Effective, Everyday Evangelism

Effective, Everyday Evangelism

One of the chief reasons for the very establishment and existence of the Lord’s church is evangelism; the saving of lost souls; for, God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1st Timothy 2:4). He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2nd Peter 3:9). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Word made flesh who came and dwelt among us said during His earthly ministry that He came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And one of the last things He did before He ascended back to glory was to give His hand-picked and chosen Apostles (and us by extension of course) the precious and glorious privilege of being His divinely-designated co-workers and sharers of that great ‘co-mission’ with Him when He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Timeless secrets to successful evangelism.

Timeless secrets to successful evangelism.

Indeed, as the divinely-inspired and Spirit-driven apostle Paul wrote to the first century congregation of the Lord’s church that worked and worshipped in Thessalonica: “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1st Thessalonians 2:4). The apostle Paul again echoed those same sentiments (that the ultimate reason for the church’s very existence is for evangelistic purposes) when he wrote to the first century congregation of the Lord’s church that worked and worshiped in Ephesus. There, in Ephesians 3, verses 8-12, he let both them and the entire world know in no uncertain terms, that the “eternal purpose” and crowning touch of God’s plan from before the very beginning of time, was to establish His Son’s one, New Testament church, and that it could make known the good news of Christ to a lost and dying world. This, so that the lost in sin world might receive it, believe it, obey it, live it, and be saved by it as well, thus being added by God to that grace-cleansed, blood-bought, and heaven-bound group; for God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9)!

But how exactly do we most efficiently and effectively spread that grace-laden, soul-saving message of gospel truth – especially in today’s fast-paced, immediate-gratification, instant electronic communication, “that’s just your interpretation,” media-saturated, satanically-infiltrated, religious diversity-celebrated, “no such thing as God or sin” world? I believe the key to our understanding what might or might not work, ‘for better or for worse’ when it comes to efficient and effective evangelism today, begins with understanding, accepting, and internalizing Acts 8:35. As the eunuch sat reading from his quite-possibly-recently-purchased-in-Jerusalem copy of the scroll of Isaiah the prophet, the bible says in verse 35, that “Then Phillip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” Did you catch that? I am completely convinced that that’s the key to successful evangelism! We must follow Phillip’s phenomenally successful example of personal evangelism by taking people from WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT, to where they eternally need to be, via the vehicle of the soul-saving word of God and nothing less!

This is how the Lord Jesus, the Master Teacher, modeled effective teaching throughout the gospels. The fact is, that if we would be as truly and efficiently effective and successful as the Lord wants us to be when it comes to our evangelistic efforts, we must learn to integrate and emulate this example, so much so that it becomes second nature to us! We must learn to take people from WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT, to where they eternally need to be, via the soul-saving word of God and nothing less!

I believe that that’s the problem with far too many of our unsuccessful attempts and programs of evangelism today! They may ‘well’ be, some of the most well-intentioned, well-supported, well-attended, and/or well-funded attempts at personal and congregational outreach and evangelism that we can possibly put together, but if they don’t reach the lost, where they are, on their level, FIRST, then they’re probably not going to be, ‘well,’ very successful now are they? In fact, they will be more like a very unsuccessful ‘well’ – a deep, dark, empty and unproductive hole, into which one pours resources without much to show for their efforts. Hence: the “birth” of “Joe Clevelander” and “Chuck Churchman.”

“Joe Clevelander” is the name given to a fictitious character that was designed to give the average, local, “Joe Q. Public,” or “Joe on the street” in our little town of Cleveland, someone to truly and fully identify with. As such, he is the cumulative mouthpiece for all of those crass, critical, skeptical and/or sometimes quite unkind comments that are so often heard from the biblically ignorant and scripturally uninformed of our communities, regarding the faithful members, biblical doctrines, God-fearing practices, and God-honoring obedience of the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16). In Joe, it is all laid right out there – tangibly, truthfully, and transparently. He sincerely voices some of the most common and recurring criticisms regularly leveled at the Lord’s church today by the biblically uninformed religious zealots and denominational regulars permeating almost any community in modern-day America. Paul dealt with the same in the ancient world as well (Romans 10:2-3).

“Chuck Churchman” however, is intended to be the epitome and example of what so many of us in the Lord’s church, at least used to be. Well-studied, unflappable, and full of just good old common sense to boot, he knows his bible and how to rightly divide it (2 Timothy 2:15), as well as how to appropriately apportion, argue, reason and apply it. Automatically understanding and adjusting to the fact that he is not dealing with a decades-long, well-studied and well-informed member of the Lord’s church in his friend Joe, and subsequently integrating the absolutely essential example of Acts 8:35 into his evangelistic efforts in order to make them as successful as they can possibly be, he consciously and consistently strives not to choke with the meat of the word, one who is not yet even ready for the milk of the word, not having even entered into infancy in the family of God by being “born again” of the water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5). Instead, Chuck seeks to illustrate through common, everyday examples, the uncommon, incredible, and eternal truths of God’s instruction in a way that Joe can understand and easily accept and process. This is the same exact  thing that Jesus did, as He effectively taught the people about heavenly and eternal truths, with simple, everyday, earthly terms like “fish,” “fishermen,” “baskets,” “rocks,” “salt,” and “light” – items which every lost soul in earshot could quite easily understand, being ultimately and intimately familiar with them from their everyday lives.

These are just some of the timeless secrets to successful evangelism that so many of us have maybe either forgotten somewhere along the way, or perhaps were possibly never taught in the first place… and so, the Lord’s church and cause has continually suffered, being somewhat less successful at soul-saving than maybe we all could have been on occasion.

This is the reason for this writing; to take us back to the basics of both biblical AND automatic common sense answers and applications when confronted by those who only think they know what the bible actually says, so that we can perhaps convert them to Christ and help them to come to a better and fuller knowledge of the truth. As Christians, this is our God-given mission. This must be our primary passion. And we must bring it as close as we can to complete perfection!

But how do we patiently, lovingly, and compassionately get the often critical, confused, and confrontational lost of our world to where they need to be scripturally, and eventually then, on into Christ? How do we “confront without being confrontational?” How do we handle with care and lovingkindness, those who attack us with pure relentlessness, while neither attacking back or giving them legitimate grounds to further judge us as too judgmental? Answer: We must be, as Jesus put it, as “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

For the sake of illustration, please carefully consider the following fictitious – although hopefully, very accurate to reality – conversations, as they could (and should) occur in “Anytown, U.S.A.,” on any given day, between your average “Joe” on the street, and “Chuck,” who is a faithful member of the local congregation of the church of Christ (Romans 16:16) nearest you…

 

PLEASE NOTE: The above article is a series of excerpts taken directly from the introductory chapter of Doug Dingley’s new book, entitled: “Effective, Everyday Evangelism; The Adventures Of Joe Clevelander & Chuck Churchman,” available now from James Kay Publishing of Tulsa (See: www.jameskaypublishing.com).

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¿FUE JESUS BAUTIZADO PARA DARNOS EL EJEMPLO?

¿FUE JESUS BAUTIZADO PARA DARNOS EL EJEMPLO?

La palabra inspirada de Dios es perfecta y cada una de las profecías que contiene han tenido y tendrán su cumplimiento al pie de la letra. Una de esas tantas profecías es la del profeta antiguo-testamentario Malaquías, en su capitulo numero 4, casi al cierre del la antigua ley mencionando a uno que habría de venir para preparar el camino del Señor, uno que tendría el espíritu de Elías y que haría volver el corazón del pueblo. Aproximadamente unos 400 años después de que esto se dijera aparece Juan el bautista, con todas las características que coincidían con la profecía de Malaquías. Este Juan era hijo del sacerdote Zacarías y de su mujer Elizabeth. Se crió en lugares desérticos hasta el día de su manifestación a Israel (Lc.1:80). Juan era también llamado bautista, no porque perteneciera a la Iglesia Bautista, sino porque era lo que él hacia, perfectamente bien también puede ser mencionado como Juan el Sumergidor, o el bautizador y evitamos que algunos quieran sacar provecho de la traducción para argumentar a favor de la preexistencia de la denominación llamada Iglesia bautista. Hecha la aclaración anterior las escrituras enseñan que “las multitudes salían para ser bautizadas por él” pero Juan se preocupaba por exhortarles que “hicieran frutos dignos de arrepentimiento” (Lc. 7-8). Lo principal en el ministerio de Juan el bautista no era el bautismo sino más bien el anuncio de aquel que vendría detrás de él. Cuando a Juan en una ocasión le preguntaron si era Elias el respondió que no, pero el Señor Jesus dijo que Juan era el Elias que había de venir (Mr. 9:11-13; Mal. 4:5).

Lo principal en el ministerio de Juan el bautista no era el bautismo sino más bien el anuncio de aquel que vendría detrás de él.

Lo principal en el ministerio de Juan el bautista no era el bautismo sino más bien el anuncio de aquel que vendría detrás de él.

Dicho toda esta información importante de entender como base para respuesta a la pregunta anterior, entonces: el bautismo de Jesús fue particularmente para darnos a nosotros el ejemplo? Creo que hay muchos que argumentan que sí, ese fue el propósito aunque creo que desde una argumentación lógica; si el Señor fue para ser bautizado por Juan… sin tener pecados que fueran perdonados, es un hecho que sienta un ejemplo para todas las personas de ese entonces y también hasta las personas de nuestros días que se oponen al bautismo y hasta elaboran un complejo sistema teológico errado  para dejar al bautismo fue de la ecuación del plan de salvación. Sin embargo cuando Jesús fue a Juan para ser bautizado este se opuso y la respuesta del Señor fue “deja ahora porque así conviene que cumplamos toda justicia” (Mt. 3:15). La justicia de la cual estaba hablando el Señor se encuentra conectada con la profecía de Malaquías en el capitulo 4: “Mas a vosotros los que teméis mi nombre nacerá el sol de justicia…” (Mal. 4:2). Este nacimiento de la justicia como el Sol tenía que ver con Cristo y el hecho de que  El era el postrer Adán por quién iba a entrar la vida. Romanos 5:18 lee: “ Así como por la transgresión de uno vino la condenación a todos los hombres, de la misma manera por la justicia de uno vino a todos los hombres la justificación de vida.” (énfasis H.L.M añadido). La Justicia de Dios son sus mandamientos  (Ro. 10:3; 1Ped 3:14 etc). Así que la profecía de Malaquías en el 4:2 era sobre Jesús y el nuevo pacto, la nueva ley también tenía que ver con Juan porque era, a quien  Dios había designado como profeta. El bautismo que Juan practicaba aunque era temporal, era requerido, era mandado por Dios, era justicia y la Biblia enseña con claridad que Cristo no quebrantó en nada el Antiguo Testamento ( Heh 4:15; 2Co. 5:21; 1Pe. 2:22 )El y solo El pudo cumplir a la perfección la ley, para ser ese cordero de Dios sin mancha como lo menciona Juan el bautista (Juan 1:29) siendo el  sacrificio que complacería y aplacaría la ira del Padre para traernos justifican a nosotros. Por lo tanto la razón especifica de su bautismo fue cumplir en todo sentido, todo lo que la ley de Dios mandaba y requería (Mt. 5:17).  Lucas el medico amado en su evangelio registra que el pueblo y los publicanos justificaron a Dios bautizados en el bautismo de Juan, más los fariseos y los intérpretes de la ley  desecharon los designios de Dios respecto de si mismos, no siendo bautizados por Juan. (Lc. 7:29-30). Designios de Dios en este contexto = bautismo de Juan, por esa razón fue Jesús bautizado. Para nuestros días los designios de Dios son un tanto diferente  y se llaman el Nuevo Pacto. Al momento que este pacto entra en vigencia el bautismo de Juan queda inválido, por esa razón el bautismo de Jesús no pude ser un buen ejemplo para ninguno de nosotros, al Igual que el Ladrón en la Cruz no es un ejemplo ideal de como ser salvos hoy. Si usted está en busca de ejemplos para obtener salvación, en la nueva dispensación se encontrará que el libro de Hechos está inundado de esos ejemplos, todos siendo bautizados en agua para el perdón de pecados y bajo la nueva autoridad del Señor Jesús. En Mateo 28:18-20 Jesús reclama tal autoridad y que toda esta autoridad había sido dada a El, por lo tanto el bautismo de Juan fue útil pero en este capítulo ya estaba cumpliendo su ciclo y ahora el Nuevo bautismo iba a ser llevado a cabo en el Nombre del Padre, y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, simbolizando la muerte, sepultura y resurrección del Señor Jesús en cada persona que lo practique (Ro. 6:3-6) ¡que difiere en gran manera al bautismo de Juan!. ¿Entonces, puede usted ahora ver porque Jesús no fue bautizado por Juan con el fin de darnos el ejemplo? Considere en Hechos 19:1-5 entendiendo que esto es registrado ya bajo el nuevo pacto, Pablo encuentra a unos discípulos de Juan que habían sido bautizados con el bautismo de Juan solamente, cuando Pablo se da cuenta que no estaban bautizados en conformidad con la autoridad de Jesús y con el mandamiento dado en Mateo 28 manda que sean bautizados en el nombre del Señor Jesús, es decir bajo la autoridad del Señor Jesús (Regrese a ese momento de autoridad: bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo). Si hay un ejemplo que desea seguir bajo el nuevo pacto este es uno de los mas hermosos. Al darse cuenta que NO estaban completos, no se aferraron a su convicción personal, sino que se sometieron a la autoridad de Jesús. Amigo, hermano en este asunto en particular no podemos seguir el ejemplo de Jesús al ser bautizado por Juan pero lo que sí podemos hacer es con humildad someternos a su autoridad absoluta; tal como Juan el bautista se sometió al plan de Dios, tal como estos discípulos en Hechos 19 se sometieron a la autoridad de Jesus y tal como el mismo Señor estuvo dispuesto a someterse a los designios de Dios al ser bautizado por Juan y ser obediente hasta la muerte y muerte de Cruz (Filp. 2:8-10).  ¿Que está usted dispuesto ha hacer o dejar con tal de someterse a los designios de Dios?. El Señor en el sermón del monte nos aconseja: “Más buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su justicia y todas las demás cosas os serán añadidas.” (Mt. 6:33).

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Do Aborigines Need to Repent?

Do Aborigines Need to Repent?

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Acts 17:30

Who needs to repent?

Who needs to repent?

This verse answers the question sometimes asked, “Will God still judge the people in some third world country or in the deepest darkest jungles of Africa who have never even heard of Jesus?”  God overlooked ignorance of his existence and his will in the past…that past specifically being in the time before Paul said this two thousand years ago…but from the days of Jesus and Paul going all the way up to today and until Christ comes again God commands “all people everywhere to repent.”

This shows the great need for evangelism (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).  Why did Jesus tell us to go to the entire world with the good news?  Because he wants all people everywhere to repent of their sins and turn their lives over to him.  If that was not the case, then why did he give these commands?  Not only that, but why bother to share the gospel with your next door neighbor, much less make the attempt to reach someone on the other side of the planet?  The truth is that God shows no partiality.  If he requires you and me to repent of our sins, believe in his Son, and be immersed in water for forgiveness of sins – and he does (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-39) – then he requires the same of every soul on this planet.

He wants us all to repent, the literal meaning of the word being “to change our minds.”  He wants us to change our minds about our sin.  If we do that, if we stop glorying in our sin but instead feel the godly sorrow he feels over our sin (2 Cor. 7:9-11), then we will turn away from our sin and start living for him.  That in turn will lead to our salvation.

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The Small Things

Have You Overlooked Something?

God’s people had just returned from Babylonian captivity. They had no temple, no priesthood, no altar, and the city of Jerusalem was in ruins. This was far different from the glorious days of the past, and it would have been so easy to be discouraged. The holy city once had a population of hundreds of thousands, but the number of those who returned from captivity was about 50,000. Jehovah knew their thoughts and said to them, “For who has despised the day of small things” (Zech. 4:10)? The intent of His words was to remind Israel that while men might despise small things, our God is the one who has always used “small things” to accomplish His purposes.

“For who has despised the day of small things” (Zech. 4:10)?

“For who has despised the day of small things” (Zech. 4:10)?

The Lord used Gideon’s small army to destroy the Midianites. The massive army of the Midianites had come against Israel with an army of at least 135,000. Gideon, having faithfully followed God’s instructions about reducing the size of his army, came with his army of 300 soldiers. It would have been so easy to “despise small things” which Gideon used. He was outnumbered four hundred and fifty to one. We must learn to not despise small things when God is involved in using them. Had Gideon’s army equaled the size of the enemy’s army and won the battle, men could have given glory to Gideon. Read the story in Judges 7, and when you get to the end, all the glory belongs to God!

The Lord used the widow’s small bottle of oil to feed her son and Elijah for months and months. The prayer of Elijah had shut the windows of heaven and brought devastation on all the people of the land. At God’s instruction, the prophet left Israel and went toward Syria where he met the widow who lived in Zarephath (1 Kings 17). She and her son were dying of starvation, but she took the last oil from her jar and made a cake for Elijah. Miraculously, the oil in the jar kept replacing itself, and the container of flour did not run out until Elijah prayed again. One might despise the small container of oil as insignificant, but God used the small jar to accomplish His work.

The Lord can use the small things you have to accomplish His purposes. You may think you have little which God can use, but you are so wrong. The widow’s two mites have taught millions about giving. The rod in Moses’ hand parted the Red Sea and brought a river of water flowing from the rocks.

Is it possible we have overlooked “small things” we have? We have added souls to the kingdom from those small business cards and booklets available in the foyer. The friendly warmth at Palm Beach Lakes comes from joyful greetings of many members. The House to House labels and the magnetic bumper stickers have lead the lost to Jesus. Think about it. Are you letting God use your “small things” for His purposes?

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Heed the Warnings

Heed the Warnings

My wife and I were born and then spent the vast majority of our lives living in Maine. Maine, where devastating winter “Nor’easters” can deliver blinding “white-outs,” single story snowdrifts, and several feet of snow as well as sub-zero temperatures, all in one, paralyzing, days-long winter punch. Understandably, the local weather reports in advance of such winter weather events, serve a very vital and life-saving purpose, as many New Englanders hear and heed those warnings and head to the stores, making sure they are adequately prepared for the storm. Filling fuel tanks and stocking up on flashlights, batteries, blankets, shovels, bottled water and other food essentials help prepare for their survival in the case of any potentially days-long power outages and/or vehicle failures.

Warnings are there to protect you.

Warnings are there to protect you.

Later on, when we moved to the upper Midwest, we soon discovered the purpose of those personally never before encountered, funny-looking, multiple-mushroom capped telephone poles in town, when their piercing sirens sounded the warning of approaching, severe – and potentially life threatening – weather.

And then, some eight or so years ago when we moved to Oklahoma, we once again encountered a warning sign like we had never seen before. It was posted along the interstate highway we were on, and it read: “Do not drive into smoke” (making us once again wonder what we were really in for). Of course, over time we have come to learn about the devastating and life-threatening effect of summer grass fires in the south and are therefore very grateful for all such warnings.

Just a week ago this past Tuesday morning in “Tornado Alley,” a deadly twister touched down in Elk City, Oklahoma, killing one, injuring others, and leaving many homeless and without power. One reporter commented along the lines that the loss of life could have been a lot worse, had people not heeded the warnings and made the appropriate advance preparations as well as they did.

Warnings. They’re everywhere. And for the most part we are very grateful for them, because heeding their message often results in the prolonging of life/prevention of death. Warnings come in all shapes and sizes: on medicinal, prescription, and pharmaceutical products; in alcohol, tobacco, and food and drug commercials – as well as prominently displayed on much of their packaging; and posted where you work, live, recreate, and just about anywhere else you turn. In fact, it would amaze almost anyone to actually make a point of counting how many warnings they routinely come in contact with, one way or another, each and every day! And many of those warnings are federally and/or locally mandated by law!

So… why is it then, that so many warnings regarding the slightest prolonging of our earthly lives – which are at best but a brief vapor’s breath to begin with when compared with our eternal lives (Jms. 4:14; Psa. 90:4-12) – are so warmly welcomed, eagerly sought after, diligently demanded, and even rigorously required by the laws of the land in many cases, when the far more far-reaching and life-giving warnings from God regarding one’s eternal life, safety, security, and destination, as well as those who then faithfully preach, post, and promote them, often go unwanted, unheeded, and even hated and/or outlawed? Why is it warnings which save lives are seen as wonderful – except when we seek to save people’s eternal lives/souls from literally ‘going to hell,’ by sounding the essential warnings insisted upon by their loving Creator? Why is that? How exactly does that work?

Why is it when we simply sound God’s warning from Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God,” that we are viewed as insensitive, unloving, and uncaring people who just don’t want anyone to have any fun? Are those who post weather warnings regarding imminent and deadly earthly storms just insensitive, unloving, and uncaring people because they give you advance notice in order that you may make the appropriate changes and adjustments in order to survive? Of course not!

Why is it when we simply sound God’s warning from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God,” that we are considered as bigots and homophobes? Are those who sound the warnings to evacuate in the face of such life and death situations as hurricane Katrina was, condemned as bay-haters and houseaphobes? Don’t be ridiculous. They are at times considered and celebrated as life-savers!

Why is it when we simply sound God’s warnings regarding such essential elements as: repentance (Lk. 13:3-5) and baptism for the forgiveness or washing away of one’s sins – as well as their subsequent salvation (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:27-41, 22:16; 1 Ptr. 3:21); or God’s eternally-settled in heaven word (Ps. 119:89) of warning instruction regarding the one, biblical, pre-denominational body or church of Christ (Eph. 1:22: 3:8-12, 4:4-6; Ro. 16:16); or the fact that man-made doctrines make any worship based upon them totally vain (Mk. 7:1-13) because the Father is seeking only those who will trust Him enough to worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:23-24, 17:17; Acts 2:42); that we are perhaps considered as narrow-minded and legalistic by our denominational friends and family members? Do they disregard the warning labels on prescription drugs as being too narrow, prohibitive, and legalistic as well?

The fact is that warnings that save lives are wonderful. And warnings that save eternal lives and souls are seen as even infinitely more wonderful in the eyes of “Him with whom we have to do” (Hebs. 4:13); with Him who demands that His faithful children keep on warning (Ezek. 3:16-21, 33:7-11; Acts 20:26-32; 1 Thess. 5:12-22). And so, thus shall we do. “He who has ears to hear, let Him hear.”

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