“Why hasn't anybody proven this to me but?!” How usually do I hear it, touch upon it after I share the gospel for the primary time. In my dismay, I recommend that we notice once more how clearly and powerfully God's phrase nonetheless speaks immediately.
My journey into sharing the Bible started in 2006. I used to be launched to a fellow insurance coverage govt by world-renowned apologist John Lennox, pondering it could be my job to take a seat and host and watch Professor Lennox give a masterclass in evangelistic apologetics. Nonetheless, what adopted, after two dinners and a few seven hours, was like a horrible Wimbledon last – a verbal tennis match the place one fired questions over the online and the opposite returned the ball, all the time with biblical solutions. My non-Christian buddy adored the mental stimulation, however frankly, he was unable to totally perceive the solutions as a result of he was merely biblically ignorant!
I noticed no level in a 3rd assembly except we requested the great professor to indicate us the place he was getting it from. Lennox appeared not together with his Bible, however with the primary eighteen sentences of the Gospel of John, chapter 1, printed on a sheet of A4 paper. By the fourth sentence, my buddy broke down in tears. Right here have been God's solutions to life's best questions, and my buddy had by no means been proven such guarantees; he was actually surprised into silence sentence by sentence. It wasn't the phrases of John, the world-renowned professor, that spoke so powerfully, it was John, the Gospel author.
Now I’ve by no means been a Bible trainer, I assumed I used to be like a behind the scenes patron of the gospel, however I instantly knew I used to be determined to supply the phrase of God to my buddies. They so wanted to see the Phrase and in a format that was not international or embarrassing to them, slightly they checked out every sentence and transparently noticed the questions/solutions it raised.
The very subsequent day I grabbed my preacher, the most effective Bible lecturers of this technology, and begged him to show me the Gospel of John. Getting used to displays with marked feedback within the margins, I needed readability that may very well be communicated to others. Subsequently, a easy format was born – just a few biblical sentences on the left and proper – key questions raised and addressed. It's a system that finally grew to become the One to One Phrase – a device that each Christian across the age of twelve is utilizing around the globe immediately in brochures, apps or on-line to introduce individuals to the Phrase of Jesus Christ.
For years I used to be often known as a Christian marketer with whom you might have an intellectually attention-grabbing faith-based dialog, however these discussions nearly all the time flew away within the intellectually attention-grabbing wind! Why? As a result of I didn't know share the Phrase. So the subsequent time we meet, the dialog will begin once more!
I had apologetic responses, however they tended to be confrontational. I had a robust testimony, however that merely led my buddies to say, “Good for you Richard—you will have Christianity, I’ve job satisfaction, intercourse, medicine, health, and even mindfulness—let's depart the dialog with equal respect attitudes of others. we?!”
Nevertheless it modified all the things by going straight by means of God's phrase on a “degree taking part in subject” so we have been each what the Bible mentioned. Individuals clearly weren't listening to me, slightly they have been fixated on what the Phrase was saying. I began providing my peer group the chance to have a look at the a part of the Bible that I used to be so captivated with, and the response was merely overwhelming!
I used to be simply saying: didn't they all the time assume that in the future they might have a look at a e-book that bought extra copies than every other? Didn't they anticipate there is likely to be “great things” in it? “Properly, there's one e-book that begins with an eighteen-sentence define that I'm actually enthusiastic about and a few nice notes that make it even simpler to learn. Look, can I purchase you a espresso?” In closing, I'll simply say “Did you prefer it? If that’s the case – would you prefer to see what's subsequent?” No signing up for greater than something aside from the subsequent assembly.
Everlasting outcome? A rare begin on a long-lasting journey by means of the Phrase of God. God has by some means ready them to need to search solutions.
A current nationwide survey known as Speaking Jesus discovered that 1 in 3 individuals who interviewed a Christian buddy needed to study extra about Jesus. If it was your buddy or colleague, the place would you’re taking them?
If they’re keen to go to church with you, nice! In the event that they make it to your subsequent Alpha or Christianity Explored course with you, nice! However what if they aren’t but keen to cross that house into “your world”?
Listed below are some easy classes from around the globe:
You don't want an awesome testimony.
You don't must have all of the solutions or know dance across the Bible.
You don't must have the present of gab, or be younger, or have a job!
All you want is caring, prayerful, love in your buddy, empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit with you, and God's Phrase in a format you possibly can simply share.
Since beginning Phrase One to One, others have seen the ability of God's Phrase at work. Lucy* learn John along with her Muslim buddies and says it's the scariest and most superb factor she's ever finished. Oliver* says that “sharing God's phrase freed me in evangelism greater than anything.”
You can also be let out to find how lively God is immediately by means of sharing His Phrase and bringing His reply for mankind – Jesus.
What higher place to take than the Bible survey that begins the Gospel of John, presenting the Phrase made flesh to make God identified to us immediately!
Numerous individuals bowed their knees earlier than Jesus as they met Him as Savior by means of His Phrase. And numerous Christians have had their religion reworked by studying to easily lean on the highly effective, Spirit-filled Phrase of God and ask Him a easy query – “The place are you at work within the lives of my circle of contacts in order that I can play some position in your Nice Fee – to make you identified to the top of the world?”
We invite you to take a look at www.theword121.com and see if we may help you share God's Phrase with the individuals in your life.
*Title has been modified for confidentiality.
Richard Borgonon is the founder and co-author of The Phrase One to One, Richard has been within the Lloyd's insurance coverage market since 1974 as an govt holding varied market management positions and continues to run his personal consultancy. At present, Richard spends most of his time sharing the Bible with leaders and in addition talking internationally on evangelism in immediately's world and at many evangelistic occasions. Richard has additionally taught the Gospel of John on Christian TV with The Phrase One to One, which has now been broadcast in 52 international locations.