The Equation For Effective Evangelism

During Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam shared from Acts chapter 2. He noted that the disciples experienced a particular dynamic in worship that caused outsiders to witness the miraculous:

Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:7-11)

As we in Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene partner with other New York City churches in evangelism, we can be encouraged by the example of the church in Acts 2. Our pastor summarized this in a statement (paraphrased here): This is the witness: people will come to us to ask what is going on, and we will give them the authoritative word that came forth out of our authentic worship.

Our first task, then, is to be grounded in what ought to be our deepest joy: authentic worship. As we worship our great God, He sends His Spirit to fill our mouths with His authoritative word. When this happens, people will come to us… and we will point them to Christ.

What is the “language” that the Spirit of God has given us? Some of us may have the experience of communicating, clearly, in a language that we never studied. Others of us may have the experience of being able to accurately give travel directions in a region we’ve never lived in. Some may have the experience of full immersion in a culture they’d never been exposed to previously. If the Spirit is present, then we need not be concerned about what we appear to lack. Our lack of experience, and even our lack of education in particular areas, is not a problem for God. If we are found worshiping the Lord in spirit and in truth, then we can trust the Holy Spirit to make a way for the love and grace of God to be shown in and through us in ways that make it clear that the power is His and not our own.

But, we are warned with the same words Jesus said to His beloved disciples: On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” (Acts 1:4) If we attempt to go out and do the work of the Lord without the presence and power of His Spirit, we will not be effective in evangelism-- even if we are doing things that we believe are easy to get done (see John 15:5).

As we go through our day today, let’s make time to reflect on Acts 1 and 2. And let’s remain prayerful, and let’s be patient, as we wait for the Lord to empower us for ministry in the places He will send us.

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Watch Your Wait!

In Sunday's sermon, Reverend Ronald Benjamin shared a point I'd like us to reflect on today: We know that in Communion we remember Christ Jesus, but we often forget the entire phrasing of First Corinthians 11:23-26. It says: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

The Lord who instituted communion is the Lord who will one day come back for His people.

I think the challenge we have is that, as Scripture asserts, there are many people who believe they qualify as "His people" (see Matthew 7:21-23)-- but we would do well to remind ourselves of a few passages in which God shows us what sorts of people are not qualified to join Him in glory. As we wait for the Lord "until He comes", let us not approach the process with pride, nor shame, nor confusion, but with a heart to experience the grace of God.

What happens to people who, as they wait for the Lord’s coming, fail to remember Jesus?

1. They attempt to siphon faith from stronger Christians instead of seeking to develop their own faith-walk with the Lord. We see an example of this in Jesus’s parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The wise ones carried extra oil (a metaphor for the presence of God’s Spirit), while the foolish had no reserves. In the face of the lack which was exacerbated by the length of their wait, the foolish virgins sought to take from the resources of their colleagues. “The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’” (Matthew 25:8) But we are instructed to receive our resources from the Lord. Jesus says, “I am the vine… apart from me you can do nothing.” (see John15:5)

2. They forget that the forgiveness of God, extended towards them, models the way in which they are to forgive others. In the parable of the unforgiving servant (see Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus tells us that the one who is forgiven is expected to have compassionate mercy on those who are in need of forgiveness. The parable ends with the rescinding of mercy, because the man who was forgiven of massive debt had refused to forgive another man of a very small debt. We must remember what our Lord has said: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, Your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15)

3. They assume that the Lord’s delayed appearance grants them license to disobey. Jesus shared with His disciples a brief narrative about an unjust manager. The manager was a man who knew the desires of the owner, but who opted to do wrong in light of the owner’s extended absence. In the narrative, Jesus said: “But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.” (Luke 12:45-47)

Let us remember the Lord's death. Let us remember the Lord's imminent return. Let us watch our wait.

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jesus First, Yourself Last, Others In-Between.

(Today we continue reflection on the sermon preached by Pastor Sam at the Church of the Good Shepherd, as part of the series of ecumenical services held in the Northeast Bronx for Holy Week.)

The joy of the LORD.

In Tuesday night's sermon, Pastor Sam noted that in the midst of the exhortation for remaining in the vine, Jesus presents the promise of joy for those who obey His commands (see John 15:11). He says, I have told you this so that My joy may be in you.

Well, it's interesting. Jesus didn't say "so that joy may be in you", He said "so that My joy may be in you". It begs the question, what is His joy? How is His joy distinct from regular human joy? Pastor Sam gave an example that is indicative of the joy of the LORD, and it's a great one for us to reflect on at this time.

In the New Testament, we find in Acts 16 the account of Paul and Silas. They had delivered a slave girl from a demonic spirit of divination, and the owners of that slave were furious that they could no longer make money off of the girl. As a result of that healing act Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and put into the innermost prison cell with their feet in stocks.

What did Paul and Silas do?

They prayed and sang praises to God.
They preached and brought salvation to the jailer and his whole household.

Oh, my friends, and in particular my friends that are pastors and leaders, the joy of the LORD is indeed our strength. We live in a world that criticizes us for bringing deliverance to the captives. We live in a world that subsidizes sickness, and some people don't want to be fully healed because it means they won't get that monthly check anymore. Our obedience to God might well land us in prison.

So, if you should find yourself in prison, I'd like to encourage you to follow the example of Paul and Silas. Pray, praise, preach. Keep saving the lost.

Oh, and I'd like to also encourage you to remember that Jesus's promise of His joy is not a global promise. It is only promised to those disciples who obey His commands.

Remain in Jesus.
Remain in His love by obeying His commands.
Obey Him by loving each other as He has loved you.
Jesus has appointed you to go and bear fruit: be sure to carry out your assignment.

The blessings of Christ, and His joy, to each of you.

Just Between Us...

On Tuesday night of this week, Pastor Sam was the guest speaker at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Today's blog is based on the sermon he gave at that service.

In John 15:1-17, we read of the allegory likening our relationship with Christ to "the vine and the branches": that is, Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, and the implication is that if we are in Him we will bear fruit. The fruit is the evidence of our connectedness with our Lord.

Pastor Sam pointed out that, in the sharing of this allegory, Jesus gives a clear warning: "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:6). Yes, it's still true: Jesus is the only way to heaven.

And let's remember who Jesus was talking to. This was not an address to the crowd: this was a private conversation between Jesus and His eleven faithful disciples. (Judas, who had demonstrated himself to be unfaithful, had already left the room and was not party to this final discourse.)

What is Jesus saying, privately, to you and me?

My son, remain in Me.
My daughter, it's to My Father's glory that your bear much fruit.
My children, you are My friends if you do what I command.
My friends, I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last.

Friends, are you remaining in Him?
Have you gone to the places He has sent you?
Are you bearing lasting fruit?

The implication is that some of us are not remaining in Him, and are therefore withering away; some of us have not gone to where Jesus wants us to go, and perhaps we don't even realize that in doing so we have detached ourselves from the vine; some of us, like the fig tree Jesus cursed (see Mark 11:12-25), are showing off a display of huge healthy leaves but there is nothing in us that will feed and sustain the people who come to us expecting to receive something that will nourish their spirits. And, as Pastor Sam read first from the John passage, then reiterated again (twice) in his sermon, the unatttached branch is only good for fire. It's a triadic warning given in love, an appeal to ask you to make sure you are completely in Christ.

Friends, remain in Jesus. There is no value in being near the vine; we must be in the vine. Make sure and be sure of where you stand.