John 1:29-34
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." ESV
A Christian witness is first and foremost about Christ.
We tell people what the early church enshrined in the Apostles’ Creed: that Jesus is God’s only Son and our Lord; that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; that He experienced death for three days and then rose from the grave; that He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and that from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. …
[The message of John the Baptist] was not about his experiences or what he felt about God, but about Jesus. When he saw Jesus, he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” We, too, must testify that Jesus is the One who came to do God’s will by God’s power. John the Baptist said, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34), and we must, too … (Phillips, 12-13; also, see chapter 3)
In chapter 3, Phillips points out the powerful connection between Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the Passover lamb of Exodus 12. He says, “So calling Jesus the Lamb of God was John’s way of saying that his blood causes God’s wrath to pass over all those who trust in him.” The imagery of the Lamb of God wonderfully unites the typical symbol (the Old Testament sacrifice of lambs) to the ultimate reality, Jesus. Just like the Passover lamb, the blood of Jesus protects fully all of those for whom he died. What an encouragement to know that your sins—past, present and future—are covered by the blood sacrifice of Jesus.
What does this mean in daily life? It means that you don’t have to live a life of constant excuse-making for your sins, because Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. It means that you can extend kindness and mercy to friends and coworkers who mistreat you because the Lamb of God takes away your sin. You have a message of hope to give to others, that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of all those who ask in faith. It means that you can face each day with joy and peace because the Lamb of God has paid the price for your sin. It means you are not like the unbelievers around you because the Lamb of God has been slain in your place.
What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Lamb of God?
· For each day this week think of a particular way that you are blessed because Jesus is the Lamb of God.
· Thank God in prayer for this reality.
· Tell your wife about this blessing from the Lamb of God. Tell a friend or a co-worker. Start with some ideas from the paragraph above and then add your own life experiences to the mix.
· Finish your week by praising God in prayer for a particular way in which the Lamb of God has brought comfort to your life because you no longer bear the guilt of your sins. Ask God to make this personal application grow in importance to you. You have been blessed by Jesus the Evangelist.
Think where you would be if the Lamb of God had not taken the punishment for your anger, your greed, your lust, your selfishness. Praise God that he did. Because of that personal sacrifice you don’t have to live under a cloud of guilt and defensiveness. The Lamb of God has taken away your sin.
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Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Facing the Challenge of Evangelism
Week 2 2 Timothy 4:5, 17-18
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships,
do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. —2 Timothy 4:5, 17-18 ESV
The following article, “Evangephobia,” is excerpted and adapted from an unpublished manuscript written by Ken Priddy, Director of Church Renewal for Outreach North America, the home missions agency of our denomination.
Evangephobia
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. —2 Timothy 4:5
A phobia is a fear and we all have fears; fear of heights, fear of public speaking, fear of failure, to name a few. In observing the American church, I have discovered a fear that is running at epidemic proportions, the fear of evangelizing, or as I have come to call it, evangephobia. This fear has paralyzed the American church, making it one of the least effective at evangelizing of all the national churches in the world.
I find this both tragic and embarrassing. Every second of every day God is building His invisible, eternal church as He brings the world’s lost men, women and children to Himself. The Christian church in many countries of the world is exploding with growth, and yet the American church, with the world’s best-educated clergy, the world’s most resources, and the world’s most political freedom, declines. Why? The American church seems afraid to share its faith, caught in a sweeping outbreak of evangephobia.
When questioned about their evangephobia, American Christians list many causes, but several are cited with great frequency:
• They lack the spiritual gift of evangelism.
• They don’t want to offend people.
• They fear rejection.
• They don’t know what to say.
It seems odd that so many Christians can easily communicate their personal experiences at having read a great book, seen a great movie, dined at a great restaurant, or received great service from an auto mechanic. Recommendations and testimonies flow freely in regard to these everyday occurrences, yet when it comes to sharing our personal experiences with our great Savior, we suddenly lose all ability to communicate.
Sharing the faith, or witnessing, is born in personal testimony. Recommending a book, movie, restaurant or auto mechanic begins with our giving testimony to our personal experiences. We say that we found the book to be entertaining, educational or full of meaning. We report that the movie was hilarious or dramatic and know that others would love it as well. The food was delicious and well presented and so we rave about the dining experience. The mechanic did a great job in a timely manner at a reasonable price. We have benefited through these personal experiences so we urge others to benefit as well.
Why is it that we give such effective testimony about so many things in our lives but go mute when it comes to giving testimony to the most important thing? Perhaps another reason is that our faith is more intellectual than experiential, so that we really don’t have much of a testimony to share. What if we never read the book, never saw the movie, never ate the meal or never took the car in for service? What kind of testimony could we give? Regardless of the causes, evangephobia continues to spread through the American church, and we continue to keep the Good News to ourselves.
• In what ways have I succumbed to the widespread spiritual disease of evangephobia?
• What is my testimony, my personal eyewitness account of who Jesus is and what He means to me?
Redeemer men, think about the charge Paul gives in 2 Timothy 4:5. Timothy seems to have been somewhat timid, and Paul urges him to work hard at the task of evangelism. Meditate also on the verses at the end of the same chapter (vv. 17-18), where Paul reflects on his own experience. Evangelism did not come easily to Timothy, or even to Paul. Be encouraged! The same strength they received for their task is available to you also. You have the same God!
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships,
do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. —2 Timothy 4:5, 17-18 ESV
The following article, “Evangephobia,” is excerpted and adapted from an unpublished manuscript written by Ken Priddy, Director of Church Renewal for Outreach North America, the home missions agency of our denomination.
Evangephobia
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. —2 Timothy 4:5
A phobia is a fear and we all have fears; fear of heights, fear of public speaking, fear of failure, to name a few. In observing the American church, I have discovered a fear that is running at epidemic proportions, the fear of evangelizing, or as I have come to call it, evangephobia. This fear has paralyzed the American church, making it one of the least effective at evangelizing of all the national churches in the world.
I find this both tragic and embarrassing. Every second of every day God is building His invisible, eternal church as He brings the world’s lost men, women and children to Himself. The Christian church in many countries of the world is exploding with growth, and yet the American church, with the world’s best-educated clergy, the world’s most resources, and the world’s most political freedom, declines. Why? The American church seems afraid to share its faith, caught in a sweeping outbreak of evangephobia.
When questioned about their evangephobia, American Christians list many causes, but several are cited with great frequency:
• They lack the spiritual gift of evangelism.
• They don’t want to offend people.
• They fear rejection.
• They don’t know what to say.
It seems odd that so many Christians can easily communicate their personal experiences at having read a great book, seen a great movie, dined at a great restaurant, or received great service from an auto mechanic. Recommendations and testimonies flow freely in regard to these everyday occurrences, yet when it comes to sharing our personal experiences with our great Savior, we suddenly lose all ability to communicate.
Sharing the faith, or witnessing, is born in personal testimony. Recommending a book, movie, restaurant or auto mechanic begins with our giving testimony to our personal experiences. We say that we found the book to be entertaining, educational or full of meaning. We report that the movie was hilarious or dramatic and know that others would love it as well. The food was delicious and well presented and so we rave about the dining experience. The mechanic did a great job in a timely manner at a reasonable price. We have benefited through these personal experiences so we urge others to benefit as well.
Why is it that we give such effective testimony about so many things in our lives but go mute when it comes to giving testimony to the most important thing? Perhaps another reason is that our faith is more intellectual than experiential, so that we really don’t have much of a testimony to share. What if we never read the book, never saw the movie, never ate the meal or never took the car in for service? What kind of testimony could we give? Regardless of the causes, evangephobia continues to spread through the American church, and we continue to keep the Good News to ourselves.
• In what ways have I succumbed to the widespread spiritual disease of evangephobia?
• What is my testimony, my personal eyewitness account of who Jesus is and what He means to me?
Redeemer men, think about the charge Paul gives in 2 Timothy 4:5. Timothy seems to have been somewhat timid, and Paul urges him to work hard at the task of evangelism. Meditate also on the verses at the end of the same chapter (vv. 17-18), where Paul reflects on his own experience. Evangelism did not come easily to Timothy, or even to Paul. Be encouraged! The same strength they received for their task is available to you also. You have the same God!
Friday, September 12, 2008
John 1:6-14 A Witness to the Light
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:6-14 ESV
As John introduces the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, it is clear what he considers to be the great need of our world: belief in Jesus Christ. John wrote his Gospel to show that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
As human beings, we are alienated from God because of our sin. God is holy, and the guilt of our sin has placed us under His just condemnation. Meanwhile, the power of sin works evil in and through our lives, so that John could say in his first epistle that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19). If these are our great problems—God’s condemning judgment and the insidious effects of sin—the answer is the Savior whom God sent as a light to this dark world … the true answer to the world’s true problems is Jesus Christ, an answer we receive through belief in Him [emphasis added].
Richard Phillips, in Jesus the Evangelist, goes on to discuss how necessary it is to have witnesses to establish the truth, and how many different witnesses are presented in the Gospel of John. He further concludes that, just as Jesus sent out the disciples to be witnesses, now we are to carry on the work of witnessing to the world.
Christians understand the problems of the world as no one else can. Those who are spiritually dead cannot comprehend the truth. How many people do you know who live in darkness? How many people do you know who have the light … but keep it hidden?
Men, your role as a leader—in your home, at church, at work, and in your community—includes this most important task: to lead in evangelism. You must lead your family in witnessing; you must be a witness at work; you must shine the light of the gospel in the community; and you must work together with the rest of the church to spread the good news of the gospel.
• What is the content of your witness for Christ in evangelism? (What are the facts that people must hear?)
• How do you need to grow in your practice of witnessing?
• What will you do to equip yourself to be a better witness?
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:6-14 ESV
As John introduces the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, it is clear what he considers to be the great need of our world: belief in Jesus Christ. John wrote his Gospel to show that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
As human beings, we are alienated from God because of our sin. God is holy, and the guilt of our sin has placed us under His just condemnation. Meanwhile, the power of sin works evil in and through our lives, so that John could say in his first epistle that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19). If these are our great problems—God’s condemning judgment and the insidious effects of sin—the answer is the Savior whom God sent as a light to this dark world … the true answer to the world’s true problems is Jesus Christ, an answer we receive through belief in Him [emphasis added].
Richard Phillips, in Jesus the Evangelist, goes on to discuss how necessary it is to have witnesses to establish the truth, and how many different witnesses are presented in the Gospel of John. He further concludes that, just as Jesus sent out the disciples to be witnesses, now we are to carry on the work of witnessing to the world.
Christians understand the problems of the world as no one else can. Those who are spiritually dead cannot comprehend the truth. How many people do you know who live in darkness? How many people do you know who have the light … but keep it hidden?
Men, your role as a leader—in your home, at church, at work, and in your community—includes this most important task: to lead in evangelism. You must lead your family in witnessing; you must be a witness at work; you must shine the light of the gospel in the community; and you must work together with the rest of the church to spread the good news of the gospel.
• What is the content of your witness for Christ in evangelism? (What are the facts that people must hear?)
• How do you need to grow in your practice of witnessing?
• What will you do to equip yourself to be a better witness?
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