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.
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