The Good News - God Loves You (and so do I)

Although this phrase borders on American jingoism, to me it simply encapsulates the important duality of the gospel. For Jesus came to make possible the restoration of right relationships between God and man, and that there might be peace among all men.

In my years in youth outreach in coffee shops and beach missions, particularly in a cross-denominational environment, the perennial discussion is about "friendship" evangelism versus "conversion" evangelism. Building friendships is fine as a means of breaking down the barriers to serious communication. But unless the friendship comes from true acceptance and humility rooted in the fact that God accepted and loved me "while I was yet a sinner", then the friendship is false. Equally important is the desire to share the good news of what God has done in my life and is available for all. Our living is the picture for the world to see, our words are the captions and sub-titles.

----xxxXxxx----
Rom.15:19 "Through mighty signs and wonders...I have fully preached the gospel"
Ac.16:9 "...a Macedonian appeared and prayed him, come and help us"
1 Jhn.1:3 "We announce what we have seen and heard, so that you will join us in the fellowship we have with the Father and His son Jesus"
Rom.15:21 "...they shall see...they shall understand"
Ps.66:16 "Come and hear...I will declare what he has done for my soul"
Ac.4:13 "When they saw Peter's boldness, they realised that they were friends of Jesus"
1 Ptr.3:15 "Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks the reason for the hope in you, with meekness and fear"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Faith is a Oneway Ticket

1995 Back in '95, my younger brother developed a brain tumor. One day in his last weeks, his wife was beside his bed in Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. A girl friend arrived to visit and comfort my sister-in-law. At the end of the evening visiting hours, my sister-in-law said to her friend, " I'm afraid I'm not up to driving home. Would you mind driving? " " Of course dear. " said her friend. " I only bought a one-way train ticket ". At home, after a cup of tea, my sister-in-law, almost in tears, said to her friend, " I don't think I can bear being alone in this house to night. Would you mind staying over? ". " Of course! " said her friend. " I've got  nightie and toothbrush in my handbag! ".  Even angels sometimes travel by train (one way). 1939 In the 1930's a Chelsea church conducted a tent mission on the foreshore at Frankston, about 10km south, on the eastern coast of Port Philip Bay. From that missio
Read more

Pentecost - from “Why?” to “Why not?”

One of the greatest inhibitors to personal and church growth is the FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt). After the horror of Christ’s crucifixion, the incredulity then ecstasy of His resurrection and His times of sharing with His disciples, Jesus ascended to heaven. What did the disciples feel then? I’m sure they must have felt very “flat” after their mountain-top experiences, and probably uncertainty and doubts crept in - “ What do we do now?” , “ Why has He left us like this?” . In many ways, these phases in the birth of The Church mirror the phases in the birth and growth of our children. The teenage years are times of much questioning, of moving out from under the sheltering presence of parents, to discover one’s directions and goals in the ‘real’ world - these are the “Why?” years. Then the young adult blossoms, the world is at their feet and they are prepared to take on anything, with courage and determination. Just as parents must hold back in order to release their childre
Read more

MORE

The more you give, the more you get, The more you laugh, the less you fret, The more you do unselfishly, The more you live abundantly. The more of everything you share, The more you'll always have to spare. The more you love, the more you'll find, That life is good and friends are kind, For only in what we give away Enriches us from day to day. (Source unknown)
Read more