Our High School home groups are finishing up our evangelism series called the Way of the Master this week. Students and leaders have spent the better part of the last three months learning and practising how to be more affective in sharing their faith. Each week, we were tasked with assignments (I like to call them “missions”) that required us to be intentional about approaching others with the gospel. The final mission is to go on a “group fishing trip” - i.e., to go out as a group to a public place, break up into small teams of two or three, and share our faith with strangers. The very idea of doing something like this makes even the most seasoned Christians begin to sweat and feel nauseous. Let’s be honest - for many Christians, the idea of approaching even family members, co-workers and friends makes us nervous. And yet, this is the very reason the church exists on earth - to “preach the gospel to every creature”. Besides sin, it’s the one thing we can’t do in heaven; so God expects us to preach as much as possible while we are here on earth.
Okay, I will let you off the hook - no pun intended. No one is asking you (unless you are a student in one of our home groups) to go to the mall this weekend to intentionally share your faith with strangers - whew! But let me ask you; how intentional are you about sharing your faith as you live out your everyday life? Have you clearly presented the gospel to all of your lost friends, family members and co-workers? Have you warned them of the great danger they are in for violating God’s law? Have they heard from your lips that the wages of their sin is death - “eternal fire”, “everlasting punishment”? Do they understand their need for the Saviour? “How shall they believe in whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher?” How do you intend to do what God is calling you to do with those that God has already put in your life? Here’s an idea: make a list of everyone you have a relationship with, or have regular dealings with, that you have not clearly communicated the gospel to. Then, be intentional about praying and asking God to open doors of utterance to be able to speak to them the mystery of Christ as you ought to speak. When you see and interact with them, expect God to answer your prayers - get your fishing pole out and be ready. Use the law to clearly shown them their sinful state, and the reason they need to repent and trust Christ as Saviour. Once you have - don’t mark them off the list; but rather underline their name and pray even more fervently for their conscience and the Holy Spirit to work on their heart as God intended. Watch as the Father begins to move in their life to draw them to himself - and then be ready to minister to them as God allows.
I think going on a “fishing trip” is a good thing; but let’s not neglect the fishing holes that God is sending us to every day. That may be a High School, University, place of employment, family member’s home, the grocery store, etc. The fish are biting, we just need more fishermen dropping lines in the water.
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