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Common Mistakes Christians Make When Sharing the Gospel

Filed under: Evangelism, Intimacy, Justice, Knowledge of God, Sermon on the Mount

One of the issues of Justice facing the world today is the lack of the Knowledge of God. I consider this a justice issue because the enemy is deceiving billions into believing wrong things about God and who Jesus really is. This false message is being evangelized from the pulpits of the big screen, the small screen, universities, as well as some churches. Even more than that Satan has pulled the blinders over believers eyes on this issue so much that most believers are afraid to share the truth about who Jesus is.

I will be the first to say I’m not the best at sharing the gospel. I’m not an expert by any means. However bad I am at it, I don’t want that to stop me from sharing the greatest news I could ever have. Everything this world has to offer is worthless compared to this news. Just to be honest, I wonder how many times I haven’t shared the gospel with people b/c of hidden places in my heart where I don’t actually believe. So I have determined in my heart to not wait until all of my words are eloquent and I have memorized all of the right scriptures. I will be a peacemaker while I’m learning to be an effective peacemaker.

Since being here at IHOP I’ve shared the truth about Jesus more in the last 2 years than I have in my entire life. So I wanted to share some of my thoughts and my experiences about common mistakes Christians make when sharing the Gospel.

Approaching people with the idea that in today’s world everyone knows Jesus:
When sharing the gospel here in America most non-christian people I come into contact with have heard of Jesus. Some know scriptures about who He was or what He said. However, almost all of them with their bits and pieces of scripture form wrong conclusions about who He was and is because they do not have all of the information. They tend to form their conclusions based on 1 or 2 things they have heard and then combine that with what they see from movies, tv, the news, and christians they know.

Another interesting thing is that about 8 out of 10 people I talk to don’t mind me talking to them about what the Bible says about Jesus/heaven or the like as long as I ask them permission to share.

When you turn the conversation from “sharing the gospel” into “winning an argument”:
One of the things I’ve seen christians do as well as caught myself doing from time to time is trying to win an argument that forms. You start off sharing the gospel with love and it turns into a debate on one non-essential part of scripture or objection they may have. I’ve learned that in sharing the gospel it is not about winning. We do not save someone’s soul. We cannot, with our persuasive words, covert someone to christianity. We must share the truth about Jesus and then let the Holy Spirit do His work. Speaking the truth in love is a must, and not getting sidetracked into a debate. Genuinely show people that you care for them.

When you get caught up in trying to refute every belief they share with you:
I’ve seen it happen many times. You start to share your belief with them, but when they start sharing their beliefs with you every single one of them must be immediately refuted and cast down for the lie that it is. Most people you talk to will have different beliefs in many areas than you. When you talk to someone and share with them, they are going to feel that it is ok to share with you what they believe. If we get offended or feel the need to say how wrong they are with every belief they have, we will have very short and tempered coversations and probably move people further away from finding the truth about Jesus.

Look for opportune times and ways to point people in the right direction with beliefs that do not line up with the Bible. Share the truth of the scriptures with love instead of the “well, thats where you’re wrong!”.

Giving up after a few times of seeing no results:
I’ve done this many times. I’d specifically be at a place to evangelize, talk to 2 or 3 people with uninterested responses and then I’m done. I’d leave OR I’d walk around looking at people but never walking up to anyone.

However, the key to remember when sharing the gospel is that regardless of the person’s response, if you were faithful in telling someone the truth about who Jesus is, it counts in heaven. Also, when you share with them truth from scripture, the Word of God does not return void. That seed has been planted, so be encouraged with each person you talk to about Jesus. Jesus also says in Matt. 5 that even when people persecute you, revile you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for His sake, to rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

Approaching the gospel as “something they need to buy” instead of a “message of hope”:
Many times I’ve seen and entered into being a christian in “sales” mode. It turns into a “I’m selling something” and “I want them to buy it.”

Again we have to remember that it is not about whether they “make a purchase” or “buy into what we’re selling”, it is about whether we have been faithful to the truth about who Jesus is and shared it with others. If we are faithful in continually being a light and one who makes peace by telling others about Jesus, the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

We want to build relationships with people and express genuine concern for them as people. If you are just trying to sell them something, and then when they buy you’re out of their lives, how long do you think they will keep their “purchase”? We must be people who genuinely care for people and follow through to the end.

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” – C. S. Lewis

Tags: Evangelism, Intimacy, Justice, Sermon on the Mount

Revelation: A Series

Filed under: End Times, Featured, Knowledge of God

The book of Revelation is meant to be read and understood by everyone not just the scholars. This book gives us more information about the severe coming crisis than any other book in the Bible. As the body of Christ, we are responsible to know and act on this information.

Below is a series of articles to jump start you in your journey through the book of Revelation and ultimately help you to pursue knowledge of God. By reading and praying through this book you will get to know the leadership of Jesus at the end of the age.

1. Revelation: Is For Everyone
2. Revelation: The Basics
3. Revelation: 5 Chronologicals & 5 Angelic Explanations
4. Revelation: 7 Primary Symbols

Tags: 5 Chronological, 5 Parenthetical, 7 Bowls, 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, Antichrist, Babylon, Christianity, End Times, Eschatology, God’s Wrath, Great Tribulation, Jesus, John, Prophecy, Rapture, revelation, Series, The Bride

Sin – As Defined by Barack Obama

Filed under: Blogging, Knowledge of God

I saw this article in the USA Today and the author was commenting on a quote from Obama in an interview when asked the question “What is sin?” I found his answer to be very revealing, not only of his personal beliefs but in how many in the world today are coming up with their own definitions of sin and what it really means to “sin.” 

Sin (as defined by Obama):

“Being out of alignment with my values”

Sin (as defined by the Bible): 

1 John 3:4 – “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (sin is lawlessness)

Romans 4:15 – “…for where there is no law there is no transgression”

Romans 4:23 – “Whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Sin = Transgression of the Law; Sin = Whatever is not from faith

so that would mean:

Whatever is not from faith = Transgression of the Law = Sin

So in Obama’s case, he is saying that if he is out of alignment with his values, then he is sinning. This type of thinking is very normal in postmodern America. Especially among young people and it has unfortunately also entered parts of the Church. We tend to personalize our faith, and rightly so. Our faith is very personal, but our faith in God, and in Jesus Christ isn’t based on a set of values that each of us determines on our own. The values that we as Christians should have SHOULD be determined by the values that God has. 

Here is how Wayne Grudem defines sin in his book (which I highly recommend) Systematic Theology:

“Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.”

Sin is here defined in relation to God and his moral law.

3 Biblical Aspects of Sin

1. Action (Ex. 20:17)
2. Attitude (Mt. 5:22,28)
3. Nature (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:3)

Sin in our Actions 
This is an easy one to see and the one most people will agree with as being morally wrong. These include individual acts such as stealing or lying or committing murder.

Sin in our Attitudes
Now on this one it starts to encroach on most people’s comfort zones. When someone starts to tell you that things you are thinking are wrong, or desires that you may have are not desires that you SHOULD have, then attitudes start to flare and walls go up right away. However, this type of sin is something Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount (basic foundational Christianity at its core). (Matthew 5:22,28; Gal. 5:20; Mark 12:30)

Sin in our Nature
This refers to our humanity and our inherited sin. We are counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. Paul explained the effects of Adam’s sin in this way:

“Therefore… sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all mean because all men sinned” (Rom. 5:12)

“while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

“we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:3)

When we are first introduced to this concept, the tendency is to think it is not fair that we should be counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. We didn’t actually sin. How can we be counted guilty?

But we must remember a few things:

1. We will be judged for our own sins on the day of judgment. Everyone who is of the mind that this is not fair has committed some type of sin to which we will be judged. (for God “will render to every man according to his works” (Rom. 2:6). 
2. Our sin today also likely demonstrates that if we were in the same boat as Adam, we would have sinned to and wrecked it for the human race. 
3. However the best answer lies in the 3rd one. If we think that it is unfair that Adam represented us and thus we bear the guilt and inherited sin of what he did, then we must also concluded that it is unfair that Jesus represented us and our sin on the cross and so we get to reap the benefits of His righteousness being imputed to us. (“As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous” Rom. 5:19). 

Our View of God (and who Jesus really is)
Our values determine our actions, how we walk out our faith. But if our values are faulty, or based off of wrong information, to begin with, then our actions will suffer the consequences of faulty values. It is our view of God, what He is like, and what we as moral beings must do about Him that will shape our values. 

As Tozer puts it:

“The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place. 

The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true.”

Our View of Jesus Christ
This brings me back to another statement made by Obama in the interview. When asked who Jesus was to him, first he laughed nervously. Then he went on to say that:

“Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he’s also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith… and he’s also a wonderful teacher.”

While those things are all true it is missing one crucial element of the Christian faith. Jesus was and is God in the flesh. Jesus even said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” 

Having a right view of who Jesus Christ is (which really means who God is), will dramatically shape the way you think about everything, and it will specifically shape your values. Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man, He was and is both Fully God and Fully Man. Not half and half. He was not only a great teacher (though He was that), and not only a historical person. Jesus is the ONLY true God. 

Obama’s Christian Faith of Many Paths
Which brings me to the other comment made by Obama. When you begin with a wrong view of who God is and who Jesus is, then you too may find yourself saying this statement:

“So, I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe there are many paths to the same place…”

Tags: Christianity, God, law, obama, Politics, sin, values

Jesus’ One World Government

Filed under: End Times, Knowledge of God

What I’m going to attempt to do in this article is to provide the framework for the real establishment of a real government whose leader is God Himself in human form. This will take place at a future point in time and will be a progressive time of preparation for the earth as a whole.

This framework will take on these 2 assumptions:

1. Jesus is coming again to the earth at some point in the future (2nd Coming)
2. There will be a literal 1,000 year period of time starting soon after Jesus returns to the earth (2nd Coming).

For the past 2 months I’ve been studying Psalm 50 (a Psalm of Asaph). We’ve been looking at it in a small group I lead as well as singing through the passages each week. I’ve developed an insatiable desire to see Jesus break into this world set the wrong things right and setup a righteous government all the while believers getting to be with Jesus and work along side of Him.

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Tags: 2nd Coming, Christianity, Eschatology, Government, Jerusalem, Jesus, Zion

Pain in Life: Is it God’s Desire?

Filed under: Blogging, Featured, Knowledge of God

One of the many basic questions on every human’s heart in life, especially as it relates to God, has to deal with pain and suffering. Why does God allow pain and suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? 

In this post I will attempt to give my thoughts on the issue. Feel free to respond if you agree, disagree, or have thoughts of your own about the issue that I did not address. 

In the Bible God does not give micro reasons to every little problem everyone may go through. Instead He gives macro reasons, the ultimate goal behind the situations that come up in life that cause us to face our humanity and face His divinity and make a choice.

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The Word of Life

Filed under: Blogging, Knowledge of God

Why are people willing to renounce all to follow him and even die in his service? How is it that one who died the death of a criminal could be worshiped today by hundreds of millions? How is it plausible that two thousand years after his death his life would be avidly studied and worshipers would address their prayers to him?

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The Mystery of God

Filed under: Knowledge of God

Making our lives work right is a pain sometimes. Circumstances seem to get in the way and throw us off track. We make plans and life seems to come in like a tornado and we end up on a course we didn’t plan for. We never do plan for tornados or for unforeseen circumstances, that is why they are called “unforeseen”. We cannot control when things happen to us, but we can control how we respond; and in this lies the answer.

John 17:3 – ‘And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.’

In this passage Jesus is speaking to God the Father and we are hearing this because of God the Holy Spirit. So we are listening in on the holy dialog between God and God by the power of God. If we look at this chapter of John 17:1-26 it is broken up into 3 sections.
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Living Now is to our Advantage!

Filed under: Blogging, Intimacy, Knowledge of God

The generation we are living in right now is more important and more significant than we know. Many have said that it would be so much better if we could have lived in the time when Jesus was on the earth; oh to be a disciple and to walk in his footsteps and see the miracles He did and to get to talk to Him face to face. And while those things seem desirable, Jesus disagrees.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

It is “TO YOUR ADVANTAGE”, to my advantage, to our advantage that He no longer be here on the earth with us. How is this possible? Wouldn’t be so much easier to witness to people about the man who is fully God and fully man, who’s name is Jesus of Nazareth if He was here on the earth and we could introduce Him? Wouldn’t it be so much easier for people to believe that He was God if people could see Him?

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Building a History with God

Filed under: End Times, Featured, Intimacy, Knowledge of God

God is really pressing some things on my heart lately. This is one of them and I wanted to share it with you and encourage you in your pursuit of God. Many of you may have this reality pressing on your heart already, and for some this may be something that isn’t normally talked about. So please share your experiences and thoughts on this pressing issue because I feel its an issue that God is really highlighting in this hour of history.

Without a history, it’s sooo easy to cut and run.
It is very easy to leave someone or a group of people if you do not have a history with them. If you are not really connected relationally when troubles come it is sooo easy to just cut and run because of the lack of ties you have. This is what happens to many relationships within the church, and I believe it is why so many people leave the church.

The more history you have the stronger your cord becomes that is tieing you to that relationship. It’s like a rope that is tied to each of us. The more you build relationally together the stronger that rope is. It becomes thicker and thicker. Usually that rope will start out as a small piece of thread which can be easliy torn apart with two hands and even kids scissors. But the more history that is built with good communication and good relationship building the stronger and thicker that tie becomes, and it is not easily broken at all.

2 things that I see that help strengthen the ties we have to one another are: (more…)

Pics from the Conference

Filed under: Blogging, Knowledge of God

3 Sessions of mind-blowing revelation from the heart of God. Now to put it into practice.

Some of the hard hitting truths Corey brought to us (although this doesn’t even begin to sum up the wealth of information and fire that went on this weekend):

1. We need the Spirit of Revelation: We need to see! We need to know that we are blind and in need.
2. We need to pursue God without regard for legalism (just look at our heroes if we think we are even getting close to being legalistic).
3. Fasting, fasting, fasting is needed.
4. The greatest need in the world today inside and outside the church is the knowledge of God.

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