From the Heart of the Pastor

(Reprint from 8/20/14)

Have you ever met someone who not only doesn’t believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, but is hostile toward those who do?  We often call those people skeptics.  Skeptics need Jesus as much as anyone else, but they can often appear too much of a challenge to us.  We are nervous to talk to them.  I think the main reason we are nervous is that we think they will ask a question we won’t know the answer to.  The Bible has something to say about that need to answer a skeptic.  “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15).

          That is truly my desire.  I want to know more today than I did yesterday about Jesus and the Bible.  I want to learn how to defend the faith against those skeptics.  It should not frighten us to think about giving a defense to anyone for the hope within us.  We should view it as a wonderful opportunity for witness.  Sadly, our fear and hesitation spills over onto our children.  Our children are growing up in our churches without learning how to defend their faith.  Our church cannot pretend that everyone believes the Bible is true or that God is real or that evolution is false.  In fact, a very large percentage of the people we see everyday don’t believe those things.

          Our commission as a church is to take the gospel to all people, including the skeptics.  We want every member to be equipped to defend the faith.  Not to defend the faith by arguing and debating, but to defend the faith with a clear explanation of the gospel.  On September 28th, immediately following the morning worship service, we will have a special time of evangelism training using the Way of the Master strategy.  I hesitate to call it the Way of the Master strategy because it is simply presenting the whole gospel to people in a clear way.  It helps us understand the role of the Old Testament law in showing people their need for a savior.  Would you consider coming and being a part of this excellent opportunity for further training in an area in which we all need encouragement?  We want to provide lunch for everyone, so sign up today so we can plan accordingly.

In Christ,  

Blain Craig