Mid-year checkup, 3 of 10: Evangelism

The 3rd topic on the thomrainer.com mid-year checkup list is a tough one: Evangelism. It asks

How often have you shared the gospel this year? Is the gospel so striking to you that you cannot keep it to yourself? Have you reached beyond the church world to develop gospel-centered relationships with unbelievers? For what non-believers are you praying as Paul did (Rom. 10:1)? Ask God to increase your burden for lost people (Rom. 9:1-3) throughout the remainder of this year.

As Christians, isn't that our Goal? to share Christ with others? to bring them to a saving knowledge of Him? to eventually evangelize every person on the face of the earth? Then why aren't we doing it?!

Though it is easy to think that the pastor will evangelize everyone, or the missionary will, you need to realize that some people don't want to talk to a minister or missionary. They have a wall up when it comes to speaking with someone who is often considered a "professional."

However, as a Christian who is a friend of someone who is lost, oftentimes they will listen to you, watch you, and learn from you.
What is the non-Christian world seeing in you? A Christian who does just what the world does and nothing different? therefore, there's no need for them to be saved?
What is the non-Christian world hearing from you? The same bad language and talk about the same bad movies/TV, etc. as them? The same criticizing speech as them?
What is the non-Christian world learning from you? Are they learning that you believe that there is a God? and that you believe God loves them and wants them as His children?

Although you may have seen the clip a hundred times, I leave you with a clip of Penn Julliett, a staunch atheist who makes the valid point that Christians shouldn't be afraid to witness and if you call yourself a Christian, you should be witnessing.

Mid-Year Checkup 2 of 10: prayer

Continuing the Mid-year checkup theme, from Thomrainer.com, here's the next point that was listed:

Are you praying daily? Are you praying regularly and recurrently (1 Thess. 5:17)? Do you pray for those in authority, including government and church leaders (1 Tim. 2:2)? Are you praying by name for other believers to speak the gospel boldly and clearly (Eph. 6:18-20, Col. 4:2-4)? Do you pray for your enemies (Matt. 5:44)?

Seems overwhelming, doesn't it?
May I suggest that you do it in pieces?
1. Write down the names of those in your family, those in authority over you, those leaders in your church, and others you want to pray for.
2. Star the ones who are really important to you, who you want to pray for each day (such as your spouse, children, etc).
3. Divide the rest of the list by 7.
4. Create 7 new lists, 1 for each day of the week.
5. Include the starred name each day.
6. Include 1/7th of the list each day.

Example:

Sunday - Spouse; Children; Pastor; People 1-3
Monday - Spouse; Children; Boss; People 4-6
Tuesday - Spouse; Children; President of USA; People 7-9
Wednesday - Spouse; Children; Governor of your state; People 10-12
Thursday - Spouse; Children; Mayor of your city; People 13-15
Friday - Spouse; Children; Courts; People 16-18
Saturday - Spouse; Children; Legislators; Enemies 1-3

Mid-Year Checkups, part 1 of 10

Just as we might get a health checkup, dental checkup, or vehicle checkup throughout the year, I like the idea of a yearly spiritual checkup (as Chuck Lawless posted over on Thomrainer.com). This and the next several blog posts will be based on his blog.

In regards to daily Bible reading, he writes:

Are you reading the Bible daily? If you adopted an annual reading plan at the beginning of 2014, is your reading up to date? If not, take time this week to caught up. You might choose, if necessary, to adjust your plan – but still read daily. If you did not adopt a plan in January, pick a strategy for rest of the year.

The Plan

There are several good Bible reading plans out there. Blue Letter Bible has a few good ones here.

By December: If you want to still get through the Bible in 1 year, pick a yearly plan and do 2 readings a day (as it is the halfway point of the year).

In 1 Year: Otherwise, why not start that yearly Bible reading now, and read July through June each year.

An Easy Approach: Even if you only read 1 chapter a day out of the New Testament, let's get to reading the Bible.

The Benefits

There are several benefits to reading through the Bible, alittle bit each day:

Daily Variety: Some readings will encourage you and lift your spirits. Other reading may point out things that you need to stop doing. All in all, the daily readings will help you in your spiritual walk with the Lord.

Beyond Sunday School: Though many of us know several Sunday School stories about David, Noah, Adam&Eve, Jesus, and others, there is a lot more to read and explore in the Bible. The Bible is not a G-rated book (or R-rated; it would probably be X or NC-17); therefore, there are many things that we cannot teach and preach in a general setting. Many of the in-between stories in the Old Testament are fascinating. Many of them wrestle with the same issues we wrestle with today. Read it to see what you are missing.


So, let me encourage you, dig into God's Word each day. Even if you only do it 1 time in your life, you will be glad that you did.

Billy Graham Library

One of the places my wife and I recently visited on our vacation was the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. Overall, we were impressed.

Upon our arrival, we walked up to the main building to start our tour. The tour was about half videos and half exhibits. The videos told the story of Billy Graham’s life and accomplishments. The exhibits included various memorabilia from Graham’s life and ministry.

Throughout the videos, the Gospelwas clearly stated and a plea for salvation was made. However, it was not overly preachy.

The only drawback for us was the fact that there were donation containers everywhere and you continually received donation envelopes with everything. With that aside, the Museum was great.

Then, we went to the garden. There, you walk a sidewalk in the shape of a cross until you reach the foot of that cross. There, you find the grave of Ruth Graham and a spot for Billy. Over to the side, you see the graves of George Beverly Shea and Wilma “Billy” Barrows.

Then, we ventured to the old homeplace (still on the grounds) where Billy grew up. It was fascinating to see the furnishing and layout of the quaint home. Another interesting point was that one of the tour guides, who was leaving shortly after we arrived, was one of Billy Graham’s nieces.

We would definitely recommend the Library to anyone. Feel free to check out our photo album on Facebook from the Library.

Should Southern Baptists wash feet?

I recently read a list of commands that Jesus gave Christians. One of the commands was from John 13:14, which says: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.” So the question arises: how literally should we take this?

In Jesus’ day, the people walked on dirt roads and wore open-toed sandals. No matter how clean you were, your feet would get dirty just from walking. It was common for a wash basin and towel to be by the front door. It was also common for the household servant (if you had one) to wash the feet of those coming into the house. So foot washing was the role of the servant. (Not the role of a leader, teacher, lord, master, etc.)

While the disciples were in to the Upper Room, Jesus adopted the role of the servant by washing the feet of the disciples. This act is recorded in John 13:1-11. In verse 12, Jesus asked if they understood what He had done. In verses 13-15, Jesus explains it. Jesus said that He was in fact their Lord and Teacher (vs13) and if He humbled himself and did what a servant should do, they should do likewise (vs14). He said that he gave them an example to follow (vs15).

Here’s the two ways that we are to apply this passage. First, and foremost, all Christians need to be servants one to another as Christ was a servant. Second, literal foot washing ceremonies are great reminders of that command that we are to follow.

“But, wait, foot washing is gross.” “After all, it’s just symbolic, we don’t actually have to go through with it.”

Well, although it may be symbolic, there is nothing wrong with actual foot washing ceremonies. It truly teaches humility and servanthood. It is puzzling to think about this and to think about baptism. Baptism is a step of obedience and one of the things that it does is it announces to the world that you are not ashamed of being a follower of Christ. This could be done by just making an announcement, couldn’t it? Yet, as Southern Baptists, we believe that the way to do this is for the pastor and the new convert to go fully clothed into a body of water, for the new convert to be fully immersed, for both to leave the water, dry off, and change clothes. But then, we don’t want to kick off our shoes and socks and wash each other’s feet?!

To Sum Up: Jesus’ command to wash feet in John 13 is a command for us to serve each other. Foot washing ceremonies are good humbling reminders of that command.

Full disclosure: I was a member of a Grace Brethren Church which regularly practiced foot washing as a part of their three-fold communion service. After becoming a Southern Baptist youth minister, I once demonstrated actual foot washing with the youth group.