Sharing Our Hope

Finding God Through Suffering

Jesus seems to find his children when they are suffering.  In fact, a biblical connection to God takes place in the milieu of our great need and despair (my sin and helplessness - God's perfection, love, and forgiveness).  Suffering should, not only serve to draw us closer to Jesus, it should be an opening for the gospel in the lives of those around us.

• Suffering strips us of the illusion of control
• Suffering moves us toward the needs of others
• Suffering causes us to consider cosmic realities

I should be more connected to those in need

God's Design For His Glory - Abide, Pray, Bear Fruit

In John 15 we see how important it is for Jesus' people to abide in him.  Then we read this:

"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:7-8)

So, as those who are born again, we are to rest in, depend on, align with, gain our sustenance from Jesus - and then pray.  God then answers these prayers (we are praying his will because we are abiding in him) and fruit is produced, God is glorified, and we know that we are Jesus' disciples because he is working through our prayers.

It also seems that fruit-bearing is absolutely necessary for a Christian:

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit" (John 15:2)

The natural thing is to focus on the fruit that should be produced (love, new converts, holy character, etc) - and that is VERY important.  None of that can happen, however, if we don't abide in Jesus.  Is Jesus everything to you? 

What kind of responce are we looking for?

I have a question for you.  What kind of response do you hope for when others hear the gospel?  How would you like your children to respond to Jesus?

Are you hoping for a quick prayer and then a life that is filled with materialism - just like everybody else?  I'm not.  I long for Jesus to permeate every corner of my children's lives and control every ambition they have.  I would love for them to adopt a war time lifestyle so that all they are and all they have can be used to further the cause of Christ.

It's easy, however, to wish the best for others while I still follow the path of compromise.  It's easy to encourage others to live by faith while I don't.

Let's live what we believe - Jesus is everything to us.  Then our witness will support our message.

Is it courage we need?

It's easy to think about evangelism as a focus on that one critical moment when I need to gathering my courage so I can open my mouth with the gospel - and I certainly could use more courage.  Often however, the problem is I'm thinking about evangelism out of duty and not love.  While I want others to receive Jesus, I struggle with the extent to which I really care about them.

Part of the solution here is to embrace what it means to be a disciple - less of me - more of Jesus.  Life for the believer is all about Jesus now.  My priorities are radically different, my purpose is radically different, how I handle money is radically different, how I see people is radically different.  It's difficult to function as we should when our purpose in life is unclear - when our loyalties are split - when our vision is clouded.

Yield to the power of the Holy Spirit and let go of those things that would entangle you.  In your focus on Christ you will be moved toward others.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.... (1 Timothy 2:3-5)

How are you strong?

Even though we are all the same in many ways, I am amazed at how different we are.  The way one person sees and responds to a situation can be completely different than another person.  Some are overtly social while others are content with less interaction.  Some are detail-oriented while others are not. 

I would like to encourage you to think of the unique way you are designed and gifted as strength that God has intentionally given to you.  In Christ, our differences (our strengths) are designed to create maximum impact for the Kingdom and we should each feel great joy in seeing God work through our strengths.

It is very important that we know how we're gifted and then focus on how we can embrace and give this to God.  Each person's unique design will impact how they worship, how they engage their local church, and how they reach out to those who need Jesus.

Don't despair over the gifts you don't have, use the ones you do have - this is how God made you.

What kind of disciple are you?

In the Gospels and Acts we find the term "disciple" used in different ways.  It is used in a general way of those who respond to Jesus (Lk 6:17, 19:37; Acts 6:1).  And it is used in a narrow way for those who are exclusively loyal to Jesus:

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  (Mk 8:34-38)

What kind of a disciple are you?

Does Might Make Right?

Most everyone, I hope, would answer this question with a "NO".  Just because you carry the biggest "stick" does not make you right.  Just because you have the power to apply force does not mean you are just in your cause.  Yet, the atheist must believe that might makes right. 

In the atheist's world there is no God-ordained right or wrong.  Society/instinct/survival-of-the-fittest determines what is right.  If a God-ordained standard does not exist, it must follow that whatever version of right and wrong society chooses to enforce is what is "right".  Honest atheism cannot, ultimately, lead to good things - just more oppression, disease, war, etc.

In my experience, most atheists have not really thought about this.  Sadly, often the response to this is that while this may be true, the "Christian" version of right and wrong has often not shown itself to be very right either.

...your word is truth.

Merry Christmas!

There is a very compromised view of Jesus that is penetrating Christian thinking these days.  Much of emergent thinking would see Jesus, primarily, as coming to show us how we should live - how we can do better (Jesus as Example but not Savior).  This view destroys the beauty and mission of Jesus, and enhances the human position - which is exactly what a desperately sinful world does not need.    

Jesus entered our world to save us.  He came to take God's judgment for everyone who would trust him as Savior.  He came to be our righteousness before God.  It's not about us, it's all about Jesus.  And, yes, those who embrace Jesus will, and must, by the power of the Holy Spirit, have changed lives that reflect his salvation.

Thank God Jesus did NOT come to simply be our example.

Merry Christmas!!

Mary's life

Have you ever wondered what Mary's life must have been like?  I doubt that we can even come close to understanding - an angel disclosing that she had found favor in God's eyes, being shamed because she was pregnant "outside" of marriage, raising the God/man as a child, sharing in the pain of his horrible, unjust suffering and death.  I imagine nothing in her life was ordinary.  Living by faith means God is in control.

No life can be ordinary when God is in control.  Maybe we have more in common with Mary than we know.  Is your life ordinary?

Unity of Believers and Evangelism

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23 – ESV)

This is a very important evangelism-based passage.  Notice three things:

• This is one of those few passages that is written to everyone who will believe - not just those two thousand years ago.
• The primary point is that the unity of believers is VERY important to Jesus and his mission.
• The unity of believers is critical in the salvation of the lost - Jesus says this twice here. 

While personal evangelism (one-on-one) is very important, don't underestimate the need for the lost to see Jesus in the local fellowship.  A functional, unified local church is critically important to our mission.

The outcast is grateful

In Luke 17 we have the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers.  It's easy to assume that the point of this story is about gratitude - only one of the ten thanked Jesus for the healing.  While this is certainly part of the story, it is not all of the story.  Luke points out that the only one who came back to fall on his face before Jesus was a Samaritan (an "unclean" group of people that most "good" Jews would not associate with).  The other nine (evidently Jews) ran back to their families and culture. Jesus was just what they needed to resume the good life.

While these ten were still lepers they were also "brothers".  They were all sick.  When Jesus healed them, the group of nine left the Samaritan and went back to what was most important to them. 

Some worship the gifts, others worship the Giver.

As you share the gospel, make sure you are open to everyone. 

Why did he come?

Luke 19:1-9 holds wonderful and dynamic story that ends with a very clear message.  This is the story of Jesus connecting with the despised tax collector Zacchaeus:

• Zacchaeus is curious
• Jesus ignores the social and religious culture of the day and "embraces" Zacchaeus
• Zacchaeus was saved and anxious to show Jesus that his loyalties had changed in a BIG way
• Jesus affirms Zacchaeus' salvation (and insults the religious thinking of the day) by proclaiming him a son of Abraham
• Jesus affirms that this is why he came, "To seek and to save the lost".

What an amazing story!

It's easy to become like the crowd in this story isn't it?  It's easy and comfortable to assume that Jesus fits into the established and comfortable, and often self-centered, Christian culture.  It's much more radical to actually become a disciple with new loyalties and a Jesus-oriented mission.

What's the diagnosis?

J. Mack Stiles, in his book "Speaking of Jesus", includes a helpful chart that I use when I teach evangelism classes.  The chart is designed to help people understand why they might be having problems.

Stiles would have us consider three basic components that are important if we are to succeed.  First - Are we motivated? (Do we really want to share the gospel?)  Second - Are we available? (Do we have connections?)  Third - Are we equipped? (Do we know how to share the gospel?)

For example: If you have no motivation, you do connect with many unsaved people (you are available), and you don't know how to share the gospel you may be apathetic to evangelism.  Try it out.  I've found it helpful.

Book Review - Does God Believe in Atheists?

Does God Believe in Atheist?

by: John Blanchard / Evangelical Press

Recommendation: Must Have (5 out of 5)

This book should be the foundation of your apologetics library. While there are other acceptable books on apologetics, Blanchard covers a very full range of topics.  He successfully:

• covers a broad base of essential topics and an understandable discussion around them.
• is very readable and engaging.  Even though this topic could get technical Blanchard has controlled that while giving us wonderful content.
• brings to the surface the critical points that we should understand while we talk with others.

Even though this book is over 600 pages long, it's easy to read from cover to cover (I don't find it easy to do that often).  You will refer back to this one.

John Piper's struggles with evangelism

During the 2009 Pastors Conference John Piper shared his struggles with evangelism.

What are people looking for?

In John 1:41 we read that as soon as Andrew understood Jesus to be the Messiah he found Simon (Peter) and told him, "We have found the Messiah."  The Jews were looking for the arrival of the promised One who would lead and teach and save God's people.  So when Andrew said, "We have found the Messiah." many were curious.  At that point Jesus showed them HOW he was the Messiah - the culture had it wrong.  Jesus was not here to save them from Roman rule but to save them from the judgment of God - a much more important salvation. 

Speaking of Jesus is really very simple.  We have found what we're looking for - in ways that are much bigger than we can imagine.  Many need joy - We have found joy!  Many need security - We have found security!  Many need forgiveness - We have found forgiveness! 

Now, just like Jesus did, we need to help others understand how Jesus is the joy, the security, the forgiveness we need.

A question to connect with people in pain

I'm convinced that the pain this world delivers can serve as an important connecting point for the gospel.  Pain can and should show us how frail and unstable this world is.  But how might you open a Christ-exalting conversation with someone that is focused on their pain?  While there are many things we might do, I've found that these four things can be very important:

• Make sure they know you will be praying for them - they are usually grateful.
• Ask a simple question like, "Do you have any spiritual beliefs that help in times like this?"  Listen carefully.
• Ask if you can help in any way.  You may get the privilege of caring for them in different ways.
• Ask about the situation periodically.  You can re-enter the discussion and better minister to them.  

Each situation is different.  Be praying for them.  Be praying that God would open doors for the gospel.

preach the gospel or speak the gospel

Can we state the gospel in a simple way?  Sure we can, "Jesus fully absorbed the judgment of God for all who trust him."  While these twelve words inform us of the most wonderful event in human history, not everyone will actually understand the magnitude of this.  We need to help them.

In the New Testament, the Greek word for "preach" is used 95 times and is always connected to the gospel.  To preach the gospel is to declare, or proclaim, or tell, or announce the good news to a group*.  Preaching is not dialog-based.  It's a one way declaration of good news.  For example:

I am obligated to both Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.  That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. - Romans 1:14-15

The Greek word for "speak" is used, as we might expect, much more - over 300 times.  This term represents the common, verbal communication between people with an emphasis on understanding the message.  When we read of the gospel being delivered to individuals, this is the term that is used - not preaching.  For example:

At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual to the Jewish synagogue.  There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. - Acts 14:1

The gospel should be shared in different ways - preached to the masses and lovingly shared with individuals such that they can understand it.

- - -

*The only exception I could find to this rule is in Acts 8:35 where Philip preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch. 

Let's keep the main point the main point

While everyone should be able to defend the truth of Scripture (apologetics), this is not the gospel.  Mark Dever puts it this way:

By far the greatest danger in apologetics is being distracted from the main message.  Evangelism in not defending the virgin birth or defending the historicity of the resurrection.  Apologetics is defending the faith, answering the questions others have about Christianity.  It is responding to the agenda that others set.  Evangelism, however, is following Christ's agenda, the news about him.  Evangelism is the positive act of telling the good news about Jesus Christ and the way of salvation through him. (Mark Dever, The Gospel & Personal Evangelism, p78)

As we build relationships and care for those around us, let's make sure we are moving toward their greatest need - the gospel.  Let's keep the main point the main point.

Book Review - The Gospel & Personal Evangelism

The Gospel & Personal Evangelism

by: Mark Dever / Crossway Books

Recommendation: Must have (5 of 5)

Dever's book is an important foundation for a life of evangelism.  While he does share stories and practical ideas, that is not his emphasis.  His desire seems to be a correct vision for and understanding of evangelism. 

Chapters:

• Why Don't We Evangelize?
• What Is the Gospel?
• Who Should Evangelize?
• How Should We Evangelize?
• What Isn't Evangelism?
• What Should We Do After We Evangelize?
• Why Should We Evangelize?

I thought chapter five - What Isn't Evangelism? - was very good.  In it Dever helps us understand how evangelism is not imposing our beliefs on someone else, how personal testimony often has nothing to do with evangelism, and how a platform of social action can often get in the way of true evangelism.

If I had any criticism, it would be of the concise, almost summary form of much of the material.

While this book is short (just over 100 pages) it is worth the price.  Of the more than twenty books I have on evangelism, this one is the starting point.