Col 4 - Prayer and Proclamation; Don't forget Praise!

Colossians 4 NIV

Young Evangelists - Youth Choir
Say it! Sing it! Just do it!
Share the Good News!

Prayer, praise, and proclamation; that is my evangelism strategy. As Paul closes his letter to the Colossians he reminds us to be diligent in prayer and proclamation. Devote yourself to prayer. Pray that God will open doors for the message so that mystery of Christ may be proclaimed. We don't need a program. We just need the grace of God in order to do His will.

Years ago, my congregation was involved in a multi-congregation effort to do more evangelism. We met quite a few times to talk about evangelism among ourselves. As I drove home with two of the congregations "delegates" to this consortium, we discussed the fact that we were driving quite a distance and spending an awful lot of time talking about evangelism and not actually doing any evangelism.

The truth be told we had these many meetings and had come to the conclusion that we were not of like minds. Leaders from various congregations did not trust one another; everyone seemed to have different and personal agendas, and we were not working well together. We talked a lot at every meeting; but, we never actually got to the point of proclaiming the mystery of Christ. We never got around to doing any evangelism. We had been too busy trying to figure what kinds of evangelism programs would work best. We agreed on that drive home that evening that we already knew in our hearts what we needed to do.  That we would quit wasting time, energy and financial resources talking about evangelism. We were determined to get back on track and put our time and energy into doing the ministry we had received from the Lord. Rather than just talk about it, we would get on with the business of evangelists: praying, praising God, and proclaiming the Good News through both word and deed. We presented this to the council. The motion was approved. By the grace of God, we continued to grow both in Christ and in numbers.

The growth that happened though, did not happen because of one or two or even three people. In this closing section of Paul's letter; he reminds us that he had many co-workers in the gospel. They proclaimed the Good News with one heart and mind. They served together. There were no special programs. They did not discuss strategies. By God's grace, they prayed that God would open doors and proclaimed the mystery of Christ clearly to the glory of God. And... the church grew both in Christ and in numbers.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 11:19-30 Evangelism Follows Persecution

Acts 11:19-30 NIV
God can use even the worst things that happen for the good of all people. Stephen's death would definitely not come under the category as a good thing. Yet, even as he was being stoned he testified to the kingdom of God. Just before he was stoned; "Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 'Look,' he said, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'" (Acts 7:55-56)

Here in our reading today we find that all those people who had scattered by persecution after Stephen was killed traveled far and wide spreading the Good News to both Jew and Gentile. The stoning of Stephen initiated a wide-spread persecution of the Christians; yet, it also initiated a wide spread evangelism movement.

Jesus promised that persecutions will come to those who follow him. But, with persecution; much blessing not just for the one; but for those who witness the persecution and those who hear about it. Persecutions do come; but, blessings comes with it. For, "blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:10)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 18 - Visiting Sheep

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:10-14 NIV)

On a pretty regular basis, I am out and about checking in on sheep who may or may not have wandered or maybe have never been shown the gate into the sheepfold. Shepherds do that. They seek the lost sheep. I am pretty fortunate in serving a congregation, who for the most part, understands this. They don't question who I've been visiting because over the years they've seen the sheep enter into the fold. In fact, they may have been one of them that was welcomed with open arms, like a long-lost friend, or as a prodigal son, as one of the members (who is much older than I) calls me, "mother." He knows that like a shepherd or a mother, even when I am not visiting him, I am always on the alert that nothing should happen to him. That's just the way it is with shepherds and parents. We are concerned that none should be harmed - none should be lost.

I have been in this community for a little over 15 years. I know just about everyone in the county. Every now and then God will put it in my heart to visit someone who is an acquaintance - someone I know through others - but, don't really know them. I have never regretted making those visits. I don't usually call ahead. I just stop and knock. Doors have been opened and I have always found them anxious for the company. Sometimes, they have been waiting for a word of hope. Other times they needed comfort or encouragement. Sometimes, they just needed someone to listen. Visiting others can be an amazing adventure. One never knows what one will encounter when you knock on someone's door. I have shoveled sidewalks, made coffee, washed dishes, cooked for them in their homes. I have found them on the floor. I have stayed beside them and held them for hours as they suffered through symptoms of withdrawal. I have found them abused and neglected. One just never knows what one will encounter when you knock on a door. Once you step outside those church doors, you can never know what doors will be opened to you or how many lost sheep you will encounter. (Course there are also a few lost sheep within the "church" as well - not to be neglected)

I would ask those of you who would have their pastors in their offices daily and serving only the "members" of that particular congregation rather than out seeking the lost sheep to please reconsider. The "church" that exists only for themselves and is not out seeking and serving the sheep outside the fold is really not a church. It is a social club.

Our Father is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

God's Peace - Pr. J
P.S. I call this evangelism and it is not my "job." It is what the abiding Christ does through all of us. It is a way of life. It is who we are.