I was listening to a sermon from the past and I heard the most amazing thing.
In the area of the biggest churches in 1976ish A famous preacher went out into different areas close to these "mega-churches" independent fundamental Baptist churches, churches that were on fire for God, attendance in the thousands, and within one mile of 3 different churches he did something and the results blew me away.
He started quoting John 3:16. The most famous verse of all. He started quoting it and the three people he interacted with had never heard it.
Had never heard it. Within one mile of on fire, doctrinally sound, working hard for Christ. growing churches.
Hand never heard it.
John 3:16. The verse you used to see at football games held up in the stands as a witness to Christ.
The first verse almost all people in church can quote. The one verse that gives the simplest plan of salvation, that tells the whole story of the Christian doctrine.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God loved us, gave His Son for us that we might have eternal salvation from death and damnation in the pit of Hell.
How will they know except we tell them?
The missionary goes into foreign fields to preach and teach. yet we have lost the area right outside our doors, and in some cases inside our doors.
Invariably we would think well they see us, they see our church so they know who we are and what we are about.
But do they?
Mar_5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
How many have a negative connotation they associate with church?
How many think it's a dark foreboding place where people gather for a cult. or a ceremony.
How many know of the Love of God towards us?
Not the institution, not the building, not the structure but the reason that infuses such a ministry? The Spirit and the Love that drives us to gather, worship and Praise?
How many know why we do what we do?
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I used to think everyone knew of Jesus.
I was wrong, I found out the other day some folks have no idea, they had heard the name but knew not the Man, The Sacrifice, The Son of God.
In this country you would think with the accessibility to the Word of God through TV, print, radio etc that all would know.
They do not.
How will they know unless we tell them in Word and in Deed?
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Every journey to the foreign field starts right from your front door. every one in your path today is a member of the "all nations" part of the Great Commission.
They need to know God so loved them. Jesus died for them. Don't assume they know. Don't take it for granted that they might have heard.
Tell them.
In the area of the biggest churches in 1976ish A famous preacher went out into different areas close to these "mega-churches" independent fundamental Baptist churches, churches that were on fire for God, attendance in the thousands, and within one mile of 3 different churches he did something and the results blew me away.
He started quoting John 3:16. The most famous verse of all. He started quoting it and the three people he interacted with had never heard it.
Had never heard it. Within one mile of on fire, doctrinally sound, working hard for Christ. growing churches.
Hand never heard it.
John 3:16. The verse you used to see at football games held up in the stands as a witness to Christ.
The first verse almost all people in church can quote. The one verse that gives the simplest plan of salvation, that tells the whole story of the Christian doctrine.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God loved us, gave His Son for us that we might have eternal salvation from death and damnation in the pit of Hell.
How will they know except we tell them?
The missionary goes into foreign fields to preach and teach. yet we have lost the area right outside our doors, and in some cases inside our doors.
Invariably we would think well they see us, they see our church so they know who we are and what we are about.
But do they?
Mar_5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
How many have a negative connotation they associate with church?
How many think it's a dark foreboding place where people gather for a cult. or a ceremony.
How many know of the Love of God towards us?
Not the institution, not the building, not the structure but the reason that infuses such a ministry? The Spirit and the Love that drives us to gather, worship and Praise?
How many know why we do what we do?
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I used to think everyone knew of Jesus.
I was wrong, I found out the other day some folks have no idea, they had heard the name but knew not the Man, The Sacrifice, The Son of God.
In this country you would think with the accessibility to the Word of God through TV, print, radio etc that all would know.
They do not.
How will they know unless we tell them in Word and in Deed?
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Every journey to the foreign field starts right from your front door. every one in your path today is a member of the "all nations" part of the Great Commission.
They need to know God so loved them. Jesus died for them. Don't assume they know. Don't take it for granted that they might have heard.
Tell them.
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