After the last Board meeting the Vision for Evangelism was articulated even more – bringing our friends to Jesus, and making new friends to bring more into saving relationship with Christ.
Every event that takes place in our church – is an opportunity to invite friends to know more about Christ, to observe and learn the life style of those who are following Christ. Every event – meaning: birthday parties, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, even funerals – it’s all about Jesus. If people attended your party and did not get closer to Christ, did not learn to appreciate God’s Salvation plan – an opportunity wasted. I shared in my last sermon a simple truth taught by Jesus – those who procrastinate, or waver are not fit for the Kingdom of God (Luke 9: 59-62).
We all watched in some game an athlete who in the final minutes of a game tried to hold on to the ball but it slipped through his fingers. In distress, on his knees, he’s pounding the turf. Do you react with same grief when missing on God given opportunities to witness to people, that so often without warning pass, never to return?
Consider that extremely profane co-worker you were determined to witness to, but before you got around to it, he had taken another job and you see him no more. Consider that young father who has for years regarded Sabbath as his day for fishing, or the mother who was too busy getting things perfect at work and missing Sabbath worship, and now the daughter is grown up and is not interested in following Christ, and other siblings had moved out from home and the opportunity to influence them is gone. Consider a wife who craved some sign that she is more important than her husband’s job, but now it’s too late and they are in court. Consider that youth with low self-esteem who needed to hear some person say, "you’re really special," until it’s too late and were burying them and everyone is asking, “did you know he was depressed?”
What opportunities have you missed this week? What chances to share the witness about Jesus have you ignored since last Sabbath? Some of us are forever glancing over our shoulders, worried about something in the past, some mistake, some sin, some issues. To such, Jesus says – if you put your hand on the plow, stop looking back! Do not miss the new opportunities laid before you! And if you need training - a new class on witnessing is offered every weekend. 40 sessions altogether are offered until June 2009. Get involved, learn and go teach others to obey by your example.
As we are moving toward another Fall Harvest, NET08 Discoveries with Mark Finley, local rallies by district pastors, and then series of 10 evangelistic meetings in 2009 – pray about God placing new people in your lives and be open about making new friendships, keep friends until they are mentored enough to be released into discipling others. When you introduce people to Christ – Evangelism is not finished. Until new Christians have not become active members of church ministries, evangelism has stopped halfway.
Give your friends a chance for salvation, get intentional about sharing Christ!
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