Simple Questions

Simple Questions

Paul reminds the church at Corinth that “God hath reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation” (II Cor. 5:18), that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (5:19).  Then, “we are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ…” (5:20).  Every child of God has a responsibility for sharing the gospel of reconciliation.  Every converted Christian is an ambassador of Christ.

But where to begin spreading the Good News?  Most of us don’t have the boldness of Paul to march, probably unwelcomed,  into a synagogue of Jews, a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Catholic or Pentecostal church and just start proclaiming the gospel before a potentially hostile audience.  It takes special courage and conviction to walk around one’s neighborhood knocking on doors, or to stand on a street corner and ask perfect strangers if they “know” Jesus.  Sometimes, we want to say something, but we don’t feel comfortable or confident with our words or approach.

We are blessed at Pleasant Run to have individuals who seek every opportunity to share the Gospel and invite non-Christians and others to study with us.  Some of their methods of engaging those in the world and sharing the Gospel are quite simple, yet effective in initiating a dialogue.  This is, after all, a basic requirement of sharing the Gospel: dialogue.  Every New Testament conversion followed some sort of exchange of thoughts and ideas pertaining to faith, works, obedience, salvation, spirituality, etc (e.g., Acts 28:23).  Here are some simple questions we can use to begin sharing the Gospel with our friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances and, yes, strangers.

“What church do you go to?”

This simple, yet effective question kick-started this article.  Most people in our area attend some kind of Sunday worship or assemblies and are excited to talk about “their” church.  Learn about how others worship and some of the practices in which they engage.  It is only natural that the question should bounce back in your direction, and now you have an opportunity to share what you have learned to be true regarding worship, or the work or nature of the church.

“What are you reading?”

Philip had great success with asking a question like this (Acts 8:30-39).  People are reading around us all the time.  Sometimes they’re just reading something for entertainment, but sometimes they may be reading something spiritual or pertaining to the Bible.  Authors such as Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes have published and sold books by the millions, so chances are someone is carrying or reading some of these books around you.  And, sometimes, people are actually reading the Bible!  Initiate a dialogue, and you may find that, as with Philip and the Eunuch, people will have questions about what they’re reading.

“What do you believe about…?”

In Ephesus, Paul asked the people if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed (Acts 19:2).  Their response was, “We have not even heard about the Holy Spirit being given.” Paul then asked them, “Into what, then, were you baptized?” (19:3) When they said they’d been baptized into John, Paul was able then to begin teaching them more accurately the Gospel of Christ, and they were baptized according to truth (btw, they did not receive miraculous gifts of the Spirit until Paul laid his hands on them).

When you get the opportunity, sincerely ask people what they believe about certain biblical or spiritual topics.  If the topic of death comes up, ask, “what do you believe about death?”  If the topic of the Holy Spirit comes up, ask, “what do you believe about the Holy Spirit?”  “What do you believe about creation, miracles, heaven, hell, etc., etc…”

“How are you doing?”

Or, related questions such as “Is there anything I can help you with…?”  Jesus says, “By this men shall know that you are my disciples, when you have love one for another” (John 13:35).  Consistently asking others these kinds of questions is a good way to simply get to know them.  When you get to know people, you get to know their needs and desires.  Sooner or later, they will express a need, difficulty, challenge, or burden to which the only answer is the Gospel of Christ.  Certainly, we want to help as we can in an outward, material way, but it is our responsibility to let people know Christ is concerned with establishing and fortifying the inner man in spirit and truth (Eph. 3:16, John 4:23,24).

Finally, don’t ask people questions just to ensnare them.  Develop a heart that is sincerely interested in the spiritual well-being of others.  People will search your questions for sincerity, and immediately begin throwing up defenses if you are suspected of laying a trap or having some scheme up your sleeve.  The best way to show people you are sincere…is to BE sincere (Phil.1:10)!

 - Jeremy Koontz

 

Spaghetti Dinner!

Did I get your attention?  Well, if your stomach is growling and you’re looking for something to eat, chances are I did.  What if someone were to cry out, “Tax relief!”  If you’re having problems with your taxes this would probably get your attention.  If you were having marital problems, you’d probably notice every sign and billboard advertising marriage counseling.

Many religious groups are very clever at getting people’s attention.  As a matter of fact, it’s not uncommon for one to drive by a church building and see a sign that says something like, “Free Spaghetti Dinner!” or “Concert Tonight!”.  It’s not uncommon to get a flyer in the mail from a local religious group advertising a free movie screening, aid for single mothers, or a gardening demonstration.

But which one of the above mentioned services or provisions - food, counseling, entertainment, etc. - is something you can’t find outside the church?  That is, if one couldn’t find a religious group to get a hot plate of spaghetti, to see a good movie, or get marriage counseling, one could still find a secular institution offering the same provisions and services.  And yet, many religious groups, many of which wear the name of Christian, offer these services and provisions as if people couldn’t get them anywhere else.  These religious groups recognize that men have material and worldly needs such as food, shelter, financial assistance, opportunities to socialize with people of like interests, etc., and they use that knowledge to “draw people in.”

When Paul was among the Corinthians, he said he had nothing to offer them except “Christ and him crucified.” (I Cor. 2:2) At what point in Paul’s ministry do we find him offering to provide for people’s material needs before offering them Christ?  In practically every one of the four Gospels, before Christ performs any miraculous feedings or healings, we are told that he began to teach repentance of sin and the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 4:17).  His work in this world was completely focused on seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10).

Indeed, Christ performed miracles to feed and to heal people, thus making physical provisions for them, but these miracles (there is no account of Christ establishing a worldly institution which provided meals for hungry people, no account of him entertaining people before he taught them truth), served the primary purpose of confirming the divine authority of Christ (Heb. 2:3,4).  We might also take note in this oft quoted passage in Hebrews 2 that the emphasis at the beginning of the passage is on SALVATION.  If Christ did not offer material provisions and services for those who might be his disciples, and if he did not authorize any such activity in which the church should be involved, then we as His disciples need to be extra cautious when considering HOW we are going to “get people through the doors.”

One does not need to go to a church to find people to play chess with.  One does not need to go to a church to get politically involved.  One does not need to go to a church to watch a movie or play games.  One does not need to go to a church even to contribute to a philanthropic charity!  The world offers institutions through which all these things and so much more can be done!  The world makes provisions for these needs.  Nor should an individual STAY with a church simply because there are people there who share their interests.  If one is going to “worship” and “fellowship” with a group of people simply because those people enjoy the same worldly hobbies, subjects, or activities, then it is not “worship” or “fellowship” AT ALL, as the Word of God defines these terms (John 4:23,24, I John 1:3).

Who brings the church together?  Christ (Rom. 12:5).  Who sustains the church?  Christ (Heb. 1:3).  Who saves the church?  Christ (I Thess. 5:9).  As the body of Christ, as his “corporate” representative in the world today, what service or provision should we offer the world?  Salvation in Christ (Rom. 1:16).  What gimmick or hook should we use to “draw people in”?  None.  No gimmicks, no allurements.  JUST CHRIST!  If people don’t come to Christ in response to the Gospel, they haven’t come to Christ at all, but simply seek to have their worldly needs met (John 6:26).

If the world has institutions to provide for our material needs such as food, social involvement, financial support, etc., then what needs do people have that only the church can provide for?  Well, of course those needs are spiritual.  The church, the true body of Christ, should offer exactly what Christ offered: eternal Truth (I Tim. 3:14,15, John 14:6) and salvation in Christ (Luke 3:4-6, Rom. 10:9,10).  This is all we have to offer people and, truly, it is not we who are making the offer, but Christ.

As the saying goes, “whatever you use to get people in, that’s what you’re going to have to use to get those people to stay.”  If we use material, worldly enticements to GET people’s attention, we’re going to have to use those same enticements to KEEP their attention.  Even if one comes to worship with us because they saw that they could get a spaghetti dinner, we’ve already started to condition them to think that their material needs take priority over their spiritual needs.  The congregation that is involved in such practices may experience a significant growth in numbers and attendance, but is flying full speed in the opposite direction of the teachings of Christ, and will ultimately find itself spiritually lacking, having left its first love (Rev. 2:4).

Jeremy Koontz

The Bible - Pat Farish

THE BIBLE

The book which has on its spine the word “Bible”, is a collection of divine revelation.   It is identified as the word of God.   In the Lord’s prayer Jesus, praying, certifies it as truth, saying to the Father “your word is truth” (John 17:17).     Paul wrote Timothy that it was “Scripture breathed out by God” (II Timothy 3:16, 17).  This Book is thus a word breathed out (“inspired”) by God; it is the word of God, the truth.  To the Corinthians Paul wrote that this material was in fact the mind of God, revealed to man by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:10b-13).

As to arrangement, it is composed of two major parts, the “Old” testament, in thirty-nine books, and the “New” testament in twenty-seven books.

Considering the source of the Bible, we are not surprised that it is powerful.  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).     James wrote that we should “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul” (James 1:21).  It is wonderful that we have access to such power; but our access depends on our receiving, believing and obeying, that word for salvation.

And, salvation is what this is all about.  The Bible is not a book of history, nor of geography, nor of science – though where it has occasion to deal with any part of any of them it is accurate.  Rather than a book dealing with such secular things, it is the book revealing God’s will for man; man’s rebellion against and separation from God; and God’s loving provision for man’s redemption (John 3:16).

The Bible is understandable.  It was written to be understood by all --- not just by seminarians, or clergymen of whatever stripe they may be.  In this connection Paul told the Ephesians, I write so you can understand; and further, “do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is”, Ephesians 5:17.

The primary requirement of understanding the word of God is, attitude.  Jesus said, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching in from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority” (John 7:17).  The requirement Jesus announces is NOT, “be determined to know the truth”. In such a determination there is no commitment to serve the Lord.  So, what Jesus said is, if you make up your mind to DO the word, beforehand, when perhaps you do not know what He may expect of you, you may “know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority”.  Resolve, that where he leads I will follow: whatever His demand, that I will do.

The apostle Paul echoed this, by warning the Thessalonians that people would be lost because they did not love the truth, II Thessalonians 2:10.

The Bible is the mind of God, revealed for men to know God’s will and do it.  There is no better use of one’s time than to spend it in reading the Bible.  By so doing you can learn what God would have you do, and what He has done for you.  By such reading and determination to apply what you read, you can be sanctified, drawn away from the world to Christ and God.

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11)                                                      

                                                                                                             Pat Farish