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Friday, February 1, 2013

Super Bowl and Evangelism



Super Bowl and Evangelism
Everyone's mind has been on the Super Bowl this week.  Most of us in the area where I live do not really have a favorite choice for winning, but we still want to go to the Super Bowl parties.  We will be among the expected 100 million viewers which will be downing more snacks than we should, watching more closely all of the $2 million commercials so we can decide which one was best, and wishing our team can play next year. 

While I have heard a lot about the big game this week, my mind has been more focused on the subject of evangelism.  I have read quite a bit of scripture and a few articles from some of the top notch speakers and writers, all of which are leading us into more determination to share the gospel.
One thing that keeps coming up in the resources I consulted for today's blog, were the excuses people use for not evangelizing. As the excuses grow, the commands of the Great Commission become less meaningful throughout the body of Christ. 

Most of the excuses given can be summarized in these given:
1. Fear of failure.   2. That's the work of the preacher.  3. I'm too busy.  4. I'm not cut out for that.  5. I haven't had any training.  6. They won't listen to me.     Any of those sound familiar?

The consensus of the experts who have written and spoken on the subject seems to point to one thing that keeps us from actively evangelizing........we do not have a genuine love for the lost.  Ouch!

Most of us will bring up numbers of increasing attendance in our worship services as proof for an adequate program of evangelism.  While the numbers may see a rise based on new converts, most attendance increases in our churches today comes from members moving from one church to another. One article I read this week says that's not evangelism, it's sheep shuffling! 

What would be the outcome if YOU made an effort to demonstrate your faith and love for Jesus, by letting someone know you are a Christian?  Would we see numerical growth in our churches if we took the evidence of the gospel in our lives and told our neighbor about it?  What if every Super Bowl party this weekend kicked off with a prayer for the lost, and for us in reaching them for the Lord?  And what if everyone at your party picked one player, one unknown spectator, one person on the sidelines, and determined to pray for that person to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection?

Print a Bible verse on the back of your calling card, hand a pamphlet to the person behind you in the supermarket, shake the hand of a stranger and let them know God loves them.  You can think of your own ways to spread the message, but please do your part in spreading it. 

Jesus told his disciples, and through them, we are commanded also to "Go and make disciples of all nations."   That can start with you. It can have more of an impact on our world than any Super Bowl.

<ronbwriting@yahoo.com>       

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