INFORM:
Mar 3-7 – GLOBAL FOCUS – see schedule at http://www.capshaw.org/globalimpactcelebration
Mar 7 – 9:00 Breakfast Time with the Whittemore’s - NOTE we’re starting early and will be hearing about their ministry!!!
***CANCELED*** Mar 6 (evening) – Class Missionary Fellowship
Please be praying for our missionaries Richard and Ashley Whittenmore and be thinking of creative ways to be a blessing to them.
Apr 16-17 - God’s Game Plan for Marriage w/ Steve Farrar
INSPIRE:
I have not stopped or been able to escape thoughts of our lesson this past week. As I sat remembering the events of Acts 4, a great evil began to emerge, to become clear…the Silence of the Lambs. Oh, I mean no Hollywood creation or screenplay, but an altogether worse serial killer; one that is destroying the souls of mankind for eternity. “What could it be?” you ask. It is this: the great and devastating SILENCE of the Gospel by Christians, the flock – the sheep of God. Those who claim repentance, forgiveness and salvation in Christ alone. Yet each day, they (we) speak not a word to a neighbor, co-worker, close friend, father, mother, child…those who know no Savior, who are lost and heading for an eternity in Hell. As I listened to our pastor on Sunday plead for us to see the reality of Hell, my heart was so convicted by the duplicity between my words/thoughts and my actions. I fully believe God’s Word is true, not just stories or moral lessons, but absolute truth!!! I read how often Christ warned of Hell as a REALITY to those who reject salvation. I would boldly teach our class that Hell is real and tell of the great and terrible jeopardy of people without Christ as their Savior. But the thought that makes me weep as I type these words is that knowing this truth, believe this truth – that I would be SILENT - speaking not a word of the Gospel to those around me in great peril. How is it that I can go through life looking the world in their eyes, making pleasant conversations, carrying out ”my” plans – without blinking that so many all around are lost and perishing. “Oh, you’re to hard on yourself”, you might say…but in my heart I feel I’m not hard enough!!! Time is fleeting, days are passing, and the call of Christ remains “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” – Luke 10:2. The harvest is NOW, the day of God’s grace is NOW – what keeps us from the field? They arrested Peter and John, they ridiculed them, questioned them, insulted them, they sought to keep them quiet - but Peter and John stayed in the “field” sharing the Gospel. We are not lacking a new method, a more enticing sale pitch, or great theological degrees. What we need is to see though the eyes of Christ. We need to be broken at the thought of those with no HOPE, no SAVIOR - those like the lame man who so desperately need someone filled with the Holy Spirit to pass their way extending God’s grace and healing…
INCLUDE:
- Just spend sometime thinking about this…
- What keeps us SILENT?
- Pray God would give you a deep burden for someone who is lost in your life. Then, (if you feel comfortable) send me an email kirk121@gmail.com with their name or tell me on Sunday during class, and we’ll begin to earnestly pray that the Gospel would become real to them and they would make Christ Lord of their life.
I totally understand your burden John–I was just telling Jeremy that my trip to see my father in AZ completely changed me. My father, who is lost, is surrounded by churches who have never been to his door to tell of the good news of Christ or even invite him to their church. This made me so angry and hurt as I drove around his neighborhood–”Lord, they know the TRUTH–and here my father is without hope..why haven’t they been over here??”
And, in an instant, my heart fell. I felt the Lord speak to me, “Amanda, do you know your neighbors? You know the good news as well–all around you people who are someone’s son, someone’s daddy…Go and TELL!” It lit a fire in me…so this past weekend I bought three brownie mixes and I plan to visit each of my neighbors this week.
I see my neighborhood and community different. And, to do that, we HAVE to see through God’s eyes.
Amanda,
Thank you so much for share this – that really brings things into perspective. What a great practical way to reach those around you – very inspiring! Please pray for Wendy and I. I have a real burden for our neighbor Susan and I am pray God will use our family to share the Gospel with her.
John