There are a number of essentials when it comes to having a growing church. One of the most important factors is having a sense of direction that comes from a leadership in tune with God’s word and the needs of a lost world. I want to discuss three vital principles about the needs of a church that will grow and prosper in a hostile world.

These leadership principles must be present in a church that wants to grow. God’s plan is that leadership be provided in a local church by scripturally qualified shepherds who lead and guide the people toward heaven. Many churches do not have elders who can lead the church in that way, but even if there are no “official” leaders, someone must keep the church on track in following God’s will. If there are no elders, someone must point the church in the right direction. Often, this task falls to the preacher, so here are some things I hope will help.

1)  Forward thinking

Far too many churches worship their past and continue to cling to outdated ideas and methods to try to reach the lost. Just because a Bible correspondence course had 400 students and the church baptized 50 of them back in the 1960’s doesn’t necessarily mean it will still work today. (I am not against using correspondence studies; if they are up to date in appearance and challenging in content, they can still work. But we often use old fashioned looking stuff today to save money in a world where we can do much better with little expense.)

Paul said, in Philippians 3:12-14, that he was going to press on in his service to God, without being bound by his past. (Whether you think he meant his past failures or his past successes doesn’t matter; he was going to keep moving forward from that point onward.)

Decisions need to be made involving Bible classes, budgets, buildings, etc. that should be geared toward helping people make it to heaven. We should not simply be interested in keeping house or just holding our own (while we wait until we have elders).

Two questions should drive our decision making process. First, is it scriptural? Second, will it help people go to heaven?

2)  Focus on really important matters

In Matthew 6:33, the Savior reminds us not to think too much or to worry about the things of this world, material possessions. Rather He says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (physical needs, rh) shall be added to you.”

The Lord is not saying that we don’t need to take care of ourselves physically, but He is emphasizing that we must learn to put first things first. Some things are just more important to God than other things and we should learn which is which and have those same priorities.

I don’t know who said it first, but a lot of people have repeated it and I think it certainly has value for us today. “The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.” Doesn’t that make sense?

There are some really important goals we need to accomplish. We need to help people to become Christians. We need to help new Christians to grow spiritually. We need to help the weak to grow stronger. We need to help the fallen to return.

In the final analysis, it is all about souls and saving them to the glory of God.

The devil will make certain that there will be many distractions, anything that can derail us or cause us to procrastinate in doing the right thing.

• Some people will get sick physically.
• Someone will hurt your feelings.
• Not everyone will do the right thing.
• You will study the Bible with people who do not obey.
• Some Christians will just quit.
• Temptations will grow stronger and more frequent.

But in the midst of all of these difficulties, the ship must stay the course. That’s really the point of Luke 9:57-62. It shows us how important serving Christ is and we must never give up.

3)  A deep sense of dependence on God

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

We are dependent on Him for everything we do. He is the One who save souls (1 Corinthians 3:6); we are simply seed spreaders. He is the one who builds up Christians (Philippians 1:6); we are merely the vessels He works with and through.

We must emphasize prayer to God in all we do as we pray for ourselves and for others.

If we try to do things by our own strength, in our own way, for our glory, with human ideas, we will fail.

It is not about us. It is all about Him. It is all for Him.

Conclusion

Those who lead in a local church need to remember these principles in the decisions they make.

God’s plan is for elders and deacons and every church needs to work to have that scriptural organization. Even then, the shepherds should continue to use these divine principles to guide us to heaven.

Until then, these ideals and values can be used to help the church prosper and please God.

--Roger Hillis

RogerLeeHillis@gmail.com

Whether it is a computer, a phone, an iPad, or a TV; the average person spends several hours per day either working or playing in the realm of digitized information. Is this is a bad thing? Is it a good thing? In reality, all digital devices are amoral—neither right nor wrong. What matters is who we use them. So consider a few admonitions:

• Don’t allow yourself to be distracted from what’s important in front of you by what is happening through the screen world. There are times when work and social connection can and should be made to wait.
• Don’t believe someone who uses a lot of technology has automatically disconnected. Sometimes, a phone call or text or FaceTime is the most authentic connection available, and it’s a good thing we can have that.
• It’s important to connect directly and deeply. Especially among Christians, we need to be able to talk about the ins and outs of life, even when that is personal and painful. Of course, we must balance that with the Bible’s warning not to be a busybody (2 Thess. 3:11), but we do need to be able to connect enough to share in matters of faith.
• Be honest about how you are approaching your relationships. Are you texting because it’s too uncomfortable to talk face-to-face? Then you probably need to talk in person. Are you using time on Facebook to fill the void of loneliness in your marriage? Then put it down and talk to your spouse. Does Instagram help you gain a sense of self-worth? Go read about God’s love for you and see your worth in that.

Stay live. Always care for people. Make the most of the time (Eph. 5:19).

- Dan Lankford, minister

Some of my fondest childhood memories include attending Vacation Bible School at various congregations in the Southern Illinois community I grew up in.

The church where my family attended started conducting a VBS early in my lifetime. It was always a highlight of my young summers and I enjoyed it so much that I usually went to 3 or 4 different VBS sessions each year.

I most clearly remember a wall chart that one of our elders used to help us learn the books of the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament. It was made on a huge sheet that covered a big part of one wall of the auditorium. It was popular in those days before projectors and Powerpoint to use bed sheets with charts drawn on them in gospel meetings and other teaching settings. Gospel meetings would often consist of a single chart on a bed sheet discussing various subjects or book studies from the Bible and the preacher would use that chart every night. At VBS, we learned the divisions of the testaments: Old Testament as Law, History, Poetry, Major Prophets and Minor Prophets and New Testament as Gospels, History (Acts), Epistles (or letters) and Prophecy (Revelation). And then we would all say the books in order every day.

I recall a time when attending another congregation’s VBS and having the lady who taught my class say to me, “Wow, you can really find those verses in your Bible. You are the fastest one in the class.” Do you think that made me feel good? Of course it did and I remember it more than 50 years later.

There is tremendous value to the local church that can be seen in conducting a Vacation Bible School. Our desire is to teach the Bible to as many people as possible, right? In my experience, as a child and as an adult and a preacher, more guests are willing to attend something like a VBS than almost any other special event.

If the congregation where you worship doesn’t have a VBS (maybe you used to have one, but haven’t in the last several years), it might be a really good teaching opportunity that can reach some lost souls for the Lord.

In 2017, I had the privilege to preach regularly for a church that was between preachers. Early in the year, someone mentioned that they were disappointed that they didn’t have very many children. A lot of churches are like that and it is a very difficult trend to reverse. Young families with small children are drawn to churches that have other children to be friends with their children. So if there are only a few young ones, many families decide to worship where there are more kids. It can be a self-defeating cycle.

I asked why they quit having VBS because I knew they had previously enjoyed good crowds at VBS. They told me that they didn’t think they had enough children to have a Vacation Bible School. But it seems to me that this is exactly why it would be helpful to have one. If you don’t have VBS and it would attract others to the church, why not try having one? It will be small at first but if you have faith that God’s word will not return to Him void, then it is worth the effort. If you have four children and they each bring a friend, you have planted seeds of God’s truth in the hearts and minds of eight young people.

That church had seven children in Bible class on Sunday before we did a one day VBS on Saturday. We had 41 children to attend classes that day and 40 adults. Everyone was thrilled, of course and we repeated the effort in 2018 with similar results.

There are lots of ways to conduct a VBS. Many churches have a 5 day study – Monday through Friday, either in the day time or the evening. A recent trend has been to have these special classes for children for 3 days, Sunday through Tuesday. We tried an idea that I had read about several years ago from a church in Indiana that had a one day Saturday study. We chose that plan to start with and began at 9:30 and ended at about 2:30 in the afternoon. Individuals paid for a lunch break at a local pizza shop and then we came back for more classes and songs.

Our theme was Faith, Hope and Love, 3 classes with 3 separate Bible stories. We wrote our own class material. It was marvelous and the children had a wonderful time and the church members really worked very hard to invite people to the class and to prepare and deliver the lessons.

The biggest benefit from VBS is that it shows our young people how important they are to the church and therefore, to the Lord. It helps children to be excited about learning the Bible and that is always good.

It is also helpful for adults as well. Churches that have VBS in the evening usually have better attendance and teachers who volunteer are able to do so, even if they work during the day, so you have a bigger pool of workers.

Songs are a really important part of a VBS. The children always enjoy them, plus you can teach them important things in song. Songs may make it easier for them to memorize the days of creation, the sons of Jacob, the judges, the books of the Old Testament and New Testament and lots of other valuable things.

Remember that you are planting seeds of truth in young hearts. What was it that brought the prodigal son to his senses in Christ’s parable? It was what he had been taught when he lived at home with his father. So he had rebelled against that for a while (haven’t a lot of our young people in the church made this same tragic choice?) but he was brought back by what he remembered from his youth.

A Vacation Bible School does not have to be “big” to be a success or to have an eternal impact on souls. If you have ten children and show them that they matter to the Lord, it can make a difference in eternity. The number is not the important issue. If you have 2 or 3 children, make this a special event that they will remember forever.

But if you aren’t going to work hard to prepare useful and practical Bible lessons, if you aren’t going to make much effort to invite friends, neighbors, family members, if you don’t really want it to succeed, don’t waste your time and effort. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right.

If you are willing to really work at this, VBS can be a powerful teaching opportunity for the people of God. Do it right and you will reap eternal rewards that will honor and glorify God and save souls.

--Roger Hillis

In John chapter twenty-one, Peter and six other disciples are fishing on the sea of Galilee. When the sun comes up, they see the resurrected Jesus waiting for them on the shore. When they all arrive on land, they find that Jesus has already kindled a fire and made breakfast for them.

The whole scene is very sweet, especially in its place at the end of the Gospel story. After all that has happened to Jesus himself and to his disciples through their years of traveling and ministering together, and after all the times they have faced opposition and rejection together, the Lord affords them the tranquility of breakfast and a rest from their diligent labor.

That occasion fits seamlessly into a pattern that Jesus sets in plenty of other places in the Gospels. He frequently talks about giving rest to his people, and he gives them rest in many ways. It is one of his most famous promises to all generations: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

That promise is a major part of the Gospel message, and obviously, it is a much more significant gift than the breakfast prepared and served to the apostles. But, small as it is, that meal teaches us that Jesus cares about us when we are tired, when we feel aimless, and when we need repose. And if we are looking for him, he is always willing to meet us where we are with just the right offer of splendid, sweet rest.

- Dan Lankford, minister

In the fall of 2007, Lisa and I drove to Florida to do something we had never done before. We were taking our daughter, Lesley, to Florida College to begin her college career. It was fairly traumatic for us, the first time she would live away from us after 18 years of being with us all the time. And she is our first born child, so we just had never experienced this.

To top it all off, we lived in Kentucky and she was going to be in Tampa, Florida, some 14 or so hours away. It wasn’t like we could just visit her on the weekend whenever we wanted. Her mother and I felt a sense of sadness, but we didn’t want to say anything about it so Lesley wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the whole thing. She was excited about meeting new friends and anticipating her studies that would take her closer to the college degree she sought and so she was looking forward to the experience while we were dreading it.

We pulled up to the girls’ dorm where she was going to be staying. It was the same dorm her mother had lived in when she attended Florida College. After we parked, Lisa and I looked at each other silently and took a deep breath (it was probably more like a sigh, to be honest). Here we go.

The first person to come flying out of the dorm to help us carry Lesley’s luggage and clothes inside was Ralph Walker. His familiar and genuine smile gave us some instant comfort. We had met Ralph through mutual friends years before but really didn’t know him well. We had heard him speak on various occasions and he was always encouraging to listen to and we felt a little better knowing that someone we trusted would be close enough to help if she got into trouble. After helping us find her room and carry everything in, Ralph was ready to assist the next family.

But before he left, he put his arms around Lisa and me and told us that it was going to be a great year for Lesley, that we had made the best decision in choosing to send her to Florida College and assured us that she would be fine. (We already knew all of that, but it was reassuring to have a friendly and kind reminder.)

A bit later in the school year, actually her second semester there, she was driving her little car to a Sunday evening church service with some friends. They had become quite close and Lesley often took them wherever they needed to go. They were not far from campus, headed toward the congregation where they all had placed membership, and the car broke down. Driving down the road, all of a sudden, there was a really loud screeching sound. When they stopped, the noise stopped and they realized they had to quit moving so they pulled over on the side of the road. None of the friends knew anything about fixing a broken car and they were not sure what to do.

Lesley was getting ready to call Triple A auto services and, as she was looking for her AAA card, a car pulled up and the driver asked them if they needed some help. They were uncertain about whether that was a good idea to have someone they didn’t know to help them but they noticed he was not alone. They could see that his wife was with him in the car, so they said, “Sure.”

To make a long story short, as they talked, they discovered that the man helping them was Ralph Walker’s son in law, Joe Cable. He and his wife, Bonnie, were headed to their own evening services, saw someone who needed help and without even realizing that everyone in the story was a Christian, Joe offered to do what he could to help them. It turned out to be a broken muffler and Joe twisted a metal clothes hanger around the muffler and the chassis of the car so it wouldn’t drag on the ground and they all went on their way. Lesley’s car was fairly loud without a functioning muffler, but it got them where they needed to be and a few days later, she had the car repaired.

All of that happened because Ralph and Paula Walker reared a godly daughter (three of them, actually) with values that included helping people in need and when she married, she chose a husband who had been taught those same values. And although it cost them some time and inconvenience (they were probably late for services), they did the right thing and helped. I have never met Joe and I doubt that he is a Samaritan, but he learned that parable of Christ well enough to put it into practice. If I ever get the chance to meet the Cables, I will shake his hand and thank him for teaching some young people a valuable lesson about kindness.

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

--Roger Hillis

All right, it’s not totally new (Ecclesiastes 1:9). But I don’t hear many people talking about it these days. Everyone always seems to be looking for the latest gimmick or scheme for church growth. We have filmstrips, videos, lesson plans and suggestions galore. And, as long as they teach the truth, it really doesn’t matter which one you might be the most comfortable using.

But, may I suggest going back to a really old idea? Maybe it’s time to resurrect something that has worked for us in the past.

Why don’t we try to bring our lost friends and neighbors to our services so they can hear the gospel, be convicted by it and obey God’s plan for the salvation of their souls?

Now be honest. How long has it been since you personally brought a friend or neighbor with you to the regular worship services of the local church you are a part of? I don’t mean a Christian visiting from out of town, but a real life, bonafide sinner who needs to hear the gospel?

Some churches have had a “bring your neighbor” day with a special emphasis on doing just that. You may not be totally comfortable with that idea and yet, it does provide a format for those who are shy to invite their friends. That’s really the same principle as a gospel meeting. It’s a “bring your neighbor” week; we just don’t call it that.

However, it seems to me that we have all but quit trying to bring lost people to gospel meetings. We want them to come. But, they usually don’t. We expend lots of time, effort and money on a meeting. And we are satisfied if one or two guests show up all week long. In the last gospel meeting where you attend, how many non-Christians did you personally invite? We expect someone else to bring the guests. We are really disappointed if no one comes. But how much did we do toward getting non-Christians there? We either need to work at having a successful meeting or we need to stop wasting everybody’s time, money and energy.

The principle of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7) teaches us that the results are proportionate to our efforts. In other words, if we continue to do the same things in the same way we have always done them, we will continue to get the same results. No one will come. If you think that’s acceptable, that’s between you and the Lord. But if you don’t think it’s enough, then we need to come up with a plan to do better.

Here’s a suggestion.

Plan your regular services in advance. Choose important sermons and coordinate the songs to go along with the lesson. Announce the sermon title at least a week in advance.

This will give everyone an opportunity to say to their friends, “Say, the lesson this week at services is going to be something I think you will really enjoy. We'd love to have you come.” Is that so hard? Can’t everyone do this?

This has the additional advantage of giving our guests the chance to hear the regular preacher, the one they will hear each week if they become a member. Often, they get excited about a gospel meeting preacher and then he goes back home and the person they hear at their next visit is someone very different. That doesn’t hurt anything, I guess, but it can set up false expectations and some disappointment on their part.

I recognize that announcing sermons a week or month ahead will require more organization on the part of the local preacher. And there will be times when the needs of the moment may require choosing a different sermon than the one previously announced. But the extra effort will be well rewarded.

However, the key is still going to be personal effort to invite lost souls. Those of us who have gotten out of the habit are going to have to get back into that habit. We need to pray about it and work much harder to bring our friends to hear the gospel.

Let me ask you again and I want you to give an honest answer. How long has it been since you even tried to get a guest to come to our services? If everyone else put the same amount of effort into bringing outsiders to worship, how many guests would ever come?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

The gospel still has the power to save souls. But we have to get people there to hear it.

--Roger Hillis

Biblical Insights

August 2002

VBS starts today, and it is an exciting week for learning Bible stories in fresh, exciting, and memorable ways. It is one of my favorite weeks of the year for our church family because I like seeing the joy that it brings kids and grown-ups to worship and learning the stories of God’s plan to save us.

This year’s theme—Circle Of Champions—gives us a chance to look at people who did more than they could ever have accomplished on their own. David wasn’t strong enough to overcome Goliath on his own, Joseph didn’t get out of prison by his own smarts, and Daniels’ friends didn’t live through the fiery furnace because of a superhero ability to withstand flames. All of this week’s stories are about people who did something truly great, but they did it by God’s power.

That’s why we’re studying these stories: to remind us that through God’s power, amazing things still happen in the lives of his people. I hope your goal is to live a life that could put you among the greats of Hebrews chapter 11. Because “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” and our goal should be to follow their examples.

All the characteristics of champions that we’ll talk about this week—a champion’s courage, or obedience, or endurance, or relationships, or joy—come down to whether we believe in God. The important thing is to remember that while we may be able to stand as champions with the great heroes of the Bible, it will be because of the great power of Jesus Christ. “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered!” (Rev. 5:5)

- Dan Lankford, minister

"Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice." (Prov. 16:8)

It is all too easy to look at our lives and focus on what we don't have. We feel like we do not have enough time, enough energy, or enough money. Maybe we feel that we do not take enough vacations, we do not have enough good friends, or we are not respected enough.

While there may be times of legitimacy to some of that kind of perspective, the verse above reminds us that it does not take much to have what is best for us. If our lives are governed by God's righteousness, we will find contentment in him. And so even if we do not have enough time to do all that we want to, if we use our time in righteous ways, it is enough. If we do not have as many friends as we would like, we can still be righteous with the friendships we do have, and it is enough. If we are not as highly revered in a particular realm of life as we would prefer, we can be an influence for righteousness in a small circle, and that is enough.

May God give us the ability to be perpetually content with whatever portion he gives us. And may we have the determination to be wholly righteous with our portion in life.

- Dan Lankford, minister

This article has to do with some of the Core Values of who and what God wants us to be, as His people. These are vital Biblical doctrines that must be maintained and that cannot be compromised. What are some of these distinguishing teachings that separate the Lord’s church from man-made denominations? What are some of the Biblical truths that we must always cling to, no matter what else happens to us or around us?

In Proverbs 22:28, the phrase, ancient landmark, refers to property boundaries (usually a large stone that would mark the end of one person’s property and the beginning of his neighbor’s land) – see also 23:10-11. The Law of Moses prohibited moving these landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14; 27:17). This was  a matter of honesty and integrity.

A similar thought is found in Jeremiah 6:16, where the spiritual landmarks that God had set in place, and which should never be moved, are referred to as “the old paths.”

While our methods may change with time, and how we present these ideas to people may vary, the truth of the gospel must never be compromised.

1)  Undenominational Christianity

There is only one true church; it is the one Jesus promised to build in Matthew 16:18. Christ is the one head of the one body (Colossians 1:18). Further study of the New Testament shows us that each local church (sometimes we use the term, congregation or assembly) is autonomous, that is, independent and self-governing.

The overseers (or elders) are appointed to watch out for the souls of the members and they are the only authority over a local church. They serve under the authority of Jesus in heaven.

The Lord’s church is not one denomination among many. It is undenominational. We are not trying to be the best denomination. As a matter of fact, we are not trying to be a denomination at all. We are just trying to be the church you can read about on the pages of the New Testament.

2)  Who is a Christian?

We must never underestimate the value of God’s plan of salvation, as outlined in your New Testament. We must stand firmly for the truth that one must believe in Christ as God’s Son (this is sometimes called faith), that we must repent or turn our hearts and lives away from sin, and we must be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16 are just a few passages among many that teach us how to be saved.

Infant baptism, salvation by faith only, once saved, always saved are doctrines of men, not of God. People who believe these things are not saved, because they have not done what the Bible tells us to do to be forgiven of our sins.

I am not trying to be mean or hateful about that; I am just trying to show what the Bible teaches. If we don’t really think lost people are lost, we won’t try to save them.

3)  True Worship

This includes the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week and no instrumental music, which are two areas where many denominations have abandoned God’s word. New Testament worship is not fancy and it is not entertainment. It is a reverent celebration of all that God has done for us (1 Corinthians 14:40). It is directed to God and must please Him. He has told us in the Bible what He wants us to do in worship. We cannot compromise with anyone to change what He has said.

4)  Bible authority

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). That means we only do what He has told us to do in every area of our service.

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Peter 4:11). This passage is the basis for the statement that we “speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent.”

The whole question of the silence of the scriptures deserves a lot of study and meditation.

5)  The difference in the Old Testament and the New Testament

Many people turn back to the Old Testament for authority for their actions. It is vital that we understand that the Old Law was “nailed to the cross” and replaced with the New Testament (Colossians 2:14). That’s why we don’t offer animal sacrifices, why we don’t worship on the Sabbath Day which is Saturday, why we don’t use instruments of music, and many other things.

6)  The work of the church

The work of the church is spiritual, not social. “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

We must have an over-riding conviction that the power of the gospel will convict and convert and transform our world.

Many people don’t understand this. Churches around the world have turned primarily to secular appeals to try to get people to attend. And those who offer the most social activities often have the biggest crowds. But it is the gospel that will save people, not social and recreational events.

7)  The importance of unity

Everyone in the church needs to be on the same page and working together by the authority of the New Testament. Ephesians 4:1-3; 4-6, 16 emphasize unity and the need for every part of the body to do his or her share of the work.

Conclusion

Why are these things important? Because they all come from the Bible.

Please understand that I am not trying to create a creed that consists of seven items that all “faithful” churches must ascribe to, in order to meet God’s approval. This is simply an attempt to emphasize some of the Biblical principles of New Testament Christianity that seem important to me as I read the scriptures.

Remember that these are non-negotiable truths. And there are others; these just stand out to me as being the difference between the true faith that comes from heaven and a false hope that originates with men.

--Roger Hillis

When we look at the New Testament, especially the book of Acts, we see the tremendous success of the first century Christians in converting the lost. Acts 5:14 tells us: “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.”

Multitudes of both men and women were being saved. Multitudes. Not five or six people per year like most congregations expect these days. Multitudes. Can you try to imagine that in your mind? Is it still possible?

Let’s think for a moment about how they did that.

First, they taught “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20). We do pretty well with the “publicly” part. We faithfully proclaim the truth in our meetinghouses and are willing to try to convert anyone who comes to us. But how are we doing with the “from house to house” part? I fear not so well.

Second, they brought family and friends to hear the gospel. “…Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends” (Acts 10:24). How much are we doing that today? How long has it been since you personally invited your relatives and close friends to hear the good news of salvation?

Third, they taught one on one whenever they could make such opportunities. Jesus taught Nicodemus privately (John 3). He spent time together with the Samaritan woman speaking to her of spiritual things (John 4). It appears to have been just Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in the chariot (Acts 8). Are you bold enough and confident enough to go “one on one” with a lost person, with just a Bible between you? Can you sit across a kitchen table with a sinner and look him in the eye and teach him the plan of salvation? Have you ever done that, even once?

Fourth, they went to where the people were. Paul and Silas preached to some women who were at the riverside praying (Acts 16). Paul preached to Greek philosophers at Mars’ Hill in Athens (Acts 17). On the preaching journeys, they often traveled to synagogues and schools to spread the truth (Acts 19:8-10). Again, are we doing that much?

They used these simple methods and converted multitudes. We use these methods very little, if at all, and then we shake our heads and say, “No one seems interested in the gospel any more.” What’s wrong with this picture?

--Roger Hillis