Tuesday morning evangelistic smack-down, #22

I know, I know...this is Thursday.

Metaphor City!
A nice evangelism thought from Glynn Pope, pastor in Byram, MS.: Jesus is the door. We are the doorknobs (that which God uses to open the Door).

• A door can look an awful lot like a wall without a doorknob.
• A doorknob needs to be able to twist, turn to be effective.
• A doorknob can act as a way in, or a lock.
• A doorknob has to be pushed before the door opens.
• A doorknob can look inviting, or not.

Other possible implications to our evangelistic life?

Some evangelistic proverbs:
Actually, all the proverbs are relevant for evangelism, since they lead us to the life of wisdom. And that life is attractive, able to share appropriately, and will know when to do what and how. Even so, some specific proverbs:

• "The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment." (10:21)
• "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." (11:30)
• "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." (13:14)
• "A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful." (14:25)
• "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." (14:27)
• "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." (15:30)
• "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions." (18:2)
• "He who answers before listening - that is his folly and his shame." (18:13)
• "A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great." (18:16)
• "What a man desires is unfailing love..." (19:22)
• "Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel." (20:15)
• "Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters." (25:13)
• "Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone." (25:15)

God's lesson for me this week
A precious friend and parishoner was sentenced to jail this week for carjacking (see item below on this blog). It has broken my heart. Having wept, we then have to ask - What now?

Evangelism is "good news" not just in presenting the gospel, but in perpetuating it in the life of the believer. So we will go and visit Michael, help take care of his wife and children, continue to disciple the family and embrace them through the next four years of incarceration...and beyond. Most evangelists are perceived as loud, bold, daring, short-term. Evangelism now, in this case, will have to be loving, tender, listening, long-term. You will never get real evangelism with only the former sans the latter.


You Tube - Evangelism Teacher?