Invitation

There is a great way to introduce people to Christ. Use the invitation, Come and See! It has worked for thousands of years. Jesus used it in calling His disciples - come follow me and see all the wonders and plans of God. He used it when John the Baptist disciples asked Jesus if He was the Christ - Tell what you have seen.

The Samaritan woman at the well used it to tell the people of her town about the encounter she had with Christ. Come and see all the things He told me about myself. Many were saved because of this simple invitation.

It will work for you as well. Allow your friends and family to see what Jesus has done for you. They will be changed forever - Praise the Lord!

Be wise today and always - invite someone to come and see Christ.

Losing the Game

Anyone who has played sports knows that it is preparation and execution is what wins games. The team that prepares the best and uses that preparation on the field will know they have given their best. The Bible says we are to be prepared to share our faith at any time. So why does it seem like we're losing?

I believe it's because we don't prepare or even get in the game of life. We're to busy to allow God to change our heart or outlook on eternity. We find a hundred reasons why we don't want to share what faith we have.

One thing I appreciate about God's plan for humanity is that it is straight forward, and not complicated. “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. - John 3:16-18 The Message

Be wise today and always - get in the game.

God Real?

Our first question in our God Questions study: Is God Real? We find part of the answer to that in Psalm 19:1.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

Everyone wonders about God from time to time. It’s the nature of faith.

What is faith?...It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.  Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Pointers to God’s existence:

1. The existence of “stuff.”

…the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

2. The nature of “stuff.”

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. Romans 1:20 (NLT)

3. My sense of right and wrong.

Even when Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong. They demonstrate that God’s law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what it right. Romans 2:14-15 (NLT)

How do I relate to God?

Be wise today and always - communicate with the only real God.

Using Your HEART

“I didn’t think I could do it. But I found out I could. It’s not as hard as you think You just have to have a willing heart.” – Anonymous

When you think of sharing your life mission in the world does it conjure up images of far away places and remote people groups?  Most of us the mission field begins right here where we live.  Church is an outreach ministry to all who live in the community next door.

Using the acrostic HEART (from Saddleback Church) to explain what we think might be the essence of a person who could really care for a few others.

Hands that are open before God.  If your hands are open saying, Father, these are ordinary hands but I want You to use these hands in this life to be able to touch the life of another. Are your hands open before God? 

Experienced in connecting with others.  Not forever but at least for a while.  But it is not just about being in community and experiencing community…

Available to be used by the Father.  That’s ultimately the purpose and the path of life.  Would you be available?  Are you?

Reluctant to be used can be a good thing!  As you look at the character of David, Jonah, or look at the character of Moses who had five good reasons why he didn’t think he would be God’s man for the moment.  God said you are. 

Teachable spirit.  Are you willing to listen? We need people who are willing to be teachable and responsive to God.  Like the clay that is on the potters wheel being willing to be brought into something magnificent beyond what they can do on their own. 

Be wise today and always - ultimately it’s all about the heart.

 

How does God want to use yours?

Stepping Through the Door

Yesterday we looked at Spiritual Doors and how to open them. Today we'll look at suggestions from 1 Peter 3:15-16 on what we need to do once they are opened. There are three things we need to do:

1. Preparation:  Study so you can answer people’s questions. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

2. Presentation: Respond gently, so they can hear your answers. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15

3. Reputation: Be righteous so people will believe you. …keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:16

 When considering your preparation, presentation, and reputation what areas do you need to work on?

“We pray that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.” Colossians 1:10

 

Be wise today and always - be ready to share your hope always.

Opening Doors

Spiritual Doors are God's divine appointments and opportunities for believers to share their faith with others. There are four things we need to know on how to do to open any Spiritual Doors that God puts before us. They can be found in Colossians 4:2-6:

1. Pray for an opportunity. Devote yourselves to prayer… Colossians 4:2

2. Watch for the opportunity! …being watchful and thankful… Colossians 4:2

3. Make the most of the opportunity.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity… Colossians 4:4-5

4. Create a thirst for more. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

Be wise today and always - open the door to Christ.

True Faith

Why is faith in the one true God so important to our daily walk? God makes great restoration promises to His people, but in Jeremiah 29:5-7 He says:  5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

 He lets them know they will not be returning to their homeland. Many times we want things to be “just the way they were”. But God has other plans which are better for us. We need to have faith in that.

 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

 Are you seeking God?

Be wise today and always – seek the truth with all your heart and you’ll find God.