountered too many believers who have been deceived. I understand that you're probably poking holes in my theology right about now, wondering if I think that Christians can do whatever they want (sin) and get into heaven. That's not the point of this post at all. The question is simply this, "Was Christ's sacrifice ENOUGH to cover my sin and pay the price for my spot in heaven...or was it not? Did Jesus pay it all or did he leave a balance due? Did he get most of it and want us to leave the tip or did he foot the entire bill?"
Next time you ask someone, "if you died tonight or 100 years from now, do you know for sure you'll go to heaven when you die," and they answer in the affirmative with any other reason than "Christ is my Savior," make sure you point them to the fact that Christ paid their ransom...ALL of it!
I have often wondered why so many "Christians" don't immediately answer with "Jesus is my Savior" when asked why they know they would go to heaven. My hypothesis would be that there's a tremendous lack of biblical teaching in the body of Christ. People believe that Jesus saves them, but in order to stay saved, they must live up to a standard with their works. I would assume that the standard most people believe they must live up to is impossible to say the least. That is why we need a Savior!
I have met so many people who have told me they know they would go to heaven based on the fact that they haven't sinned a LOT. And after sharing the gospel with them and giving them the invitation to accept Christ, many have said, "Oh, I've already done that." You're kidding, right? If you've already done that, why didn't you mention Jesus Christ anywhere in our conversation? I know why. They don't understand that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ was enough. And I get it. Shouldn't there be MORE we have to do to earn such a luminous place in eternity? I mean, our entire society is performance-based. Do poorly on your job? Get fired! Do poorly in school? Repeat the 9th grade. Do poorly in your relationship? End up with a divorce. Herein lies the problem with modern Christianity. People, believers even, think that the kingdom of heaven operates like the world's system. God's system is unfair in its own right. He simply requires that one believe in the resurrection and accept His free gift of salvation in order to be saved. (Romans 10:9) It doesn't seem fair that a murderer could call out to Christ before being sentenced to death and get a spot in heaven with all of the others who called out to Christ, but ALSO went to church every Sunday, paid their tithes, ironed their clothes and gave to the poor. (See Matthew's story about the "five o'clock people" in chapter 20 for a great parable of the unfairness of God's kingdom.)
Now, I know this rant is a bit out of fashion for my usual shockwave challenge report of the day, but I've encountered too many believers who have been deceived. I understand that you're probably poking holes in my theology right about now, wondering if I think that Christians can do whatever they want (sin) and get into heaven. That's not the point of this post at all. The question is simply this, "Was Christ's sacrifice ENOUGH to cover my sin and pay the price for my spot in heaven...or was it not? Did Jesus pay it all or did he leave a balance due? Did he get most of it and want us to leave the tip or did he foot the entire bill?"
Next time you ask someone, "if you died tonight or 100 years from now, do you know for sure you'll go to heaven when you die," and they answer in the affirmative with any other reason than "Christ is my Savior," make sure you point them to the fact that Christ paid their ransom...ALL of it!
9.22.2011
.shockwave challenge - day 33
Last night while I was preaching for Overflow, we were talking about friends and family members that we need to reach with the gospel. I was suddenly convicted because several years ago while we were doing the Impact meetings, God had brought a couple of uncles to my mind to pray for them. Well, I prayed for them at the time, but did nothing to reach out to them. You see, we don't really have a current relationship because they live out of town and we just aren't very close. But they are still family and God wants them all to be saved!
During the service, while the students were in their small groups, I texted my mom to get their phone numbers. She replied with one phone number and I immediately went to my office to call my uncle. As my heart was racing and I anticipated what I might say, the call went straight to voicemail. I left a message and said I would try to call again tomorrow. My heart sank because I wondered if I might have been too late. I kept thinking, "What if I didn't share the gospel with them and they died tonight?" Then I was reminded about 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Thank God for His patience and all of the chances He gives us to respond to Him.
I made the phone call again today. I got to talk to both of my uncles and found out that one of them was already saved and gave his life to Christ a few years ago before he was about to be operated on to remove a tumor from his throat! The other uncle laughed when I asked him the question and said, "That's the reason you called me?" I was sincere and shared the gospel with him. He wasn't ready to receive and said he was set in his ways and didn't want to change. He grew up in a children's home and learned about the Bible and he believes in the Bible and in Jesus, but wasn't willing to confess Jesus as Lord. He said he'd had religion shoved down his throat too many times. I tried explaining to him that religion isn't the way to heaven and that the people who had forced it on him were wrong. While he didn't pray the prayer, he did let me pray for him before we ended our call.
I hate religion. It has warped the view of God for so many people and well-meaning believers have turned people away through their tirades about people getting their lives right before they come to Christ.
Nevertheless, I was finally obedient and made the call to share the gospel with those family members whom God had placed on my heart. I know I've done my part and I believe God will continue to work in the lives of my uncles.
Do you have some family members or friends that you are unsure of whether they will go to heaven or not? How about you ask them right now? Go look up their phone number and give them a call! What's stopping you?
During the service, while the students were in their small groups, I texted my mom to get their phone numbers. She replied with one phone number and I immediately went to my office to call my uncle. As my heart was racing and I anticipated what I might say, the call went straight to voicemail. I left a message and said I would try to call again tomorrow. My heart sank because I wondered if I might have been too late. I kept thinking, "What if I didn't share the gospel with them and they died tonight?" Then I was reminded about 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Thank God for His patience and all of the chances He gives us to respond to Him.
I made the phone call again today. I got to talk to both of my uncles and found out that one of them was already saved and gave his life to Christ a few years ago before he was about to be operated on to remove a tumor from his throat! The other uncle laughed when I asked him the question and said, "That's the reason you called me?" I was sincere and shared the gospel with him. He wasn't ready to receive and said he was set in his ways and didn't want to change. He grew up in a children's home and learned about the Bible and he believes in the Bible and in Jesus, but wasn't willing to confess Jesus as Lord. He said he'd had religion shoved down his throat too many times. I tried explaining to him that religion isn't the way to heaven and that the people who had forced it on him were wrong. While he didn't pray the prayer, he did let me pray for him before we ended our call.
I hate religion. It has warped the view of God for so many people and well-meaning believers have turned people away through their tirades about people getting their lives right before they come to Christ.
Nevertheless, I was finally obedient and made the call to share the gospel with those family members whom God had placed on my heart. I know I've done my part and I believe God will continue to work in the lives of my uncles.
Do you have some family members or friends that you are unsure of whether they will go to heaven or not? How about you ask them right now? Go look up their phone number and give them a call! What's stopping you?
9.21.2011
.shockwave challenge - day 32
I hit up one of my favorite dining establishments for lunch today with two Jesus Freaks - Jason Netzler and Cullen Grady. While talking about evangelism and the Holy Spirit, we were all fired up! I had it on my heart for some time now to share the gospel with one of the employees there because every time I go in, he always serves me up right...but I had a feeling it wasn't because of his Christian character and attitude. Every time I've been in before, the restaurant has always been so busy that I haven't gotten an opportunity to talk with him. Well, we were there so long that I noticed they weren't very busy at the time. I quietly prayed under my breath, "God, give me an opportunity to share the gospel with him today!" And no sooner had I said the prayer than it was answered. The guy came out from the back into the dining room and gave me the "pez" - the "what's up" head nod. I jumped out of my seat and walked over to him thanking him for the excellent service and deliciousness he had once again whipped up for me. I then asked how long he'd been working there. He said he'd been there for a couple of years. I told him I saw him in there all the time and he laughed and said, "Yeah, you come here a lot!" We both laughed.
I then told him that there's been something I've been wanting to ask him for a long time, but never had the chance. I asked him the million dollar question and he said he would probably go to heaven. Then I asked him why. He said he was a good person and that he believed in God. I shared the gospel with him and then I told him that even the demons believe in God, but what gets you into heaven is believing in the resurrection of Jesus and confessing Him as Lord. I asked him if he'd like to do that and he said, "Of course!!" So we walked out behind the restaurant and I led him in the prayer of salvation. After we prayed, I asked him if he meant it from his heart. He said yes and that he was feeling good! He pulled his hand out of his pocket and said, "my hand's not even burning anymore!" He had burnt two of his fingers earlier and God healed him as soon as he said the prayer of salvation!!!! Ha! I explained more about salvation to him and how it included deliverance, healing, preservation and a whole slew of other benefits that are now available to him! You should have seen the smile on his face. He said, "That made my day!" As I was telling the fellas about the conversation later, Cullen said, "You didn't just make his day. You made his life! You made his eternity!"
After we prayed, his boss came out and when he found out what we were doing, he jumped right in the conversation and shared a number of testimonies about God's provision in his own life. When I invited the employee to church, his boss said he has about 5 or 6 to choose from because of all the people that have been working on him and praying for him. He said that he kept telling them he wanted to get his life right and be pure before he came to church. This was another chance to share another facet of the true gospel that God isn't so much concerned with perfect people as He is about perfecting people through the sacrifice of Christ. As we walked back in so he could get back to work, I told him that he was a new person now, that his spirit was made new and he won't be satisfied with the things that he used to do.
It's so amazing to be a part of God's mission and seeing Him do work in people's lives. What an honor to take part in the great commission!
How about you? Are you taking part in God's mission? Are you giving Him something to work with as you open your mouth and present the good news to people? If not, then start today. It just might make someone's day, life or eternity!
I then told him that there's been something I've been wanting to ask him for a long time, but never had the chance. I asked him the million dollar question and he said he would probably go to heaven. Then I asked him why. He said he was a good person and that he believed in God. I shared the gospel with him and then I told him that even the demons believe in God, but what gets you into heaven is believing in the resurrection of Jesus and confessing Him as Lord. I asked him if he'd like to do that and he said, "Of course!!" So we walked out behind the restaurant and I led him in the prayer of salvation. After we prayed, I asked him if he meant it from his heart. He said yes and that he was feeling good! He pulled his hand out of his pocket and said, "my hand's not even burning anymore!" He had burnt two of his fingers earlier and God healed him as soon as he said the prayer of salvation!!!! Ha! I explained more about salvation to him and how it included deliverance, healing, preservation and a whole slew of other benefits that are now available to him! You should have seen the smile on his face. He said, "That made my day!" As I was telling the fellas about the conversation later, Cullen said, "You didn't just make his day. You made his life! You made his eternity!"
After we prayed, his boss came out and when he found out what we were doing, he jumped right in the conversation and shared a number of testimonies about God's provision in his own life. When I invited the employee to church, his boss said he has about 5 or 6 to choose from because of all the people that have been working on him and praying for him. He said that he kept telling them he wanted to get his life right and be pure before he came to church. This was another chance to share another facet of the true gospel that God isn't so much concerned with perfect people as He is about perfecting people through the sacrifice of Christ. As we walked back in so he could get back to work, I told him that he was a new person now, that his spirit was made new and he won't be satisfied with the things that he used to do.
It's so amazing to be a part of God's mission and seeing Him do work in people's lives. What an honor to take part in the great commission!
How about you? Are you taking part in God's mission? Are you giving Him something to work with as you open your mouth and present the good news to people? If not, then start today. It just might make someone's day, life or eternity!
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