1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a
servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews
I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under
the law I became as one under the law (though not being
myself under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became
as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God
but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside
of the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win
the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all
means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the
gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
This year Evangelism University is all about going
ALL IN
ALL
ALL
ALL
ALL
IN for all people, everywhere.
IN for the sake of the Gospel.
IN in the name of Jesus Christ.
IN to glory of God, our Father.
my heart, my hands, my eyes, my all.
!1
January 13-15, 2017
Savannah, TN
EU 2017
Table of Contents
Schedule
Page 3
Keynote Sessions Notes
Page 4
Elective Classes & Locations
Page 8
School Map
Page 11
Teacher Index
Page 12
Elective Outlines
Page 13
Core Class Discussion
Page 104
EU2 Info
Page 115
Board Members
Page 118
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EU 2017 Schedule
FRIDAY NIGHT
7:00
8:00
9:30
Registration (Aux Gym)
Keynote 1:
Depart for Homes
(Wissam Al-Aethawi)
SATURDAY
8:30-8:45
Singing and instructions
9:00-9:45
Elective 1*
10:00-10:45 Elective 2*
11:00-12:50 Lunch Blocks/ Keynote 2
(Nathan Lewis)
11:00-11:50 Groups C & D to Keynote in Gym
11:00-11:25 Group A to lunch / Group B free time
11:25-11:50 Group B to lunch / Group A free time
12:00-12:50 Groups A & B Keynote in Gym
12:00-12:25 Group C to Lunch / Group D free time
12:25-12:50 Group D to Lunch / Group C free time
1:00-1:45
Elective 3*
2:00-3:00
Core Class**
3:00
Dismiss for youth group discussions & dinner on the
town
6:30-7:00
Early Singing
7:30
Keynote 3
(Dan Chambers)
SUNDAY
10:00 Worship – Worship
(Brian Manning)
*Adults to join in with an Elective Class of their choice
**Adult Class in HS auditorium
!3
Keynote Session 1
I am an Arab,
and I am a Christian
Wissam Al-Aethawi
Friday PM
!4
Keynote Session 2
Pointless Christianity
Nathan Lewis
Saturday AM
!5
Keynote Session 3
Saturday PM
How Do You See People?
Dan Chambers
!6
Worship
In It to Win It
Brian Manning
Sunday AM
!7
ELECTIVE CLASSES
Classes are broken down into three tracks this year:
MY HEART
If you’re serious about becoming “all things to all
people so that by all means you might win some,” then you’re
going to need to get you heart prepared. Are you purely devoted
to God in your own life? How can you lead someone to a Savior to
whom you have not yet truly committed yourself? These classes
will help you evaluate where you are in your own walk to ensure
you’re prepared to say with Paul, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
MY HANDS
Sometimes we leave EU fired up about
spreading the Great News of Jesus Christ, but when the rubber
meets the road we find ourselves unsure of how to start, guide or
finish a conversation. Maybe you’d like to figure out what location
or what opportunities for the harvest already exist that you could
come alongside God and begin to work in. These classes will
inform you of work that is already going on that you could join in
with, or that you could modify for your own situation. Some of the
classes are reviews of Bible Study tools that EU has provided in
years past. The best way to feel confident in being used by God is
to prepare to be used by Him!
MY EYES We don't have to watch the news for very long to be
reminded of the divisions in the world we live in. We see hatred
toward “others” based on race, religion, culture, economic level,
and just about anything else that differentiates us. But the church
is to be known for LOVE. In order to love people who are different
from us, however, we are going to first need to see them the way
God sees them. These classes will attempt to correct our spiritual
lenses so that we too have eyes to see those whom the Lord, our
God is calling from all different walks of life.
*Don’t just wander into the closest class or follow your
friends into one without knowing what it is. Think
purposefully about what classes you will attend. You will only
be able to attend three of the 30 classes available. You may
want to pick one class from each track. Or you may want to
focus on one key area that you need to grow in. As you look
through the classes, try to evaluate which class you will go to
based on this thought: ”WHICH OF THESE CLASSES WILL
MOST LIKELY HELP ME BECOME ALL THINGS TO ALL
PEOPLE WHEN I GET HOME?”
!8
My Heart
1. What Does My Heart Treasure?
Chris Bobo
2. Is My Heart Calloused?
Austin Johnson
3. Should I Spend Time Fasting?
Doug Burleson
4. Dealing With Doubt
John David Ellison
5. Getting Your Heart Right (Ps 51)
Ben McAnally
6. A Heart of Compassion
Pat Waggoner
7. Hiding the Word in My Heart
Harrison Moran
8. Preparing for Missions: God's Purpose for You
Josh Hardin
9. Fighting Temptation (Ladies Panel Discussion)
Rebecca Throneberry, Natalie Thomas,
10. Fighting Temptation (Guys Panel Discussion)
Barry Throneberry, John Thomas, Chase Surrell
Room T5
Room T4
Room T6
Room T3
Room T7
Room T2
Room T8
Room T1
Room I1
Room T9
My Hands
11. Evangelism Q&A: Practical Advice From Experienced
Evangelists (Panel Discussion)
JD Schwartz, Mark Finton, and Matt Cook
12. Going All-In to Reach Out to Latter-Day Saints
Shane Fisher
13. Long-term Domestic Missions
Alan Cantrell
14. Training Future Leaders in Latin America
W. Kirk Brothers
Room I10
Room I9
Room I8
Room E13
15. Evangelism in the Inner City
Kenneth Dupree
16. Let's Go to the Fair: Exhibit Evangelism
JE Miller
!9
Room E11
Room E2
17. Reaching and Teaching the World
Lee Allen
Room E10
18. Chosen/Choosing God: An Evangelistic Bible Study
Aaron Palmer
Room E3
19. Youth Mission Campaign
Phil Waggoner
Room E9
20. Take Route: An Evangelistic Bible Study
Phillip Jenkins
Room E4
My Eyes
21. Meeting Them Halfway:
Helping Women Rebuild Their Lives
Gloria Beasley
Room E8
22. When the World Comes to You
Jeff Beasley
Room E5
23. Letting the Word do the Work: Lessons from EEM
Richard Riehn
Room R6
24. Ukraine: Counting the Cost
Will Harrison
Room R5
25. Time is a Temple
Danny Knight
Room R7
26. Pressing Forward Out of Addiction
Trent Childers
Room R4
27. Ministering to Those Who Are Sick & Suffering
Barry & Nolan Binion
Room R8
28. What To Do When a Friend or Family Member is Gay
Tony Choate
Room R3
29. Reaching Atheists
Ralph Gilmore
Room R2
30. Abraham, Muhammed, and the Golden Butterfly
Wissam Al-Aethawi
HS Aud
!10
School Map
!11
Teacher Index
Wissam Al-Aethawi………p 102 Shane Fisher…………..p 54
Lee Allen………………….p 78
Ralph Gilmore………….p 103
Gloria Beasley……………p 83
Josh Hardin…………….p 34
Jeff Beasley………………p 85
Will Harrison……………p 87
Barry & Nolan Binion……p 94
Austin Johnson…………p 16
Chris Bobo……………….p 14
Danny Knight……………p 89
W. Kirk Brothers…………p 68
Ben McAnally……………p 24
Doug Burleson…………..p 19
J.E. Miller………………..p 75
Alan Cantrell……………..p 65
Harrison Moran…………p 48
Trent Childers……………p 91
Richard Riehn…………..p 86
Tony Choate……………..p 96
Pat Waggoner…………..p 37
Kenneth Dupree…………p 74
Phil Waggoner………….p 81
John David Ellison………p 22
Panel Discussions
Evangelism Q&A with Matt, Mark, & JD…………………p 50
Fighting Temptation
Ladies…………………………….p 26
Guys………………………………p 30
*Blank Note Pages………………………………p 112-114, 117
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MY HEART
!13
MY HEART
What Does Your Heart Treasure?
Chris Bobo
You are going to be challenged to get up and move! You will be
pushed to make soul saving decisions for others, by the chartered
course you decide to take! You will be spiritually blessed by
participating in this class!
treasure
trea·sure \ˈtre-zhər, ˈtrā-\
1) 1a (1) : wealth (as money, jewels, or precious metals) stored
up or hoarded <buried treasure> (2) : wealth of any kind or
in any form : riches b : a store of money in reserve
2) 2 : something of great worth or value; also : a person
esteemed as rare or precious
3) 3 : a collection of precious things
Worldly Treasures
Do we have to go through the list of things we put before God?
Again? ………. Are you still finding it hard to make room for Jesus
and His mission in your heart? Then Yes! We must go through the list.
1 John 1:9; NIV “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” How
can we lay aside worldly treasures and replace them with Jesus and
His mission? We will discuss a plan!
Anxiety
More young people are diagnosed with depression and anxiety today
than ever before. This is not something to take lightly. We will not
diagnose or treat anxiety/depression, but only communicate about
their effect on our spiritual journey. These diseases can be crippling
and need support and/or treatment. If you are severely struggling with
!14
these illnesses, tell your parents, or Youth Minister, Preacher, Elders,
or someone who will listen and get you the help that you need. In this
class, we will discuss ways to help when depression or anxiety creep
in to our heart.
Luke 12:24; NIV “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.” In this context, Jesus is teaching His disciples that God
supplies our needs. There is no need to worry about the things of this
world. A raven gets the food it needs to live from God. The flowers in
the fields display amazing beauty apart from any work of their own.
God cares for us so much more than the birds or the flowers. He
challenges us to live the life He has called us to achieve!
Action! 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a
slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I
became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I
became like one under the law (though I myself am not under
the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having
the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not
free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win
those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win
the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by
all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the
sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
Jesus gave us The Great Commission. Paul gives us a template
for us to model. First we throw away the trash that has
junked our heart up for too long. Second, we fill that space in
our heart with Jesus and His spirit of love. Third, we put a
plan to action to reach others for Christ.
We must, with all our heart, have a deep concern for others souls.
We must have a passion to do all we can to reach them for Jesus.
We will make it our mission to do these things by being ALL IN!
!15
MY HEART
Is My Heart Calloused?
Austin Johnson
My 1.25 year-old son, who is now walking, could at one point
crawl on any surface. Grass, dirt, gravel, the driveway,
glass…anything! (That last one may be a bit of an
exaggeration) The point is, he crawled on his knees for so long
that callouses formed, taking the sensitivity and feeling out of
his knees. Sometimes callouses are good and protect us, like
with my son crawling. But other times callouses are bad and
take away our sensitivity and feeling.
Have you grown callous to anything in this life?
Forgiveness, mercy, the sacrifice of Jesus, worship, the Bible?
Unfortunately, there are many of us who have allowed
callouses to form on our hearts. Prayers feel numb. Words
become routine. There is no feeling in prayer. If so, your
heart may be calloused. Let’s attempt to tear away the
callous and be inspired by the heart of Paul’s prayer in
Ephesians 3:14-19!
Paul’s prayer focused on spiritual concerns for the
Christians in Ephesus. Spiritual concerns mattered the most
to Paul! He worked to keep the callouses away from himself
and those he cared about. His prayers were not filled with
food blessings, driving safety and/or a ready recollection of
one’s study. While those honest petitions may have been
valuable, there were deeper spiritual matters that obviously
concerned him more.
I believe Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 show us:
4) What “deeper spiritual matters” are and…
5) How they can have a real effect on my heart.
QUESTION: So what were those deeper spiritual concerns?
Paul’s desire was for the Ephesian Christians to be filled with
the “fullness” of God. That “fullness” is the powerful work of
the Spirit in their inner being (Ephesians 3:16) combined with
Christ dwelling in them (Ephesians 3:17). Those work
!16
together in and on one’s heart, filling with the all the fullness
of God (Ephesians 3:19)!
STUDY:
How does the Spirit work in my inner being?
1. The Spirit reveals the Word of God as I read the Bible.
John 16:7-13
2. The Spirit transforms my life and living.
1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 5:16-16; 2 Thessalonians
2:13
3. The Spirit helps me in prayer to God.
Romans 8:11, 26-27; Ephesians 2:18
What happens when Christ dwells in my heart?
1. Christ dwelling in me works alongside the Spirit.
John 14:16-20; 16:12-15; Ephesians 2:19-21
2. Christ gets there by and active faith which is a
response to one’s belief in Christ.
Romans 10:17; Galatians 2:20
Am I filled with the fullness of God?
There is a stair-step approach to this point.
1. Whoever becomes a Christian, God adds them to His
church (Acts 2:38-41, 47).
2. Once a Christian, God the Spirit lives within the
individual, and collectively, the church (1 Corinthians
3:16-17; 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:21-22).
3. Christ lives within the Christian’s heart (John 17:23;
Ephesians 3:17).
4. We have the gift of forgiveness and Spirit (Acts 2:38),
the Spirit working as a sign and seal (Ephesians 1:13-14)
that we belong to God the Father!
5. This leads us to the best place we can be on this side of
eternity. We will never reach the full-fullness of God,
but we ought to seek and pursue it as long as we live
(Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 9:10; Psalm 14:2).
!17
QUESTION: Reread Ephesians 3:14-19. Does that sound
like a prayer I would pray? Or am I more focused on
physical things for me?
It has been said that one’s prayers are a reflection of what is
most important to them. What do your prayers sound like?
Let’s be like Paul, and pray deeper spiritually focused prayers:
1. Asking God to strengthen us and others with power
through His Spirit in the inner being,
2. So that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith,
3. All working together pursuing the fullness of God.
!18
MY HEART
Should I Spend Time Fasting?
Doug Burleson
Fasting is a common religious practice. Whether we’ve heard
about Yom Kippor in Israel, Ramadon in Iran, or Lent in
Louisiana, most of us are familiar with some sort of fasting
ritual. To fast means that someone deliberately refuses to
eat for religious reasons. The question proposed to Jesus is
the same question that some are asking today: Should we fast
for religious reasons?
5 QUICK FACTS ABOUT FASTING
1. The New Testament never commands or implies that
Christians have to fast. The word “fast” in all of its forms
occurs 23 times in the NT and ironically is never mentioned in
the epistles of Paul. 2. Jesus told us how to fast when he was also telling us how to
give and pray in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:1-15). All
three of these things (giving, prayer, & fasting) can obviously
be done with the wrong motivation. If one chooses to fast for
religious purposes they need to do so from the heart. 3. Fasting is not a part of what we collectively do in the
assembly, though congregations or groups may choose to fast
together. Ironically in the NT Christian assemblies seem to
emphasize feasting more than fasting.
4. Fasting can be a part of our private devotional life. In Matt
6:18 fasting is recommended as being done in secret rather
than for a show. 5. Fasting ought to be done in private for the good of one’s
own soul. Some might find fasting to be more beneficial than
others. Let’s not brag on ourselves like the Pharisee in Luke
18:12.
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FASTING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. Israel had an annual day of fasting every year on the Day of
Atonement (Lev 16; 23; Num 29:7). Yom Kippor was a day that
the whole nation of Israel would fast as a time of humility and
reflection on Israel’s holiest day. 2. The Jewish people often fasted in times of grief or
repentance (Judg 20:26; 1 Sam 1:7; 7:6; 31:13; 2 Sam 1:12;
12:16, 23; 1 Kgs 21:27; 1 Chron 10:12; Neh 1:4; 9:1, 31; Ps
35:13; 69:10; Dan 6:18; Joel 2:12; Jonah 3:5). Hopefully all of
these Scripture references demonstrate that fasting was
usually associated with people’s grief or mourning. Sometimes
fasting was associated with repentance as a symbol of the
self-denial that was to come with repentance. 3. Israel fasted when they were preparing for war (2 Chron
20:3; Joel 1:14). 4. Sometimes Jews fasted before travel and/or adventure
(Ezra 8:21, 23; Esther 4). 5. Fasting emphasized the goodness of God, not the goodness
of the one fasting (Zech 7:5).
*Notice also the example of David (2 Sam 1:12; 3:36;
12:20-23) who fasted after the deaths of Saul, Jonathan,
Abner, and during his infant son’s illness. Moses (Exodus 24:18;
Deut 9:9-10) and Jesus (Luke 4:2) also each fasted 40 days in
the wilderness during a period of temptation.
WHY DID NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS FAST?
1. Those from a Jewish background sometimes carried fasting
over into a Christian context. Fasting was especially important
to the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees, but
since fasting was generally associated with grief or
repentance, Jesus called for celebration rather than fasting
during his earthly ministry (Matt 9:14-17). Jesus brought
!20
something new and better, thus the old, ritualistic fasting of
many of his day was viewed as an inappropriate response to
his coming. 2. For strength in difficult times (Luke 2:37). Just as Jesus
fasted during his temptation in the wilderness, other people
understood that “man shall not live by bread alone.” For
example, the 84-year-old Anna spent time daily fasting and
praying in the Temple courts because she longed for
something better. 3. For spiritual blessings in times of decision (Acts 13:2-3;
14:23). The prophets and teachers in Antioch spent time
fasting when they were setting apart Paul and Barnabas for
their missionary service.
In light of all of what the Bible says about fasting it should
be clear that although we sometimes might need to fast
before a medical procedure or we might choose to fast
because of a physical benefit or even a psychological
advantage, fasting for religious purposes falls into a
completely different category.
WHAT SHOULD CHRISTIANS KNOW ABOUT FASTING? 1. Whether a Christian fasts or not is a matter of personal choice. We
should not reject the value of fasting as a spiritual discipline, but we
also cannot require that we ourselves or others participate in fasting. 2. Fasting can be of benefit for the purposes we have discussed, but is
not meant to be a gauge of one’s spiritual nature. It is one way among
many to grow in our devotion to God or to respond to his gracious
initiative on our behalf. 3. As in all things, if someone chooses to fast let them do so to the
glory of God! And if we choose to fast let us make sure we are doing
it in the right way (not for show) for the right reason (for God’s
glory).
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MY HEART
Dealing With Doubt
John David Ellison
John 20:19-31
1) Is it wrong to have doubts? When you doubt the will of God or
his existence or your own ability have you sinned?
a. Look to people in the Bible as example
Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 4:13), Gideon
(Judges 6:11-13), The apostles on Jesus’ resurrection
(Luke 24:10-11)
b. Yet in spite of these doubts they pressed on and that is
what we remember.
2) What is doubt?
a. Often we equate it with unbelief but that isn’t how it is
used. If you just look at the examples each had some
belief.
b. Look at Peter in Matthew 14:25-31
i. He didn’t disbelieve. He got out of that boat.
That took belief. Something I wouldn’t
havebeen able to do at the time.
ii. Jesus’ response in vs. 31. His faith wasn’t nonexistent. It was just too little at the time.
c. Doubt therefore is insufficient faith.
i. Neither Moses nor Gideon doubted the
existence of God they just doubted that they
were the right man for the job.
ii. The apostles doubted testimony that went
against what they had seen.
d. Doubt is being of two minds on a subject.
i. Diakrino – To content, to make war (two
opposing views)
!22
ii. Distazo – To duplicate, to waver between two
opinions.
e. Doubt is immaturity – Ephesians 4:14
3) Understanding what doubt is gives us clues to fight it.
a. The basis of faith is the knowledge of God’s Word
Romans 10:17
b. Become free by making your mind up rather than
switching back and forth.
c. You don’t have to have everything answered to reach
that conclusion
i. God didn’t answer all of Job’s questions.
ii. God didn’t tell Abraham why he was
sacrificing Isaac
d. Don’t abandon what you KNOW just because you
have doubt about one matter
4) Doubt isn’t always a bad thing.
a. No one comes to God without doubting their current
situation is right.
b. Changing your mind because evidence points out that
you were wrong is a good thing. Just be sure and
examine that evidence carefully.
!23
MY HEART
Getting Your Heart Right
Ben McAnally
Mistakes are a part of the human life. And as a part of our lives we need to
always be ready to take appropriate steps to correct them. The Bible stories
often mirror our own lives and thus, it is a great tool in learning what we
must do. Let us look at David and one of his mistakes.
2 Samuel 12:7-9
As we begin to look into David’s mistake let us first define one of the more
often used words for sin in Hebrew and Greek. There are over 50 words in
the Hebrew language used to describe human mistakes. There are three that
are used more often than the others, and they are listed together 13 times in
the Old Testament. One of these words is best defined in the context of
Judges 20:16. “Among all this people were seven hundred select men who
were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not
miss.” This is the opposite of sinning because sinning is to miss the mark.
This is one of the words for mistakes that has the same meaning in both
Hebrew and Greek. When we live and act as God has instructed us not to we
miss the mark.
David has missed the mark terribly in our verse today. It is said of David
two times in the Bible that he is a man after God’s Heart. The first
occurrence is 1 Samuel 13:14 when God removes Saul as king and replaces
him with David. 2 Samuel 12 seems to be such a long way from the boy
being anointed king to the man committing adultery. But as we stated in the
beginning, we all make mistakes. 1 John 1:8 tells us if we say we have no
sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. So the question is not will
we miss the mark, but what will we do when we fail?
Ways to respond to our mistakes are numerous, but for us today let us
consider reacting like a child.
Children may respond by saying:
I was just playing and not being serious.
You’re lying!
Everyone is (or is not) doing it.
!24
The way David responds is unthinkable right? We may not go and murder
everyone who could tell others about our sin, but we often respond by
simply pointing out the mistakes of our accuser. In the end David responded
correctly as seen in Psalm 51.
David also penned these words about his emotions after receiving
God’s grace. In Psalm 32:1-5, “Blessed is he
whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the
man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose
spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand
was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of
summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not
hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ And
You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
!25
MY HEART
Fighting Temptations
(Ladies Only Panel Discussion)
Rebecca Throneberry
We live in a “Hook-up Culture.” Everywhere you turn,
you see SEX - music, television, magazines, even popular
novels geared toward youth and young adults are smattered
with sexual images and content. Young ladies are being
pressured from every angle to “be sexy” or to “make him
want you.” We live in a culture where many mothers take
their teenage daughters to the gynecologist in order to put
them on birth control, and fathers hand their sons condoms to
stick in their wallets “just in case.” Our culture says, “Have
fun! Just make sure you use a condom so you don’t get
pregnant or catch an STD.” For young ladies striving to wear
the name of Christ, this type of culture offers some very
difficult and confusing challenges. As we look around us, we
must ask ourselves what the Bible has to say about keeping
our hearts pure. Should a Christian follow a different set of
principals when it comes to temptations and purity? How
does a Christian walk in this culture daily and still remain
pure?
PURITY
In order to prepare our hearts to live in a world where
sexual immorality is the norm, rather than the exception,
Christians must be diligent in basing our decisions on what
God says. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God.”(ESV). Heaven is my ultimate
goal; I want to see God. Therefore, my heart must be pure.
What does this mean? My heart has to be free from sin. It has
to be undefiled. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one look down
on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love,
faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who
believe.” (NASB) Purity must be among the top priorities of a
young lady.
We often like to categorize topics such as purity as only
having to do with the act of sexual intercourse. When we
think of purity this way, we set ourselves up for failure from
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the beginning. When we read verses like Romans 13:13, “ Let
us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and
drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in
quarreling and jealousy” (ESV) and 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, “For
this is the will of God, your sanctification:[b] that you abstain
from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to
control his own body[c] in holiness and honor” (ESV), we tell
ourselves that as long as we do not have sex before marriage,
we are doing just fine, and we are remaining pure. The
problem with this line of thinking is this: If we wait until we
are faced with the decision of having sex, not only will it be
more difficult to say “NO,” but we may have already placed
ourselves in compromising situations where purity is involved.
In order to live a life of purity, Christian young ladies
must look at the entire meaning of purity. Purity is not just
abstaining from sex outside of marriage. Purity must begin
long before the bedroom. True purity covers anything that
could cause corruption or immorality. We must have purity of
our minds, purity of our bodies, purity of our hearts, and
purity of our spiritual life. Paul instructs Titus in Titus 2:3-5
on the things which older women in the church should be
teaching younger women. What types of things might the
older women teach the younger women? “… to love their
husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working
at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the
word of God may not be reviled.” A young lady’s speech,
behavior, actions, thoughts, and studies all prepare her for
purity. Philippians 4:8 gives a list of the things which we
should focus our hearts and mind. When we allow ourselves
to consume the notions of sex and immorality the world
throws in front of us, our hearts and minds become corrupted.
1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us to beware of the effects “bad
company.” When we surround ourselves with people who
encourage sexual promiscuity, whether it be intercourse or
“fooling around,” our hearts and minds become corrupted,
and the lines of purity begin to blur. Once our hearts become
corrupted, we are fighting an uphill battle to remain sexually
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pure. The things a young lady allows into her heart and mind
lay the foundation for a life of purity.
FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS
Tips and Guidelines:
1) Remember that you have put on a new self, and set
your mind on things above (Colossians 3). When we
keep our focus on the things of God, we are focusing on
the goal of Heaven, the plan He set out, and the way
through Christ. We have little time left to focus on the
worldly things that corrupt our hearts and minds.
Having a godly mindset while dating is a must. *See also
1 Peter 2:9, Philippians 4:8
2) Make decisions about “how far” you are willing to go
BEFORE you are placed in the situation of needing to
decide. Make a promise to yourself. Wear a purity
ring. Skip shaving your legs before a date. Do what you
need to do to help you succeed, but if you have not set
your own personal boundaries and resolved to keep
them, you will be setting yourself up for failure.
Remember that whatever you do in the public, you will
be more likely to go a step or two further in private.
Always flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:12-20).
3) Set your standards high. Remember you are searching
for a godly mate, not the lead character in a Nicholas
Sparks film. If a guy is pressuring you to go further
than the boundaries you have set for yourself, RUN!
Dating is about getting to know each other. It should
be fun. It should not be tainted with sexual tension
and pressure.
4) Pray and Trust in God. Jesus sets the perfect example
when He speaks of prayer and temptations. (Matthew
6:13, 26:41, 1 Corinthians 10:13) Pray before you dates.
Pray for your date.
5) Rely on a Christian Mentor and Accountability Group.
Proverbs 27:17 – “ Iron sharpens iron, and one man
sharpens another”
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“How far is too far?” and “Do I really need to set dating
boundaries?” are often questions teenage girls either ask or
think to themselves. These are questions that need honest
answers before a Christian enters the world of dating and
relationships. As Christians, we cannot view purity and follow
the same cultural expectations as the world in which we live.
(See 1 John 2:15-17) For this reason, boundaries need to be
set and communicated before the first date ever takes place,
and young ladies need girl friends, mommas, cousins,
mentors, and sisters to keep us strong and accountable.
Always remember that it is never too late to begin living
a life of purity. If you have made mistakes, you may
have to deal with the physical consequences, but God’s
grace is sufficient. You are loved. You are valued. You
are precious.
You are a Child of God.
Ephesians 5:8
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MY HEART
Fighting Temptation
(Gentlemen Only Panel Discussion)
Barry Throneberry
In today’s world, the idea of fighting temptation seems like
something foreign to us. Many today would say, “If it feels good,
do it,” or, “It is a natural impulse, it cannot be wrong.” These
thoughts are so common they are rarely said out loud anymore, but
they are believed by most. In this lesson we are going to focus on
sexual temptation and how we can fight it. Why does God put the
boundary of marriage around sex and what can we do to maintain
purity in our over-sexualized culture.
WHY Be Sexually Pure?
There are many reasons to be sexually pure, but the first
and important thing to remember is that God is pro-sex and antisin. You cannot read very far into Scripture and not see that God
has given us both our sexuality and sex for us to enjoy. In Genesis
1:26-27, God tells us that he made both male and female, affirming
our sexuality. He then gives man and woman the gift of covenant
marriage in Genesis 2:18-25. Part of this gift of marriage is sexual
union with another. Before one accuses the Bible of being anti-sex,
we need to understand that the rest of Scripture affirms these basic
truths in Genesis 1 and 2.
Throughout the Proverbs, there are numerous texts that
speak of the delight that sex brings within marital commitment
(Prov. 5:18-19). God through Solomon also gave us an entire book
of the Bible that paints a beautiful picture of what romantic,
marital love could be in the Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs. In
the New Testament, the apostle Paul even goes so far as to
command married couples to have sex (1 Corinthians 7:3-5)! God is
most certainly pro-sex, but do not forget that he is anti-sin.
Sin is the reason for the brokenness in world. It brought
animosity between people and between people and God (Genesis
3). The Bible teaches that mankind is separated from God because
of sin (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 64:6). One of the sins that we can
commit is sexual immorality. It is found in multiple lists of various
sins (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Colossians 3:5-6).
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Sexual immorality (and other sexual sins) occurs when two
individuals who are not married engage in sexual acts. This is not
just intercourse, but it includes all sexual acts outside of marriage.
So while God is pro-sex, he most certainly is anti-sexual sin. This is
the first and most important thing to remember in fighting sexual
temptation.
Second, sex is forbidden outside of marriage because of its
deep impact on those who practice it. The picture Genesis 2 paints
of marriage is one of intense feeling and deep, lasting commitment.
Genesis 2:24 says, “24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his
mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one
flesh” (ESV). The marital relationship was given to fulfill not only
our physical, sexual desire, but to help satisfy our emotional and
social desires as well. Sex is such an intense act that Genesis 2:24
says that those who engage in it become one flesh. This is not just
physical act! It binds two people together so tightly that they
become one on some levels. This is why so many people are
emotionally and mentally hurt after committing sexual sin. Sexual
intimacy can only flourish within the lifelong commitment of
marital love. When we join ourselves with another outside God’s
intention, we find ourselves not only violating God’s design but also
damaging ourselves in the process.
Lastly, we need to remain sexually pure because as children
of God, we belong to him. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Paul give two
arguments why we should not commitment sexual sin while
affirmed the one flesh result of sexual union. The first is that since
we have been raised a new creation in our baptism (Romans 6:3-4;
2 Corinthians 5:17) we belong, both soul and body, to God (1
Corinthians 6:12-17, 20). Jesus purchased us through the cross and
we are to glorify God in our bodies. The second reason is that since
God has given us his Spirit in our baptism (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5), our
bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-19;
3:16-17). As wholly redeemed beings, both body and soul, we are
to be devoted to God and serve him, especially in the realm of
sexual morality. If we will accept that we fully belong to God, then
what we want becomes a secondary concern to what God wants of
us. See also 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. These three biblical reasons
provide an understanding of why we need to remain sexually pure.
So let us now focus on a game plan to fight sexual temptation.
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Spiritual Game Plan for Fighting Sexual Temptation
1. Establish Rules for Dating. You are much more likely to remain
sexually pure and not find yourself in tempting situations if you will
make rules before you begin to date. These rules will provide
focus and direction when you may be tempted to follow your
hormones instead of God. Here are some rules that I recommend.
a. Since you will date your mate, date other committed
Christians. You will end up marrying whom you date. So make
plans to only date Christians. I am not saying that non-Christians
are bad people, but if you date Christians then you should both
agree on the points listed above as to why remain sexually pure.
b. Plan dates ahead of time. If you make a plan and stick
to it, you are much, much less likely to find yourself in
compromising situations. If you really want to be safe share those
plans with your parents and establish a plan to be picked up if a
compromising situation arises. They most definitely will help you
stay accountable!
c. The bedroom is off-limits, PERIOD. There is no reason
for you and your boyfriend or girlfriend to be alone in a bedroom,
ever.
d. Pray together! Christians are to be people of prayer,
and God promises to give strength through prayer, so pray with your
boyfriend or girlfriend often. If you date only Christians (Rule a)
then this is a lot easier. It is hard to commit sin when you are both
focused on God.
While saying no to sex can be difficult, there is no reason to
not have rules. These will help fight temptation and help you
remain sexually pure.
2. Know It Is Okay to Run Away! 1 Corinthians 6:18 simply tells us
to “flee sexual immorality.” It worked for Joseph in Genesis 39
when Potiphar’s wife tempted him, and it will work for you. See
Rule b above under rules for dating. Do not let your boyfriend or
girlfriend pressure you into staying in a situation where you may be
tempted to disobey God. If they do so, then they are not right for
you. Break up with them and remember that you belong to God
first.
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3. Surround Yourself with Accountability Partners. Find others
who want to remain sexually pure and use them to help hold you
accountable. Ask one another about your relationships and provide
support and guidance for each other (Galatians 6:2; Hebrews
10:24-25).
4. Immerse Yourself in Scripture. What did Jesus use to fight off
Satan’s temptations in Matthew 4:1-11? He countered Satan’s
temptations with the truth of God’s word. If one of the purposes of
God’s inspired word is to “train us in righteousness” (2 Timothy
3:17), then we need to be in training! Memorize some of the texts
that I have used above. Here are some more to add: Job 31:1;
Psalm 24:3-4; Psalm 51:10; Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 13:4; 1 John
2:17.
5. Know God Will Forgive When Asked, and Then Forgive
Yourself. The reality for many is that the temptation to commit
sexual immorality will be too great and they will sin. No sin is
acceptable to God, not even sexual sin. But God is gracious and
kind to forgive those who seek it and ask for it with the intention of
living in purity afterward. In 1 John 1:7-9 we learn that we are
called to walk in God’s light (following and obeying him) and to
confess our sins to him. Verse 9 tells us when we go to him seeking
forgiveness his faithfulness takes over and he will forgive us and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. While you may have to live
with the consequences of sexual sin (pregnancy, STD’s, emotional
baggage, and future relational issues), you will be forgiven by God
and be restored to fellowship with him. Since he has forgiven and
restored you because of his grace, forgive yourself and go and sin
no more!
These five suggestions should provide a solid game plan that
will help you remain sexually pure. Even though our present
culture constantly assaults us to disobey God and compromise our
sexual purity, as children of God we are called to live for him and
remember what he teaches us. Do not forget that God is pro-sex
and anti-sin, so make a plan to fight off sexual temptation and wait
for the blessing of a one-flesh union with your future spouse.
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MY HEART
Preparing for Missions:
God’s Purpose for You
Josh Hardin
Introduction: Should you become a missionary? How do you
prepare? This is a specific question. In order to answer it, we have to
first take one step back and ask another: What is your purpose in life?
Do you know? Have you given it any thought? You want to do
something great, right? But what is the right thing for you? How do
you find your purpose? How do you decide what you should do? You
will hear opinions from various sources that tell you how to find your
purpose and then achieve it--from movies, television, friends,
preachers, and many others. But are they correct? How can a teenager
decide on or discover his or her purpose? If you don’t know what it is,
how can you possibly prepare for it? What, exactly are you supposed
to do with your life? This class and outline aim to put you on the right
track to discovering your purpose and preparing for it.
Take just a moment to write down your purpose in life, as you see it
now (“I don’t know” is acceptable):
My name is ____________________________ and my purpose in
life is: __________________________________________________.
Now please read the following passages and answer the following
questions separately for each character. Each had a specific purpose,
and each story gives a clear example of how that person found his or
her purpose and achieved it. Some are lengthy; but these will help you
understand how to find your purpose and then how to prepare (key
verses underlined):
Moses: Acts 7:20-37; v. 25, 30; also Ex. 2-15
Jeremiah: Jer. 1: 1-19; v. 4-10; 10: 23, 24; 12: 1-13
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David: 1 Sam. 16, 17; v. 16:7-13; 2 Sam. 7:11-17
Paul: Acts 8:3; 9; v. 9: 4-6; 13: 2-3; 22: 4-21; 26: 9-29
Joseph: Gen. 37, 39-50; v. 37:5-10, 28; 39: 19-23; 41:39-41; 50:18-20
Esther: Esther 1-10; v. 2:2, 8, 17; 3:8,9; 4:12-17; 7:1-10; 9:1-10
Questions:
What was his (or her) ultimate purpose?
How did he arrive at his situation in life (where he lived, what he did,
etc.)? What was he doing when he found his purpose? Was this related
to his purpose? How?
Did he select a purpose early? Did he make any decisions based on
that early choice of a purpose? What were the results of those
decisions?
How did he achieve his ultimate purpose?
When did he finally discover his ultimate purpose? How did he
choose it? What was its source?
How did he prepare to fulfill his purpose?
What decisions did he make that led him to his purpose? What do you
think was the most important decision that allowed him to achieve his
purpose?
Do you see any similarities in the way these people achieved their
ultimate purpose? If so, what?
Read these verses: 1 Thess 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 5:5-7. What connection, if
any, do these verses have to the people in the above passages? Do you
think they apply to your purpose? How?
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Conclusion:
(I encourage you to answer the questions BEFORE you read
this conclusion. It will be beneficial to walk through that process
before reading someone else’s conclusion.)
Being a missionary is a noble purpose. It aims for this: To serve God,
and to teach others to serve God so that they will also live at peace
with Him now and for eternity. However, that is the same mission or
purpose for each and every Christian, and each and every Christian
should fulfill that regardless of where they are, what job they have,
what situation they have in life. As demonstrated in the examples
above and the lives of other biblical characters, it is GOD who calls to
specific places, jobs, times, positions. When we determine our path,
we often take the wrong one, as did Paul, or the wrong time, as did
Moses. The best thing to do, especially as a teenager, is to decide that
you will serve God and follow where He leads. He may call you to be
a missionary in a foreign country. Or He may call you to be an
accountant, a mother who teaches her children to serve, a preacher, a
garbage man. Only He knows where He wants you, when He wants
you there, whom He wants you to help. If you follow Him in ANY of
these, you will be doing exactly what God wants you to do. You can
prepare by doing these things: 1) Dedicate yourself now and fully to
serving God WHEREVER He calls; 2) Continually pray that He will
call you to what He wants and that you will be willing to follow; and
3) Do good, serve, participate in mission trips and service projects,
and teach at every opportunity. By doing these things, you will you
will be ready when He calls.
Go back to your statement of purpose. If you didn’t write one, do you
have one now? If you wrote one, have you changed it at all?
Other verses to consider: Proverbs 16:3; 16:9; Ps. 37:4;
Micah 6:8; Isa. 6:8; Ecc. 12
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MY HEART
A Heart of Compassion
Pat Waggoner (Article by Bill Watkins)
Luke 10:25-37
A youth minister described a time when he was scheduled to
speak to a large goup of young people. He was running late when he
pulled into a full-service gas station for fuel. A little guy came our
from the glass-faced office. He had a tobaggan pulled down low, his
face was covered with acne, his hair was greasy, and his pants were so
large he had to keep pulling them up. The guy spoke poorly and
slowly. It seemed to take forever for him to pump the gas. When the
youth minister gave him his credit card, it took several minutesbefore
he came back to say they didnt accept that card. He gave him another
card only to learn after several more minutes that it didn't work.
Finally in desperation, he asked, “Do you still take cash?” The little
fellow then took several more minutes to make change and return it.
The youth minister was so furious when he left that he backed up and
spun his back tires on the “ding ding” rope! A few blocks away, his
conscience began to convict him about his impatience and rudeness to
the attendant. He drove back up and the little guy was too scared to
come out of the office! Finally, the youth minister said to him, “I'm
really sorry for the way I treated you.” The man pushed back his
toboggan and said, “That's okay mister. Everybody treats me that
way.”
There are a lot of people who might say, “Everybody treats
me that way.” In a cold, lonely, impersonal world, those who take
time to care for others are the exception not the rule.
When we are baptized into Christ, we not only enter into a
relationship with Him, but with every other believer. We are called to
serve and care for others.
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Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for
his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Mark 9:41 says, “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink
in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you,
he will by no means lose his reward.”
1 John 4:11 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to
love one another.”
Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with
brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”
Everyone wants to be part of a caring church. One statement I
often hear from people who are searching for a church home is “We
want a church where people really care about each other.” I
suppose it is also true that every church wants to be a caring church.
However, caring churches are made up of caring individuals.
If we are going to be the kind of church you've always wanted,
the kind of people who make an impact on people, each of us must
learn to care for others. From this familiar passage known as The
Parable of the Good Samaritan, let's learn how to care for others.
I. Characteristics of Uncaring People (vv. 25-32)
A. A Tough Question for Jesus (vv. 25-29).
V. 25 describes “a certain lawyer.” A “lawyer” was not an
attorney as we may thing of one today, but a man who was an expert
in the Old Testament law, a religious scholar. His job was to interpret
the Mosaic Law and guide people on how to relate it to their lives.
This man “stood up” so as to confront and “tested” Jesus. It
seems that he was notso much interested in Jesus'teaching as he was
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in tricking Him. The gospels recount numerous situations where these
highly educated Jews tried to trap Jesus with their religious riddles
and mind games.
He asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
This was not so much a man seeking truth as it was a philosophical
play, an intellectual trap. In other words, he asked, “Because You are
supposed to be a great teacher, tell me how to find life in its fullness,
how to find true happiness no and for eternity.”
Jesus answers masterfully. He answers the question with a
question. “What is written in the Law?” That is, “What does the
Scripture tell you?” Jesus also asks, “What is your reading of it?”or
“How do you understand it? What does it mean to you?”
In v. 27 we see the man responds with the only accurate
answer he could give, the most basic commandments to love God and
his neighbor. To this Jesus responds, “You have answered rightly; do
this and you will live.”
V. 29 tells us the man wanted “to justify himself.” Jesus had
not fallen into his trap. Not giving up the debate, he pressed further.
Almost mockingly he asked “And who is my neighbor?”
B. An Answer in a Parable (vv. 30-32)
Jesus tell thee story (whether authentic or metaphorical we
cannot be sure. Note the words “certain man”) of a man who “went
down from Jerusalem to Jericho.” Many of the priests and religious
workers lived in Jericho when they were not at their turn ministering
in the temple.
That was about a 16 mile stretch of road that wound through
rocky dangerous gorges where highwaymen, robbers and thieves
easily prey upon lonely travelers. In ancient times it was known as
“the pass of blood.” The priests were not bothered because of their
status as holy men.
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Perhaps this man was a wealthy merchant bringing his wares
to the city. On this trip, “he fell among thieves.” They “stripped him
of his clothing, wounded him and departed leaving him half dead.”
About that time “a certain priest” passed by. Jesus specifically states
that he “saw him” and “passed by on the other side” of the road. v. 32
describes a “levite”who was a servant in the Temple and a minister of
religious worship also “arrived at the place.” He literally stopped and
“looked” but then “passed by on the other side.”
It's amazing how little compassion these two religious men
had. But if we look closely, we may see their attitudes in our own
lives. Let's note several characteristics of uncaring people.
1. Uncaring People are Too Self-Centered.
The “priest” and the “Levite” were busy, important men.
Perhaps their minds were absorbed with their jobs int eh Temple. Far
too often we fail to care for those who are hurting because we don't
want any interruption in our own plans. We don't comfort them or
help them simply because we are too selfish.
2. Uncaring People are Too Hurried.
I wonder if the prest and the Levite passed by because they
were late for work. After all they had thousands of people depending
on them in Jerusalem. How often we fail to listen tot he concerns of
others because are simply too busy.
3. Uncaring People are Too Isolated.
People in church are often masters at this. WE separate
ourselves from others by adding layers of protection so that the “real
us” is never seen. WE, especially guys, make small talk and speak
superficially because we are afraid of getting involved with others.
Someone once wrote “Ten Commandments for Men.”
1. He shall never cry.
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2. He shall not display weakness
3. HE shall not need affection, gentleness or warmth.
4. He shall comfort, but not desire comforting.
5. He shall be needed, but never need others.
6. He shall touch but not be touched.
7. He shall be steel, not flesh.
8. He shall be invulnerable in his manhood.
9. He shall never let them see him sweat.
10.He shall always stand alone.
4. Uncaring People are not Discerning.
Often the reason we don't care for each other is that we don't
hear when someone expresses a need. One woman was fed up with
the superficial level of communication in her church, so she
conducted an experiment. To everyone who asked her, while passing
the hallways, “How are you?” she replied, “Lousy!” Some didn't even
hear what she said. Some said, “I'm sorry to hear that” but no one
asked her why.
5. Uncaring People Think Someone Else will Help.
When some people hear about a problem in another person's
life, the first thing they do is call the preacher or church staff.
6. Uncaring People are Forgetful.
Why didn't you visit that person in the hospital, call that single
mother who visited in your SS class, check on that elderly friend...?
You probably forgot. WE get so wrapped up in our own lives that we
often just forget about the needs of others.
7. Uncaring People Think Problems will Solve Themselves
“Don't get involved! They'll work it out.”
8. Uncaring People are Often Judgmental
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Have you ever said something like this, “If so and so had done
what was right to begin with, she wouldn't be in the situation right
now.” How about “He made his bed, let him lie in it.”
II. Characteristics of Caring People (vv. 33-37)
1. Caring People Put Aside Prejudices (v. 33a)
Jesus tells us that the third man to come down the road was a
Samaritan. Samaritans were half-breed Jews. They were a race of
people who had Jewish ancestry on one side and Canaanite on the
other. Because of the mixed blood, Jews hated Samaritans Because
the Jews hated the Samaritans, the Samaritans hated them back. The
fact that the wounded man was Jewish didn't seem to bother the
Samaritan at all. As we read through the parable, we see he wwent to
great lengths and considerable expense to help him.
When someone is hurting, a caring person puts his prejudices
aside. Jesus died for all men regardless of race, color, social or
economic standards.
2. Caring People Notice Others' Pain (v. 33b)
Notice specifically what this verse says that the Samaritan
when he “came where he was...saw him.” Unlike the priest and the
Levite it seems that he came over to inspect the man.
Imagine the Samaritan, wearily making his way down a
desolate dirt road, constantly looking out fo bandits when he hears a
groaning from the road-side ditch. Disregarding his own safety, he
went over to see what made the sound, and there he found a beaten
man, naked and “half-dead.”
The Samaritan is an example to us in that he took time to see
what was wrong. So often we like the Priest and Levite are so caught
up in our own plans, our own agendas, that we don't even notice when
someone else is hurting. We are often oblivious to the sad look on
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their faces. Even when they speak of their pain, we want to change the
subject quickly. Caring people are always looking for ways to serve
others.
3. Caring People Take Time to be Compassionate (v 33c)
Notice the key phrase in this verse. The Samaritan “had
compassion.” Compassion comes from a Greek word that literally
means “a yearning in the bowels.” Jesus had the same compassion for
the multitudes.
Oh how God's people need compassion today, a deep empathy,
a lump-in-the-throat, I'll-do-anything-I-can feeling for others.
You may think, “if I found a dying man on the roadside I
would help.” I hope you would, but that's not the point. Are we
willing to help the wife that lost her wife, the dad who lost his job, the
single mother...?
Two men were heading by dogsled to their outpost in Alaska.
They were both in danger of freezing to death. As they were going
along, they came upon someone who was apparently nearly frozen.
One said to the other, “Let's stop and help him.” The other said, “No,
if we stop and help him, we will surely freeze to death and never
make it.” The one who wanted to help said, “Let me off here and you
go ahead.” He got off the dogsled as his companion continued. He
tried to revive the dying man by massaging his arms and legs in order
to get the blood circulating in his body. The effort he expended in
massaging the man's limbs gave him the physical heat he needed to
keep from freezing to death. The snowstorm was soon over and the
two were safe, but down the path was the dead man with the
dogsled...all alone. We are never more like Jesus than when we
exhibit compassion.
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4. Caring People Get Involved (v. 34)
The Samaritan “went to him.” He didn't pass by. He chose to
involve himself. He “bandaged his wounds pouring on oil and wine.”
Oil, probably olive oil, was widely used by people of this period as a
medicine to soothe the pain of open wounds. Wine was used as an
antiseptic to keep wounds clean and prevent infection.
Next, the Samaritan “set him on his own animal.” We assume
he traveled with a donkey. Instead of riding, he allowed this Jew, his
radical enemy, to ride while he walked.
The Samaritan “brought him to an Inn and took care of him.”
There were no hospitals, no emergency rooms, no ambulances, no 911
as we know today. There was no place to drop this victim off. So, the
Samaritan rented a room in an Inn and cared for the man as best he
could.
In our culture it is so easy to be isolated. It's easy to look the
other way when we see a homeless person with a sign. It's easy to
refer a person in need to a relief organization. It's easy to forget to
pray for or call or visit a person going through a difficult time.
Jesus got involved.
5. Caring People are Not Stingy (v. 35)
Notice that on the next day, when the Samaritan got ready to
leave, he paid the Inn-keeper two denarii and said, “take care of him
and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.”
Not only did he care for the man, but he paid the bill.
Jesus is not stingy either. He is typified in this Samaritan. He
paid our sin-debt with His own life. I love the words of that old hymn,
“Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe! Sin had left a crimson stain (a
bloody stain). He washed it white as snow!”
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6. Jesus Asked and Easy Question (vv. 36-37)
Finishing the parable, Jesus turned to the lawyer and asked,
“So which of these do you think was neighbor to him who fell among
thieves?” The lawyer answered, “He who showed mercy [who cared]
on him.” Jesus responded, “Go and do likewise.”
If we want Jesus' blessing, if we want to be compassionate, if
we want to make a difference, we must “Go and do likewise”
III. Six Simple Steps in Becoming a Caring Person
1. Identify People Who Need Your Care
Sit down and make a list of the needs of people around you: your
family, the church, neighbors, people you go to school with, …
2. Reach Out to Others, Don't Wait for Them to Come to You
Shake their hand and introduce yourself. Take time to get to know
them. Most people are private. They will not ever bother you with
their burdens until you take time to get involved with them.
3. Communicate Beyond the Superficial Level
When you meet someone it's okay to “talk about the weather.”
However, as you develop a relationship, pursue depth by asking
meaningful questions.
4. Empathize with Them
Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law
of Christ.” Let them know that you are willing to help them. Get
under their load with them.
5. Listen Without Judging
Good listening requires concentration, hearing what is not said as well
as that which is said. It involves eye contact and body language. It
means trying to communicate. In this way, you can hear a person's
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heart, needs, and anxieties. One action step that you can take from this
lesson is to listen with the ears of Jesus.
6. Respond with a Caring Gift
Give something tangible that says, “I'm praying for you” or “I'm with
you.” It might be a card, a book, a bookmark...anything they can hold
in their hands and be reminded they are not alone.
Conclusion
Everybody here wants someone to care for them, but it starts with you
by becoming a compassionate person. Are you willing to work at
becoming a compassionate person?
THE PIT
− A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out.
− A realist said, “That's a pit, alright.”
− A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down
there.”
− An objective person saw the man and said, “With so many pits
and so many people in the world, it's only logical that
someone would fall in.”
− A religionist said, “we have a committee meeting next
Thursday night at the church to work out a process to get him
out of the pit.”
− A Pharisee looked into the pit and said, “Only bad people fall
into pits.”
− A mathematician calculated how he fell into the pit and the
speed of his decline.
− A self-righteous man said, “You deserve that pit.”
− A preacher said, “If you had listened to me, you wouldn't be in
that pit.”
− A psychiatrist said, “your pit is only in your mind.”
− A psychologist said, “your parents are to blame for your pit.”
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− A geologist told the man to appreciate and study the rock
strata.
− An evolutionist said, “Natural selection has destined you to be
removed from the evolutionary cycle. In other words, you are
going to die in the pit so that you cannot produce any more
pit-falling offspring.”
− An inspector asked, “Do you have a permit for that pit?”
− A self-pitying person said, “You haven't seen anything until
you've seen my pit.”
− An optimist said, “Things could be worse.”
− A pessimist said, “things will be worse.”
Jesus saw the man in the pit,
took him by the hand,
and lifted him out.
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MY HEART
Hiding the Word in My Heart Harrison Moran
!48
MY HANDS
!49
MY HANDS
Question/Answer Session
w/ Matt, Mark, and JD
So, you’re amped up and ready to spread the saving grace of
God and His message of salvation. You’ve decided on that one person
– family member, friend, teammate, co-worker – which you are going
to share Jesus with first. You rehearse your approach, you pray about
the perfect opportunity and soft heart, and you pick out the Bible
verses to help you show the way to Jesus. And then it happens…
It’s the moment in the conversation that leaves you caught off guard
and speechless. Somehow, in all your preparation for this
conversation, you just didn’t imagine having to deal with THIS
obstacle.
There are lots of questions, statements, emotions, and attitudes
we face when trying to tell others about Jesus. Some of these are
sincere questions from those truly searching; some of these are the
distractions of this world; and, some of these are skeptical, and
sometimes rude, reactions to the truth of God that convicts men of
their sin and their need for a Savior. Whichever it is, obstacles are a
VERY REAL part of evangelism.
But don’t despair… Even Jesus faced obstacles! And believe it
or not, He wasn’t always able to overcome these obstacles in the lives
of the individuals He was trying to change (IE – rich, young ruler;
Simon, the Pharisee; even Judas, His apostle).
Consider His teachings in the Parable of the Sower in
Matthew 13. Jesus knew that some of the obstacles His church would
face in spreading the gospel would be lack of concern, flippant hearts,
and worldly distractions that would all work against the power of the
Gospel. Remember, also that He told the apostles in John 15:18-27,
that the world would hate them (and us), because it hated Him.
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So, do we quit? NO!!! NEVER!!! NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!! We
have been given the power of our God, Most High to help in all
situations. We are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37)! We have
the very same power that raised Jesus from the grave in us!
This means that we pray harder, work harder, and become
more prepared to overcome potential obstacles that might stall the
work that is laid before us. And if there are people that are truly
searching for truth and purpose from the God that created them, then
we ought to be thankful that they are willing to ask the hard questions.
Check out these scenarios below and notice that a response may
not be as hard as we imagine, if we are prepared to give it.
1) Why should I worship a God who allows suffering to occur?
2) Why should I worry about it? God won’t hold me accountable for
something I don’t know about.
3) Surely Jesus isn’t the ONLY way…Look how many religions there
are.
4) I don’t think it matters what we believe, as long as we are sincere
5) Church seems so boring. Why would I want to be there?
Here are some other possible obstacles that you might have to face
head-on. How would you respond to these?
Remember, you can’t get angry and burn bridges, if you are truly
trying to save souls.
-I don’t care to hear about Christ, because all of His people are just
a bunch of hypocrites anyways.
-Why should I believe the Bible that is “written by men”?
-I just don’t want to give up a life of “fun” for a life of “rules”.
-I believe that Jesus is A way to Heaven, but there’s LOTS of
religions… Everyone should have a right to choose what’s best for
them.
-I pray, but God never seems to listen to me… why should I listen to
Him?
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These scenarios/responses are just a smidge of what you might face as
you spread God’s message. But remember, we DO NOT QUIT! We
pray harder, work harder, and prepare more for the obstacles at stake.
We want you to join us in class for an “Open-Forum-Style” Q & A,
and bring your own experiences and obstacles to talk about! Until
then, here are some pretty good starts to some pretty difficult
questions.
1.
Hypothetical question: I love Jesus but I hate
religion. Can’t I be a Christian but not be a member of a
church? For your friend who has seen a lot of hypocrites in
their church experiences, this is a legitimate question. To
point people to the importance of the church, share with
them the truths of Ephesians 5:23-27. Not only does Jesus
love the church so much that he gave his life for it (vs. 25), he
is described as the Savior of the church. If I want Jesus to be
my Savior, I should want to be part of the group of which he is
Savior. Further, the church blesses me by meeting so many of
my spiritual needs. It gives me meaningful relationships,
accountability, community, wisdom, and an outlet in which to
utilize my talents.
2.
Hypothetical question: I became a Christian when I
said the sinner’s prayer and accepted Jesus into my heart.
I’m already a Christian, right? I honestly wish that I could say
“yes” to this question. I would love to tell everyone that they
are good with God. But I can’t be honest with Scripture and
respond affirmatively. I just can’t get around the problem
that the concepts of a sinners prayer or “asking Jesus into my
heart” are not found in Scripture. Anywhere. What I do find is
that the only two times the phrase “into Christ” is found in
the New Testament, it says that we are baptized “into
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Christ” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27). Because every spiritual
blessing is found in Christ, this information is super important!
3.
Hypothetical Situation: In your zeal to lead someone
to baptism, you tell them that baptism “reserves” their
spot in heaven…or, as I saw in a Facebook post this summer,
someone is baptized and says, “I have finally earned my
spot in heaven!” Do we reserve or earn salvation or a spot
in heaven through baptism? While I understand the
sentiment, NO! Salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life
are gifts given by God because we respond to his offer
through obedient faith. We haven’t earned anything nor do
we deserve anything. Jesus Christ purchased our forgiveness
on the cross and baptism is our way of accepting this beautiful
gift. The importance of this cannot be understated. To believe
that we have somehow “earned” eternal life leads us to
believe that we deserve it in some way. It’s vitally important
to lead people to Jesus, not just to the baptistery where they
might be tempted to think that they magically earn their
salvation. We are never good enough to receive forgiveness.
Baptism is not a hoop we have to jump through to get to
heaven. It is a meaningful gift from God. And, it’s not the
finish line. It’s the starting line of a life of following Jesus and
living in relationship with him. Point people to Jesus and his
amazing love and sacrifice. Then, point them to our response
to that sacrifice through repentance and baptism.
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MY HANDS
Going ALL IN to REACH OUT
to the Latter-Day Saints
Shane Fisher
R – Realize The Situation
a. Latter-Day Saints have zeal, but they do not have the proper
knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).
b. Christians typically have the knowledge of the truth, but they do
not have the evangelistic zeal.
c. We must realize that we need to have a balance of both zeal and
knowledge (Rom. 10:1-3).
E – Examine Your Own Heart
a. Ask yourself this question: “Why am I evangelizing to Latter-day
Saints?”
b. Is your main motivation to win a soul or win an argument? (Mt.
22:28-32; Lk. 19:10)
A – Ask Good Questions (“The Columbo Tactic”)
a. It is taken from Lieutenant Columbo, a detective on an old TV
show (Koukl, Loc. 616-21).
(1) Purposes of asking good questions: Invite them to talk about what
they think (Loc. 596-602).
(2) It takes the pressure off you and allows you not to distort their
meaning (Loc. 596-602).
(3)The questions give enough of a challenge to give thought to what
the speaker just said (Loc. 603-8).
(4) Reasons to ask good questions: (i) Friendly (Loc. 642-48). (ii) Get
an education (Loc. 649-55). (iii) Make progress (Loc. 649-55)
(5) Examples: (1) Why do you believe that Joseph Smith was a true
prophet? (2) Why do you believe the BOM is true? (3) Why do you
not believe that Muhammed (Ellen G. White, etc.) is a prophet? (4)
Why do you believe that the Qur'an is not true? (5) Why do you
believe that the Bible has been corrupted? (6) Can you show me in
history or in transmission where the Bible has been corrupted?
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C – Contradictions Between The Latter-Day Saint System and
Christian System
(1) The progressive nature of revelation – God's way of revealing
Himself over time - (a) patriarchal age (4,000 B.C. - 1500 B.C.) “starlight age”; Mosaic age (1500 B.C. - A.D. 30) - “moonlight age”;
(c) Christian age (A.D. 30 - ?) - “sunlight age” because the Father
revealed Jesus the Son (Heb. 1:1-4). The NT speaks of the mystery of
Christ (Matt. 13:11; Mark 4:11; Rom.11:25; 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; 4:1;
Eph. 1:9; 3:1-5; 5:32; 6:19; Col. 1:26,27; 2:2; 4:3; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1
Tim. 3:16; Rev. 10:7). The mystery is described as revelation
previously hidden, then revealed through the holy apostles and
prophets by the Holy Spirit in the first century A.D. In the BOM, the
“cat is out of the bag” already hundreds of years even before Christ
comes to the earth in that it fully reveals almost everything before the
1st century A.D. (see for example, 2 Nephi 25:19; 26:12; 30:2; 31:17;
Alma 7; Helaman 10-12)
(2) The passing away of the old covenant – this covenant was
established with Israel at Mount Sinai (Neh. 9:13; Ex. 24:1-8). It was
temporary (Gal. 3:19); a “shadow of the good things to come” (Heb.
10:1); written for the Christian's learning, example, and instruction in
righteousness (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:6,11; 2 Tim. 3:16,17). Jeremiah
had prophesied that this covenant with Israel would pass away and be
replaced by a better covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). Jesus came to fulfill the
Law of Moses and nail it to the cross (Matt. 5:17,18; Col. 2:14-17).
Therefore, nobody is bound under the old covenant today. Why would
you want to restore doctrines that were under the old covenant such
as the Levitical priesthood? (Heb. 7,8)
(3) The preparation of John the Immerser - For almost 400 years
(after Malachi), Israel had been without direct written revelation from
God. God closed the door of revelation until John the Immerser
arrived on the scene to prepare the way of the Messiah (prophesied in
Isa. 40:1,2; Malachi 3:1; 4:5,6; Matt. 11:10-15 in 27 A.D). This was
the “Elijah” of whom Malachi spoke (Matt. 17:9-13). During the four
hundred years of silence, some of the books in the BOM were alleged
!55
to be written (between the time the door of revelation closed until it
was reopened again, (between 400 B.C. - 27 A.D.). such as Jarom,
Mosiah, Alma, and part of 3rd Nephi.
1. Moroni stated that Elijah the prophet of Malachi 4 had not come
yet (History of the Church 1:2-79; D & C 110). But the “Elijah”
Malachi spoke of was John the Immerser (Matt. 11:1-14; 17:10-13).
2. Moroni stated that Joel 2:28-32 had not occurred yet, but Peter said
it was being fulfilled (History of the Church 1:2-79; Acts 2:16).
3. Smith's sins were forgiven by God in one of the early appearances,
but was not baptized until six years later (Acts 2:38; 22:16). (Orson
Pratt, A Series of Pamphlets, First Series, No. 6, 2-3; Letters of Oliver
Cowdery, 14).
Major Premise: Messengers and their messages claiming the authority
of God, must agree with other recognized messengers and messages
of God. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:15-22)
Minor Premise: But the messenger who visited Joseph Smith, Jr., did
not agree with the certified messages of God, namely, Christ, Peter,
and Paul. (Matthew 11:1-14; 17:10-13; Luke 1:17; Acts 2:16; 2:38;
22:16; Galatians 1:6-9; D & C 2; 138:46; Joseph Smith – History
1:2-79)
Conclusion: Therefore, the messenger who visited Joseph Smith, Jr.,
was not of God (Free 21).
(4) The placement of the new covenant - Jesus established a better
covenant with His precious blood (Matt. 26:28) in A.D 30. It went
into force after His death on the cross (Heb. 9:15-17). Therefore, the
whole world is subject to the law of Christ (Rom. 4:15; 1 Cor. 9:21;
Gal. 6:2). Those who have been added to the Lord's church partake of
the benefits and blessings found in the new covenant (Heb. 8:8-13).
The BOM is “called” another testament of Jesus Christ. A testament
would have involved the death of a testator (Heb. 9:15-17). The Bible
teaches that Jesus only had to die once and for all time (Heb.
7:27). How can the Book of Mormon be another testament when
Jesus did not die again? The new covenant is also to be an
everlasting covenant (Heb. 13:20).
!56
Major Premise: The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth
(John 16:13).
Minor Premise: But the Holy Spirit never guided the apostles into
Joseph Smith's new and everlasting covenant. (Journal of Discourses
II, 217; D&C 132)
Conclusion: Therefore, Smith's new and everlasting covenant is not
part of “all truth.” (Free 279)
(5) The purpose of miraculous gifts – To reveal and confirm the
completed word of God (Heb. 2:1-4; Mark 16:17-20; Acts 8:14-24).
That purpose was certainly completed by the end of the 1st century
A.D. (Eph. 4:7-16; 1 Cor. 13:8-13). The miraculous gifts have ceased.
In the BOM, Moroni wrote the opposite of what the Bible teaches by
stating in Moroni 7:2: “And because he hath done this, my beloved
brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither
have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.” (supposedly
written in 400s A.D.)
Major Premise: If the Bible gives us evidence of its sufficiency and
reliability, then there is no further need for further revelations.
Minor Premise: The Bible does give us evidence of its sufficiency and
reliability. (John 20:30,31; Mark 16:17-20; Hebrews 2:1-4; 1 Cor.
13:8-10; Eph. 4:7-16; 2 Peter 1:3; Jude 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16,17)
Conclusion: Therefore, there is no need for further revelation. (Free
38)
H - “Heart of the Matter” - The Prayer (Moroni 10)
a. Usually the main argument that LDS missionaries use is from
Moroni 10:4-5 to claim they have the truth.
b. Moroni 10:4-5: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would
exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of
Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere
!57
heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth
of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of
the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
c. (1) Complete reliance on emotion. How can one know for certain
that those emotions came directly from the Holy Spirit? (Jer. 10:23;
Prov. 14:12)
d. Don't rely on your own personal, subjective inner feelings. Place
your faith and obedience in religious truth that is objective and
verifiable by evidence.
e. Examples of those who relied on personal inner feelings: (1) Jacob
thought his son, Joseph, was dead. (2) Saul of Tarsus thought he was
doing the right thing by persecuting Christians (John 16:2).
f. God always gives evidence so that we might have faith. Example:
Peter appeals to four types of evidence: (1) the miracles of Jesus (Acts
2:22); (2) prophecy (Acts 2:25-28), (3) resurrection (Acts 2:27-32);
(4) the events of the day (Acts 2:33).
g. The fallacy of circular reasoning: Question: “How do you know
the BOM is true?”
LDS Response: “The BOM is true because of the feelings I have
received in my prayer.”
Question: “How do you know those warm, fuzzy feelings came from
the Holy Spirit?”
LDS Response: “I am having these warm fuzzy feelings because the
BOM is true.”
h. What about the previous testimony of those who have left the LDS
denomination?
i. Examine the testimonies of the three “witnesses” of the BOM –
Martin Harris, David Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery. (Recommend
resources: Youtube - “Eyewitness Testimony – Shane Fisher”)
!58
Major Premise: People who are dishonest and who knowingly
circulate false and slanderous reports, cannot be accepted as
trustworthy and reliable witnesses.
Minor Premise: But Harris, Whitmer, and Cowdery circulated false
and slanderous reports. (D&C 3; Elders' Journal, I., 59; Millenial Star,
VIII, 124,128; David Whitmer, An Address To All Believers In Christ,
31; Times and Seasons I, 81, 22-23; II, 482).
Conclusion: Therefore, Harris, Whitmer, and Cowdery cannot be
accepted as trustworthy and reliable witnesses. (Free 78)
j. Examine whether Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God.
Major Premise: Joseph Smith, Jr.'s reputation as a true or false
prophet rests upon the truth of his doctrine of the gathering of the
saints in Independence, MO. (D&C 84; Journal of Discourses 3:18).
Minor Premise: But Joseph Smith, Jr.'s prophecy of the gathering of
the saints in Independence, MO is proven false by the evidence of
historical records and the testimony of the LDS saints such as Orson
Pratt. (Orson Pratt, A Series of Pamphlets, First Series, No. 6, 2-3; No.
7, 18-20) [https://archive.org/details/cu31924029474685]
Conclusion: Therefore, Joseph Smith Jr. is proven to be a false
prophet because the prophecy did not come to pass. (Free 30-31).
Major Premise: History proves the truth or error of prophecy.
Minor Premise: History proves that Christ fulfilled the prophecies
made by prophets of God concerning Him (Isaiah 2,11,53; Zech. 9;
Daniel 2,7,9; Ezek. 34)
Conclusion: Therefore the prophets who spoke concerning the
fulfillment of the prophecies of Christ are true. (Acts 2,8,15)
!59
Major Premise: History proves the truth or error of prophecy.
Minor Premise: History proves that Joseph Smith Jr.'s prophecies
were not fulfilled.
Conclusion: Therefore Joseph Smith is in error. (Deut. 13:1-5;
18:15-22)
O – Origin of the Book of Mormon
a. The BOM originated from a historical novel by Solomon Spalding
that was named Manuscript Found. It was suspected of being stolen
by Sidney Rigdon.
b. Recommended Resources: Youtube: (1) “The Human Origin of the
Book of Mormon – Shane Fisher” (9 part series); (2) “The Latter-Day
Saint Denomination – Shane Fisher” (7 part series)
U – Understanding Their Past and Present Doctrines
a. Blood atonement – (1) There are sins for which Christ's blood
cannot atone after you become a Latter-Day Saint; (2) the only way
for those sins to be atoned is the shedding of the LDS member's
blood; (3) if individuals are caught in the act of sin and slain while
committing that sin, their blood would atone for their sin (even
without repentance) (4) the LDS church has authority to exact such a
penalty if the laws of the land permit. (Free 334) [NOTE: This is no
longer taught in the LDS church, but it originated from their
“inspired” prophets.]
(http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/pdfnewsletters/
27saltlakecitymessenger.pdf)
Major Premise: A doctrine which denies the efficacy of Christ's blood
is not of God (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:22; 10:1-4; 1 John 1:7-9).
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Minor Premise: But the LDS doctrine of blood atonement denies the
efficacy of Christ's blood (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, 247; Vol. 4,
53-54; C.W. Penrose, Blood Atonement).
Conclusion: Therefore, the LDS doctrine of blood atonement is not of
God. (Free 334)
b. Baptism for the dead – if someone died not ever hearing the
gospel, then an authorized member of the LDS church will be
baptized on behalf of that individual so that they can be saved (this
false doctrine is based on a misunderstanding of 1 Cor. 15:29)
aa. The remote context is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and
the general resurrection of the dead.
bb. The relationship between water baptism and the general
resurrection of the dead
cc. LDS view contradicts the Bible's view of personal
accountability and responsibility (2 Cor. 5:10; Luke 16:19–31;
2 Thess. 1:7-9; Heb. 9:27)
dd. “Otherwise, what will they (those that deny the doctrine of
the resurrection of the dead) do who are baptized for (in
reference to) the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then
are they baptized for (in reference to) the dead?” (Rom. 6:1-4;
Col. 2:12)
ee. “All who are buried with Christ in baptism declare by that
act that they believe that he was buried and rose again; and in
believing that he rose, we at the same time believe and by our
action declare our faith in a resurrection of all the dead. In our
immersion, therefore, we declare by that action that we believe
in the resurrection of all the dead...If Christ did not rise from
the dead, burial with Him in baptism would be
meaningless” (Lipscomb and Sewell, 165).
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6) Paul is teaching that baptism for the dead is personal (baptized
for one self). Smith taught that baptism for the dead is being
baptized for someone else.
7) The baptism for the dead taught by Paul did NOT require
genealogical data; Smith's doctrine does require genealogical
data.
8) The baptism taught by Paul could be performed wherever
there was sufficient water to immerse a person, but the
doctrine taught by Smith can only be administered in special
places. (Free 336)
Major Premise: The baptism for the dead taught by Smith, to be the
same as the baptism for the dead taught by Paul, must have the same
general characteristics, requirements, and conditions.
Minor Premise: But the baptism for the dead doctrine taught by Smith
differs in general characteristics, requirements, and conditions from
that taught by Paul.
Conclusion: Therefore, the baptism for the dead doctrine taught by
Smith is not the same as that taught by the apostle Paul in 1
Corinthians 15:29. (Free 336)
c. The organization of the church – the organization of the LDS
church differs significantly from the organization of the NT pattern –
elders and deacons who are qualified in every congregation along
with evangelists and teachers (Acts 14:23; 20:1-38; Eph. 4:7-16; Phil.
1:1; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-11; Heb. 13:17; James
5:14,15; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
Major Premise: The true NT church must conform to the organization
found in the New Testament.
Minor Premise: But the organization of the LDS church does not
conform to that of the NT.
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Conclusion: Therefore, the LDS church is not the NT church restored.
(Free 195)
Major Premise: An organization that never existed cannot be restored.
Minor Premise: But the organization of the LDS church never existed
before the days of Joseph Smith.
Conclusion: Therefore, the organization of the LDS church was not
restored by Joseph Smith. (Free 195)
Major Premise: All high priests ordained of God must have a sacrifice
to offer for sin (Heb. 5:1; 7-10).
Minor Premise: But LDS high priests do not have a sacrifice to offer
for sin.
Conclusion: Therefore, LDS high priests are not ordained of God.
(Free 234)
There are many other doctrines that could be discussed: (a) apostles,
(b) miracles, (c) the worship of the church, (d) the plan of salvation,
(e) pre-existence, (f) polytheism, (g) the view of the three kingdoms,
(h) the Levitical and Melchizedek priesthoods, etc.
T – Transmission of the Bible: “Has The Bible Been Corrupted?”
a. 1 Nephi 13:26
b. Question: “When and where were these “precious truths” removed
from the manuscripts?”
c. Over 25,000 NT manuscripts; the “church fathers” quote the NT
(all the verses are found in them except 11 verses)
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d. The Old Testament has been preserved through the Dead Sea
Scrolls.
e. Uncontrollable process – “What areas did Peter send his first
letter?” (1 Pet. 1:1); “Would they have made copies of copies?” Yes!; “How could all of these copies had been corrupted over the
centuries?”
f. Recommended Resources: The Identity of the New Testament IV –
Dr. Wilbur N. Pickering (http://www.walkinhiscommandments.com/
pickering3b.htm).
g. God Has Preserved His Text – Dr. Wilbur N. Pickering (http://
www.walkinhiscommandments.com/Pickering/Miscellaneous/
God%20Has%20Preserved%20His%20Text.pdf)
Major Premise: The Book of Mormon claims as the truth that the
Bible has been corrupted (1 Nephi 13:26).
Minor Premise: But the evidence of the transmission process shows a
faithful transmission.
Conclusion: Therefore, the Book of Mormon's claim that the Bible
has been corrupted is false.
Works Cited
Free, Jack. Mormonism and Inspiration. (Concord, CA: Pacific
Publishing Company, 1962)
Koukl, Gregory. Tactics. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009).
Kindle editon.
Lipscomb, David and Jesse Sewell, Questions Answered By
Lipscomb and Sewell, ed. by M.C. Kurfees (Nashville, TN:
McQuiddy Printing Co., 1921)
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MY HANDS
Long-term Domestic Missions
Alan Cantrell
1. Why do we do mission work?
There is a sense in which we are all missionaries,
wherever we are, because we have all been given the great
commission. But why do some of us choose to move to a
new place in order to spread the gospel?
Obviously, there is something different about the
place where we choose to go, or there would be no reason to
move. So what are the differences that motivate us to move?
Language? Culture? Ethnicity? Economy? Government?
Climate? The true catalysts for mission work are actually not
these things. Rather, they are imbalances in: Sound doctrine,
human resources, receptivity, spiritual maturity, morale,
knowledge, and opportunity.
These imbalances exist right here in the U.S. If you are not
aware of them, you may be living in a bubble!
2. Congregations of the Lord’s church right here in the
U.S. are closing their doors and shutting down every single
year. Over the past 25 years, we have lost an average of 35
congregations a year. In recent years, we have averaged a
net loss of almost 50 congregations per year. In the same
25 years, our attendance has dropped almost 10% while our
country’s population has grown 28%.
(Info from “Churches of Christ in the United States,” published annually
by 21st Century Christian.)
I saw no indication of this trend while growing up in the
Bible belt. In fact, my church grew by leaps and bounds
without much effort on my part at all. All of that changed
when I moved to Minnesota…
3. There are mission fields right here in the U.S.
It sounds corny, but it is absolutely true.
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A random person in Tennessee is 63 times more likely to
attend the Lord’s church than a random person in Minnesota.
Even though Minnesota has about 5.5 Million people, there
are only about 2000 Christians in the entire state.
•
•
•
There are 26,000 college students in the Mankato, MN
metro area. There is currently only one who regularly
attends our congregation (the only congregation in the
area.)
If you leave the congregation where I attend and head
west, you will drive 2.5 hours and over 150 miles,
across state lines and into South Dakota, before you
come to another non-instrumental church of Christ.
We have people driving close to an hour each way from
the north, south and west of our meeting place just to
get to a faithful congregation! And we only have about
40 members!
4. Our Plan to Make a Difference
The Mankato Vocational Ministry Program was
launched at the beginning of 2016. Our vision is to facilitate
the relocation of spiritually minded young people to areas
where the church is small or weak, so that these young people
can ultimately achieve financial independence while making
clear and direct efforts to help the church.
Notice the various elements of our vision:
• To relocate spiritually minded young people: the
addition of even just one or two faithful, energetic
individuals or families can bring great encouragement,
vitality, and evangelistic fervor to aging congregations
that desperately need help.
• To facilitate that relocation: The Christians in Acts 2
had all things in common. We want to be a social,
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spiritual, and financial safety net for the brave souls
who want to commit to domestic mission work.
• To work towards financial independence for our
participants. Vocational Ministers follow in the
footsteps of Paul and his “tent-making ministry” (1
Corinthians 9:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). The thing
about small and struggling churches is that they cannot
afford to hire a preacher! They need our help!
• To make clear and direct efforts to help churches: the
term “minister” does not indicate an official church
office, nor does it indicate that the individual
necessarily preaches, teaches, or does any other
specific work. The term is gender neutral and indicates
a much-needed servant to the body.
5. Opportunities to Get Involved
• Do an internship with us in the future! A Vocational
Internship will let you get to know the area and decide
whether Domestic Missions is right for you.
• Move to Minnesota! We will welcome you with open arms
and a safety net to help you find your place in the mission
field.
• Visit and share VocationalMinistry.com! There you will find
lots of information and an application to participate.
Questions?
Coordinator email:
[email protected]
Mankato Church of Christ:
1210 Warren St. Mankato, MN 56001
MankatoChurchOfChrist.org/Contact
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MY HANDS
Training Future Leaders
in Latin America
W. Kirk Brothers
Purpose: The purpose of my mission work is to train and develop
Latin American preachers and teachers for ministry in their
homelands. I start Future Minister Training Camps in Latin America
for young men ages 12-24 (though ages will vary). The staff for each
camp is divided between Latin Americans and North Americans. The
goal is to completely turn the camps over to Latin Americans after
two years. The following section is adapted from a chapter titled,
“Training Future Preachers and World Evangelists,” that I authored
for a book titled: Missions: Rekindling the Fire (Amridge Press,
2012).
The Role of Camps in Mission Areas
One thing my dissertation revealed is that young people in
other countries do not get the same exposure to ministry that young
people in the United States get. While “previous experience in
ministry” was a key factor in the choice of U.S. students to enter
ministry (5th highest), it was not a key factor for Panama, India, or
Nigeria (Brothers, Dissertation, p. 115). For the most part, they do
not have internships, preachers’ camps, or programs like Lads to
Leaders. We introduced classes on leading in worship in the VBS
classes we offered in Panama City, Panama in 2009. After two years
of this, the local brethren asked us to come and help them conduct
a future ministers camp there. We held the first camp in January
2011 on the campus of the Bible School of the Americas. This camp
was a joint venture of the Graymere church of Christ in Columbia,
TN and the Forrest Park church of Christ in Valdosta, GA. To date,
God has allowed us to start camps in eight Latin American
countries. My friend, Roger Shepherd, who had directed numerous
camps in the States, has also started a preacher training camp at
the Andrew Connelly Bible School of Preaching in Arusha, Tanzania.
We follow the same basic pattern in Latin America that we
do at our Preacher Training Camps in the United States. Even
though the Panama Camp is on the campus of the Bible school, a
congregation meets on the campus and the boys are able to
interact with that local congregation. The San Juan congregation in
Lima hosted the camp in Peru. The boys sleep in classrooms on
blowup mattresses. Ladies in the congregation cook meals in the
kitchen of the church building. They have two showers in the
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building and several classrooms that we can use for classes. Some
camps have been held at church camp facilities, at a Boy Scout
Camp, and even in a hotel. We adjust to what is available to us.
Camps in Latin America generally run Monday and end on
Sunday morning. This allows us to come in the weekend before to
set up and to get the local congregation excited about the camp
before it begins on Monday. The boys at the camp all deliver a
sermon at the end of the week and we also have a special
graduation ceremony. When possible, we invite local Christians to
attend this or even have with a local congregation. The staff
members are made up of a mixture of local brethren and brethren
from the United States. Local brethren must take ownership of the
camp. We split up camp responsibilities and turn more and more
responsibility over to the local brethren each year.
When I start a new camp, I make sure I take some men with
me who have participated in a camp elsewhere. For example, my
friend, Chuck Morris, has helped me with most of the camps we
have started in Latin America. Brethren from countries in Latin
America will also travel with me to start camps in other countries.
My friend, Carlos Hernandez, for example, has helped to start
numerous camps. These experienced staff members and counselors
can then train the local brethren in how the camp works. The local
brethren, in turn, train the brethren from North America in how to
adapt the camp to the local culture.
We make sure that local staff members have the prominent
positions in front of the local brethren. For example, local staff
members handle most of the public positions related to camp
graduation. We also invite local brethren to come in and teach
certain classes, to present motivational talks at the opening and
closing ceremonies, and to assist with morning devotionals. You will
need two or three key local men who will help you to plan and
promote the camp in their country. I ask one of the local men to
handle all applications and decide who comes to the camp (we
target 12-24 year old young men). I also ask someone local to
handle advertising (you will need to get them some money to do
this).
Local brethren are very willing to help with the camps but
they may not have the money to do things that need to be done. I
raise support to fund each of the camps. We encourage local
congregations to participate according to their ability (donations of
funds, rice, physical labor, etc.). The typical camp in Latin America
will cost $7,000 to $9,000 depending on how big the camp is. This
does not include the travel costs of those from North America who
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travel in to help with the camp (they each raise their own support
or pay for it out of their own pockets).
Books are especially important for the international camps.
It is expensive to purchase many Bible study books in Latin America.
If young men are going to practice what they are learning, they are
going to need books to assist them with this. We try to get books
into their hands at each camp to help with sermon preparation. One
thing we do at each camp is give the campers a Thompson Chain
Reference Bible in Spanish. You will also need a camp library with
additional books that can assist them in preparing their lessons
during the week. We do not charge the boys for anything during the
camp. They only have to provide their own transportation to and
from the camp.
Conclusion
The ministry training camp concept is one of the finest
things I know of in the brotherhood. W. K. Johnson (who trained
me) summarized it well when he said, “What this camp does for the
local congregation, the individual members and the church as a
whole is immeasurable . . . Members may never go to Africa as a
missionary, but they can train the boys at the camp. Preachers,
missionaries, youth ministers, elders, deacons and strong Christians
come out of the camp. It is expensive, but it pays for
itself” (interview). I pray that our discussion of Future Minister
Training Camps will give you some ideas as to what you might do in
your own congregations.
Types of Subjects Taught at the Training Camps:
-Preparation and Delivery of Sermons: We teach sermons on
parables (yr 1) and Bible characters (yr 2).
-Personal Evangelism
-The Eldership
-Leading in Worship (song leading, public Scripture reading, etc.)
-The preacher’s life and family
-Ministry to Families
-Various biblical subjects
-Various other topics related to ministry, leadership, and teaching in
the church.
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Overview of the Work to Date:
1.
2011:
a.
Started the first Future Minister Camps in Panama (26
campers) and Peru (16 campers).
b.
Taught courses at the Bible Schools of the Americas in
Panama and Peru. Taught “Biblical Leadership” in
Panama and taught Ecclesiastes and the Minor
Prophets in Peru.
2.
2012:
a.
Held the second camps in Panama (30 campers) and
Peru (20 campers).
b.
Started the first Future Minster Training Camp in
Costa Rica (32 campers).
c.
Taught at the Bible School of the Americas preacher
training school in Panama.
d.
Co-led Evangelistic mission trip to Chinandega,
Nicaragua involving 11 from FHU.
1)
Congregation was down to 4 ladies when we
arrived, 25 members when we left.
2)
44 Bible Studies, 4 Baptized, 17 Restorations.
3)
Met with local preachers to plan a Future
Ministers Camp for January 2013.
e.
Trained Co-worker who started a Future Ministers
Camp in Honduras (25 campers).
f.
We have had a baptism at each of the 5 preacher
training camps we have conducted.
g.
First student from one of camps graduated from Bible
School of the Americas.
3.
2011-Present:
a.
Have held two camps in each of the following
Countries: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras,
EL Salvador, and Guatemala in Central America and in
Peru and Colombia in South America.
b.
Have led a Spring Break campaign to Latin America
every year since 2012 (one trip to Nicaragua and four
to Panama). The yearly trip to Panama is to the
campus of the Bible School of the Americas and the
Casa Hogar Children’s Home in Panama City, Panama.
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The work includes:
-Teaching a short-course for the students at the
school.
-Setting up a medical office for the 100+ people who
live on the campus and at the home.
-Painting Projects on the campus and in the Home.
-2-4 work projects on the campus and in the home.
-Teaching at 2-3 local congregations.
c.
Conduct at least one course each year at the Bible
School of the Americas in Panama (the school was
started in 1965). I go each March and occasionally in
the summer or over Thanksgiving break. The courses I
teach are as follows:
-The book of Revelation
-A Comprehensive Study of Biblical Leadership
-An Introduction to Youth and Family Ministry
Plans for the Future:
1. 2017: Scheduled to have camps in Brazil (January) and
Dominican Republic (July)
2. 2018: Repeat the camps in Brazil and Dominican Republic and
add a camp in Ecuador or Mexico.
Administrative Details:
1. The Elders of the Forrest Park Congregation oversee all support
and expense money.
2. Planning/coordinating the camps and preparing for classes are a
year-round responsibility.
How Can You Get Involved?:
1. Pray about the work: Without God, this work is meaningless.
2. Spread the news: Tell folks through your social media outlets
and let your elders or mission committee know about the
work.
3. Raise Funds: The youth group of the Winfield congregation in
Alabama raised funds to help with camps in Nicaragua and
Honduras. You can send funds to:
Forrest Park church of Christ
Future Minister Camps
P.O. Box 2330
Valdosta, GA 31604
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4. If you come to Freed-Hardeman, I would love for you to
join us on a Spring Break Campaign.
Yes II - Teen Campaigns to Latin America
YES II Campaigns are hands-on, heartwarming, working
mission trips to Latin America specifically designed for teenagers.
Young Evangelistic Servants from congregations throughout the
United States join their counter parts in Latin America to
encourage, uplift, and teach children and teenagers about Jesus.
VBS Classes are held during the day and a Gospel Meeting is
conducted in the evening during the campaigns. Children’s and
Teenage Classes are held each day with the campaigners assisting in
these classes. Participants also participate in Door-to-Door
Evangelism, learning and putting into practice useful and effective
evangelistic techniques. Young people learn how to conduct
personal Bible studies and various approaches to evangelism while
working hand-in-hand with evangelists, elders, deacons, and
teachers.
This work is overseen by the Forrest Park church of Christ in
Valdosta, GA and is directed by Spencer Broom. For more info:
Attn: Latin American Missions
Forrest Park church of Christ
P.O. Box 2330
Valdosta, GA 31604
229-242-1069
Email: [email protected]
Spencer Broom - 229-412-0745
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MY HANDS
Evangelism in the Inner City
Kenneth Dupree aka “K.D.”
Chattanooga Inner City Outreach Inc.
Scripture Readings to consider:
Hebrews 6:10 – showing your love for God by helping His people
• Coming to grips that all people belong to God
• Coming to grips that God wants all to be SAVED!
• Coming to grips that, if we don’t go then who will?
Proverbs 11:25 – freshen up
• The benefits of refreshing others
Deuteronomy 31:6 – be courageous
• Despite your thoughts and feelings…God is with you!
• Despite what you have heard…it’s not all that way, so be
courageous!
Proverbs 3:5-6 – allow Him to lead
• Will you really trust and allow God to direct your paths?
Summary:
I (Kenneth Dupree) have lived the majority of my life in Chattanooga,
TN (other than 2 years). I spent a part of my life within the walls of the
inner city communities as a child and my family members lived there as
well. After quitting high school and running away from God for a
number of years, it came to me that life here was NOT about me but
about God and what I could share with others while bringing the light
to him. Soon left home at age 16 and drove 18 wheelers for awhile
before I allowed God to direct my paths and be courageous in the fields
of the Lord. Now after some 20+ years I have been working with and
alongside those of the inner city communities here in Chattanooga, Tn.
We have been running a bus ministry since 1992 throughout the
communities picking up pre-school – middle school age kids teaching
and sharing that of Jesus Christ. There are some 80 local missionaries
that leave their jobs and the comfort of their homes to come and teach
some 175 kids on a weekly basis. In other words: IF WE DON’T GO
REACH AND TEACH THEM….THEN WHO WILL?
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MY HANDS
Let’s Go to the Fair:
Exhibit Evangelism
J E Miller
EXHIBIT EVANGELISM at the Illinois State Fair is a
cooperative effort of the churches of Christ. We are privileged to
be supported by congregations and individuals from all parts of the
state of Illinois. For 12 days each August, Christians come together
in Springfield, Illinois to cooperate in an activity that has been
sponsored by the churches of Christ for over 50 years – Exhibit
Evangelism! #EE@EU
While Exhibit Evangelism at the Illinois State Fair is an
intergenerational work providing an opportunity for Christians of all
ages to work together in exhibiting Christ in the marketplace (over
100 volunteers), teens are recognized as our most valuable asset
in greeting our visitors. Teens provide the energy and enthusiasm
and that helps attract the visitors to an active and interactive
venue designed for all ages. Teens have been the source of many of
our new uses of technology (e.g. developed a new electronic quiz)
and have greatly influenced our use of social media.
Our ‘GOALS’ for teens working the exhibit are simple: Greet
everyone, Offer what we have free – photos, face painting, games
and literature, Ask if they’ve had an opportunity to enroll in our
free Bible correspondence course – 99 times out of 100 the answer
to an asked question in this venue will be NO. We ask a question
where we want a no answer, then we can show them our course.
Finally, we leave them with a smile – whether the interaction was
positive, negative or neutral, we want our visitors to have had a
pleasant visit!
It is hard to describe the opportunities that this work
provides. Volunteers retell and recount experiences and
conversations that will last a lifetime and are better experienced
than explained. Many of us have participated in campaigns going
door to door. This work is like inviting 100,000 people to your
home. We know that we will come in conversational contact with
at least 10,000 of these visitors. We offer to take and print a free
‘souvenir’ photo of our visitors and print these on a card that has
God’s plan of salvation and our contact information on the other
side. The photos are uploaded to our website and can be accessed
by our guests after their visit (www.exhibitevangelism.com and
https://www.facebook.com/ExhibitEvangelism/ ).
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EXHIBIT EVANGELISM is an efficient outreach.
1) In advertising dollars alone, it would be well worth the
expense. We work to make our Exhibit both innovative and
inviting for fairgoers on a budget of ~$20,000 (space rental
at the State Fairgrounds is our single largest expense, with
housing and feeding the workers a close second.)
2) The venue (Illinois State Fair) will usually bring 1 million
people. Our Exhibit space is in the main Exposition Building
on the Fairgrounds and will be seen by at least 100,000
people. We will be able to make some form of personal
contact with at least 10,000 people.
3) The message remains the focus. We are persuaded that the
Gospel is the power of God unto salvation… (Romans 1:16)
and we want to offer it in the most effective ways available
to us. It is an efficient domestic mission.
EXHIBIT EVANGELISM is an effective outreach.
1. We have enrolled ~500 people in Bible Correspondence
Courses in each of the last few years. We will distribute
numerous pieces of literature as well.
2. The focus of the material distributed is to provide a
general introduction to the churches of Christ and the
Gospel plan of salvation.
Literature with specific
application is available based upon individual
conversations.
EXHIBIT EVANGELISM is also an edifying outreach.
1. Exhibit workers enjoy having devotionals each evening at
the retreat center. There is time during off hours for a
variety of recreational activities.
2. Lasting relationships are formed by Exhibit workers.
3. Dedication to sharing the Gospel is nurtured.
4. After four decades of this work, many former teen
workers are now elders, deacons, preachers, Bible
teachers, and missionaries.
EXHIBIT EVANGELISM has a rich history in its’ 50+ years in operation
– two Exhibit spaces separated by the only elevator in the Main
Expo Building at our State Fair. The general size of each side is 18’
x 30’. One side is designed for children called BIBLELAND (with a
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life-size Goliath, Noah’s Ark, face-painting and puppets). The other
side utilizes current computer technologies for Bible quizzes, a
photo spot for the free ‘souvenir’ from the State Fair and an
interactive map of congregations supporting the work. All these
activities and technologies are used with the prayerful purpose of
finding individuals that are seeking and asking. We are thankful for
the doors of opportunity!
EXHIBIT EVANGELISM continues to be an effective domestic
mission. Our long-term relationship with the State Fair provides
other opportunities as well as the Exhibit. On both Sundays of the
fair, the church is allowed and privileged to conduct worship
services in the building sponsored by the Illinois Department on
Aging.
EXHIBIT EVANGELISM VOLUNTEER LOGISTICS: Workers are housed
at a camp located near the fairgrounds but nestled in a beautiful
wooded area in the country. The young people and adult staff stay
in the Retreat. A large meeting area on the main level is used for
dining, daily devotionals, and lounging. Volunteer staff provides
breakfast and lunch. Dinner is usually any leftovers from the day or
general snack food provided or pizza. Since breakfast and lunch are
provided along with snack foods, the only money one would bring is
for anything personal they need.
EXHIBIT EVANGELISM solicits your prayerful support in taking the
Gospel to the marketplace at the Illinois State Fair as well as other
events and encourages you to find non-traditional venues for
sharing your faith.
The work is under the oversight of the elders at the Highway church
of Christ, Sullivan, IL. If you would like to know more about this
effective domestic mission, please contact us.
#EE@EU2017
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MY HANDS
WEI:
Reaching and Teaching the World Lee Allen
Jesus Told Us to “GO!”
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all
creation.” Mark 16:15
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth
has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus’s last command before leaving this earth should become our
first priority! It needs to be our mission and purpose in this life!
Jesus commanded us to go and do exactly what he came to this earth
to do himself. To seek and save the lost!
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke
19:10
God Has a Vision and Purpose for Us
Through all of this we know one important message, God is in control
and he has a vision and purpose for each one of us.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than
your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
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and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my
mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I
desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah
55:8-11
God has plans for each one of us.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
For it is God who works in you to will and to act accordingly to his
good purpose. Philippians 2:13
One of those good works is to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ! God
desires to speak through us to the lost wherever we go. We are people
of truth and have been sent by God. All the time God is with us.
World English Institute – Communicating Christ to the World
People all over the world are hurting, struggling, and facing
unbelievable challenges and difficulties in their life. Many find
themselves in desperate and hopeless situations. They are searching
for answers and looking for ways and opportunities to change their
way of life. Thousands upon thousands of these people are finding
their way to World English Institute.
English has become THE language of the modern world. Billions of
speak English today, and the number is growing rapidly. Three fourths
of the world’s high schools are now studying English. More people
are studying English in China than in the United States. WEI takes
advantage of this worldwide interest in the English language and uses
it to share the Good News about Christ.
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World English Institute uses the Bible as an English text. It combines
an English grammar course with Bible lessons beginning with
creation and continuing through the plan of salvation. To complete
the basic course a student must study approximately 20 hours of Bible
lessons. The website provides recordings of each of the Bible lessons
so the students can learn to hear and speak English as they read.
While they learn to hear and speak, the Word is being planted deep
within their hearts and minds.
We advertise Free English Lessons on Google in every country of the
world. Using your computer, laptop, iPad, or even your smart phone,
you can teach the Good News to people in EVERY country of the
world. Approximately 6,000 people visit the WEI teaching website
each month to study the English language. Each month over 1,200 of
these people complete the Introductory lesson and become a WEI
student. Thousands of our students are coming from the Middle
Eastern Countries where Christianity and Bible education is forbidden
and punishable by imprisonment or worse. You can become a
missionary from the comforts of your home and help lost souls
ALL around the World find Jesus who died for all of us so that we
might live.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And
how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And
how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how
can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans
10:14-15
Jesus is telling us to “GO!” The world is waiting. Will you begin
today making a difference in the hearts of those who are lost and
searching for hope and freedom? Help them find the gift of
eternal life in Jesus Christ! Become the workers Jesus prayed
for!
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MY HANDS
Youth Missions in
Latin America
Phil Waggoner
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MY EYES
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MY EYES
“Meeting Them Halfway:
Helping Women Rebuild Their Lives”
Gloria Beasley
What a privilege and awesome responsibility it is to have the
opportunity to tell others about the Good News of Jesus Christ! We
must prepare ourselves to have open hearts, scriptural answers, and be
in a continual state of learning more about God’s Holy Word. Our
hearts must be like the good soil that Jesus spoke of in Luke, chapter
8. The seed, the Word of God, must take root in our lives and grow
deeper and deeper as we stay prepared and focused to meet every
opportunity as they are presented.
As we branch out beyond teaching groups of women and children in
our home congregations, opportunities abound. There are women all
around us that are starving for love, hope, acceptance, and guidance in
their lives. The Gospel will provide just what they need ~ and we
have the power, through the Word of God, to change their lives,
whether they are homeless, incarcerated, or trying to assimilate into
American culture after escaping war-torn countries.
During these sessions, we will focus on 4 areas: Those who are
incarcerated, those who are homeless, and those who are refugees.
Our fourth area, and perhaps the most important, will be ourselves.
What do we need to do to prepare ourselves for the multitude of open
doors that we will walk through? How can we equip ourselves to
make the most of these great opportunities?
1. Prison
2. Homeless
3. Refugees & Immigrants
4. Ourselves
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1) Above all: Pray and Study the Word & equip yourself.
II Timothy 2:15, I Peter 3:15, I Thessalonians 5:16-18,
Psalm 119:97 & 98, Psalm 1:1 & 2, Psalm 4:1
2) Look for open doors. Search for those who need the Gospel.
Matthew 28:19 & 20, Isaiah 6:8, II Corinthians 5:18,
3) Look at hearts, not their outward appearance. Remember that
God sees them as a lost soul ~ and that is how we should see
them. John 4:7-18, John 8:1-7, Luke 5:12 & 13, John 13:5,
Philippians 2:3 & 4, I Samuel 16:7, I Peter 3:1-4
4) Strive to be like Jesus: Humble, kind, loving, compassionate,
friendly, and obedient. Galatians 5:22 & 23, Philippians 4:8 &
9, Colossians 3:12-15, II Peter 1:5-9
5) Examine yourself. Psalm 26:2, Jeremiah 9:23-24, I Peter
5:6-7, James 4:10
Watch your attitude
Watch your behavior
Watch your appearance
Watch your language
Be an example in all areas, for those you are teaching,
as well as for those in your home congregations.
Gloria Beasley
Nashville, TN
[email protected]
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MY EYES
When The World Comes To You!
Jeff Beasley
The world we live in has dramatically changed in my lifetime. Our
nation is being flooded with people from various parts of the world with
different customs, languages, and religions.
People are fleeing from
violence and political upheaval in order to find peace and prosperity in our
nation.
As Christians, this gives us opportunities that we have never had
before . Doors are opening before our eyes in ways that we never imagined.
The Lord has provided us with new people who are frustrated with their
religions and are searching for better ways to live. Are we prepared to
present the gospel to them?
What a great opportunity the Lord has
presented to us! How will we respond as a nation? How will we respond as
God’s people? How will you respond to God’s call to seek and save the
lost?
In the class “When the World Comes to You!”, we hope to explore
these opportunities and offer suggestions as to how to show God’s great
grace to these new people. What do you know about Islam? What do you
know about atheists? What do you know about Hinduism, or Buddhism?
How do you study denominationalism with your friends? How do you teach
someone who does not speak English?
We must learn and teach things that we have taken for granted. Is
the Bible the true word of God, or just mythical stories? How do you know
that the Bible has not been corrupted through the years? How do you prove
that Jesus is the Son of God? Are you sure that you believe He is the Son of
God? How do you know there is one true God? These are questions with
which you will be confronted if you seek to teach the Gospel to refugees
new to our country and our culture. In fact, if you study with many
Americans that grew up in this country, you may be questioned about these
pillars of our faith.
It is our goal to help you prepare yourself to be ready when the Lord
opens the doors of opportunity for you. He has given us all we need in His
Word; will you be ready “When The World Comes To You”?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Outline
The World Divided by Sin
Our Changing World
Who Is In Your Community?
What You Need to Be Prepared to Know
How Do We Introduce the Bible?
Your Challenge!
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MY EYES
Letting the Word do the Work
Richard Riehn
In 2013 a Ukrainian female educator shared how the Communist had
told them what to think, how to act, and what to say for approximately
70 years; and that they would never allow that to happen again. In the
same vain, a young Ukrainian woman shared how the priest in the
Orthodox Church always said that she did not need a Bible because he
could tell her what it said. Both ladies were telling me…”give us
God’s Word and we will do the work”.
Eastern European Mission began in 1961 answering the call for
Bibles throughout the Soviet bloc countries. Today’s mission is the
same, “THE BIBLE…We Want Everyone to Get It”.
EEM has been blessed since 1961 with many Godly leaders that
recognized and understood the pitfalls of the mission field. Learning
the local cultures and norms shows how much you care. This will
make it easier to share what you know (from God’s Word).
1) A look into the culture of the mission field
2) Understanding you are not in America anymore
3) Understanding when helping hurts
4) Trusting the power of God’s Word (Isaiah 55:11)
Learn why leaders in countries like Ukraine are telling us “the Bible
is changing our country in one generation”.
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MY EYES
Ukraine - Counting the Cost
Will Harrison
Kramatorsk and Konstantinovka, Ukraine. Those are some big names
for cities–big names for places I consider my “second home.” Four
years ago, I met some of my best friends in these big-name cities that
rest about 30 minutes apart. From this area is a group of young guys
and girls, ages 20-25, all Christians. Most have been faithful
Christians since their early teenage years.
Before I go too far, you need to know that the main practiced religion
in Ukraine is Russian Orthodox. Many of my close friends grew up in
families that were comfortable followers in the Russian Orthodox
church. Russian Orthodox is not the church Christ established at the
beginning of Acts. When my friends decided to be baptized and
become Christians in God’s church, it was by no means an easy
decision.
“All right, Will. What's so special about these young people? I mean, I
was baptized as a young teen, and the decision wasn’t easy by any
count. I mean I had to do it in front of so many people!”
You see, so many of these young Ukrainians put on Christ in baptism
as young teenagers without the support of their own families, even
going against the expectations of a society. And what’s more, ever
since their conversion, many have been faithfully following Jesus no
matter the consequences. They follow Him, though their family
chooses otherwise. They made the decision, though their families
might not agree.
These are young Christians–perhaps a lot like you–who counted the
cost of following Jesus. “Take up your cross and follow Me.” They
know how to do that, even in the hardest of times.
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Jesus once told a story about the importance as Christians of counting
the cost (Luke 14.25-34). In the passage, He informs a group of
potential life-long followers on the enormous responsibility you take
on when you decide to be His follower. He says, “If you can’t let go
of your close family members, you can’t be my disciple! If you won’t
take up your cross and follow behind me, you can’t be my disciple! If
you refuse to let go of your plans, your people, or your stuff in order
to follow me, you can’t be my disciple!”
Did you count the cost of following Jesus?
Chances are low you'll ever experience violent persecution simply
because you follow Jesus here in the United States. But did you think
about the consequences? Were you prepared to follow even when
your friends think you are lame? Are you aware that your community
today or tomorrow might consider you to be close-minded, hateful, or
old-fashioned because you love God’s commands?
The encouragement is this: you have a forever family called the
church. It's family members are suffering here and abroad. If the
family in Ukraine can continue to worship God in the midst of a
violent, heartbreaking, life-shattering conflict, you can follow God
through whatever trials you face.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down,
but not destroyed…” –2 Corinthians 4.8-9 (ESV)
Not only do we all have a forever family, but we also have a forever
promise. A hope of heaven that does not fade and will never fade.
People can take a lot away a lot away from you but your hope they
cannot. As the song goes, “In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my
light, my strength, my song.”
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MY EYES
Time is a Temple
Danny Knight
Time is an odd thing. We are creatures of time born into it and
always using it. What if I told you that time is one of the largest and
greatest temples that we can serve God in? What if we were
purposeful in recognizing that time came from our King? This is the
call that we must answer!
So often we view our church buildings as the temple that we
go to so that we can experience the presence of God. While we do see
God in the sea of believers that meet with us, He is present elsewhere.
It is up to us as image-bearers of Christ to bring praise everywhere
that He is. We will now break down some of the ways that we can use
the blessing of time to serve to the fullest.
Genesis 1:27 tells us that all humans bear the image of God. I
don't know about you but I would love to spend more time in the
presence of God's image. Once I recognized that God was present in
each person my life was radically changed! I gained a new lens for
how to view each and every person I came into contact with. I was no
longer the focus of my relationship with God. Instead my focus was
on the relationships with these God bearer's that I had been ignoring.
This lens can be applied to both those within the Church and
those outside her. The man who is in open rebellion to God is no less
deserving of our service than the one who loves unconditionally.
Think of the Prodigal Son or the Woman at the Well. Neither are we
to ignore our family in Christ to solely focus on the lost. Acts 2:42-47
shows us the ideal for how to interact with our brothers and sisters.
These are the key scriptures we’ll use to focus our newly found lens.
First off, for those within the Church: The Acts 2 passage as
well as the gospels all show us that Christ and the apostles did a lot of
eating! I too am good at eating, already something I can share with
Christ. Christ and the Apostles ate in the homes of both friends and
questioners. This is something that is even easier for us today than it
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was in the early centuries. We have modern kitchen appliances that
can prepare meals in minutes. We have drive thru lines that we do not
even have to turn a knob to be served warm food. Why then do we eat
with others so little?
How can our new lens change our ability to act as Christ to
those in His church? First, we recognize that He is present no matter
the length of time we are spending with someone. Second, we invite
them into our homes as was happening the 1st century. Even better we
set up a weekly meal, sounds familiar, or as often as possible. Third,
we serve them food, prepared by our hands when possible. Last, we
worship together by discussing the matters on our hearts.
Now for those outside the Church: The most important thing
to remember is that they too bear the image of the creator and savior.
He is living in you and wants His images to be brought closer to Him.
We have to ask how our approach to those outside the church differs
to those inside it. The answer lies in our intentionality.
When serving those outside our family we must be purposeful
to show God in our actions and gracefully in our words. Lets break
the system down again. Invite someone, or number of someones, to
share a meal. While you are at this meal be driven to serve them as
Christ has done for you. If they need you to listen, then listen. If they
need you to lead the conversation then lead it. If they become
uncomfortable then resolve anything disturbing the peace. Our service
to others is the truest deepest way to serve the Lord in His temple that
we call time.
In conclusion lets focus our lenses just a bit more. Jesus
washed the disciple's feet. We do not have that custom any longer, but
we do have hospitality. In it most basic form hospitality is an
invitation to another to join you in a moment of time. Peter in Acts 3
has no money, but he does have time for the blind man. The early
church met in homes. I invite you to worship and serve your King
from you own home. Do this by spreading His love, compassion, and
mercy onto each and every person that crosses your threshold.
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MY EYES
PRESSING FORWARD
OUT OF ADDICTION
Trent Childers
pressing-forward.net
After 3 DUIs within 3 years I thought it was time to stop getting
drunk and high. I thought if I stopped that everything would be fine. I
viewed those behaviors as the main problem.
That was a problem.
Through a journey of pain and tears I came to learn that harmful
behaviors are only symptoms of an underlying problem. The goal
should never be to only stop “x” behavior.
It should always be to get to the heart (Pro. 4:23; Mat. 15:15-20).
The Pressing Forward ministry came out of my experience and
education. This ministry approaches the whole person, viewing him/
her as God does, heart, body, and soul. The theme passage for this
ministry is Philippians 3:13, 14. In Jesus, we can press forward out of
any past and into Him and His purpose for us.
The theme text for EU is 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Let’s draw some
thoughts from it.
First, we have liberty in Christ.
Second, the point is to “win” souls.
Third, doing this involves adapting to better relate to others.
Fourth, this is all for the sake of the gospel.
To delve deeper into that text read this article: http://www.pressingforward.net/comfortable-in-our-comfort-zones/.
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This text puts approaching others in the proper perspective. It also
teaches us we must have the right heart to help others. You can’t live
out this text coming from a place of fear, pride, and selfishness.
I believe addiction is often mis-approached. I think we need a solid
definition and also a solid approach. I believe Pressing Forward
(www.pressing-forward.net) gives us that.
ADDICTION DEFINED
I view addiction has any behavior or thinking pattern which has
mastered you (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12). Harmful addictions come from not
properly guarding the heart (Pro. 4:23).
God actually wired us to be addicts, to be consumed with love (cf. 2
Tim. 1:7). When we misdirect that and come from fear and don’t
guard our hearts, we travel down a dark and dangerous path. For more
on addiction by God’s design check out this article: http://
www.pressing-forward.net/addiction-conquers-addiction/
Through my own experience plus my education I have put together 10
Pillars and 10 Action Steps which I believe embody addiction
recovery. They are rooted in Jesus and take a holistic, heart, body, and
soul approach. You can read the Pillars and Action Steps series at
pressing-forward.net.
PILLARS AND ACTION STEPS
You can read the specifics of these at http://www.pressingforward.net/about-pressing-forward/.
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PILLARS
ACTION STEPS
Confession (James 5:16; Pro.
28:3)
Confess Harmful Behavior
Commitment (Php. 3:10, 11)
Commit to Jesus
Identity (2 Cor. 5:14-19)
Find Identity in Jesus
Discipline (1 Tim. 4:15, 16;
Pro. 10:14)
Incorporate Disciplines Into Your
Life
Accountability (Acts 2:42-47;
Pro. 24:6)
Make Yourself Accountable
Mindfulness (Pro. 4:23; Psa.
139:23, 24)
Become Mindful
Nutrition (Rom. 12:1; Psa.
104:14, 15).
Nourish With Nutrition
Sacred Living (Rom. 12:3-8; 1
Pet. 4:8-11).
Live to God’s Glory
Active Listening (James 1:19;
Pro. 13:3).
Actively Listen
Living Love (1 Cor. 13:1-8)
Live Out Love
I believe addiction recovery needs all of these elements, but Jesus is at
the core. Understanding this keeps us from getting overwhelmed and
turning it into working to earn something, which we could never do.
When we live transformed lives we attract others who want that life
too. These steps are designed to mold us more into the image of Jesus.
This puts us in a position to disciple others.
pressing-forward.net
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MY EYES
Ministering to Those
Who are Sick/Suffering
Barry & Nolan Binion
On October 21, 2000, our 2nd son was born to our family. We were
very excited to have another son! As we enjoyed our newest addition and
teaching our oldest son how to love and treat his younger brother things
were going well.
In January of 2001 our newest son got very ill and had to be put into
the hospital with an upper repository virous. He was a sick little boy. He got
better but then was sick again in February and again in March. After so
many illnesses and even a special trip to a Children’s Hospital our
Pediatrician decided our son had an immune issue.
So, she scheduled an appointment with an Immunologist at
Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, AL. After the doctor came in and saw
our son and his test results he knew exactly what he had. He told us our son
had a Immune Deficiency Disease called Chronic Granulomatous Disease.
What? What on earth is that and can he be cured? The answer was
yes only by Bone Marrow Transplant or Gene Therapy neither of which was
possible for our son at the time or the success rate wasn’t high enough.
After the shock of our world falling apart we begin to learn more
about this illness. Also, our son was in and out of the hospital about every
month. We would send our oldest son to his grandmothers and my wife and I
would stay with our son who was ill in the hospital.
In January of 2002 our son became a patient at St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital in Memphis, TN where he was a patient for about 9
years. They helped us so much learn how to live with a child that had a
Chronic Illness.
During this time our son took medicines to do what his body
couldn’t do. There were several things he couldn’t do that other children
could do because of his illness, but we learned to deal with it. Dealing with
what he couldn’t do became harder as he got older.
In the Spring of 2011because of some issues he was having and a
few other things that his Dr. felt it was time to go to transplant. Once again,
we were stunned by this news. Not that we were not excited for the chance
for him to be cured but there was risk associated with this procedure. Risk
that included fatality. In the face of these risk, with our 11-year-old son now
helping with the decision, we decided to follow the Dr.’s advice.
He was sent to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda,
Maryland where he went through a Bone Marrow Transplant. There were set
backs and successes. At one point, he became ill and the Dr.’s didn’t know
what it was, nor sure that he would recover. Many prayers went up on his
behalf. Thanks, be to God he came through it all. Though he has still dealt
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with different issues he is 4 years’ post-transplant and doing well. He no
longer has to take medicines but does have to return every 6 months for
checkups.
So how can we minister to families and individuals going through
such experiences? Great question! We will talk about some helpful things
we have learned.
1) Pray
a. Be ALL IN prayer for the family or individual.
b. Pray without ceasing – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
c. James 5:13, “13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let
him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”
d. When we pray for others who are sick or suffering we
realize that God is in control and He holds the power
and ability to do more than we could imagine – Eph.
3:20
e. Through prayer God can comfort and bless those who
are sick and suffering.
f. When the family or individual knows you are praying
it can bring them great comfort.
g. James 5:15, “15 And the prayer of faith will save the
sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has
committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
2) Be There
a. Be ALL IN with the family or individual
i. Not what Job experienced in Job 19:13-19
ii. Rather like when his calamity first hit – Job
2:11-13
b. Be Careful what you say
i. Job’s Friend messed up when they spoke
ii. Job 4; 8; 11; 15; 18; 20; 22; 25
c. Support them
i. Call regularly
ii.
Look for opportunities to help.
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MY EYES
What to do when a friend
or family member is gay
Tony Choate
In today’s world, more than ever, Christians must be prepared
for a time when homosexuality is mainstream and gay marriage is
ever present. As time passes, you can expect that more and more
churches will change their stance on homosexuality and gay marriage.
It will affect our churches, our families and our friendships. As
Christians, how will we respond? What would Jesus do? What will
you do when a friend tells you they are gay? When a member of the
youth group opens up to you that they are struggling with same-sex
attraction? When a son, daughter, sister, brother, etc marries a gay
partner?
The answers to these questions are extremely difficult and
require a tremendous amount of study, discussion and prayer.
Personally, I was faced with these very same questions when my
sister told me that she was a lesbian. I had to decide how I would
respond as her brother, as a youth minister, as a Christian, as a father
of 5 children and as her friend. What followed (and continues) is
much study, discussion with her and various other individuals and lots
of time in prayer. I have learned much but have much more to learn.
We will discuss a few key pieces in this very difficult puzzle to solve.
We will not have time to discuss everything, but here are some things
that we need to dig into at least a little.
1.
Definition of Terms
One thing I learned very quickly was that Christians, the gay
community and society in general, are still trying to determine what
certain terms mean. For example, many who consider themselves gay
are sexually attracted to both sexes. Personally, I would consider that
bisexual and I think some in the LGBT community would as well. Yet
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my sister and others, who are attracted to both sexes, don’t consider
themselves bisexual. In talking through this further, I realized that
even though an individual might be attracted to both sexes, if he or
she only desires a loving, long term relationship with an individual of
the same sex, he or she might consider him or herself gay and not
bisexual.
As you can see, in order to discuss anything educatedly you
must have the same understanding of what the terms you are using
mean. It would be impossible for me to list terms and give a definition
for each one because of the fluidity and varying opinion of the terms
presently. Yet this idea gives me the opportunity to impress upon you
the importance of making sure you talk through what is going on and
what people mean when they are saying certain things. This leads me
to my next key piece for discussion.
2.
Relationship
As human beings, one of our greatest needs is relationship.
The Godhead consists of three individuals that form a community and
you and I were created in God’s image and thus we were never
intended to be alone. God says it is not good. (Genesis 2:18) We each
need one another.
It has been the typical response of Christians to avoid any
relationships with people in the gay community. When someone we
know tells us they struggle with same sex attraction or are gay,
oftentimes we will isolate that person. This isolation leaves a huge
hole in that person’s life. A hole that needs to be filled; must be filled.
When relationships with those we love end, where do we turn? For
individuals who struggle with same sex attraction, the most likely
destination is among the gay community at large. Did you hear what I
just said? Because we have no relationship with a person who is gay,
that person then turns to others who will fill that need. Thus they often
turn to those who are accepting of their homosexual lifestyle. This is
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a major problem!!! As Christians, we cannot push someone away
just because they struggle with same sex attraction. If so, we are
putting them in a very difficult position of finding that love and caring
relationship they need among the world.
So how do we keep that relationship going and show the
person they are loved without accepting sin? That is a very tough
question, but a question we must discuss and handle more
appropriately. We cannot continue to just push it to the side and push
our gay friends and family members away from us and toward the
accepting world. The answer to this question will be different,
depending on many factors. We will discuss some possible solutions.
3.
Born gay? Gay by choice? Etc?
The discussion must include some talk about why some people
are gay and some are not. Do some change their sexual orientation?
Are people born gay? The fact of the matter is there are many reasons
why individuals are gay. Understanding that this is true is super
important. One thing we must understand though is that the great
majority of Christians who struggle with same sex attraction are not
“choosing” this lifestyle. Certainly there are exceptions to this rule,
but I would guess that the exceptions are very rare. As with anything,
give the person the benefit of the doubt and go from there. Being
willing to talk, as mentioned earlier, is essential to understanding the
factors behind an individual’s personal experiences in this area.
4.
What does God think about all this?
Although the main point of this particular discussion is not to
partake in a detailed study of the Biblical view of homosexuality (you
can find that info through many credible sources), I do believe each
person needs to have a good understanding of what God says about
the subject. You will find it hard to help anyone else if you first do not
have a deep understanding of why you believe what you believe.
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So what does the Bible say about homosexuality? Is it a sin? Is
it ok? Does the Bible even discuss the subject? There is a growing
movement among the religious world to not only be accepting of, but
to promote homosexuality as an acceptable, alternative lifestyle in the
eyes of God.
Matthew Vines has played an instrumental role in gaining
mainstream acceptance among the religious world for homosexuality.
Vines’ teaching is part of what is being termed as a “revisionist” view
of Scripture that is accepting of monogamous, gay couples. This view
promotes the idea that all sex outside of marriage, homosexual or
heterosexual, is against the will of God but that monogamous sex
among two, life-long partners, whether homosexual or heterosexual is
in fact acceptable. He twists many Bible passages to support his view.
One argument he promotes the strongest is to suggest that Bible
translators were “homophobic” and thus translated words incorrectly
to make it sound like God looked at homosexual activity as sinful.
This idea was the basis behind the publishing of the Queen James
Bible in 2012, which removes all negative references to
homosexuality.
Anyone who concludes a study of the Bible with a belief that
homosexuality, specifically gay marriage, is acceptable practice in
God’s eyes is interpreting scripture through their sexuality. They are
not conducting an honest study of God’s word. The text is plain.
There are literally thousands of references to marriage in the scripture
and EVERY one of them refers to heterosexual relationships, not
homosexual. Every passage discussing homosexuality in scripture is
NEGATIVE. EVERY ONE OF THEM. There is not one time in the
entire Bible that homosexuality is referred to in a positive manner.
Verses such as 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; Leviticus 18:22 and
20:13 are clear. Homosexuality is an abomination.
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There is much more that can be said, but suffice it to say that
the Bible is clear on one thing, God does not condone Homosexuality,
even if it is in a marriage relationship. To come to any other
conclusion is not being honest with the text. A person may disagree
with God’s word on the subject and accept homosexual practices, but
a person cannot honestly both agree with God’s word and accept
homosexual practices.
5.
Do’s and Don’ts when someone “comes out” to you as gay?
Let me begin this section by giving credit to an awesome book
called, Messy Grace, by Caleb Kaltenbach. Caleb’s parents divorced
when he was 2 years old and then both lived a gay lifestyle. His
mother became a flamboyant, outspoken lesbian openly living with
her partner while his father lived a secret, homosexual life. His book
is written from his point of view, growing up in this lifestyle and his
view, as well as the view of the gay community, of Christians. It is
excellent and I would recommend it to anyone interested in this
subject. In his book he mentions some specific Do’s and Don’ts for
when someone confides in you that they are gay. I will them with you
quickly here and we will discuss them in more detail in the class
a.
b.
c.
d.
Do be very careful of the first words that come out
of your mouth. Your very first words should be,
Thank you.
“Thank you for sharing this with me.”
“Thank you for trusting me with this part of your life.”
Don’t look disappointed.
Don’t get mad.
Don’t throw out Bible verses. There will be a time for
that discussion, but when a person first tells you they
are gay is not that time.
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e.
Don’t compare. Sure sin is sin, but this is not the time
to compare homosexuality to murder, rape, etc.
f.
Don’t try to get them counseling. Just be there for the
person now. The time for other discussions will likely
come. Now they need you to listen.
g.
Do reaffirm your relationship. “I want our
relationship to be a safe place where you can tell me
anything.”
Conclusion – So where do we go from here? It begins with open,
honest, loving conversation. Hearing from someone that they are gay
or struggle with same sex attraction should not cause us to cease open,
honest, loving dialogue with that individual. We must continue to
show God’s love to them and be willing to listen and help in any way
that we can.
Also, we must stop treating homosexuality as the
“unpardonable” sin. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 that some
were homosexuals but were now faithful and active in the church at
Corinth. Homosexuality is nothing new. The gay community was very
active in Paul’s day just as it is today. Paul didn’t treat them any
differently than he treated anyone else. He treated them with love and
compassion and taught them God’s truth.
At times, we Christians can be guilty of being homophobic
just like the gay community claims. How? Because we will allow
adulterers, liars, cheaters, the lazy, thieves, etc into our churches and
our homes but make exception for the gays. They see us treating them
differently and see our hypocrisy in that and come to a very honest
conclusion because of it. We must stop. Sin is sin. No worse and no
better.
What will you do? What will I do? What will we as the church
do? It all begins with open, honest discussion about the subject. Come
join us as we partake in just that type of discussion!
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MY EYES
Abraham, Muhammad,
and the Golden Butterfly.
Wissam Al-Aethawi
Islam is the inevitable result of how some Bible characters showed
instances of a lack of faith in God's plan. Learn about seven of those
acts—and one man who happened to be in the right place at the right
time.
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MY EYES
Reaching Atheists
Ralph Gilmore
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EU 2017 Core Curriculum
“All In Sin”
Romans 3:23
Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God.”
When we look around us at other people, we often notice
our many differences. Some people are tall, others are short.
Some are big and some are small. People come in a lot of
different colors. People talk differently. Some talk in the
same language but have very different accents. When you
travel, you discover that people speak in many different
languages. People have different personalities. Some talk
constantly, others rarely speak. Some laugh most of the time,
others are serious a lot. People have different interests and
talents. Some love sports, some hate sports. Some love to
travel, others love to stay home.
Becoming Like Others (I Corinthians 9:19-23)
We often allow our differences to keep us apart. Paul
emphasized in I Cor. 9 that though he may be very different
than other people, he would consciously try to become like
them in order to reach them for Christ. Isn’t that what
missionaries to other countries do? They learn different
languages, learn different customs, learn to eat different
food, all to reach people for Christ who are very different
from the missionary.
Paul said that if he came across a Jew, he became as a
Jew. If he came across a Gentile, he became as a Gentile. To
the weak he became as one who is weak.
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What does this mean? Did Paul have no convictions? Did
he just go around changing his beliefs to fit in with everyone?
Was Paul like a chameleon, changing colors to blend in
wherever he was? No, we know that Paul was a man of solid
convictions who was willing to die for his beliefs (Gal. 1:6-10;
Gal. 2:20; Philip. 1:20)
Paul was reaching out to others to build a bridge, to
establish a friendship and create a relationship of trust. To
form a friendship, it takes effort. We have to show an
interest in others. As Paul would say, we must become like
them.
For some people this is very difficult. If you tend to be
shy, this is challenging. If you tend to stay with the same
familiar circle of friends, this is hard. If you have a limited
area of interests, you may have no interest in expanding and
learning about the interests of people who are very different
than you.
Missionary Training
In order to practice what Paul meant by “becoming all
things to all men,” we must learn to step away from
ourselves. We need to develop a genuine interest in others.
It starts with asking people about themselves, listening
carefully to what they say, and being truly interested in them.
This may seem difficult sometimes but it is really just the
simple process of becoming a friend with another person.
Reaching Out Practice
Let’s practice! Find someone you do not know in this room
to be your partner for this activity. Ask each other the
following questions and show true interest in each answer.
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With each answer feel free to ask further questions that come
to your mind before moving on to the next question.
1. What is your name?
2. Where do you live?
3. Are you with a youth group? If so, which congregation?
4. Where do you go to school? (or where do you work?)
5. What do you like to do when you are not in school (or
at work)?
6. Who are some of your favorite people to hang out with?
7. What could you see yourself doing in 10 years?
8. At this point, what was the most important day in your
life?
9. Where do you want to be 150 years from now?
In order to reach someone for Christ, we must establish a
relationship. If we do not know how to show interest in
others and “become like them,” we will never take the first
steps toward establishing a friendship. Put this exercise into
practice as you meet people for the first time and grow some
friendships. Expand this introduction question list to make it
appropriate for meeting strangers in different settings.
Our goal is to share the gospel with our friends. We must
first know what the gospel has done to bless and make a
difference in our own lives.
Lost and Found: Rediscovering Our Story of Salvation
In order to share the good news of salvation (the gospel)
with credibility, we must first understand our own story of
salvation in Jesus Christ. We have seen that people are very
different in many ways and we are also different in regard to
our stories of how we came to see our need for salvation in
Christ.
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It may help you to review some of the salvation stories in
the New Testament and see which one compares more closely
with your own story of salvation. To help others, we must
first understand how we were lost and how we found salvation
in Christ. Which of the following conversion stories from the
New Testament seems most like your own?
•
•
•
•
Timothy (II Tim. 1:5; 3:10-17; Acts 16:1-5; Philip.
2:19-24). He was taught the word of God from
childhood by his mother and grandmother. The faith
they held came to be his own. When he became old
enough, he realized that he had sinned and needed the
forgiveness of Christ. His family taught him about God
and Christ but he made his own decision to give his life
to Christ.
Saul (Acts 9). He thought he was pleasing God. He had
a clear conscience about the way he was serving God
but then he found out how he was wrong. Saul had an
“eye-opening” experience on his way to persecute
Christians in Damascus and discovered he had actually
been disobeying God. He changed and lived for Jesus.
After he was baptized into Christ, he started sharing
what he learned.
Woman At The Well (John 4). She was that girl that
everyone at school would have talked about. She had a
bad reputation. She was living in sin. She was guilty
and knew it. She then found out she was loved by
Jesus and he was able to change her life
The Jailer (Acts 16). He was a good person by the
world’s standards: he was responsible, he loved his
family and he tried to do what was right. He just
didn’t know about Jesus until two Christians in his jail
showed they cared for him. The Jailer was at a crisis
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point in his life: he almost took his own life but Paul
and Silas intervened at just the right moment. They
showed him that in Jesus, there is so much more than
just living for this world. He was baptized into Christ
and now had the hope of eternal life because Jesus
forgave his sins.
• Ethiopian Treasurer (Acts 8). He was a very religious
person. He was dedicated to worshipping God and
would travel long distances to worship at the temple.
There were, however, some things he just could not
understand and it seemed like something was missing.
He needed some answers. A man named Philip helped
him understand about Jesus and it all became clear: he
was a sinner and only by responding to Jesus could he
be forgiven. When he saw a body of water he asked to
be baptized right then and there. It was the happiest
day of his life.
Which conversion story is most like your own story? Now
write below how you came to know your need for Christ and
responded to Him.
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What We Have In Common: All In Sin
We certainly have a lot of differences, but there is
something we all have in common: we have all sinned and
come short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). When we realize that
we all have a sin problem and that we are all in this together,
we develop a compassion for each other and this compassion
spurs us to share the one solution for our sin problem: the
good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you have the
opportunity to share the gospel, you need to be able to show
the path to salvation in the Bible. There are many great
outreach Bible studies. Here is one for your consideration.
Way of Salvation Bible Study
Have you ever thought about where you would like to be
150 years from now? Would you like to be in Heaven?
What could possibly hold you back from reaching this goal
of being in Heaven with God? The answer is Sin, disobeying
God.
Romans 3:23 – let’s read this verse.
• Sin is the common problem for all of us.
• Why is sin such a problem?
Isaiah 59:2 – let’s read this verse.
• Sin separates us from God.
Romans 6:23 – let’s read this verse.
• Our sin comes with a cost.
• The wage or cost of sin is death. The death referred to
here is spiritual. Spiritual death is a separation from
God.
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God is holy (I Peter 1:16) and can not associate with
sin.
• So due to our sin, we have no hope of reaching our goal
of being with God in Heaven because sin separates us
from God.
• Romans 6:23 also tells us that there is hope due to a
gift that God gives. What is this gift from God?
Eternal life (life with God eternally, including Heaven).
• Notice that this gift is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
•
Romans 5:8 – let’s read this verse.
• So how does Jesus help us with our sin problem that
separates us from God?
• While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus
took the punishment for our sins to pay the penalty and
make us right with God.
This is good news! So the question is: how do we receive
this gift that is in Christ Jesus? How do we enter into Christ?
How do we respond to this good news: the gospel?
Let’s notice how the people responded who heard the
gospel for the first time. This happened in Jerusalem and is
recorded in Acts 2. The people heard Peter’s sermon about
Jesus and he pointed out that Jesus is both Lord and Christ
(Acts 2:22-36). How did they respond to the gospel?
Acts 2:37-39 – let’s read these verses.
• They believed Peter’s message about Jesus.
• What makes you think they were sorry for their sins?
They were cut to the heart.
• They wanted to seek God’s way so they asked “What
shall we do?”
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•
•
They were told to repent (turn away from their sins)
and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins.
They were baptized and were added to the church
(2:41,47)
Have you done what these people did when they heard the
gospel? Romans 6:23 states that eternal life is in Christ Jesus
our Lord. Notice that Galatians 3:27 tells us something about
how we are put into Christ: as many as were baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
Have you been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins? By doing this you can receive the gift of eternal life
in Christ and give your life to Him just as He gave His life to
save you.
Are you willing to give your life to the one who gave His
life to solve your sin problem?
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Note Pages
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Note Pages
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Note Pages
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EU2 COLLEGE
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
8:30 Morning Assembly
“How do we deal with cancer?” Clif Mims
9:30 Elective Class #1
10:30 Elective Class #2
11:30 Elective Class #3
12:30 Lunch (Fellowship Room)
1:30 Core Classes
Ryan Gallagher, Colt Mahana, Scott Jefcoat
2:30 Afternoon Assembly
“Reaching out to Muslims” Wissam Al-Aethawi
3:30 Dismiss: Group Time/Supper
6:30 Early Singing w/EU (High School Gym)
7:00 Keynote w/EU (High School Gym)
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EU2 – COLLEGE CLASSES
ELECTIVE TOPICS
(these classes will be held in the Savannah Church of Christ building)
1. How can I share an “offensive” gospel with a world
that is so easily offended? Colton Shannon
2. (Guys Only) What does Masculinity mean as a Man
of God in today’s culture? Todd Sanderson
3. Difficult Question: How will God judge those who
have never heard the Gospel? Steve Hillis
4. What does the Bible really say about the roles of
men and women in the church? Bobby Rawson
5. What does the Bible really say about using
instrumental music in worship? Brad Carr
6. How can I grow in my faith outside the walls of a
church building? Terry Smith
7. Why is the message of Jesus different than other
religions? Matthew Bouldin
8. Woman of God - (girls only) What does Femininity
mean as a Woman of God in today’s culture.
9. Finishing up “How to deal with cancer,” Question and
Answer Period. Clif Mims
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Note Pages
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EVANGELISM UNIVERSITY is a program designed
to provide training in evangelism for the future of the
Lord's church. It is overseen by the eldership of the
Savannah Church of Christ and it is directed by a
board of men from varying congregations.
BOARD MEMBERS
Phillip Jenkins, Chairman
Mount Juliet
Church of Christ
Mount Juliet, TN
(615-758-2274)
Chuck Morris
West Dyersburg
Church of Christ
Dyersburg, TN
(731-607-4559)
Tim Frizzell
Crieve Hall
Church of Christ
Nashville, TN
(615-832-9658)
Aaron Palmer
Crieve Hall
Church of Christ
Nashville, TN
(615-832-9658)
Luke Guard
Oliver Creek
Church of Christ
Memphis, TN
(901-388-2250)
Dustin Perkins
Savannah
Church of Christ
Savannah, TN
(731-925-4442)
Nick Jones
Winfield
Church of Christ
Winfield, AL
(205-487-2926)
Josh Schwartz
Southside
Church of Christ
Shelbyville, TN
(931-684-1805)
Chad Landman
Graymere
Church of Christ
Columbia, TN
(931-388-4796)
Adam Coleman, elder
Savannah
Church of Christ
Savannah, TN
(731-925-4442)
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EVANGELISM UNIVERSITY TWO is a program
designed to encourage college students to share their faith on
campus. It's a weekend that provides not only material for
personal Bible studies but also practical application lessons to
help further their faith and those they study with throughout the
year. Please contact any of the Board Members with questions
on how to get involved
BOARD MEMBERS
Scott Jeffcoat
Sycamore
Church of Christ
Cookeville, TN
(931-252-7671)
Colt Mahana
Dahlonega
Church of Christ
Dahlonega, GA
(903-271-3577)
Ryan Gallagher
University
Church of Christ
Montgomery, AL
(205-487-9497)
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