My friend in the Middle East has transformed his outreach to non-Christians by adopting the Acts/early church model of outreach: He prays for people and they are healed. The New Testament is FILLED with miracles, exorcisms, and other bizarre supernatural events that challenge our western, modern, scientific minds. Here is a video clip of a miracle. Is this real? What do you think? More to follow…
Tag Archives: evangelism
Wild and Crazy? Maybe it is the Holy Spirit
I had the opportunity to speak on the Holy Spirit for my wife’s women’s group. They are doing a series based out of Francis Chan’s book: Forgotten God: Reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit
The take home message: If it sounds wild and crazy, maybe it is or maybe it is and it is the Holy Spirit working!
“Our guide is the Holy Spirit, whom the early Celtic christians like Patrick called the Wild Goose. They knew he could not be tamed. Ours is merely to trust and follow his haunting call, and he will take us on the adventure he has for us…”-Eldridge (The Way of the Wild Heart), pg 125
Please share with us your thoughts after you listen to the teaching.
Questions:
1. Have you ever been ‘healed’ or have you heard of anyone being ‘healed’ by God/The Spirit?
2. Do you believe that the Holy Spirit still is active? In what ways? Are ‘the gifts’ open or closed?
3. How active is the Holy Spirit in your life? How does the Holy Spirit manifest?
References:
uberlumen posts:
An Encounter With God
Do Miracles Really Happen?
Miracles and Healings AMAZING Stories
Miracles and Healings #1-4
Books:
Acts
Turnings by Guy Chevreau
The Kingdom Triangle by JP Moreland
You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkinson (how to develop a life of everyday miracles)
Who was Wag Dodge?
In 1949, Wag Dodge lead a team of smoke jumpers to fight the Mann Gulch fire. His leadership or lack thereof has been used in business school classes as an example of how not to lead men.
Wag was a man of few words who was leading a group of men who he had not worked with before. When they were dropped from their plane down into the fire area, he immediately had his dinner. The men were taking pictures of the fire, and Wag’s lack of direction and seemingly carefree attitude seemed to lull the others into complacency.
When the fire took a turn for the worst and came right at them, Wag began to try and lead by directing the men to drop all their tools and to NOT run from the fire–both counter intuitive actions. These actions would only be followed by men who trusted their leader. He then burned a small area around them with a match and told them all to lie down and the fire would pass them by. Needless to say, the others made a run for it and all but 2 of them died. Wag laid down and sure enough the fire went over him. In fact, Wag’s ‘escape fire’ was the first of its kind in modern firefighting history.
So why am I sharing this story? I heard the details of this story by a business professor teaching a course on critical decision making. We, as Christians, are the Wag’s of the world, and as such, we are reminded of 2 important points from Wag’s story:
1. The world and its people are on fire, and they don’t know it until it is too late. Their solution is to panic and run. We have the answer–don’t panic, leave behind all your ‘stuff’, surrender, and lie prostrate before Him and TRUST in Him and NO ONE else. If you do this, the fire will pass over you.
2. The world sees Christians as Wag’s; they will only follow us when we are in relationship with them….when we love them and share our lives with them.
Global Media Outreach
C.S. Lewis Society introduces Tyler & Family to France
I have had the privledge to get to know Tyler over the last few years. He has a passion to reach those who have not met God’s love. He is taking the adventure of a life time by going to France for the C.S. Lewis Society to spread God’s message of love to Europe.
He recently sent me this email to invite anyone who is interested in learning more of this great adventure (please read and check it out!):
“Lisa and I want to invite you and your family to attend an evening event at RockHarbor Church on the 24th of September (next Thursday). As you know we are about to leave for France to spread the good news of Jesus as the European Field Directors for the C.S. Lewis Society. RockHarbor has offered to host a night for us to share our passion and heart for the least evangelized continent on the globe. I really hope to see you there.
Also, would you be willing to forward this invitation to 3 to 5 christian brothers or sisters whom you think would be blessed by attending as well? I realize I am competing with things like back to school nights and bible studies, but with your help it could really make a difference in having this be a great event.
For Christ’s glory,
Lisa and Tyler Geffeney
RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO “GO”
“The Geffeney’s journey to Evangelize Europe”
3080 Airway Suite 100, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
In the Lab: **Child Care Provided**
September 24, 2009 6:45 P.M.
(please RSVP # of kids to lisageff@yahoo.com)
Coffee and desserts will be served
The Bridge Illustration
I taught the classic Bridge Illustration at Church a few weeks ago. Here are the powerpoint slides that walk you through the process:
The GREAT Adventure, Part 3: Your Story
What is your story? Join us in this 3rd part of 4 sermons on God’s love and grace.
There is a great website that walks you through the process of creating your story to share: www.5clicks.com
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE
Taking everyday risks to extend the grace of God
THE HOPE THAT IS WITHIN US
15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect-1Peter 3:15
WE ALL HAVE A STORY TO SHARE
-Our friends are interested
-Our friends can relate
-It is hard to argue with
PAUL’S GRACE STORY-ACTS 26
9“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth…On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. 12“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ ” ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
_________–vv. 9-11
_________-vv. 12-18
_________-vv. 19-23
STORY TIPS
Theme
-The central issue in our lives that shows the_______ in our spiritual outlook before and after knowing Christ.
Middle Handle
-we need to keep it simple, clear, and __________
Conclusion
-End with a question that requires a ____________
Scripture
-Think of one key verse that relates to your story.
Language
-avoid religious clichés and insider language
Length
-Be_________ and to the point
Put others first
-keep focus on your friend
-Emphasize those aspects of your story that will relate
PRAY FOR AN OPEN DOOR
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.-col. 4:3
The GREAT Adventure, Part 4: The Bridges
This is the 4th and final part of our sermon series on grace, love, and God.
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE
Taking everyday risks to extend the grace of God
HELPING SPIRITUAL EXPLORES FIND THE GRACE OF GOD
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” -2 Cor. 5:20
REMEMBER THIS IS A ___________ AND NOT AN EVENT
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field-1Corinthians 3:5-9
-Process oriented
-Team based
-Spirit driven
BRIDGE ONE: __________ RELATIONSHIPS
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. -1 Thessalonians 2:7-12
-Genuine
-Grace filled
-Authentic
BRIDGE TWO-THE ______________
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you…… 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,–1Cor. 15:1-3
The bridge illustration
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE
3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.-Col. 4:3-6
The Man in the Hole: Are all religions the same?
The GREAT adventure, Part 1: Grace & Love
Enjoy this teaching time about God’s amazing grace and love for us. Here is the outline:
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE
Taking everyday risks to extend the grace of God
AMBUSHED BY GRACE
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.-Eph. 2:4-9
FALLING INTO THE HEART OF GOD-Luke 15
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”-Luke 15:1
People matter to God
–the loss of connection
-a heart that seeks and finds
–the celebration of heaven
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. –Luke 15:
HELPING SPIRITUAL EXPLORERS FIND THE GRACE OF GOD
-Lead with love
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.-1 John 3:18
–live an authentic faith
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.–Matt. 5:13-16
-pray for opportunities
3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.-col. 4:3
–take every day risks for God
5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.-Col. 4:5-6
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” -2 Cor. 5:20
PRAYING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND GOD’S GRACE
Yo Adrian: A Pastor from Sri Lanka shares his heart
Pastor Adrian from Sri Lanka came to speak to our church. He plants churches, rescues widows and orphans (Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist and Buddhists believe that widows are not to be helped because their bad karma caused them to be a widow etc.–news to me! wow!), and is someone who is passionately changing the world for Christ. A couple from our church is in Sri Lanka for a year helping with his ministry. Here is a letter written by him that speaks of his brokenness and his passion. Enjoy!
This is the sixth week I have been in pain. I know Ophelia must have kept all of you informed, but I thought I must also give you my version.
I was in Korea for the Lausanne leadership summit – it was challenging and meaningful, but the highlight was for me to attend Dr. Paul Yonggi- Cho’s church. This was a highlight for me for several reasons:
- Over 750,000 members in the church. I was very impressed by the numbers,
- Impressed that the Lord took a very ordinary person to do an extraordinary work.
- I was also touched by the fervor and passion of the people. The service was simple (Good music, well organized) but the passion with which they worshiped and ministered to those around was unbelievable.
- They read the Apostles creed and the Lords prayer together – I did not expect this. I am amazed that there are so many people in our churches who do not know the apostles creed and the Lord’s Prayer. We must teach this to our people, specially in a context like Sri Lanka where we dealing with first generation Christians
I was seated and absorbing all of this, when suddenly it seemed to me that the Lord was speaking to me.
I was a good evangelist in Youth for Christ, but now I have settled down to be the Leader of a Church planting movement, committed to its growth. I have given myself to establish programs that major on social justice and mercy, looking for ways of developing relevant Theology for Asia. Caring for the orphans and widows. Majoring in developing relevant models of ministry for the Church in Asia. In the midlist of all of such good and worthy projects, I have moved away from my primary call of reaching out to those outside the Kingdom of God.
This conviction came upon me in a real sense. The wonder of the church no more attracted my attention, I was confessing and rededicating me life to align with the purposes of God.
The following Sunday I shared this with the Kithu Sevana community, they responded in an amazing way. We prayed together and that evening I developed a pain in my shoulders. I am not a good patient at the best of times – but the pain was so sharp, I was walking around in unbearable pain for three weeks, the Doctors were treating me but I found no relief. The sad part was my trusted Doctor and friend Kumar Fernando was out, caring for people in the North. When he subsequently returned, I visited him and he prescribed some pain killers and sleeping drugs and muscle relievers. This helped me to finally sleep and I continued with the Physiotherapy and the shoulder pain has lessened greatly.
I learned the following lessons:
- Care for those who are sick – This has never been my strength. I am committed to a big picture, I am committed to seeing it happen, and many times I have willfully dodged my responsibility of caring and sometimes because I was so preoccupied with the big picture, I never saw the physically hurting people. Compassion is a prerequisite for ministry, without compassion, we will use people rather than serve them.
- Reaching out to those outside the Kingdom of God is a spiritual battle. This needs preparation, a deep walk with the Lord and much fasting and prayer and the unity of the body. Did I rush to do the right thing without much preparation?
This might sound childish, but I wonder if this could this be a spiritual attack to derail my commitment to reaching out to my people in more intentional manner.
I will let you judge the situation.
Sine last evening I am again in pain and unable to sleep. I was thrilled that the painful episode with my shoulder was coming to an end, only to realize that I have developed a sinus infection that has given rise to an asthmatic cough. (This is something that I battle all the time. I go on coughing throughout the entire day, and the worst is in the night when I can’t fall asleep due to the coughing.) At some point I cough so much in the nights and go into spasms.
At the moment I am exhausted and in deep confusion. My theology says God heals, but at the moment I have been in pain for seven weeks. (Many people in the Church have experience divine healing when I prayed) Does God heal only a few? How about the people who never experienced divine healing. Should we assure healing for all or should we simply pray for all, believing that God can heal but allowing this to be an act of God?
What is our responsibility for those who have never experienced healing – condemn them as people of no faith or love them as those who are suffering and we do not know the reason. Some of the evangelists that I have met and even well meaning Pastors and friends, based on erroneous theology add more pain and guilt on the poor and suffering. Their examples says see how God has blessed me, but the same God has withheld blessing from you. (They may not say this so directly but that’s what they communicate)
It is interesting for me to note that Jesus never asked people to give and testimony of how people got healed through his healing ministry to validate his preaching and healing ministry or even to give Glory to God, but on the contrary he asked them not share with any one, but in one occasion he asked the leper “to go and show your self to the priest”
Mark 1:43-44
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them. (From New International Version)
TRIUMPH-LIST ATTITUDE IN PREACHING
Those who understand their role to serve the people will give up this triumph-list attitude in preaching but will communicate the Gospel in a manner to encourage and not to condemn. When people come to church, they come condemned and battling many issues and unresolved problems, they know they have failed God even in worse ways than we can even imagine. The Church must offer hope, encouragement to the week and hurting so that they can go back to their world and make a difference for Jesus Christ.
THE CHURCH MUST PREACH GRACE BOLDLY, OFFER GRACE LAVISHLY AND PREPEARE A GRACIOUES COMMUNITY THAT SERVES A GRACELESS COMMUNITY.
I am convinced that triumph- listic preaching continues to do more harm to our people than good. We may be communicating to our people we are far superior and above them. They may admire us for such spirituality, but can never relate to us. Brokenness on the other hand, permits me to be real and celebrate the blessed assurance of JUSTIFICATION BY HIS GRACE and share my feeble attempt to reach SANTIFICATION through his sustaining Grace. This brings hope to those who are battling sin and doubt and make us shepherds they can relate to.
I wonder whether any of this make any sense to you, if so I am glad-If not I need help
You are a minister EVERYWHERE you go
This is a ‘homerun’ sermon from Pathways Church. Bucky shares how to make work more than just work, more than just a job. Work can be an adventure, a walk of faith, and a ministry.
Please share your thoughts as always.
Saint Patrick: Why I now where green.
As a kid, I never wore green on St. Patrick’s day so I could go against the grain, but now as an adult, I try to wear green to honor this amazing man.
- shipped from England to Ireland into slavery at age 16
- escapes back to England only to RETURN to Ireland as a missionary
- began his walk with Christ at age 40–yes it is NEVER too late
- planted an estimated 800 churches in Ireland
- one of the greatest evangelists of ALL time
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
An atheist’s observation on Christianity in Africa
As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God
Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa’s biggest problem – the crushing passivity of the people’s mindset
Men on the Path: Men’s Group on Wednesday’s
Get READY! We are starting a new adventure as men on the path together.
- WHEN: Wednesday’s from 6:45am-8:00am
- STARTING: September 24, 2008
- WHAT: We are going to be looking at the TOP 10 things men need to know
- WHERE: North Park Community Center (NOTE: It is best to enter the housing complex off of Portola Parkway because then when you go through the gate the club house where we are meeting is straight ahead of you.
God Questions Part 4
This is 4 of 4 in the God Questions series. Save the best for last? This is the age old question: Is Christianity the only way? Don’t all roads lead to God?
I LOVE what Paul Young points out in his amazing book:The ShacKAs the main character, Mack, is talking to Jesus, Mack asks, “Does that mean that all roads will lead to you?” And Jesus replies, “Not at all, most roads don’t lead anywhere. What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you.”-pg 182
YES!!!!
God Questions Part 2: Does God exist?
This is part 2 of the sermon series titled: The God Questions that Bucky and I taught at Pathways church (www.ocpathways.org):
In this sermon we explore the reasons for God and the clues for God.
Witnessing Forgiveness
Please listen to this AMAZING story of a friend asking for forgiveness, the power that GIVING forgiveness has to heal a wounded heart, and sharing your faith.
God Questions Part 1
Bucky and I did a sermon series together titled: The God Questions. Here is Part 1 of 4. This is an introduction by Bucky to the journey, the questions, the talking time with our friends about these life changing questions. Please let me know your thoughts about these messages.
The 3 key themes through out our series were:
- Love: It is the MOST exciting adventure of our lives to explore the key questions in life. Why not do it with love? We want to emphasize the key to any time in discussion with someone must be with love.
- Listen: The best answer is a question. Too much time has been spent NOT listening to the other person in the discussion of these important questions of life. If you don’t know or don’t understand, then listen!
- Learn: This is a team effort. We want you to enjoy and learn from the time with others in discussion on these GREAT topics.