Roots by the River

  Scripture teaches us the weapons we are to use in evangelism. But there is another important category for us to learn—what kind of weapons are off limits to us. “For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else” (1 Thess. 2:3–6). Notice the things that the apostles refused to use in reaching people: error impure motives trickery pleasing men flattery masks to cover up greed Unfortunately, all of these are used by some Christians who claim to be doing evangelism. Avoid them! From saying that you “see that hand” when you don’t (trickery) to telling someone that they would make a fine Christian (flattery), we ...

"For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church" (1 Corinthians 4:17). "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 2:19-21).   Timothy was known for his godliness. Paul later wrote these instructions to him: "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers"  (1 Timothy 4:16). Your holy life and your clear teaching of the gospel is the effective salvation message. What is the life? "Don’t let anyone l...

  The important thing in any major decision is to seek to know the will of God. Here are a few principles from the Bible which you can use as a start to help you determine God’s will : 1.      Want to know the will of God. " If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own" (John 7:17). If I want to be in the will of God, and God wants me to be in His will, there is no way I will miss it.   2.      The desires of your heart. " Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). Your desires are not necessarily wrong. If you delight in the Lord, He will give you your desires. 3.      The witness and leading of the Spirit. " Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law" (Galatians 5:18). "Whether you turn to...

  REASONING There is a reasoning which is effective in evangelism. It is not apologetic in character. It is not defensive. In fact, it is an aggressive offense . It is the kind of biblical reasoning used in Peter’s preaching in Acts 2, Stephen’s preaching in Acts 7, and Paul’s preaching in Acts 17, and the preaching of the apostles in Corinth (1 Cor. 1–2). These two books are examples of this kind of reasoning today: • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This book is extrabiblical and starts with the subject of sin. • Basic Christianity by J.R.W. Stott. This book reasons within a biblical framework, starting with the deity of Jesus Christ. *Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics . To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore .

   APOLOGETICS Apologetics (singular): The branch of theology that deals with the defense of a religious faith on the basis of reason (The World Book Encyclopedia Dictionary, ed. Clarence L. Barnhart [Chicago: Thorndike-Barnhart, 1963]). Apologetics has crept into the church as a weapon for evangelism. Today there are many books available on Christian apologetics. At best, apologetics can be useful pre-evangelism. Several things make it difficult to use as a tool in evangelism: 1. It is defensive. 2. It is based on reason. 3. It does not create faith. 4. The gospel is not normally included in it. 5. The average person does not understand the presuppositions or the reasoning used. 6. Jesus and the apostles did not use it the way it is used today. 7. When used in discussion, it tends to turn the conversation into a debate/argument, and Christians are not to argue like that. 8. It is not declarative. It does not proclaim or preach. 9. It does not deal with ...

  APOLOGIA Apologia: a defense, especially of one’s opinions, position, or actions (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary [Merriam-Webster, 1991]). Apologia: to give an account (legal plea) of oneself (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible [Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984]). The Greek word apologia appears ten times in the New Testament. In the KJV, it is always translated “answer” or “answered.” In the NIV, it is translated “defend” nine times and “answer” once. Here are eight of the ten occurrences: “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say” (Lk. 12:11–12). “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. ...

What is the meaning of God’s will? What do we have to do in order to do God’s will? How can we know God’s will? There are two expressions of God’s ultimate will in the Scriptures. The first is our salvation: "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4). The second is our sanctification: "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified" (1 Thessalonians 4:3a). Both of these were accomplished by Jesus Christ: "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). The will of God for us is our salvation, which includes our justification (conversion), holiness (sanctification), and the redemption of our bodies at the Second Coming. Since we have already experienced justification, our concern now is our holiness (sanctification). Remember, it is already provide...

“‘Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the Lord, ‘who carry out a plan, but not mine, who make a league, but not of my Spirit that they may add sin to sin who set out to go down to Egypt without asking for my counsel’” (Isaiah 30:1-2). This text applies to nations, the world, and individuals. They make plans and implement them. They draw up treaties, agreements, and contracts. The plans are not God’s. They do not ask the Lord for advice. Many Christians also follow this pattern. God says, “Woe to the rebellious children.”      In the early stages of the conquest of Canaan, the Gibeonites deceived Joshua into making a treaty with them under oath: “ The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath” (Joshua 9:14-15). There is a way to follow God’s plans that is not good, but is still better than following your own way: “Be n...

  We are not just messengers in our presentation of the gospel. We are also to serve as witnesses . “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony ; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Rev. 12:11). The story of Paul’s conversion is told three different times in the book of Acts. It is first recounted in chapter nine. Later Paul retells the story to the lynch mob in Jerusalem in front of the Roman barracks in Acts 22. The third time was two years later, in Acts 26. Paul spent those years in prison in Caesarea. He gave his testimony to the governor Festus, and to King Agrippa and his sister Bernice in an audience room with high-ranking officials and the leading men of the city. I encourage you to write out your own testimony. Use this testimony to give the saving message to people whose eyes are already open and who are hungry for the light of the gospel. Tell what you were like before, when you first became intereste...

  Consider using the following truths with unbelievers. “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him” (Lk. 12:4–5). We are given a choice of whom to fear. We can fear those who can kill the body, or we can fear Him who sentences people to the second death. “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true .’ He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters ...

  This is a story I heard over fifty years ago: There was once a famous Anglican missionary who had a reputation for being a hell-fire preacher. He was very effective in describing judgment. Upon his return to England from missionary work, his bishop assigned him to preach in a village church. When he heard who was coming to preach, the vicar of the church became very anxious for his flock. He was concerned what the missionary would preach and what the effect would be on his congregation. The vicar met the missionary at the train. After some small talk, the vicar asked him what his text would be on Sunday. The missionary replied he had not yet decided, and did the pastor have any suggestions? The pastor replied, “We here in civilized England are not big on judgment. Any message on the love of God would be fine.” The missionary answered, “Wonderful. How about John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world’?” The pastor, relieved, said “That will be just fine.” On Sunday morning in...

  Fear is not necessarily a bad motivation. In certain circumstances, it is an entirely reasonable response. “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Lk. 21:26–27). “Terror and pit and snare await you, people of the earth” (Is. 24:17). Recently I was talking with a twelve-year-old boy who was very rebellious towards his father. As I taught him the Good News, he interrupted to tell me his greatest motivation to become a Christian was fear of being cast into the lake of fire. He apparently received Christ, for his mother told me he has become a very different boy. Terror is abject fear. There has always been terror in war. The main object of terrorism is not killing innocent people. The purpose of terrorism is to cause fear in the survivors, a fear that immobilizes them. During World War II, more people were kille...

  Whenever we use the weapons of the Holy Spirit (preaching, prayer, gifts, and the fruit of the Spirit), the Spirit works in the lives of sinners. “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again”’” (Jn. 3:5–7). “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). “Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 11:16). “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor. 12:13). “When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because th...

  The Scriptures are to be wielded. Ephesians 6:17 describes the word of God as an offensive weapon: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Again in Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Second Timothy 4:2 commands us to use the sword of the Spirit: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” Preaching Christ causes faith. But we are to preach Christ as He is presented to us in the Scriptures: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet ...

  Humility is not just an admirable character trait. It is essential in the presentation of the gospel. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:28–29). The gentle imperative “Come to me” emphasizes an exceptional quality of Jesus: His humility and meekness. This is wonderfully described in Philippians 2:5–11: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on eart...

  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23). The book of Titus gives several reasons for exercising self-control: “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled . In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condem...

  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23). “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). These two quotations are not surprising; gentleness is something we should expect from a loving God. However, the fruit and wisdom of gentleness are given to us , and God expects us to be gentle. Here are two examples: “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25). “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15). We are gentle with fragile things such ...

  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness , gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23). Faithfulness is God’s nature which He has imparted to us. “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful ” (1 Cor. 1:9). “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful ; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:13). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). How do we apply God’s faithfulness in evangelism? “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Cor....

  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness , faithfulness” (Gal. 5:22). “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord” (Acts 11:24). Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit. He was also a good man. This is not surprising, since the fruit of the Spirit is goodness. Goodness is a characteristic of being filled with the Holy Spirit and a characteristic of effective preaching. In Acts 11, Barnabas preached, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Preaching the content of the Good News without being good is contradictory. “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). If we are going to talk the good news, we must walk the good news. How we live our day-to-day lives is part of our witness for Christ. Our lives are a gospel, read by everyone who interacts with us. *Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics . To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/booksto...

  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness , goodness, faithfulness” (Gal. 5:22). Kindness is one of the greatest weapons in kingdom warfare. It is God’s principal instrument for leading people to repentance. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). God used Paul to give Timothy instruction on how to witness and how not to witness: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:23–26). People do not usuall...