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What do you do if you come house from a church assembly feeling actually uncomfortable, as a result of the assembly was all about sharing the Bible with adults? Evangelism by Bible sharing is one thing that others are known as to do, is not it? Not me, certainly? I made a decision to wish about it.
So, what then do you do when the reply to that prayer comes very clearly and instructs you to method your Iranian neighbour? Yes, that is proper, the Muslim woman who you hardly know. You inform the Lord that your non secular listening to’s not superb and it’s essential to have misunderstood Him. Guess what occurs subsequent? Yep. He tells you to cease operating and get on with it, that He will likely be with you, and that each one it’s important to do is to subject the invitation. Not too arduous, certainly?
My neighbour, Sara, is a really non-public particular person. I’d by no means knock on her door as a result of she would not reply it. We hardly noticed one another, so I used to be unlikely to stumble upon her. I did not have her telephone quantity both. We are a number of a long time aside in age, so it might be bizarre to ask her out for an informal coffee. I did nonetheless, for causes which I am unable to keep in mind, have her e mail handle. So, e mail it was then. I invited her to affix me to learn the Gospel of John by a useful resource which was new to me: The Word One to One.
Expecting to be utterly rebuffed, I used to be astonished when a reply e mail got here again nearly instantly saying, “Sounds attention-grabbing, let’s meet.” That was two and a half years in the past and we’re nonetheless assembly. My neighbour, who I barely knew, is now my pal.
The Word One to One is a guided learn by John’s wonderful Gospel. It is a superb useful resource that will help you share the Gospel and inform individuals in regards to the Lord Jesus. It is written particularly for cowards like me who’ve by no means carried out something like studying the Bible with somebody who is not Christian of their lives earlier than. My pal Sara and I’ve each downloaded it onto our telephones and once we meet, we dive into the subsequent of the “Episodes”, every of which is fastidiously crafted to be able to learn the Gospel collectively in small chunks which permit time for questions and dialogue.
Of course, sharing The Word One to One with somebody whose first language is just not English is attention-grabbing, to say the least. Our conferences are sometimes hilarious, all the time attention-grabbing, and sometimes fairly difficult. At our first assembly, Sara’s unfamiliarity with Christian vocabulary saved me on my toes as I attempted to reply rapid-fire questions: What is Gospel? What is apostle? What is disciple? Why are there 4 Gospels? Why are there solely 4 Gospels when you will have simply defined to me that Jesus had twelve disciples?
When we got here to John 3:16, my coronary heart was in my mouth as I learn aloud that almost all profound of truths: For God so liked the world that he gave his one and solely Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish however have everlasting life. There was a silence and I may inform by Sara’s face that she had not comprehended the vocabulary: it transpired that the phrase “perish” was the supply of confusion. “To die and face God’s judgement,” I defined, “not simply bodily dying, however non secular dying.” Sara’s face turned very involved as she replied, “So how is that this working for the perish church buildings then?” As we each collapsed with laughter, I defined the distinction between “perish” and “parish”.
Other moments have been difficult. When Sara informed me emphatically that the Lord Jesus was a false prophet, I used to be misplaced for phrases and despatched up a silent “Lord, assist me!” prayer. The reply got here again instantly: “I can deal with it, transfer on.” So we merely got here again to the Bible textual content and I used to be humbled by how powerfully God’s Word speaks for itself, if solely we’ll belief Him and open it up with one other.
What a privilege it’s to be a part of a dialog which begins with what “Messiah” means, strikes on to the second coming of the Lord Jesus, and on the way in which reveals that your pal didn’t perceive that Jesus lives. Sara thought that Christians await the second coming as a result of that is when Jesus will likely be raised to life: she had by no means heard that the resurrection has already occurred and that He lives and reigns in Glory. What a tremendous dialog that was!
I’ve discovered a lot about Iranian tradition, Islam, and the way rewarding it’s to be a part of a friendship I’d by no means have encountered, had it not been for Bible sharing. I’ve additionally discovered that there’s nothing to concern! God’s Word speaks for itself: it’s highly effective: it’s Truth: it’ll stand eternally: it’ll by no means allow you to down.
By the way in which, at present, July thirtieth, International Friendship Day, is my birthday. I’m 72 years outdated. So, for those who’re studying this pondering you are excused since you’re too outdated, suppose once more! Open God’s Word and stretch out the hand of friendship.
