Marc Estes

I had the unique privilege of sharing with a young man who claimed to be a “White Magic – Calvinist – Jew.” To say that it was an interesting conversation would be a gross understatement. The good news is that I was able to lead this young man to Christ and get him plugged into the local church.  Other recent conversations seem to have some of the same undertones; people who have formulated their own definition of God and views about eternity.

Welcome to the twenty-first century!  The breakdown of absolute truth coupled with the erosion of Christian influence has paved the way to a new melting pot of religious views that have greatly impacted society, and our ability to reach those that need Christ. As a church leader, I am acutely aware of the fact that my approach to sharing the truth must radically change while still adhering to the timeless truth of the gospel; easier said than done.

Regardless of a person’s belief system or worldview, there are ten main pillars that we must continue to emphasize in our gospel approach.

 These are: (FREE TEACHING NOTES on this topic available on my Resource Page).

Pillar #1: Every person has a perception of Eternity

Regardless of religious persuasion, or lack thereof, every person has a perception of what Eternity might be. Those views may consist of; heaven, hell, reincarnation, a distant galaxy, or cease to exist.

Pillar #2: Absolute truth is the foundation to life itself

To a generation that believes that truth is relative, the need for establishing the foundation is the beginning point of sharing the gospel.

Pillar #3: The Bible is the foundation for all Truth

There is only one book that has ever stood the test of time as being 100% infallible. Establishing the Bible as the sole source of your message is vital to the presenting of any future principles.

Pillar #4: The nature and characteristics of God can be defined

God must be redefined back to His original description. Without elevating God to His rightful place in the minds of man, it is impossible to present the gospel with any sense of need or urgency.

Pillar #5: Sin is an absolute problem not a relative, narrow-minded concept

People must understand sin as “rebellion against God” and it’s affect on humanity in order to understand the immeasurable gap between themselves and God due to their own personal sin.

Pillar #6: Hope and unconditional love are available to those who seek God

Even in the midst of judgement, God provides a way of escape and the opportunity for a new life. This is key to reaching a generation without hope.

Pillar #7: The Cross remains as the central message of the Gospel

1. The message of the cross is the power of God unto salvation. The price that Christ paid for the sin of mankind must be clearly understood to make activate its power in a person’s life.
2. We need to not only give attention to the cross, but also his resurrection power, that he conquered death and hell.
3. There must also be the realization that Jesus is the only way, and no salvation is found in no other name.

Pillar #8: The only One who can truly fill needs and voids is God Himself

Society continues to look to everything but God to fill the immense holes in their life. The need for love, hope, peace, joy, purpose, acceptance and identity will only be found in God. This can only happen when people enter into a personal relationship with Christ. This too, is an important part of the gospel.

Pillar #9: Commitment to Christ is a life-long decision

People must understand the commitment of a life-long relationship before praying a prayer. Just as in a marriage, a couple must understand the cost before entering into a covenant relationship.

Pillar #10: Becoming a Fully Devoted Follower of Christ is the Goal

God desires disciples, not just decisions. The point of salvation marks the beginning of the journey, not the end. A key part of sharing the gospel is to assist people into understand the new life that has begun.

If you have ever led someone to Christ, you know the importance of follow up.  Leading someone to Christ just starts the process and having an effective strategy is important. A few years ago, I wrote a simple follow-up booklet that can be handed to someone after praying to receive Christ.

I thought you might enjoy this booklet and wanted to offer it to you to use in your church, ministry or personal experiences. You can download this on my Resource Page.  The file is called “The Road Ahead – Follow Up Booklet.”  Let me know if this works for you.

 Working with a new convert is much more than a mechanical process. It isn’t the downloading of information, but modeling what a real Christian is to become. Here are eleven qualities of an effective discipler. Hope they help!

1. Integrity

Building a trust relationship with your new disciple is vital. You are asking this person to trust you to lay a spiritual foundation of truth in his or her life. Make sure to saturate your example with integrity. In every aspect of your life, be sure that you are as good as your word. You are representing your church, your brothers and sisters and the name of Christ!

2. Humility

It is necessary, while building trust, to show humility. Humility allows others to receive what you say. Realize that without Jesus you could not have made it as far as you have. There is no difference between us and the prostitute. We are just beggars leading another beggar to bread. Serve them, lift them up… be interested and impressed, not interesting and impressing!

3. Sensitivity

Maintain a high level of sensitivity. Most people come to Christ because of a significant need in their life. Discerning their needs and being sensitive to them will help you offer comfort and counsel in the appropriate areas. Discern the need and minister through it, don’t be ignorant to it.

4. Patience

Working with new converts requires great patience. They do things they shouldn’t do, say things they shouldn’t say, and think things that are not Christ- like. Remember, they are newborn babes and require special attention. Be patient and loving at all times. Don’t rush people: The Holy Spirit brings the change, you bring the love and the understanding.

5. Persistence

It is difficult for most new believers to talk freely about God, to pray, or to worship. Because of this, you must be persistent, but not obnoxious. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you the proper level of persistence needed, while being careful not to turn your new convert away from you, the church, or God.

6. Respect

One of the quickest ways to repel people is to be condescending. In doing this, you create a teacher/student relationship. You should instead create a friend/ friend relationship. Talk about areas that interest them and that they are good at. Be interested and build them up. Introduce them to others, don’t be embarrassed to have them hanging around you. Show them you respect them.

7. Listening

It has been said, “Gain permission to speak by first listening.” Once you begin a conversation with someone, ask him or her open-ended questions about job, family, or social life. Try to find common ground and allow the person to speak. You were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. The best way to get to know someone and understand them is to just sit and listen. Don’t monopolize time. Ask many questions, and let them talk. It helps build relationship as well.

8. Graciousness and Understanding

There will be times when people will reject what you say. Often Christians react negatively in these situations. Getting upset can cause confusion and bitterness in a new convert and make it difficult to move forward in the follow-up process. When someone is unwilling to listen to you, smile, love them, leave them with a positive, caring perception, and wait for the proper time to share your concerns. The harvest is messed up with mulitple, very complex problems. It took years to get into the mess they are in, and it will take years to get out.

9. Exhorting in Love

As your relationship deepens, you may feel led to confront an area in this person’s life. Be sure to combine your exhortation with love. People need more strokes than pokes. Often, the person already knows that the area of sin is wrong. Exhortation without love is hard-handed judgment. Exhortation with love is compassion.

10. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is contagious! Successful companies have enthusiastic employees because enthusiasm attracts people. No one wants to listen to dull, uninteresting people. Effective disciplers have enthusiasm as well. Allow God’s light to shine through you. Use expression when you speak about Jesus. Let the person see that Christianity is not just a religion, but a relationship.

11. Friendliness

Eighty-six percent of people who come to Christ are influenced through friends, neighbors, relatives, or co-workers. If a relationship does not already exist, your goal should be to build a relationship with your new convert as quickly as possible. Don’t disciple out of obligation.

Is there any scientific way of determining the Bible’s Reliability? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” There is a mathematical law in science that can help us find out. It is called “The law of Compound Probabilities.” It is one of the most profound proofs of the Bible’s divine accuracy and inspiration. It is defined as:

“The Law of Compound Probabilities I a mathematical law which is used to calculate the probability of a specific set of conditions, requirements, or qualifications being fulfilled… it’s a way of figuring the odds.” It is commonly used in the market place to determine financial projections, in weather forecasting, in figuring insurance tables, professional athletics, and in political campaigning. ¹

Peter W. Stoner, the Chairman of the Mathematics and Astronomy Department at Pasadena City College and Chairman of the Science Division of Westmont College from 1953-57 applied the Law of Compound Probabilities to the area of prophetic fulfillment. He did so to determine the odds of a certain prescribed number of biblical prophecies relating to Christ being fulfilled.  Data compiled over a ten-year period was then gathered, with the following staggering results: ¹

Odds of Fulfillment of Eight Prophecies in Perfect Detail and Order: Equals 10¹⁷   

This is a ten with seventeen zeros following. It is compared to state of Texas being filled with Silver Dollars two feet deep. Mark one with a red mark, blind fold someone, and give them one chance to find marked silver dollar on first try. This is odds of 10^17.

Odds of Fulfillment of Sixteen Prophecies in Perfect Detail and Order: Equals 10⁴⁵

He calculated that odds to be compared to the following scenario. The sun is 93 million miles from earth; however, if you had this many silver dollars, you could build a stellar ball so enormous that is would extend 30 times farther out than the sun. Again, mark one, get in your stellar space shuttle, blindfolded, and just choose one, and this would be the chances of fulfilling sixteen prophecies.

Odds of Fulfillment of Forty-Eight Prophecies in Perfect Detail and Order: Equals 10¹⁵⁷

The computers began to overload and burn out at this point and freeze up. This number is so astronomical and beyond human comprehension that there is no name for it! Let use the smallest thing known to man, a electron, which is only 2.5 X 10¹⁵ quintillionth of an inch long. If you devoted yourself to counting just a single file of electrons one-inch long, you would have to count 250 per minute, day and night, for 19 million years! In a cubic inch you would then multiply that cubed! 19 million years times 19 million years times 19 million years.  It has been said that there are more electrons in a grain of sand than all the leaves on all the trees in the world.

However if you had 1 X 10¹⁵⁷ electrons to work with, you could make a cosmic all of electrons so large it would be as big as our known universe. In fact, you would have so many electrons that if there was some way to mass produce these balls, you could make them at a rate of 500 a minute, day and night, for 6 billion years, 10¹⁰ times over!  NOW…. Mark one of these electrons and blindfold yourself and try to find it on your first try, and these are the odds of fulfilling forty-eight prophecies in exact order. 

JESUS FULFILLED 332 AND THEY ARE RECORDED IN EXACT PERFECT ORDER AND DETAIL IN THE BIBLE!!!! ¹

I say all of that to bring us to the reality, that the Bible has some validity. 

What is the culture look like that we are trying to reach?  As a leader, this is a question you must constantly be asking yourself. If you are going to be effective in reaching people you must understand how they believe and behave. With the massive belief/behavior shift taking place in our society today it is impearative that we take the time necessary to understand those within our reach.   

How a person believes plays a critical part as to how we connect with those coming into the church. What they believe, how they behave and their perceptions of us greatly affect how we should relate to them as well as how they will relate to us. In this post, we will deal specifically with their beliefs.

Their Beliefs – The United states is home to over 200 different types of religions and belief systems, but is dominated by seven major faith groups. The breakdown of these groups was taken from the book,  The Seven Faith Tribes, by George Barna

• Casual Christians - There are about 225 million adults in America and approximately 150 million fit into this category.  Their belief system is differs greatly from Biblical Christian beliefs:   
  • 74% claim to have personal relationship with Jesus.
  • 38% are certain they will have eternal life.
  • Only 18% spiritual maturity equates to making commitment to community of faith.
  • 18% engage in big three weekly: church attendance, read bible, and pray.
  • Less than 5% tithe their income, average about 1.5% of income to all contributions.

• Captive Christians – There are roughly 36 million that fit into this category, about 16% of population.  This segment of Christian would be a combination of evangelicals and Protestants.  Their combination of Bible-based conviction and spiritual practices has transformed them into different people. Conversion is real, they live what they believe.

• American Jews – The largest population of Jews now reside in United States, 6.5 million, which is close to half of Jews worldwide. 2% of U.S. population. Contemporary Judaism has its roots in the Middle East, but its heart is in postmodern West.  The changes redefining the beliefs of Judaism are extensive, too much to mention, but do play a role in the make-up in the belief structure of USA.  It has become more of a culture than an actual religion.

•  Mormons – There are 13 million Mormons worldwide and approximately 5 million living in the U.S., 40% living in Utah alone. Almost as many leave the church as are added to the church resulting only in small net gain annually.  Although there are varying degrees of awareness of Church doctrine over 77% state that family values are their top priority.

• Pantheists – The 31 Flavors of America’s belief system, which include Hindus, Buddhists, New Agers, and most religions rooted in Eastern religion.  This group represents about 1.5% of U.S. Population, about 3.5 million.  57% of this entire group is of Asian descent.

• Muslims – A collection of vastly different Muslim segments and theological views.  Varying studies show this group to be between 1.5 to 4 million, best estimate to be around 2.3 million.  Over 50% of this group lives in Northeastern United States.  Most feel highly rejected and grossly misunderstood and wrongly labeled with extreme radical Muslims.

• Spiritual Skeptics – About 11% of Americans are either Atheist (9%) or Agnostic (2%). This group has doubled in size in last quarter century now totaling about 25 million Americans. One of the fastest growing groups with expectation for aggressive growth in the coming years.

It is faith that allows us the privilege of seeing the fulfillment of God’s purposes in our lives. The more faith we have for our lives, the more of your potential is released. What hinders us most from accomplishing extraordinary exploits is not the way God sees us, but the way we see God. God views us with unlimited potential, as we see ourselves quite the opposite. Let us be encouraged with the stretching statement of our Savior in Mark 10:27, “…all things are possible with God.”

The account of Jesus and Lazarus brings some shocking parallels to the church and her current condition. It is evident the lost people surrounding us are like Lazarus. They are dead in sin, bound by their habits and life-styles and are a stench to the nostrils of God.

The church has taken on the role of Mary and Martha, either laying at the feet of Jesus, or busy about doing “church” but do not possess the faith needed to bring change to the “Lazarus Generation.”

What is needed is “Jesus Faith” and not a Martha and Mary Faith, as will will never be capable of impacting our “Lazarus” society.

Do not lose site of the fact that God has placed you exactly where He wants you! Your neighbors have been carefully selected, and placed in your life by the hand of God, for your inheritance. You co-workers are set in by your side as a master plan of the Lord to bring them to salvation. He now desires to impart to you a new faith that you might become Jesus Today for all those around you to see. Can you see it? Do you hear it? Can you believe it? Do you have faith for it? Will you respond to it?

God is just waiting for you to have the faith to believe that He can use you like never before. Whatever expectation level you have is too small. Ephesians 3:20 insures us, “He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” His thoughts are higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 58:11), and He thinks you can do extraordinary exploits as His co-partner.

Not only does He believe you can reach touch your neighbors and relatives, but that you can be instrumental in touching nations…that’s right, nations! If it weren’t true, He would not put it in His Word. He challenges us to ask Him as seen in Psalms 2:8, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

It is only with this level of faith that we will see God’s plan filled in our lives, our churches, our cities and our world. The thought of reaching your friends and relatives requires great faith. The challenge of touching your city demands a greater faith, and the thought of reaching over 6, 073,104,885 people that span the globe cannot be accomplished through human strength, thoughts or strategy, but only through complete faith in God. God’s desires that each of us would have abounding faith that will cut all the “t’s” off of the “I can’ts” and make them into “I cans.”

Have you ever missed an opportunity to share the good news with someone? If you are like every other Christian that has ever breathed, the answer to this question is an obvious yes! I can remember early on in my Christian walk, one of the most painful personal experiences of missing an opportunity to share with a man named Dave.

 

Dave was a bright, yet cantankorous individual, with a potty-mouth worse than any sailor you have ever met. He seemed to be drawn to me, and we had built a good relationship over a one year period of working together in Lake Tahoe. I was checking the mail at the post office when I noticed his huge 4 x 4 ford truck roll up outside. I knew that God was speaking to me to share with him at that moment, yet I allowed the inner turmoil, fear and intimidation of the enemy, and my own insecurities, to dictate my actions. The end result, a normal, yet pointless conversation!

 

The next morning, I would take my routine stroll to the end of the driveway to pick up the Tahoe Daily Tribune. I pulled off the plastic cover, rolled out the paper and would be confronted with the shocking reality of a missed opportunity. The headlines read, “LOCAL MAN DROWNS IN LAKE.” Dave left the post office, went out to Camp Richardson, hopped into a boat that would capsize and he drowned in a matter of moments in the frigid winter water of Lake Tahoe. Cold. Alone. Without Christ.

 

I will never forget that moment. Pain! Regret! Condemnation! Sorrow.

 

Later on that day, I stumbled upon a scripture that comforted me and at the same time, challenged me. It has become one of those life-scriptures for me. Upon reading these riveting words, I realized I was in the company of others who had made similar mistakes and rebounded, mainly Peter.

 

He was the disciple that hacked off a guys ear in the garden. He is the one that would get out of the boat, walk on water only to sink. He is the boisterous one that claimed he would never deny Christ, only to deny Him three times in one day. I am sure he broke out in a rash for years to come everytime the rooster crowed! Missed opportunity.

 

Yet, Peter is the same man that would preach to thousands on the day of Pentecost and see multitudes saved. He is the guy that met the man at the temple gate and saw him healed. He had experienced both pain and victory, sorrow and joy. He figured it out that victory felt much better than regret.

 

 Many years later he would write to Christians that were being scattered throughout the Roman empire. He challenged them to stay focused, live a pure and holy life, and to realize persecution might come. It is in this context that he writed in 1 Peter 3:15, “ALWAYS BE READY to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope  you have.”  You may not be facing persecution today, but the principle still applies! If the shoe fits, wear it.

 

Since the cold December morning years ago, I have made it my aim to be ready to share the gospel with anyone at anytime as the Lord leads. This is definitely something I have not mastered, but has become my aim.

 

God WILL give you opportunities today to share with those that need Christ. It might be your next store neighbor putting out the trash. I could be a co-worker who sits in the cubicle next to you. It very well might be the person on the street corner with the sign, “Need Help” that you have driven past repeatedly over the past few weeks. It could be that relative that calls and asks how things are going.

 

Let us make it our aim, to BE READY to share when God calls. You may not be put into a situation like I did with Dave…but you just might! Think about it.

This is my fifth post in reaching people who need Christ (See other four in this blog).

 

The world is filled with people who have immense needs. It is my firm conviction that one of the greatest ways to preach the good news to a dead and dying world is through meeting their needs and touching them at their point of brokenness. In the gospels, Jesus models this approach by reaching out to people’s needs on forty-six different occasions before ever opening His mouth with a gospel message. He may have been on to something?

 

It says in 1 John 3:16-19, “We know what real love is because Christ gave us his life for us…Dear children, let us stop saying we love each; let us really show it by our actions.” John is trying to communicate a fundamental point that is missing in the lives of many Christians and many churches today; demonstration precludes proclamation!

 

It was Christ’s dying on the cross that validated His ministry and ultimately the gospel’s power and affect on humanity. The same applies to sharing the gospel. What validates our proclamation to a needy world is our willingness to meet them at their point of need, just as the guy in the ditch who was touched by the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

 

In addition to our actions, we must make the motive behind our actions, compassion. It is important that we reach out and show action to our words, but they too are in vain with out genuine love, care and concern for the person you are attempting to reach.

 

Let us make love our great aim, and SHOW a world the love of Christ as we proclaim the good news. The end result will be many people coming to Christ as a result of your sacrifice and love.

 

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In the past three posts we have discussed important components that are needed in our lives to reach those that need Christ. So far we have discussed the need to establish relationships, be an example to those around us and be aware of our enemy.

 

The next step in our journey in reaching those that need Christ is to make sure to pray for each person regularly.

 

I don’t know if this will challenge your theology, but I believe that any time, anywhere, anybody ever gets saved, it is because someone prayed first! Evangelism without prayer is like an arrow without a tip. We must first be victorious in the spiritual before we can be successful in the natural. Prayer is the foundation to evangelism.

 

TW Hunt, from Southern Baptist Convention said, “The biggest single non-biblical aspect of American praying today is lack of intercession or praying for others… and this is where Americans fail  most dismally.”  HOW TRUE

 

Colossians 4:3-4, “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. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”  Prayer opens the door for the gospel to be shared!

 

James 5:16, “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”