Grace Baptist Church of Arlington

This past week, I had the privilege of sharing the gospel with a very thoughtful Jew, who unfortunately doesn’t believe that Jesus is the Messiah.  As I reflect back on our conversation, I realize that too often we were talking about differences between Christians and Jews without talking enough about who is the main difference (Jesus).  I think that this must happen to a lot of Christians – chasing rabbit trails in evangelistic conversations. Unfortunately, it happens too often with me.

To my shame, it was only in the last third of our hour and a half long conversation that something clicked in my mind to remind me that I needed to be encouraging my friend to consider Jesus.  Jesus is, after all, the one we proclaim.  While it’s good to be able to help folks wade through some questions on the Bible and epistemology, it’s crucial that we get to Christ and proclaim him in our conversations.  Otherwise, they’re not really evangelistic conversations.  So be aware of your tendency to travel down evangelistic rabbit trails and aim instead at proclaiming Christ.  May God give us this grace and may he be pleased to work through us by his Spirit.

---

“Rabbit Trails & Evangelistic Conversations” is a post from the Grace Baptist Blog by Mike Law

Share

Under Blog, Evangelism

Lost from AsiaLink HistoryMaker on Vimeo.

HT: DG

Share

Under Blog, Evangelism

I’ve heard great things about Dr. Rick Phillips’ book, Jesus the Evangelist, and in the video below Dr. Phillips shares a few valuable insights.  Watch and learn.  Go read John’s gospel, and perhaps Dr. Phillips’ book, and learn evangelism from Jesus.

Share

Under Blog, Evangelism

It is a good practice to reflect on and rehearse the gospel.  Here Pastor John Piper answers the question, “What must I believe in order to be saved?”  If you haven’t done so already, then I’d encourage you to work on being able to share the gospel in about a minute.  This video can help you think through some of the main things you need to keep in mind while sharing the gospel.

Share

Under Blog, Evangelism, Theology

I found John Piper’s answer to this question very balanced, helpful, and convicting.

HT: Desiring God

Share

Under Blog, Evangelism

I’ve been reading through Greg Gilbert’s What is the Gospel?, and I’ve found it to be a helpful and encouraging read.  Here’s just one gem from Greg’s book:

“How can God have mercy on sinners without destroying justice?  What can it mean that God forgives iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clears the guilty (Ex. 34:7)?  How can a righteous and holy God justify the ungodly (Rom. 4:5)?  The answer to all these questions is found at the cross of Calvary, in Jesus’ substitutionary death for his people.  A righteous and holy God can justify the ungodly because in Jesus’ death, mercy and justice were perfectly reconciled. The curse was rightly executed, and we were mercifully saved.” (Greg Gilbert, What is the Gospel? (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2010, 69).

You want to pick two copies of this book!  One to read and one to give away to a friend who doesn’t know Jesus.

Share

Under Blog, Evangelism, Theology

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Andy Johnson encouraged us to consider our love for the Name (the Lord Jesus).  As 3 John explains, Christians go out to share the gospel because they love the Name.  Jim Elliot explains why he left the United States to serve Christ on the mission field, and I think his explanation reveals his own love for the Name.  He desires to see others come to love the Name, and scorns the rejection of the Name.

You wonder why people choose fields away from the States when young people at home are drifting because no one wants to take time to listen to their problems.  I’ll tell you why I left. Because those Stateside young people have every opportunity to study, hear, and understand the Word of God in their own language, and these Indians have no opportunity whatsoever.  I have had to make a cross of two logs, and lie down on it, to show the Indians what it means to crucify a man.  When there is that much ignorance over here and so much knowledge and opportunity over there, I have no question in my mind why God sent me here.  Those whimpering Stateside young people will wake up on the Day of Judgment condemned to worst fates than these demon-fearing Indians, because having a Bible, they were bored with it — while these never heard of such a thing as writing (Shadow of the Almighty, p. 237).

HT: Thabiti

Share

Under Blog, Evangelism

One of my prayers for us as a congregation is that we would be committed to making disciples of all nations.  I’m pretty convinced that when Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and make more disciples, all Christians were given that same mandate.  So, if you’re a Christian then you’re to be a disciple-maker.  Aaron Menikoff posted a few thoughts over at the 9Marks blog a little while back about disciple-making.  Many of his comments are directed at pastors, but we can all learn from his remarks.  Here’s a list of some of the most important things he said:

• Every Christian needs to be discipled.
• Every Christian should feel the responsibility to make disciples.
• Discipling can take place in small groups and in one-on-one relationships.
• Discipling requires commitment.
• Discipling is less about what you do and more about “life-on-life.”
• Discipling takes time.

Let me encourage you to take some time to pray about Jesus’ command to make disciples.  Think about how you can better obey Jesus command to make disciples, and then go and make an effort to build another person up in Christ to the glory of God.

Share

Under Blog, Church, Evangelism, Reflections

Our congregation is passionate about missions. I am passionate about missions. And that’s why I was delighted when I read Mark Rogers’ post over at the Gospel Coalition Blog on “10 Ways to Encourage a Missionary.”  Below you’ll find his list, but I’d encourage you to read his whole post here and encourage a missionary in at least one way.

1. Pray for them and let them know that you are doing so frequently.
2. Send them “real mail.”
3. Pray for the people the missionaries serve and not only for the missionaries and their families.
4. Recruit others to pray for the missionary’s  area of service (city, people group, etc.) or for the missionaries themselves.
5. Go visit them with the purpose of serving and encouraging them in their work.
6. Send them updates and pictures of you and your family (by mail or email).
7. Ask questions about their work.
8. Continue to be a Christian friend and continue to minister to them.
9. Support them financially.
10. Seek to encourage them when they are on stateside assignment.

Share

Under Church, Evangelism

How can God allow suffering and evil in the world? from A Passion for Life on Vimeo.

HT: JT

Share

Under Evangelism, Theology