On Saturday, September 12, 2020, for the fifth consecutive week, members of my church family and I conducted evangelistic ministry outside our community's Farmers' Market. Our ministry consisted of open-air preaching, gospel tract distribution, one-to-one conversations, and sign evangelism. Eighteen members of my church family participated during the three-hour effort. Hundreds … [Read more...]
In the Lake of Fire: A Letter to My Church Family
With the above image in mind, this morning I sent my church family the following email. I hope it encourages you, as well. GFC Family, This image is circulating on social media. It is a picture, taken from a plane, of the current California wildfires, from above the clouds. After staring at this remarkable image for a few moments, my thoughts turned to the untold … [Read more...]
Self-Love: Rethinking the Doctrine and Its Use in Evangelism
I have often told people the reason they don't see the gospel as a message of love is that they love themselves more than they love God. I was wrong. Evangelista, Semper Reformada "Preacher [or 'evangelist'], Always Reforming." That's the English translation of the Latin phrase Evangelista, Semper Reformada. I have now proclaimed the gospel on the streets and have preached … [Read more...]
Pig at a Banquet: A Parable about Sin, Salvation, and Sanctification
I recently used a modern-day parable to encourage a young man struggling with sin. It involved a pig at a banquet. Maybe it will encourage you. Nothing New Under the Sun "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In all likelihood, I've never had an original thought. This truism … [Read more...]
Evangelism Tactics: The Unbeliever Judges Himself Unworthy
If you've engaged in any kind of public evangelism, you've probably run into the unbeliever who says, "Doesn't the Bible say don't judge?" By rejecting the gospel the unbeliever judges himself unworthy of salvation. Here's a new way to answer this common objection. Exposition of Acts 13:46 A couple of Sundays ago, my pastor, Mike Reid, preached a sermon titled: "The Gospel … [Read more...]
God’s Word: Peace
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance[c] upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8). "May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace" … [Read more...]
God’s Word: More Precious than Gold and Sweeter than Honey
King David, the psalmist, loved God's Word. He likened Scripture to fine gold and sweet honey. In Psalm 19, he uses six terms, descriptions, and effects to make his point. In doing so, David produced one of the most beautiful stanzas ever written about the inerrant, infallible, God-breathed Scriptures. The Text "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the … [Read more...]