Taking the Great Commision Seriously - Meet the Gospel Tract

     Sweating hands, a racing heart, a mind that suddenly went blank, a nervous smile and I look of, "What did I just get myself into" could pretty well describe my first experience with those little pamphlets known as gospel tracts.  When I handed this colorful looking, gospel containing piece of paper to the cashier, I half expected her to yell in my face and give me a body slam.  I guess you hope for the best and prepare for the worst, right?  The body slam never came and with I sigh of relief as my body relaxed to it's "not so statue like state", I walked away as she thanked me with a smile.
     When it comes to the Great Commission, many of us are temped to opt out, leaving that facet of the Christian life to the experienced missionaries and theologians.  If we are honest with ourselves, the thought of talking to someone about the gospel seems daunting, overwhelming or even terrifying. We know we are supposed to do something but because of our fear we do nothing.  But as Hudson Taylor so pointedly put it:

"The great commission is not an option to be considered 

but a command to be obeyed." 

      Now while many evangelists might preach to thousands in a football stadium or stand up on a box putting their vocal chords to the tests as they do open air preaching, to be an effective fisher of men, you don't have to start there.  Just as in any spiritual discipline, there is a starting point and a process of maturing and growing that must take place in our lives.  Don't let the thought of, "Oh I can't witness like Ray Comfort" keep you from taking the baby steps of learning. 

     So today I would like to introduce you to a helpful tool that could help jump start your witnessing efforts.  Perfect for beginner evangelists-in-the-making, gospel tracts are easy to use and aren't often rejected.  All it really takes to hand one out is a nice tag line, a prayerful heart and a smiling face. 

     My favorite tracts are from Living Waters. 

This comic is great for ages 10+.  It's colorful pictures make it interactive and intriguing, keeping readers engaged until the end.  Starting with the 10 commandments, it shows unbelievers their need for a Savior in light of the fact that we all have broken God's law and are accountable to Him.  After helping a sinner to recognize their need for a Savior, the gospel is presented. 
*Tag Line: This is for you.  It's a fun comic with a neat message and I hope you will take some time to read it.  

Which one's bigger???  These curved illusion cards are great for children, teens and adults alike.  Most people will thank you for giving them a gift without realizing it's got a message of far greater value on the back.  They are easy to pass out and fun to use.  

*Tag Line:  Hey, I have something I would like to show you.  Which one's bigger??? Not sure?  Well, they are actually the same size.  Isn't that neat!?  These are for you to keep.  Make sure you read the message on the back. 

Free Movie!!!!  How doesn't like movies?  Living Waters has put together some great evangelistic material that can be  accessed for free online.  Handing out these cards gives people the opportunity to easily access this life changing content and be challenged in what they believe as the truth of the gospel is explained through topics like abortion, atheism, evolution and homosexuality.  

*Tag Line:  This is for you.  Be sure to check out the free movies online!  

     When picking out gospel tracts, make sure they are really communicating the gospel and not some fluffy, "God has a wonderful plan for your life" or "Say a prayer and you get into heaven" message.  Also, keep tracts handy by storing them in your purse, pocket or wallet. 

     When you have gotten comfortable with simply handing gospel tracts out, they also now afford you the opportunity to branch out into pursuing conversations with people.  Give someone a tract and then ask:*

- So would you consider yourself a good person?

- Do you have a religious background?

- Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? 

Don't be afraid to allow tracts to open doors for conversation. 

*Know that these are just suggestions.  These are often things that I will say and I shared it with you just to get you thinking.  There is always room to do things differently as the Lord leads you.

     Recently, some people have questioned the effectiveness of gospel tracts.  First off, I have heard a number of stories of people who have been saved through the message of the gospel as presented through a tract.  Also, we are simply called to sow the seed.  God alone can make any gospel presentation effective, whether it's through a tract or a conversation.  Many people look down on tracts, thinking instead that we should only evangelize after we have built a relationship with someone.  The sad thing is, this isn't the pattern laid out in scripture.  Jesus talked to groups of thousands, Paul randomly walked into synagogues and Peter jumped into a Eunuch's carriage and basically said, "Hey, I hear your reading Isaiah.  Why don't you let me tell you what that's all about!"  Not only is this argument not biblically grounded but often times in an effort to keep peace in a relationship, we never bring up the gospel which offends and divides. 

     Let me exhort you as Paul did to Timothy.  

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, 

do the work of an evangelist,  fulfill your ministry." 

1 Timothy 4:5

Wednesdays In The Word: Psalm 16:8-11

I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also swells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.  You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

At the end of the road...will it matter?

"Don't fear failure.  Fear spending your life succeeding at things that  

DON'T REALLY MATTER."

- Unknown -

     We are one of the most self-absorbed generation of young people.  Through entertainment, sex, fashion, athletics, texting and facebook, we spend our time seeking after pleasure and popularity.  Far too many of our young "men" find their fulfillment in winning video games and creaming into each other during football matches. Far too many many young girls are consumed in seeking after physical allure and find their security in their social status.  We have become expert sand castle sculptors and our success had left us demented*.  With minds fixed on momentary things, we waste some of the most valuable years of our lives because we are focused on the wrong things. 

     *Demented: not able to think clearly or to understand what is real and what is not real

     

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:2

    

     Many of us suffer from nearsightedness.  Our lives become bogged down with "things that are on earth" as our focus rests on the here and now.  But, as God instructs us through Colossians, our lives should have a farsighted focus.  The world lives so much in the moment because this life is all they have.  But when we have been born again, this life is simply an investment plan as we set our hopes on the life to come.  God has not given us this time of earth so we can gorge ourselves with pomp and comfort.  Instead, He asks us to set our minds on things that are above...because eternity is just around the corner.    

 "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." 

(Ephesians 5:15-16) 

     All to many of us think that we have an endless bank account of time.  It's easy to think that way when you are young.  But we don't.  God has marked out for us a certain number of days and before you know it... they will be over.  We are always spending time on this or that activity or pursuit but what I want to ask you is are you investing your time?   Will the things that consume your time and energy count for eternity? Read that verse again. "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."  This isn't a command, it's a warning.  

     So what things are eternal?  First of all, people are eternal.  Are you investing in the relationships that God has brought into your life and are you telling them about the Savior who can save them from an eternity of punishment and pain?  I don't think I have ever heard of anyone on their death bed say, "I wish I had spent less time with my family and friends and more time working." or "I wish I hadn't lived so much of my life for the Lord."  

     Time is a gift.  Life is a gift.  How will you spend them? 

What's a Christian to Do? - Part #2

     When the cooks back is turned, the water starts to boil.  As I have been preoccupied by many things, I turn around to check how things are progressing in the homosexual landslide and I find that things are quickly heating up.  Due to her religious beliefs, a woman in Kentucky has been sentenced to jail because she would not issue a marriage license for homosexual couples.  Loosing her job would be unfair yet understandable, but to be sentenced to jail!?  Ladies and gentleman, the pressure is on and we need to be prepared to stand for truth and be willing to suffer for it.  The water is boiling.  The question is, how will be respond?
     In my last article, I listed four responses we can have to this growing acceptance and applause of sin:
1) Ignore it
2) Conform to it
3) Become enraged by it
4) Respond Biblically
In review, we highlighted the first three but only lightly touched on what it would look like to respond Biblically.  Through this article, it is my hope to dig into God's Word and examine what His blueprint is as we act in response to these days which are growing darker.

A Proper Prospective

    The pattern of progression strategically planned out by the homosexual party to bring conformity of societies to there desires, starts with tolerance.  After tolerance comes acceptance with praise soon to follow.  Due to the vocal and deceptive nature of homosexuality, many young people are not only giving mental consent to homosexuality but are now participants.  After participation is reached, it is now criminalization for everyone who would seek to oppose this new sexual revolution.  It is a sad and startling reality, but in America we are in the foothills of this moral landslide.
      First we need to understand that God is in control.
      Second, we need to use the window wipers of God's Word to keep the windshield of our minds clean from the lies and logical twisting that could destroy our foundation of Truth.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 

     And last but not least, it is time that we "entrust our souls to a faithful Creator."  

"If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment..." 

1 Peter 2:5-10

~

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:7

~

"Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a

 faithful Creator while doing good.

1 Peter 5:19

Prepare
     Like an unsuspecting city is easily conquered, if we do not prepare for what lies ahead as we perceive the army of opposition approaching, it will be to our shame and folly.  When an army goes to war, it has a battle plan.  But that battle plan does them no good if they do not understand who the enemy is and how they are advancing.  We need to be prepared to understand.  The enemy is not men and women who are homosexual but rather "the ruler of this world" and the plan that is being executed is filled with tactics that existed long ago.  First we need to go to God's Word.  However, I have listed out some other resources that I have found to be helpful in helping me understand the ins and outs of this debate.  Please take some time to check into them.

Voddie Baucham on "Gay is Not the New Black"
Voddie Baucham on "Applying Biblical Truth to the Homosexual Debate"
No Compromise Radio:
Homosexuality - Part 1
Homosexuality - Part 2
Homosexuality - Part 3
Homosexuality - Part 4
* Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.
Audacity Love can't stay silent 

     Once you have your battle plan, it's time to stand.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole

 armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-11

  
  But if you step out onto the battle field, be prepared to suffer. 

"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should

 not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake..." 

Philippians 1:29  

Proclaim
     Just so you know, there is one way to stay perfectly safe and comfortable in this war zone.  There is a key that would unlock a life of peace and rest.  Just stay silent.  It's not criminal to think that homosexuality is wrong,  it's just criminal to express that opinion.  But can true love stay silent?  Souls are on the line folks!!!  Love is most loving when love speaks the truth.  You can choose to be silent but that is the most hateful thing you could possibly do.
     In closing, I would like to leave you with this thought, speaking the truth will cost us something.  Men can take our rights, our liberty and they may even deprive us of our jobs and equality but they can't touch our hope.

Conclusion

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3-7

 ~

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

     What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can befn against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:28-38

Wednesdays in The Word: Exodus 34:6-7

"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, 

and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, 

forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."

The Christian's Secret

Heads up!!!!  This is my first week back to the grind:)  Be looking for a blog post on Friday. 

It's good to be back.