Fair Evangelism

"Can I give this to you for later? Just put it in your pocket and read it later on." I said that phrase hundreds of times last night and plan to again tonight. In fact, I'm participating in a fair evangelism outreach sponsored by our association of churches this week and I'll be saying that phrase all week long. It's what I say to someone as I hand them a Bible tract about Jesus. My thought process is that the individual is at the fair...the last thing they want while they've come out to have fun with family or friends is to have some old guy try to take some of their precious time for a conversation. So, "Can I give this to you for later? Just put it in your pocket and read it later on."

You'd be surprised how effective that approach is. It's not 100% as some people won't take it no matter what but for the most part they say sure and tuck it away for later. Some people would tell me that I'm not actually witnessing for Jesus or that my approach is a cop out because I'm not telling them they need to be concerned about God right then and there. I disagree. I think that it's better for the person to read the Bible tract when they actually have time to read and think about it instead of in the fast paced, hectic environment at the fair grounds. When they get home and empty out their pockets they'll pull out the "little book," read it and then God can speak to them about their life. My approach is not the only approach...it's just my approach but it's been my experience that it works!

Also, while we're at the fair we're making balloon animals, salvation bracelets and even trying to get people to register for a drawing for a Bible. I call all of that bait! It brings people in so we can give them what they really need...an introduction to the Savior of the world. Do you know Him? If not, you can. If you come to the Lenoir County Fair Grounds tonight it would be my honor to introduce you to Jesus.

I'm praying for you,

Pastor Greg

Do You Know Your Neighbors?

This week I attended a conference at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall Texas. The conference was to equip church leaders in establishing a small group ministry among their members. I received a lot of good information and beleive this is the next step for the congregation I serve. That's not, however, the message of this post. I said all that to ask a question that God placed on my heart during the conference. Do you know your neighbors?

The lead presenter, Steve Gladen, said, "You need to cross the street before you cross the sea." That really hit home for me. I've gone on many international mission trips where I was able to preach, minister and witness for Jesus without regard for what the people thought of me. The goal was simply to make disciples of Jesus Christ using whatever Biblical means were available. But, when Steve suggested that we map out our neighborhoods I was ashamed to admit to the guy sitting next to me that I couldn't do that. You see, I don't know my neighbors. Don't get me wrong, I live on the end of a street so I only have one family living next to me and one person living across from me. I know them...the family living next to me are all Christians and we have often prayed together and "had church" in our dirveways that are side by side. The person living across from me is my Aunt and I pray every day for her to accept Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. But that's it. I don't know the rest of them. Oh, I know some of their names and I can even tell you when some of them cut their grass but I don't KNOW THEM. I have not taken the time to cross the street and get to know them.

Right about now you may be saying, "So what. Do you need to know them?" The answer is yes I do. The people living in my neighborhood are all people that Jesus Christ died for and I don't know if most of them have ever even heard of Jesus much less accepted Him as their Savior. For that...I'm ashamed and I will do something about it. Jesus said as He gave the Great Commandment that we should love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. I got the first part right...I love the Lord...but how can I love my neighbor if I don't even know them? I could make a bunch of excuses for why I don't know them but then we could all do that. The bottom line is we make time for what's important to us. I plan to make time for my neighbors. I want to get to know them. If any of my neighbors are reading this...this is fair warning: I'm coming across the street!

Do you know your neighbors?

I'm praying for you,

Pastor Greg

What's So Amazing About Grace?

Have you ever heard the song Amazing Grace? We sing it all the time in churches in traditional and comtemporary versions but have you ever stopped to consider what's so amazing about grace?

I did that this week...in fact I've consider grace over the last several weeks and, frankly, I'm overwhelmed! Countless books have been written in an attempt to explain grace. Songs have been composed, classes have been taught and thousands of individuals have been counseled on the subject of grace but still, I beleive, people are unaware of just how amazing grace really is. We often overlook it and even worse abuse it by continuing in our sin and simply relying on God and His amazing grace to forgive us.

Tomorrow morning I get to speak about grace and I plan to cover three points: You are saved by grace, you are secured by grace and you serve God by grace. Scripture is very plain when it comes to the subject of grace. In fact, let me give you some passages that relate to each of these points and we'll let God's Word be the last word. Just read the passages and let them minister to you.

1. You are saved by grace.

• Ephesians 2:8-9--For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)

2. You are secured by grace.

• 2 Corinthians 1:22—He (God) has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us. (NLT)


• Hebrews 7:25a—Therefore He (Christ) is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him… (NASB)


• Jude 24—Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault. (NLT)·


• Psalm 37:23-24—The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. (NLT)

3. You serve God by grace.

• 1 Corinthians 15:9-10—For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (NASB)

I'm praying for you,

Pastor Greg