Earlier this summer, we did a four-part series at the church on Genesis 1-2, looking at Creation and how the Bible stands strong, being backed up even by the scientific evidence, which is conspicuously lacking in the evolutionary atheist camp. It was probably the most well-received Bible study series I’ve taught in the past year. You can listen to the series here, also followed by a link to a gospel study from Genesis 3-4.
When we study the Scriptures, we hear God speaking directly to us. The word of God, the truth of God, is more important than the words or opinions of men. All human thought must be subservient to God’s word. As long as His word is with us, He is with us. It is our continual protection. So, seek His word. Seek His wisdom. Seek His truth. And never be afraid to defend it, for ‘the truth shall make you free.’”
–The simple words of John Hus, updated to today’s language from 1414. Hus was persecuted and burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic church for being a priest who stood for the true gospel even before the days of Martin Luther, who in a way followed in his footsteps to lead a great reformation.
Tonight’s home fellowship Bible study, Lord-willing, will look deeply at the topic of “preparing for persecution,” as we are instructed to in 1 Peter 4:12-19. Look for the audio recording of the study to be posted here afterward.
So last week, as we were in the village of Timpa and Lili was sharing the gospel with a 22-year-old woman in front of her house, my mind started to wander because of a flock of sheep that was behind us. I live in a city of near half a million people, so I don’t see sheep every day. And for half an hour or so, I was just noticing things about sheep: 1) All they really ever do is stand around eating; 2) They aren’t very attractive; 3) They don’t keep clean and they smell almost as bad as pigs; 4) They’re pretty easily scared and not that bright. A motorcycle goes by and hearing the sound they run in a panic in every direction, including toward it.
Then, suddenly, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the verse from John 10. The one where Jesus identified Himself as “the Good Shepherd, Who lays down His life for the sheep.” I had never realized what a radically shocking statement that was before. When you just look at the verse with the Sunday school flannelgraphs of cute little lambs and a smiling, bearded shepherd, you think, “So Jesus gave His life for us. Good.”
But when you’re standing there looking at sheep, and that verse comes to mind, it jars you. You think to yourself, “the good shepherd who did WHAT? If I were ever to suffer the misfortune of having to live my life taking care of this flock of dumb animals, and a wolf or lion wanted to make lunch of them, I wouldn’t even for a moment consider sacrificing myself to save these worthless bags of wool.”
The thing is, that’s how the people Jesus was speaking to must have responded. And really, if anything, He was understating His love for us. The difference between me and a sheep is tiny compared to the difference between my Savior and me. And yet, He really did it. He gave His life for the sheep.
Indescribable. Unbelieveable. Inconceivable, this gospel message is. And yet totally true. I stand amazed. And hope you do, too.
When we joined a team led by the Nicoaras, our former GMF colleagues, in Deva, Romania for an evangelism campaign last week, there were a couple of firsts that were real blessings to see.
First, we saw for the first time several hundred people being presented the gospel one-on-one, in addition to the gospel being preached to groups in evening meetings at several locations. 130+ people made professions of faith unto salvation during the week.
The second “first” was seeing several Christians, including two young disciples from our church in Cluj, sharing the gospel and leading people to faith in Christ for the first time in their lives.
Cluj Team in Deva -- Dave, Victor, Sergiu, Lili
The team included a medical component, with an MD, an eye doctor, a dental hygienist, a pharmacist, and some nurses of various specialties. The medical team traveled to different locations, helping people with their physical needs and sharing the gospel along the way.
There was also a children’s ministry team doing AWANA-style evangelism for children in each village they went to.
Here are some highlights of the campaign for Lili and me:
Sunday I was blessed with the opportunity to preach a campaign kickoff message at the church, encouraging the body of Christ to share the gospel and seek people to worship the Lord.
Monday, in Timpa, the first man we met witnessing was a 68 year old who was friendly, and interested in talking a lot and listening a little. He heard the gospel, though, over some time, and took the tract from us with the Bible verses afterwards. A couple hours later we were walking back past his house and he saw us and called out to us in the street, “Wait a minute!” He came and showed us how he had taken the tract and read the verses, answering the questions the best he could. He said, “the more I think about this, something inside me is stirring.” He told us the best he knew how, he had believed the gospel and that he wanted to come to the meeting that night, which he did.
Tuesday, back in the city of Deva, we shared the gospel with several people during the day, including a 14-year-old girl who was very joyful to learn that Jesus didn’t just die on the cross, but died on the cross to pay the penalty for her sins, so that she could have a way to heaven and a relationship with God.
Wednesday we were in the village of Mihaiesti, where the orthodox priest had been violently opposed to the sharing of the gospel, even carrying a club and running people off with it, threatening to crack their skulls if they didn’t stop witnessing and leave. The Lord was using the situation though, because the people wanted to go to the medical clinic and they were angered that the priest was trying to prevent them from receiving help from Christians that they needed, while they knew that an orthodox priest wouldn’t even pray for them without requiring they first pay the priest a high fee for his trouble. We met and Lili witnessed to a 55-year-old woman there, who understood the gospel, but started weeping, just saying, “There is something in me that is keeping me from being able to trust Christ and be saved.” She seemed desperate. We prayed for her. Another team member talked with her then, and she did trust Christ as her Savior. Her sorrowful face instantly turned joyous.
Thursday in Lapusnic, we got to share the gospel with several elderly people coming to the medical clinic—people who had been religious all their lives, but never heard the gospel. The highlight there, though, was seeing Romanian teens who had come just to be translators for Americans, taking the initiative themselves to share the gospel without help and lead people to the Lord.
Friday we were in Baita, a village that is another hardline orthodox stronghold. After being turned away by several people, even children, Lili and I prayed for a divine appointment with anyone whose heart had been prepared by the Lord to hear His voice. Within seconds, we crossed paths on the street with Ana Maria, a 19-year-old who was on her way to the town center to shop for the day’s food. We asked her if she had some time to talk with us about eternal life and how to have her sins forgiven. She said yes, and listened intently on the side of the road to a detailed explanation of the gospel. Then when she realized that Jesus had died for her sins personally, she trusted Christ as her Savior.
In addition to the witnessing blessings and to the blessings of seeing people we have discipled in Cluj become disciplemakers on this campaign, there was the blessing of close fellowship and Spirit-filled worship times with the American team members in the evenings. It was Lili’s first experience leading worship songs in English, and it was a blessed time for us and for the team we were working with. We believe some lasting friendships have begun with the colaborers that we served with this week. Praise the Lord!
Since this is a relatively new blog, I might have some new friends reading who might be interested in hearing some recordings of messages. So over the next couple weeks, I plan on putting some links up to messages you can hear online. First, today’s installment is some of my favorites from preaching in English in American churches. Hope you enjoy them if you have time to listen.
“It’s the Word” a special double-length message on the condition of the “seeker” based church vs biblical church-planting
“The Day God Punished His Son” – A narrative telling of the crucifixion and the gospel, from the perspective of the day of the cross as “the day that the Lord has made”
“A Tale of Three Crosses” – Another gospel message looking at the two thieves who died alongside Jesus, and how everyone has the same choice to make about eternity. What kind of thief are you?
Some photos from the Deva campaign are available on my facebook page here. In the next day’ or two I’ll write an update, but it’s late now and we’re very tired.
Tonight’s home fellowship study, on Jonah 3-4, is available for online listening here. It looks at Jonah’s unwilling obedience, what God did through him, and what he learned, and we need to learn about serving the Lord with the right priorities.
If you’re like most people, you would look at your life and say, “I’m a basically good person. A lot of people I know do bad things that I don’t do, and most of the things I do are good and decent. I’ve been baptized and I go to church, so I’m a Christian. And I believe that God should let me into heaven, instead of sending me to hell to suffer forever.”
If God let people who were “more good than bad” into heaven, and sent only the most violent, wicked people to hell, then you might be right to think such things. But God’s standard is much different. And it’s what He thinks of you, not what you think of yourself, that will matter on judgment day.
You see, God isn’t just “basically good.” He is perfect. He is holy. The Bible says, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” He is completely without sin, so He requires of you absolute, perfect sinlessness. And God says you haven’t lived a good enough life to make it. No one has. “There is no one righteous,” says the Lord, “no, not one.” That’s how the perfect and just God evaluates us in His word. “All we like sheep have gone astray, turning, every one, to his own way,” according to the Bible. That means that none of us lives the way of righteousness and pleasing God. That’s bad news to hear. But better that you hear it now, while you can do something about it, than to wait until your life is over and it’s forever too late.
Finding the solution
God is holy, and must punish all of your sins. But even though you are unworthy as a sinner, God loves you. So He made a way to punish your sins and still let you escape hell. “The Lord has laid on Him (Jesus Christ) the iniquity of us all,” the Bible says. When Jesus was on the cross, He was dying for every sin you have ever done. Your sin was laid on Him, and He absorbed all of the punishment of hell in your place. Then He rose from the grave, showing that His sacrifice was enough to pay the price for all of your sins against God.
God cannot lie, and He keeps every promise He makes. And today He promises you that if you will trust not in yourself or your religion, but only in what Jesus did for you by dying in your place on the cross, you will be forgiven of all your sins. You can have that forgiveness of sins and receive eternal life in heaven as a free gift from God right now.
If you believe these things God has said, you can tell Him so now in prayer. Tell Him, “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. But I believe You love me and died on the cross to be punished for my sins in my place. Thank You for sacrificing Yourself, so that I could live with You forever in heaven, instead of facing the punishment my life has earned. I’m trusting You now to cleanse me and forgive all my sins, because You promised You would if I asked You in faith. Thank You for making me a child of God and assuring me salvation forever. Help me now to live the rest of my life as an offering of thanks to You. Amen”
Walk of Faith - Dave Bunnell 