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Evangelism: Comfort Zone?
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Jim Donohue pointed out in his message this Sunday that many of us have a hard time using the words “evangelism” and “comfort” in the same sentence. The whole idea of sharing the gospel and the awkward social interactions that might go along with it scares us off. As Jim put it, “Stopping what we are doing to invest our lives and build relationships with unbelievers seems unpleasant ... It seems messy. It seems like it would be very uncomfortable, and we don’t like to be uncomfortable.”
Jim went on to read this helpful quote from Mark McCloskey’s book, Tell It Often-Tell It Well: Making the Most of Witnessing Opportunities:
For most of us, evangelism is not a comfortable activity. Here we often face the ‘chicken and the egg’ dilemma. We reason, ‘I don’t want to do evangelism unless it feels natural.’ This feeling is quite understandable. But what we really are saying is, ‘I’ll do it when it’s in my comfort zone.’ And how does any activity get to the point where it ‘feels natural’? You guessed it—by doing it. Only personal experience broadens the boundaries of our comfort zone.
Being with those who don’t know the Savior might put you in some uncomfortable situations. Tomorrow we’ll post a video clip where Jim shares one of his own.
March 30 2009 at 4:00 am
Jim Donohue on Evangelism
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Yesterday, Jim Donohue preached a humbling and provoking message about Jesus’ heart for the lost in Luke 18:35-19:10. In that passage, Jesus explains to his followers that “the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Jim helped us consider what this should look like in our own lives.
You can listen online or download the message here.
Application Questions:
1. Luke 18:40 (and implied in Luke 19:5) states, “Jesus stopped.” Stopping to befriend blind beggars and evil traitors was an interruption for the disciples, but was always a part of Jesus’ plan “to seek and save the lost.” Where are you allowing your selfishness or pride to hinder you from stopping to reach out to unbelievers?
2. Do you remember Jim’s story of the woman who went on the weekend with her sisters? Where is God calling you to “get your hands dirty” in order to reach the lost? What’s something you can do in the next few weeks to take steps in this direction?
3. Jim exhorted us to urgently seek the lost by intentionally building relationships with unbelievers. When was the last time you were in the home of an unbeliever or they were in your home? What practical changes to your schedule do you need to make to build relationally with the lost?
4. Like Zacchaeus sitting in the tree watching the Savior, there are people in our lives observing our relationship with God. Who are these folks in your life? What steps can you take to reach out to them?
March 28 2009 at 6:00 am
Jim Donohue Is Our Guest Tomorrow
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Tomorrow Jim Donohue will be here to give a message on evangelism. Jim is an Executive Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pa. John David Maresco will lead our time of singing.
Since tomorrow is the last Sunday of the month, we’ll be singing “And Can It Be” from memory! Visit the Hymns: How Sweet the Sound page for more details about the Hymns project.
Looking forward to worshiping the Savior with you!
March 27 2009 at 11:37 am
“Me Only” Moments
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In this brief excerpt from the message he gave last Sunday, Chris Silard looks at what happens when we suffer from a “me only” attitude—when, in his words, “we are so busy with all of our own stuff that we don’t think we can serve others or we fail to even notice their needs.” The passage Chris reads is from the book, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands,
March 26 2009 at 5:25 pm
Put On Your Humble Servanthood
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“The life of Christ in us should produce humble servanthood among us.”
This was the central thought from Chris Silard’s message (The Call to Servanthood - Philippians 2:1-8) this past Sunday. I thought it would be a good follow-up to make you aware of several immediate opportunities for service in the church. Please take a prayerful look at the list below.
Note: To express your interest in any of these openings, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks!
Introducing God
Course: Wednesdays, April 15-June 10, 6:45-9:30 p.m.
Training days: Wednesday, April 1, 7-9 p.m. (all volunteers); Saturday, April 4, 9-11 a.m. (hosts/helpers)
Volunteer needs: 2 Cooks, 3 Hosts, 10 Sprouts Kids Club, 6 Food Servers, 6 Take Down Crew, 3 Set Up Crew, 6 Helpers
English as a Second Language
Classes: Wednesdays, April 15-June 24, 6:45-9:30 p.m.
Training: Wednesday, April 1, 7-9 p.m.
Volunteer needs: Teachers, Teacher Assistants, Dinner Serving Team and Greeting Team
March 25 2009 at 2:20 pm
Crabology
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Chris Silard opened his message on Sunday with some observations about the behavior of crabs. His words are well worth repeating here. Thanks again for being with us, Chris!
Have you ever heard of “crabology”? You may not know this, but I actually am a certified crabologist. I’ve studied the habits of crabs for years—as they’re cooking in a pot on my stove! And, here’s what I’ve discovered: Crabs have this innate, persistent desire to survive! You put them in the pot, and what begins to happen? You hear a little noise, and you open the pot, and stuck under the bottom of the lid is a crab, because he wants to get out. But, if you leave the lid off and watch them for a little while, here’s what you’ll see … they make their way to the top of the pot, because they can tell, “that hot steam coming up from underneath is not good for me!” So they climb on top of other crabs, totally disregarding eye balls (or whatever it is crabs have), and they try to make their way, with their claws, to the edge of the pot to survive … only to find there’s another crab holding on to their leg underneath, pulling them back in the pot, saying, “Where are you going? Stay here with the rest of us!”
See, crabs don’t care about the other crabs. They will promote their own interests at the expense of the other crabs. They will step on them and ignore the needs of other crabs to get to the top.
You know, crabs are not the only species on this planet that have this tendency. We do, too. Crabs will climb on others to preserve their lives, but we grasp at the top of the pot while we use or ignore others to preserve our own glory.
Look at verse 3 again with me. Paul commands us, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit.” What’s rivalry? That’s just a way of saying you’re pursuing your own interests at the expense of others. Maybe you want them to look bad; maybe you just don’t care. You’re reaching for the top of the pot, no matter what happens to others.
Conceit just means this: seeking a glory with no foundation in it. It’s empty conceit; it’s vain conceit, because it’s not based on anything true! [We have] this desire that we be esteemed for something we shouldn’t be esteemed for. That’s why it’s empty. What are rivalry and conceit? Competition ... self-promoting pride that says, “Me first!” And that mindset is public enemy number one, in my life and your life, to humble servanthood.