In my sermon this coming Sunday I give an early peek at the next sermon series that I will be doing. It has to do with prayer, fasting, and evangelism. Now I realize that those three words together scare many people – both those who believe in Christ and those who do not believe in Christ. I understand the fear and concern.
But as I look back at my life and the opportunities to talk deeply and meaningfully about faith, I recall that the most meaningful and helpful conversations were ones that “simply” occurred in the course of a conversation. One even took place during pre-marital counseling with the bride-to-be who said “I want God in my life and I don’t know to do it!”
Now in my sermon this Sunday I speak of first responders who are a person’s initial contact with persons of faith and whose words and acts of caring open the door, perhaps years before a faith commitment is made, for a person to walk through toward God.
Then, there are the kindergarten teachers who help, again often before a faith commitment, learn the basics of faith and provide essential information about it.
Then some are delivering physicians who help ‘birth’ faith in people at a certain point.
And finally some are personal fitness trainers who help us get fit and stay fit with the proper kind of diet and exercise.
I have been privileged to be all four ‘persons’ as I have followed Christ throughout the years. Paul spoke of the tasks of planting and watering but God giving the increase. It is still true today.
My point: as I follow Christ, the opportunities to help people along their faith journey are numerous and being alert to them is essential.
These are my Thursday Thoughts
