Greetings all NWBC friends!
I just wanted to let you all know of something that I’ve been wanting to do for a while and have let slide. However, Paul Witte called me up today and suggested it, and I got really excited. Paul and I are going to spearhead some evangelism outings, and this Sunday is going to be the first.
How do you feel about evangelism?
Whenever people talk about evangelism or even about talking about Jesus with others outside the church, people tend to get a little uncomfortable. Some people are afraid they won’t know what to say. Some people aren’t convinced that it’s really important. But most of us are simply out of practice.
We’re going to make it fun!
So this Sunday, after our worship service, Paul and I are going to head on out to the Lincolnwood mall, have some lunch in the food court, and then go out into the mall to try to strike up one or two spiritual conversations with some people. The whole thing won’t be much longer than 90 minutes, and I think it will be a lot of fun to be able to get back together afterward and share our experiences with each other.
I’m going to teach you some skills.
Also, I’m planning to bring some tools to pass out and I’ll be teaching you three easy methods to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger.
- The “Journey Guide”
- The “Survey”
- The “Common Ground”
I’d love for you to join us!
So, I can’t give a personal invitation to all of you, but I can send out this note. Would you consider taking a few minutes of your Sunday afternoon to join Paul and me in building our skills in sharing our faith?
God bless!
Check out what this Chinese guy has to say about why America
isnt experiencing revival….. (its a short artical.) He’s on the money!! …. Amen
–Steve
NOTE: The following is an extract from a wonderful book,
‘The Heavenly Man’ by Brother Yun – one of the House-church
leaders from China who has been imprisoned and tortured for
his faith. He is speaking here of what it will take for the
Western church to see Revival:
CHINESE LEADER SPEAKS OUT – Re: “Revival in the West”
-Brother Yun.
Many pastors in Europe and America have told me they want to
see great revival. I’m frequently asked why China is experiencing
revival but most places in the West are not. This is a big question
to answer, but some reasons are very apparent to me.
When I’m in the West, I see all the mighty church buildings and all
the expensive equipment, plush carpets, and state-of-the-art sound
systems. I can assure the Western church with absolute certainty
that you don’t need any more church buildings. Church buildings
will never bring the revival you seek. The pursuit of more
possessions will never bring revival. Jesus truly stated, “A man’s
life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” -Lk 12:15.
The first thing needed for revival to return to your churches is the
Word of the Lord. God’s Word is missing. Sure, there are many
preachers and thousands of tapes and videos of Bible teaching,
but so little contains the sharp truth of God’s Word. It’s the truth
that will set you free.
Not only is knowledge of God’s Word missing, but obedience to
that Word. There’s not much action taking place.
When revival came to believers in China, the result was
thousands of evangelists being sent out to all corners of the
nation, carrying fire from the altar of God with them. When God
moves in the West, it seems you want to stop and enjoy His
presence and blessings too long, and build an altar to your experiences.
You can never really know the Scriptures until you’re willing to
be changed by them.
All genuine revivals of the Lord result in believers responding with
action and soul winning. When God truly moves in your heart you
cannot remain silent. There will be a fire in your bones, like
Jeremiah, who said, “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire
shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
Jeremiah 20:9.
Furthermore, it’s only when we step out in obedience and share
the gospel with people that we come to know God’s blessing in
every area of our lives. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote to his
co-worker Philemon, “I pray that you may be active in sharing
your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every
good thing we have in Christ.” -Philemon v.6.
I’ve seen people in Western Churches worshiping as if they’re
already in heaven. Then someone invariably brings a comforting
message, like, “My children, I love you. Don’t be afraid, I’m with
you.” I’m not opposed to such words, but why is it that nobody
seems to hear a Word from the Lord like, “My child, I want to
send you to the slums of Asia or the darkness of Africa to be my
messenger to people dying in their sin.”?
-From ‘The Heavenly Man’ – pg 296-297.
Book available from ‘Amazon.com’ and other outlets.