Open-air preaching is not the power of God for salvation. It is merely a method for communicating the gospel--one of many. God Has Not Commanded Your Preferred Method EVERY Christian is commanded by God in His Word to engage in evangelism and make disciples. That being understood, God does not command our favorite evangelistic methodologies. Nowhere in God's Word has He … [Read more...]
Love the Nomad; Don’t “Like” Him
Yesterday I discovered that I have numerous Facebook friends who are friends with a nomadic street preacher/abolitionist--a person with no real attachment or accountability to a local church. Three Groups of Facebook Friends I realize that among these Facebook friends there are likely some who... Have no idea the person with whom they are Facebook friends is a nomad. … [Read more...]
Still True: Overcoming Anxiety and Knowing Peace Through Prayer
Mahria took a day off work this week to sort through, purge, and organize years of family documents. During the several-hours-long effort, she came across some papers I had written during my time as a student at The Master's Seminary. The stack of papers she handed me included my Letter of Acceptance from the seminary and a paper titled "Philippians 4:6-7 -- Overcoming Anxiety … [Read more...]
Dr. James White, Empathy, Sympathy, and Cage Stages
I agree with Dr. James White. Some readers might be disappointed to read that, so let me say it again. I agree with Dr. James White. His position regarding the distinction between sympathy and empathy is biblical. While I have little to add to the "Is empathy sin?" conversation, I would like to provide a word of caution regarding the "cage stage" into which some may enter when … [Read more...]
It Came Down to a Polaroid: And Why I Never Rely on Evidence in My Evangelistic Apologetics
Evidence is very important in a courtroom, and I try never to rely on evidence when engaging in evangelistic apologetics. Bike Patrol In the Summer of 1998, I was assigned to the Career Offender Robbery Burglary Apprehension (COBRA) team, at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Put that on a business card! By the time I … [Read more...]
Memes: Sometimes I Have Something to Say
meme \MEEM\ noun. 1: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture. 2: an amusing or interesting item (such as a captioned picture or video) or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media. ~ Meriam-Webster Why Memes? Sometimes I have something to say. I don't always have the time to flesh out what I'm … [Read more...]
Sign Evangelism: “That’s a Pretty Jagged Sign”
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...]
