In recent days I have shared about the power of routines/disciplines/habits. In many cases, routines are helpful (even if some might think them boring). Routines are simply tools that we employ to make sure that we accomplish those tasks most important to us.
Routines answer the question of “should I” when the drive to
do so is waning. Should I go to the gym today? Should I eat that? Should I
sleep through my alarm? Should I read my Bible today? Should I go to church
today? In these cases, the routine itself functions as a form of
accountability. However, this alone is insufficient for most of us, particularly
when we find ourselves in times of stress.
I promised a couple of days ago to share one of the most effective tools for finishing. If you really want to lose that ten pounds, run that half-marathon, or grow spiritually you truly need this tool. It can be embraced in a number of creative ways but without it…your chance of success drops by more than half. That tool is accountability.
We all resist accountability on some level. In fact, some people refuse to make a “new year’s resolution” because just writing it down provides some level of accountability. Instead, they just want to follow their feelings. Friend, my feelings lead me to raid the pantry at about 9 pm every night. My feelings order dessert. My feelings lead me to skip over the “Table of Nations” reading in Genesis or the genealogies in the Gospels. Feelings are terrible accountability partners.
Here’s a thought: If you are really going to grow spiritually this year, why not link up with 3-4 other men/women (I think gender-exclusive arrangements work best due to the way the Holy Spirit does His sanctifying work in our lives and because the similarities in thought processes among men and among women are pretty well established) and do it together? What we are talking about here is an agreement for 4-5 people to meet for 45 minutes to an hour a week, at a coffee shop, sandwich place, living room, dark alley (OK…maybe skip the dark alley) with an agenda of making sure everyone is staying true to the course?
If meeting together is tough due to schedules or geographic dispersion…FaceTime or group chats are good alternatives. One friend I know has set up a private Facebook Group with daily check-ins. While I think an in-person meeting is probably best, any of these alternatives are better than trying to hold yourself accountable to doing it alone.
Where do I find 3-4 others? I’d suggest asking 4 guys
in your small group (Connect Group) or that you know from another context who
are: (1) of like faith, (2) are reliable, and (3) have the same objective. In
my experience, many guys/gals are hungry for this kind of accountability and
connection; however, they are a little timid about the first step. Why not make
it easy for them and you take the initiative?
If you have other ideas on accountable partnerships like these I have described, I’d love to hear them. I’ll share more in the next post on how some of these groups have worked best for others. If you want to explore this further offline, just hit me up and we can chat.
It. Never. Fails. Someone has a better idea. Their “philosophy” is better than mine. Often times though, particularly in our social media world, people with better philosophies have just that: a philosophy. There is no action. No change. Just an idea.
Not long back I was listening to a guy tell me his philosophy of evangelism. He shared some trendy new perspectives that would make any old evangelism professor cringe. It was the BEST…according to this guy. Then…the telling question (or at least my “Dr. Phil” version of it): “How’s that working for you?” The silence was deafening.
Yesterday I wrote about the power of disciplines. Some probably never made it through the article since disciplines and routines are too restrictive for them. In the article, (published HERE if you haven’t read it) I promised to share my daily Bible reading (i.e. devotional) discipline…both for the accountability (you can ask me about it since I am “on the record,”) and because it may be useful to you. Here goes:
My day generally begins around 5:30 AM. That’s when the
coffee finishes brewing.
Coffee. Obviously, this is important or the book of Hebrews wouldn’t be in there. [Think about it].
Prayer. 2-5 mins. This is more about me talking to God. “Lord, help me to see and hear from you today. Give me wisdom and clarity. Speak to me. Give me the courage to accept You and Your Word as you speak.”
I read 4-5 devotionals first. 8-10 mins. (Chambers, Piper, Blackaby, Heart of Worship, and some short-term devotional on varied topics throughout the year. Topics like manhood, leadership, marriage, prayer, praise, etc.) These devotionals seem to prime my thinking and the part of my brain that applies truth.
Bible Reading Plan. 15-20 mins. I read the daily chapters from my plan. (Today was Genesis 9-12; Proverbs 3). While reading, I underline, highlight, and write notes in the margin if my mind is carried to a place.
Take Note- This is not a deep dive reading process of cross-references or word studies. It is the Scripture at a 5,000-foot level. I am looking for big-picture themes and verses that catch my attention.
[Also, I try to read in a different translation every year to keep it fresh. This year is the CSB].
I journal (as led) and pray things that God brings to mind. 15-25 mins. A lot of my journaling is archived here on this site. I also have many notes in my Evernote App that are too seminal to share on this site, or that God is working on me with. My journal notes could also be a prompt for deeper study. That is the bulk of my journaling. As for prayer, this part is about reflecting and listening.
Extra-biblical reading. (10-20 mins) I read highlights of articles in Baptist Press (I am a church guy after all). I catch the headlines of the news. (honestly, I used to read more but I find the news to be pretty myopic and biased…particularly in an election cycle). I may read articles from favorite theologians, academics, preachers, and some entertaining weirdos [smile]. This time may also include catching up on the latest “twitter rant” or select readings from different-minded publications (I’d put the Huffington Post and half my twitter feed in here).
A couple of considerations:
I try not to hurry. As you can see, I average around 40-60 mins for the first five items, and 10-20 mins for the extra-biblical stuff. My deadline is 7am. I have to get ready for work and head into the office.
This is a morning discipline for me. I find my mind is sharpest in the morning, so this is my early routine.
I don’t have the “extra hour” either.Yep, someone was thinking it. I’d do that but I don’t have time in the morning! Well, neither did I. So, I changed my other routines. I go to bed earlier than most and skip a lot of late television.
This works for ME. Remember, this is not my philosophy but my activity. It may not work for you. It may be too long, or too early, or too “anything.” Don’t mimic what I do because I do it. Do what works for you, but DO IT in a disciplined manner.
Two quick cautions:
Don’t set the bar too low. I know some guys tell me that they do their Bible while driving in the morning. I listen to audible books and podcasts too, but this time of devotional discipline is DEVOTED (see what I did there) to the Lord. It is His time. I even have a favorite place to do it. Even if it were 15 minutes a day devoted to Him…might it be worth it to focus on Him rather than the person who almost ran you off the road texting? [smile]
Don’t get discouraged. If you set a lofty goal and can’t hang with it, adjust it. Shrink it to what you CAN do. Build from there if you find it necessary. That’s what I did.
There’s another tool to help you with this…but I will save
it until another day. [shameless tease to get you to subscribe].
I have a routine. For the most part, I stick with it…
(sorry) routinely. This routine involves my morning habits, the way I
dress, the foods I eat…nearly every area of my life.
I know people who hate routines. They find
them boring. They see them as killers of spontaneity. If something is routine,
they will (again…sorry) routinely avoid it.
Still others, many who have excelled in leadership, swear
by routines. Some leaders advocate routines because they reduce decisions on
less important matters. For instance, if you wear a uniform, you never stare at
your closet wondering what to wear. If you eat out (only) every Friday evening,
then you eliminate the question of what restaurant to visit Saturday through
Thursday.
While I have a routine, I am not a slave to it; rather, I use it as a tool to help me achieve the goals that I have adopted. Meal planning (diets) work this way. If my body reacts well to a certain regimen of foods, I may set a routine of eating only these foods. This routine means I intentionally preclude other foods because they are not part of my routine. In this example, the diet is not dictating my life; rather, it is the roadmap I placed in my life to get me to an objective.
Such is true in my spiritual development. I believe
that biblical knowledge (study of the Word) is essential to sanctification (becoming
like Christ). [See Romans 7]. Sanctification is essential to effectiveness in
God’s Kingdom work (mission). [See 1 Corinthians 9. esp. v.23] Effectiveness in
mission is my objective. It requires sanctification which requires knowledge.
So, I read the Bible. Routinely. I want to be an effective husband, dad,
grand-dad, disciple-maker, teacher, neighbor, etc. These are part of God’s mission
in and through me. So, again, I read the Bible. Routinely.
Another word for routine is discipline. My discipline
(which takes about an hour a day to accomplish) has been built over years. When
I started, it was about 15 minutes. Prayer. Proverbs. A chapter or two from the
New Testament.
Two final thoughts:
If I were beginning a new exercise regimen, I
would not expect to spend two hours, two times a day in the gym…the first
week. I’d be lucky to work out for an hour, three or four times per week. If I
tried to keep up with the biggest and strongest on day one, I’d quit by the end
of the first week.
Second, I blow it from time to time. I get busy,
oversleep, have a sin issue that prevents me from hearing God, etc. If I miss
my routine for a day or two, I catch up on my reading. If this persists beyond
a couple days, catching up will prove impractical. In such a case…I will fast
forward to the plan for that day and pick up from there. What I cannot do is
QUIT and declare that I’ll try harder next year. That’s defeating. It doesn’t
work. So just skip to the right place and begin again. God won’t hate you if
you admit to sleepwalking through parts of Leviticus or the genealogies…though
there are some cool nuggets in there to find if you can discipline yourself.
Anyway, that’s me. Tomorrow I will share my actual routine
(which will surprise some of you). Mostly I share for accountability, but it
may also have some parts you want to add to your discipline.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu
2020 is a year of promise. It is a year of opportunity. It is a year of great potential. These affirmations are not simply some new form of “positive thinking.” They are truth. Every decision we make has great potential…for good or evil. Every adopted pathway will lead us closer or further away from the desires we have in our hearts.
The beginning of a new year is an
exciting time. In some sense, we leave behind the previous year and step off
into the prospect of something better.
One thing that can become an obstacle to our opportunities though…is the task of the first step. There is a popular leadership axiom that relates to the “paralysis of analysis.” Some leaders cannot lead because they are fixated on examining every possible outcome before committing. They want to see every option and have every fact “nailed down” before beginning. Truthfully, most never lead because these desires for security are elusive. None of us have all of the information. None of us knows the future perfectly. We can predict. We may even predict well…but only God truly knows.
Other leaders seem to have a Midas touch. They always find opportunities. The experience more than their “fair share” of success. Often, the difference is not related to strategy or ability but initiative. THEY TOOK THE FIRST STEP.
This year, do not allow indecision to deter you. Choose a path and take it. If it is a mistake, turn around and choose a different path. Make a decision. Fulfill YOUR destiny…the thousand-mile journey (if you will) …by acting to take the first step.
Today, I acted toward one of my goals for 2020 which is to read the Bible in its entirety. I have done this many times before. In fact, it is an annual devotional discipline that I incorporated several years ago. However, neither my past achievement nor my future intentions will achieve the goal. So, today I affirmed the decision and read the first four chapters in Genesis. The greatest journey…begins with a single step.
This is the fifth installment of my reflections on a recent trip to South Asia on mission. You can read the previous installments HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. If this is a blessing to you, let me invite you to drop by MY SITE and subscribe to email content to be delivered directly to your inbox whenever it drops. Also, I’d love for you to like and share comments on the posts if you are so inclined. In the ecosystem of social media, your approval helps to ensure that a broader audience can see this information. Yes, a simple click and comment can help spread the good news. Thanks in advance!
One of the debrief questions that a host team asks prior to departing a country is “what stories will you tell?” With so many wonderful experiences, it is always a challenge to zero in on just one or two; however, the question does prompt reflection and calls for a conclusion.
For me, there were several key moments. Watching my
interpreters and sharing team partners move with such boldness and grace would
be one. Time with dear friends sharing a meal would be critical as well. Praying
for sick, injured, anxious, and hurting people is always impactful. In fact,
one such story began this way.
At a home we were visiting, we asked if there was anything we could pray for…an illness or sickness where we might ask God’s mercy on their behalf. The reply was familiar: “No, we are fine. Everything is good.” After thanking God for his blessing, I shared the gospel and stories of hope from the Scriptures. As we were wrapping up, one woman in the home “came clean.” She shared that she had been married for four years but had not conceived. She wanted us to pray for her to have a child.
It was not my first time to pray for this type of request. I
had heard similar stories several times in the week. But this one was special.
The members of our team gathered around this woman to pray, including a
pastor’s wife who was also in the same childless. My heart was grieved. I
thought, “There can be nothing harder for a childless woman than to pray for
God to give another woman a child.” But pray she did. When we finished praying,
my suspicions were confirmed as I saw her wipe a tear from her own eyes.
The image did not leave me. Here is a woman who knew the grace of God personally being challenged to pray that God grant another woman the greatest desire of her own heart! I thought, “What a picture of the fruit of the gospel.” In many circles, there would be jealousy. Or resentment. Or bitterness. For this pastor’s wife, there was only brokenness, grace, and intercession—intercession for God to be merciful toward another woman.
The next day, this pastor and wife asked our team to pray for them, that God would also grant them a child. My commitment was that I would join them in praying daily for God’s mercy in granting them the desire of their heart.
Only a recipient of grace can truly pray for God’s grace toward another. I saw the fruit of the gospel reflected so clearly at this moment and was invited to bear a pastor’s family’s burden with them in the days ahead. What a privilege to partner with them in prayer and know that God hears and loves and always answers according to His own wise counsel. What a privilege to have a front-row seat as God moves.
If you wish to see God grant victories, you must first enter the contest. CMA
I don’t want this to come across in an offensive manner. Honestly that is not my intention; however, I suspect someone may bristle at this observation. Let me apologize in advance for the means but not the message. Westerners, and American Christians, in particular, are becoming increasingly “soft.” We have become so enamored with comfort, ease, compromise, peer-approval and the like, that any obstacle, challenge, resistance, or disapproval is considered “bad.” A false gospel has even taken root in the Christian marketplace promoting a “weird” understanding that if something isn’t easy and doesn’t result in abundantly blessed comfort, it lacks the fingerprints of God’s approval.
Such an idea is foreign to the Scripture; In fact, the
opposite is true. I, for one, was encouraged by the resistance we experienced in
South Asia since I found in it, evidence that we were “on the right track.”
It happened that we were “sharing” during an annual festival season across the country we were working in. During this festival, idols are erected in every village and daily “worship” takes place. All in all, this festival raised the spiritual resistance climate in several unentered places we were “sharing.” On one particular day, I noticed, as we entered an area to share, a man bearing the markings of a radical religious sect. He immediately zeroed in on our group. I was familiar with this sect as I had many dealings with them in another part of the country well-known for its religious persecution. My spidey-sense kicked in and I knew we were in for a treat. This village was the first where our teams were asked to leave and not share Jesus. The next village gave us a similar invitation to leave and still another on the next day.
Why?
Simply stated, the “enemy” hates us because he hates the One whom we serve and speak of. He hates God. This enemy walks about the earth as an intimidating adversary, looking for those he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Demonic forces are real and look for weaknesses in the witness to exploit.
I loved the response of our team: kindness but not
cowardice. Sure, we will leave, but not without praying that God would open
blind eyes, set captives free, and demonstrate His redemptive plan with power
and grace. Yes, we will leave, but not without exposing the village to the
aroma of Christ.
See, we know that whenever you get close to punching the
enemy in the face, he squeaks up! He recoils and then retaliates! It is the
nature of how things work. So, rather than cowering or becoming discouraged, we
should find encouragement and purpose in the resistance by the enemy. After
all, if the devil doesn’t push back against your efforts…you must ask yourself
“why?” Are you simply not a threat, or are you still on his team?
By the way, while one of three sharing teams was being kicked out, the other two were in the village and leading people to profess faith in Christ. Yep! We were on the right track!
When the enemy gets in your face and roars, smile with the
greatest of confidence… “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the
world.” (1 John 4:4).
In recent days I returned from a mission trip in South Asia, working with national partners in one of the least-reach areas of the world with the gospel. You can look at my first article HERE or second HERE. This is the third in the series.
Sunday service prior to preaching to these precious saints
How often do you reflect on and rehearse the Gospel? In the context we served in, there was an effective, simple, and reproducible system for sharing the Gospel. After getting to know the person/family briefly, I received permission to pray for them, and then further permission to share a story of hope from the Word of God. This story would lead to receiving permission to briefly share my personal conversion testimony and a key question (in my case), “Have you ever heard the Gospel?”
This is where it gets interesting to me. No one knew the
gospel. They had not heard. Ever. From anyone. Ever. Did I say ever?
[FULL STOP]
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who
believe (Romans 1:16). Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord shall be
saved. (Romans 10:13). But, how can they call on Him though if they have not
believed, or heard of, or if no one has told them (Romans 10:14-15 paraphrased)?
So this powerful gospel which is able to save and entrusted to us by Him who desires for all men to be saved…has never been heard…but if someone shared it, and it was heard, resulting in belief, it would change all eternity for the hearer! WOW! But that is not all that changes.
One of our team sharing with a group of people gathered to hear the Gospel
As I rehearsed the Gospel over and over again…it brought renewed
joy to my heart. We are not talking about deep theological constructs here.
I was not waxing eloquent on some apologetic approach to the resurrection in
some way that my seminary professors would be captured in awe. I was rehearsing
a short story from pictures imprinted on a sharing bracelet. Creation. Sin.
Consequence. God’s Redemptive Work. The Cross. The Empty Tomb. The invitation
to respond in repentance and belief. Eternal Hope.
As I shared, people were interested…but I was interested in how “interested” they were to hear of God’s creative, redemptive, and restorative work! As I watched God warm hearts and draw people with the gospel, I became more in love with it too!
Here’s what else: I watched all of our national partners
doing the same thing. We all shared the same message in the same basic way. In
fact, one of our sent-out families had a young daughter who rehearsed the gospel
from the bracelet for me many times during the day. This warmed my heart and
caused me to love the gospel more!
I suppose a bottled up, stuck on a shelf, seldom rehearsed story is no less powerful in its nature…but it cannot be appreciated as much until it is shared and shared and shared. [Read that again slowly and process it].
A good day of sharing for our team
Yes, I know we live in America. I know we (most of us who
would be reading this article anyway) have heard the “old, old story” many
times…but I would suggest that we would come to appreciate it more if we would
share it often, everywhere…with everyone who would give a hearing. I might even
go as far as to say—we would learn to love it more through sharing it and
watching what God does with it in the hearts of those who hear.
In my recent trip to South Asia, I was part of a team working in an unentered (by us) village. Like many of the areas where we have worked, poverty was about the only thing the people had plenty of. And hospitality. This village was marginally receptive to a visit from an American. We spent several hours from house to house sitting on the floor and discussing the gospel.
Receiving a gift of honor, hand-crafted by the people of that church as an expression of gratitude.
As I would share the stories of hope from the gospels, I would ask the questions: Have you heard this story before? Have you heard of this Jesus before? Most all stated they had never heard the story of hope, but some had heard of Jesus. At some point in the past, EV teams had entered the village from a different tribe of Christians. They had taught the people that a sign of repentance and trusting Jesus was that the women would be more plainly adorned, forsaking the wearing of jewelry (piercings and bangles). My interpreter spent the majority of the time trying to convince the villagers that we did not believe that to become a believer one would have to stop wearing jewelry. In most cases, the women refused to “believe” because they did not wish to stop wearing bangles (thin, jeweled bracelets usually worn several at a time).
Like you, I might think that is a “silly” obstacle to overcome to find peace and forgiveness. But then again, I am approaching the matter with Western eyes. I later spoke to our area partner (pastor) who explained the problem. The pastor advised that he often ran into this objection in his area and found the same results. He explained that a “widow” in these villages would not wear bangles. She would dress in a plain outfit and refuse the jeweled accessories as a sign of mourning.
A church we were privileged to share testimony with and I had the privilege to preach to on Sunday. Our national part there is doing an amazing work
So, imagine if you would…a woman in America coming to faith and being told to remove her wedding band, earrings, and any other pretty accessories. Besides the cultural stigma from her friends (you’re married but refuse to wear a ring), and the cultural assumptions by her community (she is not wearing a ring so she must be unmarried), the disrespect shown to her husband would become a stumbling block to the gospel in his life and an affront to his honor as a husband. All because of poor cultural exegesis (a study of the cultural norms) and weakly supported theology (jewelry itself is somehow worldly and ungodly).
Our team praying with gathered locals who were hearing the gospel and seeking God’s mercy
The well-intentioned (charitably speaking) efforts of this false gospel propagating group had done incredible harm to the advance of the Kingdom in these villages. They had inadvertently (again charitably speaking) erected a stumbling block to those who would hear the life-changing offer of Christ.
I am reminded of James 3:1 which reminds those who teach the things of God that we will incur a stricter judgment for influencing people to believe false assertions about Christ. I am also reminded of our Western history of the same type of things. (i.e. Skirt lengths, music, dancing, playing cards, make-up, and tattoos, just to name a few).
A goodbye photo with dear friends whose love and leadership inspires me
As I reflect on this, I am convinced that we MUST be more diligent to ensure that if we speak on behalf of our gracious Father and misrepresent the timeless and perfect message He has entrusted to us, we make ourselves accountable for the eternal damnation of untold scores of people. Their blood is, in part, on our hands.
As a messenger entrusted with a message, make sure you get
it right. We will all stand one day before Him to give an account.
I would love to hear your thoughts…particularly if you think I am embellishing or overstating my case. The conversation matters, because the gospel matters.
This is the first of several articles I will publish this week discussing my recent trip to this region. Check back daily for pictures and reflections on lessons from the trip…
Well, this question is a little weird. I know the obvious answer is because Jesus commanded us to make disciples of ALL people groups, and South Asians are part of the “ALL.” I also know that mission trips are fun experiences of fellowship and personal growth. I also know it is exciting to experience different cultures up close. These are all great reasons.
A local leader and his wife
Of course, some would say to me: We go because of the “call
of God” on our lives specifically and uniquely. If He tells you to go, you must
go! This is also a true statement that I would not argue.
However, what if there were three other reasons to go? Would you?
In recent days I had a great privilege to work with dear friends from our church in a ministry area we have been involved in for over a decade. Our church identified a People Group that was Unreached and Unengaged (meaning we had no known believers and no active disciple-making efforts among them (that we were aware of). On my trip, I wanted to see the work up close and minister alongside our network of national leaders/partners who were evangelizing, discipling, and deploying their own people to reach their nation (political entity).
one of several baptisms we celebrated
In the process of four days, our teams saw 75 professions of faith across several villages that were previous unentered. That’s right…no one had been among the villagers to tell them of Jesus. I know…because I asked them. As part of the sharing model we employed, I had the opportunity for significant dialogue (through my interpreter). In every encounter, I asked if the person had heard of Jesus and if he/she had heard the story from the Word of God that had shared with them. Without fail, the stories of hope from Scripture were foreign to the people. While some had heard the name of Jesus, all but a handful of the 150+ people we shared with were certain that this was their FIRST TIME hearing the Name of Jesus. That is really my first reason—because people have never heard of God’s Son.
Sharing with a young congregation on the significance of baptism
Second, I think someone should go because people are receptive to the Gospel. Receptivity to the gospel is not a constant everywhere. It ebbs and flows. With only a few exceptions, every person I spoke with invited us to sit for a moment and share about Jesus.
Walking to an area that is inaccessible otherwise following the monsoon season this year. Six believed in this area.
Finally, I think someone should go because it will change your love life. (Yes, I used that word to catch your attention). I mean to say, I love the South Asian people. I love the culture. I love the food. I love the strong spirit of the people and their humble presence. I love the children’s smiles and I love it when women hear the stories of God’s grace and feel valued by God…a first for many of them. I love it when men hear of the Prodigal Son and find hope for themselves. I love when families hear of my personal faith journey and realize that God is gracious. I love the hospitality of the people. I love them. Going to South Asia will change your love life!
If you’ve never been…let me encourage you to go. Take next year’s vacation and spend it in South Asia. Sit down in a front-row seat watching God do His redemptive work. Watch defeated eyes brighten with the hope of Christ. You’ll never do anything MORE significant than partnering with God in an amazing work like that.
If I can help you or resource you…or just sit and answer
questions and concerns over coffee (or Skype), you only need to ask. Shoot me a
note from my contact page or through the church where I am privileged to serve.
Recently, I had a discussion with a friend in church about strongholds
in the journey of discipleship. I shared how generosity was a personal
stronghold for years and how the guilt and shame seemed to increase by layers
every week during the offering. Once I made the decision to give a tenth
(tithe) of my income to the Lord through my church, my worship suddenly
changed! God taught me about His sufficiency, taught me to trust Him, and
showed me what I could be part of by simply being obedient to the teachings of
Scripture.
Another area that the majority of Christians struggle with
is the Lord’s command to “make disciples.” Many substitute “disciple-making”
with church attendance, serving in a church program, or teaching a church
curriculum; however, there is no way to ignore the command. A “disciple-maker”
(Christian) cannot NOT make disciples. Not every Christian is called to serve
overseas or serve in vocational ministry through a local church, but EVERY
Christian is instructed to make disciples.
Many Christians deal with the same layers of guilt and shame
over making disciples that I did over generosity. What if though…they were one
decision from releasing the guilt and finding joy? …just as I did with the
sin relating to my lack of generosity? How can a person find freedom and joy
and encouragement in this area of the disciple-maker’s life? Please allow me
suggest three things to do in response to your decision to change:
Identify WHO. This isn’t complicated. It
is simply someone you know that you have not shared the gospel with and
have not heard their unique story of how they became a believer. Begin voicing
a prayer to the Lord daily, “Lord, grant me the opportunity to share the gospel
with ____.”
Learn HOW. There are dozens of good ways to share. At Englewood (the church I serve) we promote and use the 3 Circlesapproach. I have used many approaches through the years. I like this one for a number of reasons, among which is the fact that it feels the least awkward when getting started.
Rehearse WHAT. Write out your own story of conversion (testimony). Share it with a friend, your Connect Group leader, a pastor, or your neighbor’s dog. Listen to how the Gospel is rehearsed in weekly worship services. Practice sharing the Gospel using the 3 Circles approach with your spouse, your children, or a friend. Make it so familiar that you can do it in your sleep.
If this is an area that you would love to experience joy in, join me for the upcoming Focus Group on Becoming Conversational with the Gospel, beginning October 9. I would love to be part of your journey to victory.
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