Evangelism Evening 07/30/10

This Evangelism Evening I leave you with a video of a gospel presentation. This is a video of Arica G. sharing the gospel through a poem that she wrote. I spent some time with Arica at Ambassador's Academy #10 (through Living Waters ministry) back in May of 2009. She is a talented and thoughtful young woman with a passion for sharing the gospel with those she meets. Here is her artistic video presentation of her poem titled: A Lullaby.

Miracles

I carry around pocket-size versions of the Gospel of John (from the Bible) when I'm out witnessing to people. And at the end of a witness encounter I always encourage people to read the Gospel of John. With this in mind, I'm in the process of (again) reading and studying the book of John right now.

There are 8 signs (miracles) performed by Jesus in the book of John that point to His deity. The John MacArthur Study Bible shows a small table listing the signs, where they can be found in the book of John, and the specific message they convey that tells us Jesus is God.

Here's that information for your consideration when you study the Gospel of John.

Turns water into wine (John 2: 1-12) --------Jesus is the source of life.
Heals a nobleman's son (Jn 4:46-54) -------- Jesus is master over distance.
Heals a lame man on Sabbath (Jn 5:1-17)----Jesus is master over time.
Feeds 5,000 (Jn 6:15-21) ---------- Jesus is the bread of life.
Walks on water, stills a storm (Jn 6:15-21) -------- Jesus is master over nature.
Heals a blind man from birth (Jn 9:1-41) ------- Jesus is the light of the world.
Raises Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:17-45)------- Jesus has power over death.
Causes abundant catch of fish (Jn 21:6) -------Jesus is master over the animal world.

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Today I'd like to share with you another nugget from the Grace Gems e-mail feed I receive daily (http://www.gracegems.org/) titled "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ".

The unsearchable riches of Christ!

(Samuel Davies)

"The unsearchable riches of Christ!" Ephesians 3:8

Consider what rich blessings Christ has purchased for His people; purchased not with corruptible things such as silver and gold--but with His own precious blood! The purchase price recommends and endears the blessings, though they are so great in themselves, as to need no such recommendation! What can be greater or more suitable blessings to hell-bound sinners, than . . .
pardon for the guilty,
redemption for slaves,
righteousness and justification for the condemned,
sanctification for the unholy,
rest for the weary,
comfort for mourners,
the favor of God for rebels and exiles,
strength for the impotent,
protection for the helpless, and
everlasting happiness for the heirs of hell!
And, to sum up all--grace and glory, and every good thing, and all the unsearchable riches of Christ--for the wretched and miserable; for the poor, the blind, and naked!

These are blessings indeed, and, in comparison with them--all the riches of the world are impoverished, and vanish to nothing!

Cookie Baking Night 07/26/10

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. Carissa and Emily were in attendance this evening (last week of soccer for Ethan this week, so he'll be joining us again soon).

We made brownies.

Our lesson tonight from Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland was lesson 33 titled "Jesus Obeyed God". Emily read Matthew 4:1-11 from the Bible for us.

We spent some time at the end of the evening practicing how to introduce ourselves to new people. When we first learned this lesson (about two years ago), Emily was shy and didn't like it much. Tonight, Emily was the pro, and Carissa was a little timid about it, but they both did a great job.

As usual, a fun time was had by all.

Evangelism Evening

This weekend I went to visit my friend, Betsy, in Wisconsin. Betsy had arranged an outing with her friend, Amy, who leads a group of junior high girls at her church. The plan was to take several girls to Wisconsin Dells, WI (about an hour and a half from Betsy's home) on Saturday to pass out gospel tracts and share the gospel with people we met. Only one of the junior high girls was able to make it. So, we headed off to Wisconsin Dells, the four of us--myself, Betsy, Amy, and Jessi.

It was my first time in Wisonsin Dells. It is a tourist town known for its water parks. There is also a main strip in town that is host to all kinds of candy shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions. The plan was to walk up and down the streets, hand out gospel tracts, and seek to engage in conversations about the gospel.

Before lunch, we walked around in a group of four and handed out gospel tracts. After lunch, we split up into two groups and each took a side of the street so we could more easily approach people for conversation. I took Jessi with me. Jessi is 13 years old. She did a great job. I introduced her to the optical illusion gospel tract, and she went to town with it. We started a few conversations but didn't get very far with them before being dismissed. We did have the opportunity to encourage a few Christians and challenge a few professing Christians in conversation along the way. Betsy and Amy had a little more success with gospel-giving conversations across the street. Of this I am sure, the gospel was given to many, many people today (whether in written or verbal form). I pray God will use it greatly to draw people unto Him.

It was a great day!

Regretfully, in my excitement to pack up gospel tracts for the day trip, I left my camera at Betsy's house for the day, so I don't have a picture of the whole group together. When we returned, Betsy's dad graciously took a picture of the two of us (which you will see at the top of this post).

Happy Birthday, Dad-Larry!

Today is my Dad-Larry's birthday. For those who might wonder why I refer to him this way, Larry is my sted-dad. I was 16 years old when he married my mom. He has now been in my life longer than he was out of it.

God has been gracious to me in allowing me to have two fathers in my life. Larry has been a great influence in our family. He has loved us (myself and my two brothers) as his own, and we feel the same way about him. He has a love for my mom that is truly inspiring.

Larry is a quiet man, faithful, steady and dependable. I have learned much through his example over the years.

Happy Birthday, Larry! I love you.

Life Lesson

I found this Grace Gems e-mail (http://www.gracegems.org/) to be a most timely exhortation for me and hope it will be the same for you.

Her life-lesson was comprised in four words

(James Smith, "Keep Close to Christ" 1857)

A Christian minister was dying. He had a young sister whom he tenderly loved, and in whose welfare he felt the deepest interest. She came to pay the last visit, and receive from his lips the last words of advice. The words of a dying minister, realizing the value of the soul, and the solemnity of eternity, are important words. Taking her by the hand, and fixing his eyes upon her with a loving look, he said, "Keep close to Christ!"

What could he say of more import? Her life-lesson was comprised in four words, "Keep close to Christ!" She had come to Jesus, she loved Jesus, she found happiness in Jesus; but the dying brother knew . . .
the deceitfulness of the human heart;
the power of the world's fascinations,
and the craft and subtlety of Satan,
therefore he exhorts, "Keep close to Christ!"

May the Lord give us grace to get near to Him; and then give us more grace, to keep near to Him; for alas! how many of us, like Peter, follow Him afar off!

What must we do--to keep close to Jesus?

We must keep close to His Word. Here He . . .
reveals His mind,
displays His love, and
exhibits His beauty!

It is a revelation of His deepest, sweetest, kindest thoughts!

It is an exhibition of His infinite, eternal, deathless love!

It is a mirror in which we may see His unparalleled beauty and excellency!

No one can keep close to Jesus--who does not daily, seriously, and prayerfully read His Word. That Word . . .
received into the heart by faith,
digested by meditation, and
reduced to practice in the life,
will bring the soul and Christ together!

For the more we know of Christ--the more we shall love Him, the more we shall prize, pant for, and seek to enjoy His presence!

Blessed Spirit, help us so to read the Word--as always to find Christ in it; and by it endear Him more and more unto us, and bring us into closer fellowship with Him!