How Do I Reach My Relatives with the Gospel?

Few things are more distressing to a Christian than the realization that, unless something happens, those who are part of their family on earth will not be part of their family in heaven. Out of concern and compassion and often discouragement and distress, individuals ask, “How do I reach my own relatives with the Gospel?” Several things must be kept in mind. First and foremost recognize that you, in and of yourself, cannot bring your relatives to Christ. Christians often take responsibility upon their shoulders in this area. This concern for their salvation is healthy, but the inner frustration is not. You must recognize that unless the Spirit of God dispels the darkness from their minds and eyes and causes them to see their need, they will never come to Christ.

Another thing to consider is that relatives who will not listen to what you have to say may instead look at the way you live. Live the kind of consistent Christian life that attracts non-Christian family members to the Savior. The God who brought you to Christ can save any non-Christian relative. God has never met a person His heart did not love or His arm could not reach. If you do your part, God will do His. Sooner than you may think, as they trust the Savior they may say, “Thanks for not giving up on me,” as you welcome them into the forever family.

Dr. Larry Moyer – Are Evangelical Church Attendees Right or Wrong?

The Associated Press on Monday, June 23, 2008, released a statement that caught the attention of millions, Christians and non-Christians alike. The statement read, “Among the most startling numbers in the survey conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57% of evangelical church attendees said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.”

Once again, the issue comes back to a very simple question. Is Jesus Christ the One He said He was? If He was, the evangelical church attendees could not be more wrong. If He wasn’t, anything evangelical church attendees say has as much authority and credibility as what He said.

He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:26). If He was indeed the Son of God and the only one who can extend eternal life, then there is no other way to God except through Him. If He wasn’t the Son of God, what He said about being the only way to God is of no value whatsoever.

How do we know if He was who He said He was? The issue is bigger than the Bible. It’s the resurrection and the empty tomb the third day. That is the issue on which everything Christ said stand or falls. The Bible declares itself ot be the Word of God, without error or mistake (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20, 21). But the proof behind the empty tomb is far wider than the Bible. In fact the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most attested fact of history. Thomas Arnold, who was author of a three volume history of Rome and appointed to the Chair of Modern History of Oxford said, “I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by letter and fuller evidence of every sort to the understanding of a fair inquirer than that Christ died and rose again from the dead.”

Therefore, before anyone, anywhere can say, “There are many religions that can lead to eternal life,” they must disprove the empty tomb of Christ. So far, nobody has. In fact, I personally do know of one person who objectively studied the evidence behind the empty tomb that did not become a believer. That means they came to God as sinners, recognized Jesus Christ paid for their sins on a cross and rose again, and trusted Christ alone as their only way to heaven.

Leadership Journal Article – “Is the Gospel Too Small?”

In a recent article in Leadership Journal (a publication of Christianity Today) pastor Tim Keel asks the question, “Is our gospel too small?” Allow me to interact with this article for a moment. Feel free to click here to open the article in a new tab or window. Stay with me…

First of all, let me give you the most important quote, the main idea of Mr. Keel’s article:
“In a modern world, we tend to reduce the complexity and diversity of the Scriptures to simple systems, even when our systems flatten the diversity and integrity of the biblical witness.” In other words, he is saying that modernity is to blame for what he considers to be a narrow definition or even oversimplification of the gospel. Keel continues, “And the gospel itself gets reduced to a simplified framework of a few easily memorized steps.”

In response to Mr. Keel, I want to make my argument as clear and simple as the gospel. Check out Paul’s explanation of the gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-8:

1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also…”

Paul used four verbs to define the gospel in this passage. Christ died. He was buried. He rose again. He was seen. Based upon this passage we can define the gospel by which we are saved in just 10 words: Christ died for our sins and rose form the dead. That is the gospel - clear and simple.

Is our gospel too small? I would say most of the time it is too large.

Either someone clouds the issue by using “churchy” language such as, “give your heart to Jesus” or “give your life to God”. That is not what the New Testament asks non-Christians to do. Another phrase, “pray to receive Christ”, has some serious theological problems. See Dr. Larry Moyer’s article, “Is the Sinner’s Prayer Essential for Salvation” for more on those issues, including lively comments from 43 pastors and church leaders.

Mr. Keel also discusses his concern with the gospel when it is “reduced to a simplified framework of a few easily memorized steps.” I would argue that if we are going to be consistent and clear in our presentation of the gospel that we should be prepared with a basic method that we can use to present the gospel. Why? Because the method will help make you more confident in talking to others about the Lord. Knowing how you are going to present the gospel, you can relax, enjoy the conversation, turn it to spiritual things, and clearly explain the gospel. Watch the video at Evangelism.net for an easy method of sharing the gospel called the Bad News/Good News method.

In fact, go ahead and check out the video and other content at Evangelism.net and I will continue my thoughts on the article, “An Efficient Gospel?” by Tim Keel tomorrow.

Dr. Larry Moyer - Stonebriar Community Church

Dr. Larry Moyer serves as the Evangelist-at-Large to Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Recently, pastor Chuck Swindoll invited Dr. Moyer to speak to the congregation during the Sunday morning service. In his message Dr. Moyer clearly communicated his burden to see a church that grows by conversion, introducing people to Christ, and not simply by transfer - from one church to another. This requires that each person in the congregation begins to cultivate an evangelistic lifestyle. This begs the question: What kind of person do you need to be to introduce someone to Jesus Christ? According to Dr. Moyer one needs a simple message, an obedient spirit, and the right perspective. God never says bring the lost to Christ - he says bring Christ to the lost. Listen to this message and your thoughts about evangelism will change. You will see it as a privilege and not a pain. As a result, you will begin to share Christ out of grace and not guilt.

A Welcome From Dr. Larry Moyer

God never meant evangelism to be a pain. He meant it to be a privilege. It is to be a delight, not a dread. Evangelism is not always seen as a privilege we do not deserve. One reason is that people say things in evangelism as though they are biblical when in fact they are not. Paul admonished Timothy to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). God begs the same of us. Too often verses are taken out of context and used to say something they are not saying. As a result, believers feel guilty about their evangelistic efforts. Christians are sometimes motivated to evangelize out of fear and shame, a defeating motivation God does not use. These misconceptions have decreased clarity in presenting the gospel.

This blog attempts to correct these misconceptions. A correct and biblical approach to evangelism enhances clarity. The message that is clear in His mind becomes clear in ours. Believers also begin to understand how God has given them an undeserved privilege - the privilege of making a difference in where people spend their eternal destiny. They can then evangelize the same way they are saved - out of grace not guilt.

May God use this blog to help you approach evangelism from a biblical perspective. May it excite you about what excites the heart of God - reaching the lost for Christ!

Dr. R. Larry Moyer