Shaking Salt & Shining Light (Part 7)

     In continuing our series Shaking Salt & Shining Light, remember Jesus said to His followers in Matthew 5:16, “Let your lights shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” He also said in Acts 1:8 for His followers to be “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Clearly Jesus wants us to live our lives in such a way that they are displays of the gospel but He also wants us to verbally share the message.
     Earlier this week I was talking to a man who was doing some work at my house—actually he was pumping out my septic tank. I am trying really hard here not to use some sarcastic humor! Anyway, nothing better to do than have a good conversation about faith in Jesus while standing over top of a pit full of foul smelling sewage. So I asked him several questions about his life, family, job, etc… We talked about the struggle he and his wife had to be able and have kids. Finally they were blessed to have a girl seventeen years ago. At some point in the conversation I asked him if he was a Christian. His reply caught me a little off guard. He said, “Uh, yeah I’m a Christian, but I don’t think you have to go around telling everyone. I think you just live your life like your supposed to and people will know.”
     The truth is: if you live your life like your supposed to people will know  there’s something different about you; but they wont know you are a Christian unless you tell them. Christianity didn't spread across the known world like wildfire during the first and second centuries because Christians lived good lives—although they did. It spread into the global movement it has become because Christians went everywhere they could, telling everyone they knew about Jesus Christ, the risen Lord and Savior of their sins. It is knowledge of who Christ is and what He did that saves a person. Romans explains that the unbelieving world cannot  believe on Jesus when they have not heard of Him and they cannot hear of Him unless someone speaks to them about Jesus.
     It is so critical that we remember our business is to tell people about Jesus. That’s why I’ve been spending a few weeks specifically teaching on Sunday nights about how to talk to someone about Jesus. A few weeks ago I explained a method known as the “Bad News/Good News” method. This outline of the gospel basically breaks it down into two points of bad news backed up by Scripture and illustrated; then, two points of good news explained in the same manner. You can find more information on this approach at www.evantell.org. I hope you’ll join us as we try to become wiser in our dealings with unbelievers by learning how to speak to them about Christ. At the very least, make it a top priority for you this week to engage at least one person in a conversation that will allow you to share the gospel.
                       -Pastor Matt