FAMILY EVANGELISM: HIS POWER, OUR WEAKNESS, HIS GLORY

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

-         1 Corinthians 2:1-5 –

I find it so motivating and wonderful, that I am merely the earthen vessel and that the treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In this passage, Paul was determined to know and to make known one thing—JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED.  Yet, he was so wonderfully free from the bondage that keeps so many of us inside the walls of our homes and churches.  He understood that the success of the message was not dependent on his eloquence or his persuasive abilities or his great human wisdom.  In fact, he recalled the overwhelming sense of weakness and fear he had when he brought the gospel to the Corinthians.  Later, in his second letter, he not only acknowledged his weakness, he went a step beyond—HE REJOICED IN IT!  “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

We are finding such joy in that simple truth in our family.  Like never before, we are determining to know and to make known Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  And, like never before, we are secure that our victory as we go to sow gospel seeds is not dependent on us, but rather on the power of the message itself.  Here is a little story I wrote in late summer—from our family to yours.  I hope it will encourage you in your quest to make the gospel known.

To God be the glory!  Shortly after I got back from my California evangelism training, my twin daughters arrived back from a mission trip to Costa Rica.  We were all pumped.  We determined it was time to quit talking and to get fishing for the souls of men!

I shared with my girls what Ray Comfort had said about changing his perspective about doing normal life errands (ex.  I went to the grocery store today to preach the gospel, and while I was there, I bought some groceries....).  We desire to incorporate that approach into our everyday lives.

So...they started drivers’ education last week.  It runs for 2 weeks.  There just happens to be an ice cream shop right next to the class room.  Faith suggested that they buy all their classmates an ice cream cone to “break the ice.”  At first, I didn’t like the idea of forking out the money, but after thinking about it, we all agreed it was a great idea.  The ice cream shop owner even agreed to give a 25% discount for the 24 students.  So my girls treated the class, and then they worked on establishing rapport with them (the natural first...then the spiritual).  

Well, last night (the 6th class) the doors flew open.  On the way to class, Charity was very nervous (that spirit of fear was at work).  I prayed for them, went home, and returned about 3 hours later.  When they got in the car, they just about exploded with joy. They relayed the story to me. 

 During the break, they started handing out tracts.  One of the tracts asks folks to name 10 brands of beer (just so happened that the class that night was on the havoc alcohol is wreaking on young drivers), and then asks them to name the 10 commandments.  Soon, my girls had 10 of the students around them taking the “good person” test.  After declaring the law, they preached the gospel to them.  Instead of being mocked and scorned, the kids, who were quite unsaved, expressed respect.  Some showed sincere interest in the gospel.  

Once back in class, one of the more rowdy boys raised his hand and told the teacher, “Miss Jackie,” that she needed to let Faith and Charity give her the good person test!  Believe it or not, the teacher went along with it.  So before the night was over, Faith did the good person test, preached the law and the gospel to the teacher in front of the whole class.  Talk about open air preaching!  At one point Miss Jackie, after admitting to be a liar, denied having ever stole anything.  Faith questioned her on it, reminding her that she had already said she was a liar.  The class got a kick out of that!  

Now my girls are praying for their class (which, by the way, appears to have no saved kids in it other than Charity and Faith—ISN’T THAT TOTALLY HEARTBREAKING?!), crying out for them to be broken for their sins and to be moved to call on Jesus to save them.  Three more nights....move, Lord for your glory and for their souls!

At any rate, I stand amazed at the goodness of God to give my girls such an opportunity and to give them such boldness and open doors.  To Him be the glory!

I have come to believe that when our children actually get out there and interact with unbelievers concerning the state of their souls—that’s when their Christian faith really begins to solidify in their hearts.  If you remember us, please pray that the Lord would open many doors for the preaching of the gospel and that He would pour out on us a spirit of boldness.  May God give your family one glorious determination—to know and to make known Jesus Christ and Him crucified.