Baptisms in Iran

In its most recent issue, Christianity Today published a photo with the caption "Persian Plunge". The angels in heaven rejoiced as 228 former Muslims professed their faith in Jesus and were baptized (Luke 15). On Sunday I shared this photo with New Life Fellowship in hopes of broadening our vision of the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing sinners from every tribe and nation to repentance and faith in Christ, to produce gratitude to God for his faithfulness, and to encourage prayer for the persecuted church.

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When Paul is writing to the church at Philippi he urges the Philippians to be humble, selfless, and to consider the interests of the other brothers and sisters (Philippians 2:1–4). Later in chapter two he points to Jesus (Philippians 2:5–11), Timothy (Philippians 2:19–24), and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25–30) as examples worthy of emulation who have a genuine concern for the welfare of the saints. One such way the church can have this attitude of genuine concern is to remember in our prayers Christian brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their obedience to Christ. Those who feel led to pray for the church in Iran may be aided by consulting Operation World's prayer guide for Iran.

Delaying Repentance

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In a recent conversation someone related to me a conversation she (a Christian) had with someone about Christianity. The person she was talking to told her that he was not a Christian but it was something that he would consider later in life. After relating the details of the conversation to me my friend shrugged and asked, “What do you say to that?”

This attitude—that a person can decide when they’re going to flick the switch of belief—is not new. Thomas Boston, a pastor in rural Scotland in the 18^th century, encountered it too (and many more before him). Boston preached a sermon on  “The Danger of Delaying Repentance”, based on Proverbs 6:10, 11. In the sermon Boston lists nine common reasons why people delay repentance:

1. Satan actively works to delay repentance in men and women.
2. People are distracted by the business and busyness of everyday life.
3. People love what is easy. Repentance ain’t easy, but often times it is the difficult things in life that are most valuable precisely because it was not easily gained (i.e. the kid who values the stereo he saved up to buy with his own money versus the kid who is given all sorts of new toys but has no sense of their worth). 
4. People love sin. They don’t want to repent because it would mean they have to turn away from the sin they take pleasure in. Boston says that to these people “…the parting with sin is like the cutting off of a member of the body.” Yet Jesus says that it is far better to leave sin than to enjoy it for a few fleeting years and then go to hell (Matthew 5:27–30).
5. Apart from God graciously giving us a new heart, repentance is not attractive to us. In our sin, we are not righteous, we do not know God, nor do we seek after God (Romans 3:9f).
6. People hope that repentance will be easier to do when they’re older. “When I’m older I won’t want to do x anyway, so then I’ll say I’m sorry…” But there are no guarantees that it will be easier and it is far better to give the Lord your best days—the days of your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1)—than your tired, worn out days (though he does want those too!).
7. People assume they have a lot of life yet to live. The wonderfully advanced medicine and technology we have in the 21^st century only further this assumption; however, Jesus teaches in the parable of the rich fool that we do not know the time God has allotted to us or when we shall be required to give an account for what we’ve done (Luke 12:13–21).
8. People think too lightly of belief and repentance. Believing and repenting are thought to be easy things to be done on a whim, but Scripture says that the way of salvation is hard and not easily found (Matthew 7:14).
9. People think too highly of their own abilities. People assume they are smart enough and able enough to believe whenever they want to. Yet Scripture says that we are unable to come to God by our own strength and abilities, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44).

Evangelism Bibliography

Tomorrow morning at Shawnee Park Christian Reformed Church we will begin a three week adult education series on evangelism. Each week's session will be in a panel format. There will be four panelists--I will be one of them--and we will begin to answer questions that have been submitted previously by members of the congregation. The focus point of these three weeks will be on relational evangelism. 

In preparation for this series I prepared a bibliography of materials on evangelism. I thought it would be helpful if I made that available to you. I have copied it below but will be happy to share a pdf file with any who desire it.

Evangelism Bibliography

Primary Recommendations on Evangelism,
Missional Living, and Church Planting

Chester, Tim and Steve Timmis. Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.

Chester and Timmis are church leaders in the United Kingdom. In the first five chapters, the argument is made that evangelism most effectively takes place when Christians develop authentic community with other believers that is centered around honest gospel conversations and where the individuals invite others to share in the life of the community. In other words, evangelism is not something that is done individually, but corporately. This book will challenge many of your assumptions about church and the nature of evangelism. Popular   

Koukl, Gregory. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

Koukl’s book simplifies the goal of evangelism, “Instead of trying to get to the cross in every encounter, just aim to put a stone in someone’s shoe. Try to give the person something to think about. Be content to plant a seed that might later flourish under God’s sovereign care.” In Tactics, Koukl discusses how you to have conversations with your friends that puts a stone in their shoe. This book is both easy and practical. Popular

Metzger, Will. Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel Wholly By Grace Communicated Truthfully and Lovingly. 4^th edition. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1981.

Will Metzger, a campus minister at the University of Delaware since 1965, has written a book that successfully blends a sound, God-centered theology of evangelism with a practical concern for how Christians of all stripes can be witnesses in the settings in which God has placed them. The most recent editions of this book come with appendices that include evangelism training material (e.g. how to prepare your testimony, how to ask good questions, evaluating gospel presentations) and a study guide for working through the book. This book comes highly recommended. Popular

Stetzer, Ed. Planting Missional Churches: Planting a Church that’s Biblically Sound and Reaching People in Culture. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2006.

Ed Stetzer looks at the how and why of congregational evangelism. While Stetzer’s focus is on church planting, there is still much that existing churches can glean as they seek to engage their neighborhoods with the gospel. Stetzer is the president of LifeWay research, the pastor of a church plant, and a contributor to Outreach magazine. Popular

Secondary Recommendations (Those
Recommended By Reliable Sources)

Blackburn, W. Ross. The God Who Makes Himself Known: The Missionary Heart of the Book of Exodus. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012.

From the publisher, “The Lord's commitment to make himself known throughout the nations is the overarching missionary theme of the Bible and the central theological concern of Exodus… From a careful examination of Exodus, Blackburn demonstrates that (1) the Lord humbled Pharaoh so the world would know that only God can save; (2) the Lord gave Israel the law so that its people might display his goodness to the nations, living in a state of order and blessing and (3) the Lord dealt with Israel's idolatry severely, yet mercifully, for his goodness cannot be known if his glory is compromised.” Academic

Dever, Mark. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2007.

Mark Dever has spent a great deal of time thinking and writing about the Church. His short book on evangelism (128 pages) answers seven of the most basic questions about evangelism: why don’t we evangelize? What is the gospel? Who should evangelize? How should we evangelize? What isn’t evangelism? What should we do after evangelism? Why should we evangelize? Popular

Hybels, Bill. Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.

Just Walk Across the Room gives simple instructions and encouragement for building relationships in which relational evangelism can occur naturally. Bill Hybels also gives many great examples from his own life of times that his relational evangelism efforts have gone well and times when things didn’t turn out as he had hoped. This is an easy read that is encouraging for Christians who are just starting to think about this “relational evangelism” idea. Popular

Kostenberger, Andreas J. and Peter T. O’Brien. Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.

From the publisher, “According to Andreas Köstenberger and Peter O'Brien, this significant theme [of mission] has rarely been given its due attention in biblical theology. Motivated by their passion to see God's mission carried out in today's world, they offer a comprehensive study of the theme of mission. In Salvation to the Ends of the Earth they explore the entire sweep of biblical history, including the Old Testament, the second-temple period, each New Testament Gospel, Paul and his writings, and the General Epistles and Revelation.” Academic

Packer, J. I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1961.

A classic book on the theology of evangelism from a Reformed perspective. Academic

Reid, Alvin. Evangelism Handbook: Biblical, Spiritual, Intentional, Missional. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2009.

From the cover, “Evangelism Handbook is a thorough guide to the daily ministry of sharing Christ. Writer and professor Alvin Reid is particularly concerned about how the Western Church is currently practicing evangelism—its failure to reach the hardcore unchurched and its trend of losing young people faster than it can win them. With a contagious passion for the lost, Reid organizes and presents his research and experience of effective modern evangelism in four clear actionable categories.” These four categories are biblical, spiritual, intentional, and missional. Academic

Stiles, J. Mack. Speaking of Jesus: How to Tell Your Friends the Best News They Will Ever Hear. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995.

From the cover, “Evangelism isn’t about exhibiting superhuman courage or perfecting specialized techniques or exercising extraordinary eloquence. Rater, this book will open your eyes to how ordinary people in commonplace situations can use everyday language to reveal the simple news about Jesus.” Popular

Articles, Websites, and Blogs on Evangelism

“Evangelism.” TheResurgence.com. http://theresurgence.com/categories/evangelism Popular

Gaydos, Tim. “7 Tips for Talking to Your Neighbors about Jesus.” TheResurgence.com. http://theresurgence.com/2012/01/16/7-tips-for-talking-with-your-neighbors-about-jesus

Jensen, Matt. “7 Ways to be a Missionary in College.” TheResurgence.com. http://theresurgence.com/2010/05/11/7-ways-to-be-a-missionary-in-college

“Outreach Magazine.” http://www.outreachmagazine.com/ Popular

Outreach is a bimonthly magazine about church evangelism. This magazine is particularly helpful as an exchange of ideas between churches, leaders, pastors, and laypeople about how the church, groups, and individuals can reach their communities with the gospel message. Much of the content that is available through the magazine can also be retrieved the magazine’s website.

“Evangelism Archives.” Gospel Centered Discipleship: Resources to Make, Mature, and Multiply Disciples of Jesus. http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/category/evangelism/ Popular

McBee, Seth. “The Introverted Evangelist.” Gospel Centered Discipleship.

http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/the-introverted-evangelist/

McBee, Seth. “The Neighborhood Mission Start Up.” Gospel Centered Discipleship.

http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/the-neighborhood-mission-start-up/

Writebol, Jeremy. “Redeeming Fantasy Football.” Gospel Centered Discipleship. http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/redeeming-fantasy-football/

“100 Ways to Engage Your Neighborhood.” Josh Reeves. http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7105292/Posted%20Resources/100%20Ways%20To%20Engage%20Your%20Neigbhorhood.pdf

Audio on Evangelism

Dever, Mark. “A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism.” Capitol Hill Baptist Church. http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/audio/1999/03/a-biblical-understanding-of-evangelism/

If you don’t have time to read any of the books above, then at least take the time to listen to Dr. Mark Dever provide a clear summary of biblical evangelism, reasons why we do not evangelize, and reasons why we should evangelize. Dever says that evangelism is not something we do to unbelievers, nor is it simply sharing your testimony, but it is the loving and winsome presentation of what God has accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinful human beings. Popular

Dever, Mark. “Mark Dever on Evangelism.” AlbertMohler.com. http://www.albertmohler.com/2008/01/18/mark-dever-on-evangelism/

This is a thirty-minute interview of Mark Dever about his book The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. The interview begins at the 11:24 mark. Popular

Dever, Mark. “Contact Evangelism: A Leadership Interview with Mack Stiles and Friends.” 9Marks. http://www.9marks.org/media/contact-evangelism

A roundtable discussion on contact evangelism. Popular

Platt, David. “Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death Defying Missions (Session VI).” Together for the Gospel. http://t4g.org/media/2012/05/divine-sovereignty-the-fuel-of-death-defying-missions-2/

David Platt’s sermon is the most intense sermonic call to evangelism and global missions that I have ever listened to. Popular

World Religions and Apologetics

Geisler, Norman. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Baker Reference Library. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1998.

A comprehensive resource that will serve as a high-level resource for addressing objections to, and arguments for, the Christian faith. Academic

Keller, Tim. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Dutton, 2008.

Newsweek has called Keller, a pastor in Manhattan, the C. S. Lewis of the 21st century. Reason for God is a beautifully written response to some of the most common objections your friends, family, and neighbors might have to Christianity. Keller’s book addresses intellectual challenges to faith in a way that is accessible, winsome, and direct. This book would be helpful to anyone who is unsure of the answers they might give to the doubts and challenges raised by their non-Christian friends. Popular

Nichols, Larry, George Mather, and Alvin J. Schmidt, eds. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions: Revised and Updated Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.

A compendium of the historical and theological backgrounds to many of the world’s most noteworthy religions, cults, and sects. This book is particularly helpful resource in that at a number of points it lists the disagreements between Christianity and the particular religious movement that you are researching. Academic

Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.

This is one of the more familiar popular-level apologetic books. Strobel, a former atheist who worked for The Chicago Tribune, interviews experts in a variety of fields to find answers to questions about the credibility of the biblical story. His other books—The Case for Faith and The Case for a Creator—are also worth reading. Popular

The Great Commission Litany

A couple months ago I compiled this litany for our church's use during a sermon series on the need, grounds, and power for doing evangelism. My aim in creating this litany was to illustrate the biblical fulfillment of the Great Commission in Matthew 28 to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the three segments was separated by the congregation singing a small chorus, Send Me, Jesus, in English and Karen.

The litany was well received by the congregation and served as a positive response to the sermon. You may use this litany if you would like; however, I ask that you would use it as is and not making any changes to the litany's content.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

The Great Commission Litany
Narrator:	After he had died and was resurrected from the dead, our Lord Jesus spoke these words:
Voice 1:	“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Narrator:	As followers of the Risen Christ, we have been called by our Master to make disciples who bear the seal of the waters of baptism.
Congregation:	When we commit ourselves to carrying out this commission, we commit ourselves to obediently proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we do this we expect to see the power of God that was witnessed by Phillip on a dusty road from Jerusalem to Gaza as he proclaimed the good news of Jesus.
Narrator:	Listen to how God used Philip to transform an Ethiopian court official into a follower of Jesus: “The Spirit said to Philip,
The Spirit:	“Go over and join this chariot.”
Narrator:	So Philip ran to [the Ethiopian eunuch] and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked,
Philip:	“Do you understand what you are reading?”
Narrator:	And he said,
Eunuch:	“How can I, unless someone guides me?”
Narrator:	…Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said,
Eunuch:	“See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Narrator:	And the Eunuch commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized him.
*** Insert Chorus ***
Narrator:	When in Philippi, Paul and his fellow laborers met a woman named Lydia. Upon talking to Lydia about the things of God, Paul and his company bore witness to the power of God to save men and women.
Congregation:	When we present the worthiness of following Jesus to an unbelieving child, an apathetic neighbor, or skeptical co-worker, we stand with Paul and his company. We do so expecting to see the saving power of God:
Narrator:	Listen to how God used Paul and his company to transform a Philippian businesswoman into a follower of Jesus: And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying,
Lydia:	“If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”
Narrator:	And she prevailed upon us.
*** Insert Chorus ***
Narrator:	When Paul and Silas, freed from their chains, chose to speak words of life to a Philippian jailer instead of flee, they witnessed the word of the Lord transform an entire household.
Congregation:	Along with Paul and Silas, we too desire to see households transformed by God. Therefore, in obedience to Jesus’ commission and with a desire to see God change human hearts, we also will testify to Jesus in East Grand Rapids and Alger Heights, at work and at school, to our families and to our neighbors.
Narrator:	Listen to how God used Paul and Silas to transform a suicidal prison guard into a follower of Jesus:  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice,
Paul:	“Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Narrator:	And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said,
Jailer:	“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Narrator:	And they said,
Paul:	“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Narrator:	And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
*** Insert Chorus ***
Narrator:	Wherever we proclaim Jesus as the Risen King and Savior of the World, we labor alongside Philip, Paul, and the church throughout the ages in obedience to our Lord’s command. And, we do all this trusting in Jesus’ most certain promise, that he would be with us always, to the end of the age.”
Congregation:	Amen.