We won an award!

Ken and I would like to say thanks to Mrs. Bridget G. over at http://thelordsbeauty.blogspot.com/, for presenting us with the Premio Dardos award!

The Prémio Dardos is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web.

We pray that this blog will be a source of encouragement to all you fellow fishermen out there! :)

Blessings,
Dea

Should murderers be punished?

This man says that all murderers (Hitler, Jeffrey Dahmer, etc) should have been "taken out". But listen as he realizes, that under God's perfect standards he too is considered a murderer-at-heart. He is guilty, but does he have any hope? - Ken

Isn't God a loving and forgiving God?

This is another question we hear over and over again while we share the Gospel. After going through some of the 10 commandments, the person will realize that they have indeed fallen short of the glory of God and will face judgment. But they will ask, "isn't God a loving and forgiving God?" They have probably heard that from church but haven't understood the full meaning of the Gospel.

To help, it has been effective to share the court room analogy. Ask them to think about a man standing in a court room, proven to have robbed a bank several years ago, and just recently caught. But the man asks the judge to forgive him of the crime, because he is truly sorry, hasn't robbed banks since, attends church weekly and gives money to the poor. Should the judge forgive this man's crime? Of course not. A good judge must have the man pay the proper penalty for his crime. And God is a perfect judge and He will judge all sin.

Then you also tell them, that God did something to allow him to go free, but still satisfy the sin debt. He sent his only son, Jesus to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life and then be killed on the cross and take on the full wrath of God on our behalf.

Jesus paid the penalty of death for our sins. Then He rose again to prove that He has defeated death and therefore we too can rise again if we have faith in Him and repented of our sins.

Ken

Why do people die?

Watch this clip from Way of the Master Radio (now called Wretched Radio). The girl is not saved and struggling with questions about death and suffering. Recently her father passed away and she is not sure why a "good God" would allow that.

We would recommend that you listen to this online radio program http://www.wretchedradio.com/. It airs live every weekday from 3-5pm but streams all day long.

Ken

How are sterograms like witnessing?

Have you ever seen a Sterogram before? They were popular in the 80's. I can remember people in the malls standing around these posters staring at them trying, desperately, to see the hidden 3D image within the picture. And then once someone saw the image, they tried to tell others how to see it. Basically, you need to relax your eyes and view the picture out of focus. Then you can see the interesting 3D images.

By the way - send a comment, if you can figure out what the 3D image is with this picture?

So, how does this relate to evangelism? Well I see it as a great analogy of the witnessing process. We as Christians can see God's message of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, but many others can not. As we share the Gospel, many hear the message and say, "thank you - I never heard that before". And many will "not get it".

So how to get people to see the message, as we do? Well, God's Word being made clear by the Holy Spirit, is the only way. We are told to proclaim the Truth and the Holy Spirit makes it clear.

Plant a Seed...Give a Tract

During this busy Christmas season there are countless opportunitues to give out gospel tracts. The one I am giving out the most right now is "A Gift For You" tract available at http://www.livingwaters.com/
I went to the bank and got a bunch of $2.oo bills and placed one inside each tract. I hand them out to waiters, clerks, etc... as I run around town buying presents. Just last night we were at several stores and I think I gave out 4 or 5 of these tracts. It is fun to see the people's expression when you tell them you are giving them real money! The people always look a little baffled and surprised, yet they respond with delight and thankfulness. Only one person last night kindly rejected my gift saying she was not aloud to accept it while "on the clock".

See what the tract looks like below.

Inside view:

outside view:

And don't forget about the million dollar bill tract. It is always fun to give out. When we were at dinner last night I couldn't help but notice a birthday celebration going on at the table beside us. It was really obvious when about 10 waiters paraded to the table singing a very loud happy birthday song. :) Daniel said, "We should give her a million dollars" Great idea, Daniel! So when the birthday "girl" (she looked to be in her 40's) got up to leave I jumped up to give her our gift...a million dollars! She was delighted and even gave me a hug.

Wow! This really makes Christmas shopping and even dinner much more meaningful! We went to bed last night thankful for the opportunities we had to plant a seed, and spread the gospel message. We prayed for those who recieved the message of truth. May God use it for His glory!

I would encourage you to plant the seed of the gospel as you hustle and bustle around town. Opportunities are everywhere!!

Blessings,

Dea

How to make your child a false convert

We must be very careful when sharing the Gospel, especially to our kids. We can get so passionate for their salvation, and yet water down the gospel so that it is palatable. If we talk a child into saying a prayer of asking Jesus to come in their heart without teaching them the true and complete gospel, we can make them a False Convert. This is a person who goes through life thinking that they are saved but they have never repented of their sinful ways and placed their trust in Jesus as their savior.

To illustrate this, watch these two videos. The first is a message of "God wants to be your friend, so just say a simple prayer", and the second video is a message of falling on your face in repentance and giving your life over to Jesus.

Ken

Update on the evangelism outreach at the horse-drawn carriage parade

Praise God for answering our prayers at this past weekend's outreach event. We had apx. fourteen people from our church as well as two other families that went to hand out tracts and share the gospel. God gave us the boldness to proclaim the truth and opened the ears of many people.

God also answered our prayers, that we would be encouraged in our Christian walk. Afterwards, I talked to each person about their experience, and each was excited about what happened, and we were amazed at how open people were that night, to listen to the gospel.

In total, we handed out apx. 1,500 tracts and talked to apx. 50 people. Some of these people who listened, indicated that they needed to get right with God and thanked us for sharing the truth with them.

Ken

Answers In Genesis (Creation Museum)

A couple years ago, the Answers In Genesis ministry (AIG) opened the Creation Museum in Northern KY. It is a wonderfully designed place that clearly displays the Biblical account of human history including Creation through Christ.

So how can AIG help with our evangelism? Some use it as an evangelism tool as is, and that is fine. However, for me, I see AIG, not so much of a ministry to the lost, but a ministry for Christians. Many Christians are afraid to talk Biblical things with the lost because of the fear of getting into a debate about creation vs. evolution.

Now, if you have read my previous posts, the best strategy is to avoid the debating and rather talk to their conscience (using the 10 commandments to help a person to see their sin and therefore need for a savior). BUT, as we are told in James, we are to be ready to give an answer.

So AIG has helped equip Christians with the knowledge of how science is really not competing with the creation account, but that, when done accurately and honestly, science supports God's Word 100%. In fact, God created science.

AIG demonstrates multitudes of evidence that supports that God created the universe only 6,000+- years ago. For example, Comets (like Haley's comet) are constantly loosing ice as they pass by the sun. But if that were going on for billions of years, we shouldn't see any more left. The moon is slowly moving away from the earth at a consistent rate of apx 4cm per year. If you multiply that by 6,000 years - not very significant, but when multiplying that by 4.5 billion years - we have a mathematical problem. Also, our seas are consistently getting saltier, but going back thousands of years - not significant, but billions of years - doesn't make sense. There are hundreds if not thousands of examples like this. Check out their site http://www.answersingenesis.org/
If someone asks, "can you prove that God exists"? Ask them to look over at a tall building, and ask "do you believe that this building had a builder"? Or ask if a painting had a painter? In the same way creation is absolute evidence that there was a Creator.

But our knowledge of Biblical creation is a faith (based on God's Word). We do have a lot of evidence - but it is not proof. But the evolutionist can't prove the Big Bang either. Both are faiths. So tell them "why would I want to accept another faith, I already have my own, based on God's Word and God was the only one there when it all started".

Ken

How to witness to a "Christian"

Statistics have shown that 85% of Americans claim to be "Christians". That may mean that this percentage of people attend Christian or catholic churches. But it certainly doesn't appear that many are truly born again believers. Instead, they believe that they have done "good-works" in the sight of the Lord. Good-works such as attending church, or baptism, tithing, taking communion, confession with a priest, or giving money to the poor.

So when you approach a person to share the gospel and they immediately cut you off and say, "I am already a Christian" don't stop there.

I like to ask these people, "do you share you faith with others?" If they say yes or no, ask "what would you tell them?" This will demonstrate their understanding of the gospel. Or you can ask them, "if you went in front of God on judgment day and God asked why He should let you into His heaven, what would you say?

You'll find that most will say they are going to heaven because they are a "good person". So give them the "good person test" (see blog post below) the 10 commandments. Quickly, they will realize that they are not good and in desperate need of a savior.

Ken

"Is it a sin to drink or smoke?"

Have you ever been asked that question, by an unbeliever? If not, you will. But don't get caught up in a debate about this, rather direct them to the gospel.

What they are attempting to do is get you into a debate that involves individual interpretation differences of the scriptures. But rather then battle over interpretations of the Bible, take the discussion to the conscience, where God wrote the law on their heart.

So when someones asks if smoking or drinking is a sin, respond by asking if they have ever told a lie. For Rev 21:8 says, all liars will have their day in the lake of fire. So whether or not they drink or smoke is really irrelevant, because they are already guilty of sin and therefore destined for eternal hell. And once they see the truth of their situation before God, they can be ready to receive the Good news of the Gospel.

Ken

What is the "Good Person Test"?

The technique taught by the Way of the Master ministry, is to use the "good person test" in order to help a person see their true sin nature in the mirror of God's Law (the 10 commandments).

Start by asking a person, "Would you consider yourself to be a good person?" You will discover that most (99%) will say, "yes - not perfect, but good".

Then ask them if they would be willing to take the "good person test" in order to see if that is true or not - just four simple questions and they can judge for themselves how well they did or not. Most will agree to this test.

Ask them the following questions:
1. Have you ever told a lie, even if a "small lie"? Most will say yes. So then in order to make it very personal to them, ask "what does that make you". They will generally say, "a human". Keep prying until they admit they are a liar. Make it a fun conversation, not bulling them.
2. Have you ever stolen anything even if very small, or taken music from the internet or cheated on a test? Most again will say yes. Ask again, "what does that make you?" Most will say "a stealer" Tell them that that's a football team. Say "you mean a theif?"
3. Say to them, "Jesus said in Matt chapter 5, if you look at women in lust, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. "Have you ever looked with lust?" Most will say yes.
4. Have you ever used the Lord's name in vein / used His name as a 4 letter curse word? Most will admit to that as well.

Then summarize for them by saying, "OK thanks for taking the "good person test", but I've got some bad news for you. By your own admission, you told me that you are a lying, thieving, blaspheming, and adulterer at heart and you will face God on judgment day.

Then ask them, "if God judged you by the 10 commandments on the day of judgment, would you be innocent or guilty? And therefore, would you go to heaven or hell?"

At this point most will be ready to hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ken

What is "The Way of the Master"?

So far this new blog contains a majority of information gathered from the Way of the Master ministry. And that is because this ministry is what encouraged and equipped us to get active in sharing the Gospel to the local community.

The Way of the Master (WOTM) is a ministry started by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. It is called "way of the Master" because the method of sharing the Gospel is taken from scripture in the way our Master (Jesus) shared the Gospel. Read how Jesus talked with the women at the well or the rich young ruler. In both these examples, Jesus confronted their sin in order to show them their desperate need for a savior.

People, by their fallen human nature, believe that they are "good people". But in order to truly realize the need for a savior, they must first come to the understanding that because of their wickedness in sin they are in desperate need of a savior in order to avoid the wrath of God to come.

If someone came up to you on the street and said "I have great news for you. There is a cure for your sickness." You would think, "what? I'm not sick. Why do I need a cure?" But if someone came up to you and pointed out a specific sickness that you had and even showed it to you in a mirror, then the need for a cure would be welcomed and appreciated. In the same way, we must use the 10 commandments as a mirror to show people their sin nature and therefore their need for a savior.

Many Christians are afraid to share their faith because they are not sure that they can handle a debate with in evolutionist or a Muslim. But the fact is that all people have been given a conscience (Bible says, God wrote the law on our hearts). And if we speak to their heart or conscience, the discussion will be much easier and more effective.

So, the "method" of our Master is the following:
1. Take them to the 10 commandments in order for the person to see their true nature
2. Show them in scripture what the penalty or debt for those sins (wrath of God and eternity in hell)
3. Tell them the GOOD NEWS / the Gospel, that Jesus provided a means (His blood) for sinners to be able to enter heaven and live with Him forever

That's it. We are not to be salesman, attempting to convince them into a prayer of salvation. Our role is to proclaim the truth (the title of this blog). And the Holy Spirit's role is to convert them. So even handing them a tract is a way of proclaiming the truth of the Gospel.

Ken

Examples of handing out tracts

Examples of one-on-one evangelism