| The KCC Farming Society: “We plant ’em; God grows ’em”.By Andy Bratton, Senior Minister |
A guy came into my office before Alice Babcock’s funeral and told me that before Alice died she wanted to meet with him. He went to the hospital to meet with her, and while he thought he was there for business, Alice looked at him in the eye and told him that she was concerned about his salvation. She wanted to know if he and his family had given their lives to Jesus Christ and been baptized.
Since being told that story, my focus has not been on that guy and his answer, as much as the fact that this loving servant was so concerned about her friend’s eternal salvation, that while heading to her own eternity, she would not just wonder about his, but simply ask him. I know evangelizing is one of the scariest things we, as Christians, can do. Not because we don’t love people, but we think we may lose friends or gain an unwanted reputation. The other fear, I think, is because we don’t know how to shift our conversation from comfortable topics to one that some may deem as more confrontational.
I have a book in my office entitled, “The one thing you can’t do in Heaven.” I was blessed to hear this author speak and have watched some youtube videos of his work as well. He travels around the country teaching people how to share Christ, as well as doing that himself. I would encourage you to go to youtube.com and search “Mark Cahill evangelism” and watch some of his techniques. I have watched him in action and he truly does breathe evangelism.
Jeff Badgero and I walked from one end of Kalkaska to the other a couple of weeks ago and I watched him start some conversations as well. And, he emphasized to me again on Monday, “I am just planting seeds.”
How about we become seed planters? See if you can ask this question either of a friend or a stranger. “What do you think happens when we die and we walk out of here?” Or, “Do you have any spiritual beliefs? Would you mind sharing with me what they are?” And our goal doesn’t have to be a debate about Christianity. We start out just putting the question or thought out there to see what God may do with it on people’s hearts.
You may ask, “Why would I possibly want to do this?” Or, “Do I have to?” Let’s ask a different question? Do you know when your last day on earth will be? When the time comes do you think you might have a week to be aware of your upcoming death? The fact is, we don’t know and we won’t know. Since we don’t know when our last day will be, what if we all lived as though each day was our last? And if this were your last day, would sharing the Gospel with one more person be a priority for you? And if so, who is that one person?
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20. I don’t think this is a suggestion from Jesus.
Pray this prayer each morning, “Father, put me in the path of someone that needs to hear the Gospel today. And give me the words to say that will plant a seed in their heart about Jesus.” And then let’s watch God work! I love you guys.