Quit using excuses for not sharing the gospel

Excuses. We use them to justify our failures. Whether it is some innocuous event like being late for an appointment, or something we know God calls sin, our first reaction, too many times, is to make up some excuse.

However, there came a time in the late 1980’s that I wanted to be able to share my faith in Christ with others. I no longer wanted to use the lame excuse of “I don’t know how,” as justification for why I was not carrying out the great commission. It was not too long after I rededicated my life to Christ, and I was determined to be obedient to Him in being His witness to others. But once I purposed to learn how to share the gospel, what was I to do next?

When I was a teenager I wanted to learn how to whistle loud and shrill. I found someone who could do it, talked to them about how it was done, got their instructions, and began practicing. After a few days of practice, I was able to whistle loud and long…and it is something I can still do today.

Most of us who learned to ride a bicycle had someone help us learn, but it became incumbent upon us, once we understood the basics, to continue practicing until we mastered it. Like you, I can still ride a bicycle these many decades later.

I used this same line of reasoning when it came time to learn how to share the gospel. Once I purposed to learn, I sought out someone who could teach me.

It would have been great if the church I attended at the time offered training, but it did not. It would have been easy to use the excuse that a training class was not offered at the time, so I would have to wait. But this was more important than learning how to whistle or ride a bike. This was something I needed to do in order to be obedient to my Savior and Lord. After all, peoples eternal life hangs in the balance.

Needless to say, the person who taught me made it simple, but it was my responsibility to practice it until I mastered it. And unlike whistling and bike riding, the Spirit of God was also there to teach me and guide me through the process.

What is keeping you from sharing your faith in Christ with a lost and dying world…your family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and others? Do you use the age old excuse of, “I don’t know how?”

On December 1st, you can rid yourself of this excuse. On that Saturday morning, from 10am until noon, on the campus of Prince Avenue Christian School, I will teach you how to share the gospel using four bible verses that are familiar to most believers. Not only will you receive training, but you will have opportunities to practice with others who are there.

Give up the lame excuse of not being trained, purpose to be obedient to your Savior, and join us for this training. For more information call WorldReach toll free at 888-540-6534 or visit us on the World Wide Web at worldreach.us.

Reaching the world

Let’s be honest. God knows whether or not we are interested in reaching the world. He knows how many times we share our faith with someone. He knows how many opportunities He gives us to do it. He knows our obedience and our disobedience in being witnesses for Him wherever we may be.

If we truly believe hell is a place like that described in the bible, then why are we content to let others continue on their path to spend eternity in it? If we truly believe only God can give us purpose in life, then why are we content to watch people struggle to find it elsewhere? If we truly believe Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life for this world, then why are we content to keep Him to ourselves?

When a new retail store opens, many will shop at it and then tell their family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances about the great deals they can get. However, most of us are unwilling to tell the same people about the greatest gift they can receive – eternal life.

In Acts, we know that the born again believers were able to share the gospel when the Holy Spirit empowered them. Even in the face of severe persecution, they still told people about Jesus. It was their desire to be obedient to God, no matter the risk, which enabled them to be used by Him as witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

We want to think that we must be a Peter, Paul, or Mary to be witnesses for Christ. This is a deception that only results in our failing to allow God to work through us to reach others. It was not the countable few who took the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. It was the innumerable number of individual believers transformed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ, living a life of obedience to the commands of their Savior and Lord that God used then and that He will use now.

God commissions us to be His ambassadors with the Good News. It is our choice to be obedient.

We tithe, sometimes. We attend church, sometimes. We go to Bibles study, sometimes. We claim Jesus is Lord of our life, but in His words, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” Each one of us must answer this question for ourselves. If your answer brings upon you the conviction of the Holy Spirit, as my answer does me, let’s not go one more day without doing what our Lord has told us to do.

Reaching the world is our being obedient to share Jesus with the next person God brings across our path.

Romania Mission Trip Report

I just returned from leading a WorldReach mission team to Romania. We have been working in the northwest area of the country for eight years. Our partner in ministry is Jibou Baptist Church. Their pastor, Teofil Mihoc, seeks after God’s own heart.

Eight years ago there were seven churches in the area. Now there are seventeen. This church body has a strategy that focuses on evangelism, discipleship and church planting. The entire body of believers is used by God to execute it. Of course, all are involved through prayer. Others travel into the villages to lead bible studies, sing songs of praise, make ministry visits in the village homes, and preach the gospel. It is also great to see how the youth are actively involved in this process. Their involvement locally has resulted in many continuing to be used by God to evangelize, disciple, and plant churches when they leave Jibou and go into the larger cities for college and careers.

It has been a blessing to be used by God in this church planting movement. I have also learned much about walking by faith. The Romanian brothers and sisters have experienced God through many trials and tribulations. Undoubtedly, the older people had their faith forged in the fires of persecution during the communist years following World War II and ending in the revolution of 1989. Their children and grandchildren have been a first hand witness of the faith of their mothers and fathers, and have come to own it for themselves.

On Saturday, a group of more than 300 young people gathered in Jibou. They came from churches located in villages and towns throughout the county. It was the first gathering of its kind in the history of the Baptist Union in this area. Throughout the day there were times of praise, testimonies, other group activities, and a large evangelistic gathering that evening. By the time I stood to share the gospel, the Spirit of God was powerful in that place. He brought many into the kingdom.

It was also eight years ago that we first partnered with Emanuel University and Seminary. This is the largest conservative, evangelical university and seminary on the European continent. Their graduates are planting churches and ministering throughout Europe and into Asia.

Three of our team members taught at the university, interacted with local professionals, and spoke at a Christian high school. All of us then gathered in Jibou to be part of the evangelism and discipleship meetings that are an ongoing part of the ministry by Jibou Baptist Church.

As part of this trip, Bill Ricketts, pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia, led a retreat for this year’s Pastoral Theology senior class. During the week, a ceremony was held at the university to announce the establishment of the William H. Ricketts Chair of Pastoral Theology. Brother Bill, as he is most often called, has a tremendous impact on these “young preacher boys” as he calls them, and the university established the chair in recognition of how God has used Him to help develop their character and encourage them to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Many of you were part of this mission trip through praying and giving, and we thank you for blessing many in this way. Perhaps some of you want to join us on one of our many mission opportunities. Just check us out on the World Wide Web at worldreach.us.