Archive for February, 2008
Dr. Larry Moyer has a burden that the church today will not be known as a church that talks about the lost, but rather it will be known as a church that talks to the lost. Recently, Dr. Moyer spoke at the Grace Conference in Chicago, Illinois. His message was a challenge to church leaders to have God’s heart for lost people. Dr. Moyer made it clear that if a church is going to be evangelistic, then the church leaders must be evangelistic. God is not saying bring the lost to Christ – God is saying bring Christ to the lost. If you do the presenting, then he will do the persuading. And the power is in the message, not in the messenger. Churches that operate from that conviction will be churches committed to declaring the Gospel of Grace worldwide. Listen as Dr. Larry Moyer encourages over 450 pastors at the Grace Conference in Chicago, Illinois.[display_podcast]
The Gospel – the Good News of Christ – is that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. Paul defines the Gospel in I Corinthians 15:3-5: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.” The facts concerning Christ are conveyed by four prominent verbs.
Christ Died
Paul said, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3). Christ died as our substitute. Had he not taken our punishment, we would all bear it ourselves. Christ died as my substitute and yours. Isaiah, seven hundred years before Christ, prophesied His death when he said, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5).
Christ Was Buried
The second verb Paul used concerning Christ is that ” He was buried” (I Cor. 15:4). Since Paul did not repeat the phrase “according to the Scriptures,” it is likely that he mentioned Christ’s burial simply as a proof that HE died. The proof of death is burial.
Christ Rose
The third verb Paul used is that “He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (I Cor. 15:4). This is the second time Paul used the phrase “according to the Scriptures.” He wanted his readers to know that, just as Christ’s crucifixion was not a surprise, neither was His resurrection. David predicted the resurrection of Christ when he said, “For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption: (Ps. 16:10).
Christ Was Seen
The fourth verb Paul used is “seen”: “he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve” (I Cor. 15:5). Notice again that Paul did not repeat the phrase “according to the Scriptures.” It is likely that just as Paul mentioned Christ’s burial as proof that He died, he mentioned that Christ was seen as proof that He arose.
The Gospel – the Good News of Christ – is that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. His burial is proof that he died. The fact that He was seen is proof that he arose. The clearest way to present the Gospel is to give the historical facts as they are given in the New Testament. The Good News we are privileged to announce is that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.
In Matthew 9:36, the observation is made concerning Christ, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” The New Testament speaks of Christ being moved or filled with pity eight times. He looked beyond people’s faults and saw their need – they were like sheep without a shepherd.
Many times Christians feel that being around non-Christians is an unpleasant experience. Some believers are very self-centered and their language can be less than desirable. We forget, though, that the problem is not what they do, it’s who they are – individuals who have never met the Savior. As Christ looked beyond the person’s actions and saw the problem, we are to do the same. We must have a heart of compassion toward non-Christians and see them the way Christ does. His practice is to be our pattern.
What impresses non-Christians immensely are those believers who are standing right side up when their world turns upside down – a rather severe health problem, a car accident, insufficient funds to meet unexpected bills, or a layoff at work. It is those times when we keep our chins up in spite of what is happening that causes others to say, “Whatever you’ve got, I need it.”
James is addressing people going through trials. These early believers had lost their possessions and been separated from their loved ones as they were scattered throughout Asia Minor during a time of persecution. They were tempted to get bitter and rebel against God and others. James is to the point. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”
Why joy? The reason is rather simple: “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Patience is an essential characteristic of Christlikeness. Without patience, we can never be mature and complete in terms of our spiritual growth. The only way patience can be produced is to go through trials. So James encourages them and writes, “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Trials rightly faced are harmless and are designed to make us better, not bitter.
People whose lives become contagious are not those who always have the right things happen to them, but those who have the right response when the wrong things happen. Take a moment and thank God for the hard moments you’ve experienced in life. If you’ve allowed bitterness of any kind to come into your life towards God or towards others, confess that to Him as sin and ask Him to forgive you.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4
Ask non-Christians to verbalize one of their complaints about believers and they will sometimes say, “Christians are hypocrites. They preach one thing, then practice another.” Sometimes such a complaint is unfounded. It is simply an excuse behind which the unbeliever is trying to hide. All too many times though, they do see those whose lips say one thing and whose lives say another.
Paul the apostle could have been referred to as a single-minded person. His daily focus was to be more Christlike and to attain maturity in Christ. Therefore, as an individual sincerely seeking to follow Christ, he could exhort others, “Brethren, join in following my example.” In so saying, Paul was not being conceited or playing the self-righteous game “I live better than you do.” Nor did he feel he had spiritually arrived where he needed to be.
Instead, he was simply expressing what everybody knew. In his earnest effort to become like Christ, he had so consistently lived that he could say, “Follow me, because I’m following Christ.” He recognized there are other believers who could echo the same invitation and adds, “And note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” Timothy and Epaphroditus are undoubtedly two he had in mind. To follow those examples was to follow those who practiced consistent Christlike conduct – conduct not dictated by a set of human regulations but by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Imagine a non-Christian living next to Paul the apostle or an unbeliever he labored alongside of in secular work. What could anyone have pointed to that was not consistent with Christian character or conduct? Imagine, too, the opportunities and boldness Paul could have had because his life supported his lips. Non-Christians have cause to listen to someone whose pattern follows his preaching.
The question every believer ought to ask and answer as he lives and works around non-Christians is, “Is my life an attraction or distraction to Christ?” Ask God to show you any area of your life that is inconsistent with Christian testimony.
“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” Philippians 3:17
Dr. Larry Moyer serves as the Evangelist-at-Large to Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Recently, pastor Chuck Swindoll invited Dr. Moyer to speak to the congregation during the Sunday morning service. In his message Dr. Moyer clearly communicated his burden to see a church that grows by conversion, introducing people to Christ, and not simply by transfer – from one church to another. This requires that each person in the congregation begins to cultivate an evangelistic lifestyle. This begs the question: What kind of person do you need to be to introduce someone to Jesus Christ? According to Dr. Moyer one needs a simple message, an obedient spirit, and the right perspective. God never says bring the lost to Christ – he says bring Christ to the lost. Listen to this message and your thoughts about evangelism will change. You will see it as a privilege and not a pain. As a result, you will begin to share Christ out of grace and not guilt.[display_podcast]
