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Category: Discipleship

Read This Chapter BEFORE Sharing the Gospel

Published by Jeff Kennon on March 12, 2014

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Very rarely will I purchase a book because of it’s title, much less one of it’s chapter titles. But this changed for me when I glanced at the table of contents of John S. Leonard’s book Get Real: Sharing Your Faith Every Day. Leonard’s title of Chapter 4, For Christ’s Sake, Be Normal, drew me in.

In this chapter, Leonard writes that in our desire to show others how different we are because of Christ, we’re not making ourselves any more appealing to the nonbelievers around us. In fact, we are presenting ourselves as weird, strange, and bizarre (p. 42-43).

How do we become normal?

By being real. By quitting our act that everything is always “fine” and letting people see that we actually encounter trials and pain. When we’re normal and open about our difficulties and struggles, writes Leonard, Christ in all his power and glory will come pouring out of the cracks in our lives (p. 43).

Could it be that what others need to see in us is not super sainthood but a daily need of Christ’s grace and mercy? Leonard makes it clear that it is not the super-spiritual examples who generally have the greatest impact upon non-Christians. He writes that those who have the greatest influence are those of us who have to live what are considered ordinary lives, but who live them for Christ (p. 47).

A Great Example

Leonard shares how he uses Halloween as his attempt at being normal. Halloween, which he thinks is an incredible time to meet neighbors, is his time to be extra friendly and generous by giving away tons of great candy to all who knock on his door. What kid will not remember the house that gave out the best candy in the neighborhood?

Shouldn’t you give out some kind of gospel tract or Bible with that candy? Not according to Leonard. He writes: I am not against passing out Bibles and tracts–just don’t do it on Halloween, especially instead of giving out candy. It isn’t what people are expecting, and you cheapen the faith by doing so (p. 49).

Be interested in others

We should not think, however, that being normal means that we as Christians are not distinct from the world. If we follow Christ, people will think we are “crazy” at times. But we should go out of our way not to be weird (p. 47). And for Leonard, this means becoming interested in the things that most interest others (p. 48). This does not give us an excuse to sin but to instead show others what it means to follow Christ in the everyday events of life.

Get The Book!

Now though I was enticed to buy this book because of one chapter, the entire book is worth examining. It is an encouraging read and one that I think will be of great benefit to those who need help in sharing the gospel with others.

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From Our Place of Worship To Our Place of Work

Published by Jeff Kennon on March 10, 2014

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Worship turns out to be the dangerous act of waking up to God and to the purposes of God in the world, and then living lives that actually show it.

This definition of worship, which I first read in Alan Hirsch’s book Untamed, was made by Mark Labberton. What Labberton seems to be saying to us is that true worship of God produces in us an awe of God that moves us beyond our worship on Sunday morning (or whenever you gather for to worship with the family of God) to live lives that glorify God throughout the week.

I want to be careful here not to make our worship seem too pragmatic. The worship of God is an end in itself. God is worthy. He is deserving of our praise. We do not worship God in order to get a certain feeling or motivation to do something.

However, to say that we remain unmoved and unaffected when we worship God  would be totally amiss. To not be changed by the knowledge of who God is and what He has done for us through the death and resurrection of His Son is not possible. To know God is to be changed by Him. Or, as the book title by G.K. Beale aptly proclaims: We Become What We Worship.

So if we become like that which we worship, then to worship God will lead to becoming like Him. Our lives will exhibit grace, mercy, and truth. We will love our neighbors as we love ourselves. And as James writes, If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:26-27).

As our worship of God changes all aspects of our lives, then naturally, our lives of work, whether we are students, stay-at-home parents, construction workers or business executives, will honor God. Our work lives will display our worship of God. But I would like to go one step further. Could it be that our lives at work not only exhibit our worship of God but also become our worship to God?

I want to be careful as to not make everything worship, but I also do not want to compartmentalize our worship of God either. The writer of Hebrews writes, Through him [Christ] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do no neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God (Hebrews 10:15-16).

This passage in Hebrews seems to suggest that “sacrifices,” our worship to God, involves not just praise from the lips, but our good deeds as well. So could it be that our everyday lives not only exhibit our worship of God but are, in fact, our worship to God as we work to His glory and do good to those around us?

What do you think?

 

 

 

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How To Listen To A Sermon

Published by Jeff Kennon on March 9, 2014

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Listening to a sermon should involve more than just staying awake. Christopher Ash, in his little booklet Listen Up! A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons, lists 7 ingredients found in healthy sermon listening.

1. Expect God to Speak

2. Admit God knows better than you.

3. Check to see if the preacher says what the Bible passage says.

4. Hear the sermon in church.

5. Be there week by week.

6. Do what the Bible says.

7. Do what the Bible says – and rejoice.

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5 Questions To Ask Ourselves When Sharing the Gospel

Published by Jeff Kennon on March 7, 2014

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As we think about sharing the gospel with those around us, there are some questions I believe we need to ask ourselves.

1. Do we realize how much WE need the gospel? 

We are prone to look at those around us, especially those who are not as moral as us, and are quick to say, “He/she really needs Jesus!” Now I’m not saying they don’t, I’m just wanting us to realize that we still need Christ just as much as the person we would consider the vilest of sinners. We have not graduated beyond the gospel ourselves.

Peter writes that we should “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Therefore, we need to preach the gospel to ourselves daily for it is the gospel of grace that develops within us “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control” (Galatians 5:22-23). It is the gospel that causes us “to count others more significant” than ourselves” (Philippians 2:3). And, when it comes to sharing our faith, it is the gospel, the message of the cross, that develops in us an attitude of humility instead of judgment.

I realize I’ve written quite a bit on us grasping our own need for Christ, but I think everything hinges on this realization. We cannot develop a servant’s heart and become one who listens to, cares for, and helps others without the gospel doing its work in our lives.

2. Are we interested in others?

 Being interested in others cuts across the grain of our me-centered culture. I’m amazed at my tendency to make everything about me. This is why I need the gospel.

We should be fascinated by the stories and lives of others. There is not a boring person on the planet. All are created in the image of God. We just don’t take the time to understand and listen.

Can I offer a practical tip here? I think cell phones can be a distraction to showing interest in others. My phone is a great example. It beeps, honks, and rings at me when I get emails, texts, and calls. Can I encourage you (and me) to turn the thing off when talking with others? What does it say about our interest in others when we stop a conversation to answer a text?

3. Do we listen more than we speak? 

Sharing the gospel with those around us is a dialogue and not a monologue. In other words, it’s a conversation over coffee. So learn to ask good questions. And listen, listen, listen. Seek to understand before you seek to be understood. Could it be that the greatest need of some is to find someone to listen?

4. Are we helpful? 

When I think of being helpful, I am really thinking about helping others in what some might call “trivial” things. I think most of us do well in jumping in to to help those who are going through a major crisis, but what about when your co-worker is having a rough morning because he/she woke up late and didn’t get his/her normal cup of coffee? I guess it boils down to really learn to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).

5. Are we praying? 

I know we know to pray! But moving from knowledge to praxis can be a journey of many miles. One thing that affects our praying is the fact that we live in an impatient society. We have fast-food restaurants, high-speed Internet, and on-demand movies. We are not conditioned to wait for anything. When we pray and nothing appears to happen, what do we do? Let us not give up!

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