Today is the Evangelism Conference at Taylor's Valley Baptist Church. It begins at 4:30 p.m. with Breakout sessions, a 5:30 meal ($7 for adults, free for kids) and worship with Randy Frazee and Rief Kessler at 6:30 p.m.
Today's devotional was originally posted on Aug. 31, the day we first distributed the BELIEVE books.
Today's devotional ends a trilogy of sorts about giving: giving of your time, giving of your resources, and today, giving of your faith story through evangelism. It also goes right along with Pastor Randy's message from Sunday, Aug. 28, "Lost or Found. "
In fact, take a look at a portion of Randy Frazee's book Think, Act, Be Like Jesus (I know it is not until week 20, but take a sneak peak at it below from pages 152-153).
The other Randy, Dr. Randy Wallace, said Sunday, "Which road are you on? If you keep going on the way you are going, where will you go?" Jesus did not say there was a traffic circle (reincarnation until you get it right), nor is there a road side stop (purgatory to pay for your own sins), nor is there a toll road (pay for the road to heaven by your good works).
There are only two roads, a broad road to destruction and a narrow road to eternal life. Let us share heaven's GPS -- God's Plan of Salvation-- with the world to get them in the right direction and on the right road.
Today's devotional ends a trilogy of sorts about giving: giving of your time, giving of your resources, and today, giving of your faith story through evangelism. It also goes right along with Pastor Randy's message from Sunday, Aug. 28, "Lost or Found. "
In fact, take a look at a portion of Randy Frazee's book Think, Act, Be Like Jesus (I know it is not until week 20, but take a sneak peak at it below from pages 152-153).
The other Randy, Dr. Randy Wallace, said Sunday, "Which road are you on? If you keep going on the way you are going, where will you go?" Jesus did not say there was a traffic circle (reincarnation until you get it right), nor is there a road side stop (purgatory to pay for your own sins), nor is there a toll road (pay for the road to heaven by your good works).
There are only two roads, a broad road to destruction and a narrow road to eternal life. Let us share heaven's GPS -- God's Plan of Salvation-- with the world to get them in the right direction and on the right road.
Today's devotional comes from Zondervan and is to help preview Believe, a 9 month Bible study curriculum which we will kick off with book distribution in LifeGroups this Sunday.
KEY QUESTION:
How do I share my faith with those who don’t know God?
Catastrophically, the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden
shattered humanity’s connection with God — the connection he originally
intended when he created people. So God unfolded a plan to provide the way for
all people to come back into a relationship with him. His grand plan included
the founding of a brand-new nation. Two thousand years before the arrival of
Jesus, God called Abram (later renamed Abraham) to start this new nation,
eventually known as Israel. People from all nations would come to know God
through Abraham’s offspring. [See Genesis 12:1-2.]
In the two thousand years that followed, Israel was a living
demonstration to the world of the lengths to which God would go to reestablish
his relationship with his people. Then, with the ultimate sacrifice of his Son,
the reconciliation with God that was formerly confined to Israel now became
available to all humankind. What’s remarkable is that we can play a pivotal
role in God’s restoration plan. By responding to the call to share our faith,
we partner with God in his divine pursuit of broken souls.
The most powerful way to share our faith in God is through
our life — being a positive example to all in how we live every day. When
others see the faith, hope and love in our life, they are drawn to live the
same way. After paying attention over time, they will notice our confidence in
and relationship with the one true God.
In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the metaphor of
“salt and light” to express the power of a life lived in faith and obedience to
God. [See Matthew 5:13-16.]
KEY
VERSE
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given
me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I
am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
(Ephesians 6:19–20)
KEY
IDEA
I share my faith with others to fulfill God’s purposes.
KEY
APPLICATION:
What difference does
this make in the way I live?
Can you recall the last time you shared Christ or at least
told someone how important your faith is to you? When was the last time you
invited someone to belief in Christ?
We must always keep in mind how much God wants to save
people. The criminal on the cross said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come
into your kingdom” — to which Jesus miraculously responded with, “Today you
will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:42-43). This two-sentence exchange
shows the deep longing in the heart of God to rescue people from sin and
eternal death. We must simply join him in his work by sharing what he has done
for us.
YOUR
TURN
What might be the reasons Christians lose their “saltiness”?
(You may find some ideas in Matthew 5:13-14.) Join the discussion today and use
the hashtag #BelieveTheStory.
