Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. – 1 Peter 3:15

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

It dawned on me recently, we don’t share the good news we have, because we don’t know how to. Years, maybe even decades of sitting listening to sermons, and we still can’t explain why we believe what we believe.

When we sense the burning inside of us that tells us we must open our mouths to what is such a gaping opportunity, we stumble along inside our heads, and end up saying nothing. We live in frustration. So the debate about whether or not I should go out on the streets becomes moot, because we cannot stand in front of a group of family and friends even, and explain what we believe. It is tragic, if not even a little amusing.

When we listen to another religion at our work, are we able to give an account of why Jesus is so central to all and everything; is our confidence to defend our Lord so high, that we jump to his defence as he asks us to, to give an account of the wonderful hope that is in us? Let me let you into a little secret, it is because the servants of the Lord have for so long kept their mouths shut at opportune times, that so many have become cold in the faith, unsure even themselves what they believe. In turn, this has had a profound impact on our society. We are on the defensive all the time.

When I shared once my faith with a man who works for me, he astounded me by saying he knew many friends of faith, but none ever shared with him and he was disappointed. He wanted to know what they believed, but they never took the time. Imagine that. Then again, maybe it’s not so uncommon.

So, for those who are interested, here’s a few tips;

Firstly, take the time to learn something by heart. Practise it by yourself and with some friends. There are some wonderful tools around, the internet’s not all bad! Google around for the ‘3 Circles’ a simple Gospel presentation that you can do with a pen and paper in 5 minutes to a non-believer. It may not be super comprehensive, but it will at least get us started, and most people will understand and ask questions.

Also, understand what some of the other religions believe. If you’re not sure, go and ask them! We speak with many Muslims and I wonder sometimes if they know more about Jesus or ‘Isa’ than some believers do. They seem only too willing to talk about Isa, which in turn is a great opening for us. We build bridges with people when we understand at least the rudiments of another’s faith, and it gives us an opportunity to contrast our faith with theirs. Why do we believe what we believe?

Then, understand Scripture and try to frame what Christ says about himself, so that we can reference the Bible in our explaining. Jesus did this all the time in his discussions and debates with others. ‘Scripture tells us…’ What can we explain to someone about the nature of God, or his character. Does God expect anything of us, what happens to us when we die, how can we answer the 7 most common questions of the sceptic (‘why does God allow suffering etc’). All of these are found in the pages of Scripture, we need to look for them with the intent of answering an unbeliever.

Personally, when I explain the Gospel, I always keep in mind the single-mindedness that we will all face God, and what will we need to do? After all I explain, surely a loving God would let us know what he expects of us? So then:

• Keep the law, escape the penalty
• Break the law, pay the penalty

I find that everything cascades down from this, even if I am not explicit in saying it this way. It allows me to explain the story with God at the beginning, and myself in relationship to him. It also puts Jesus at the very centre, and distinguishes him from all of the ‘also rans’ of other religions. Nobody else could, or would, pay the penalty for me. It leaves the listener under no illusion that they are ‘good enough’ but also that even though God has no choice, he has given us one. I can explain the one tenet that separates Christianity from all religions and philosophies, and that is the Grace of God through his Son. When we have done this, we can leave the rest to the Holy Spirit, who will lead us throughout all of this.

So, will we take the time to learn a simple story, maybe even just our own? Do we take Jesus seriously enough to listen to what he asks us to do? Come on friends, let us give honour to him by explaining to someone this week, why we believe what we believe.

You’ll never experience greater joy.

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. – Hebrews 10:14

Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight.

Have you ever heard of Johnny Cash? I’m sure you have. At the height of his career, Cash was the biggest selling recording artist on the planet, with a notoriety to match. In the middle of America’s Bible belt, he took up with another woman, June Carter, also a recording artist, and eventually divorced his wife so he could marry her (June was also divorced). As well as his great music, Johnny was also famous for his irreverence. He loved to wind up sanctimonious media-types who insisted on setting the moral standard of the day. He swore frequently, and told things as they were.

He became really famous when he played to inmates at some of America’s maximum security gaols, and although tense occasions, he managed to get away with it – they were eating from his hand by the end of each concert. People everywhere, especially the oppressed, loved Johnny. Johnny Cash, Live at Folsom, is one of the best selling live albums to this day.

Cash’s life though was marred by much unhappiness. He was addicted to illicit drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco, often all at once. For much of the time, his life was a mess. It was only because of his wife, that he eventually managed to clean himself up. Perhaps that’s why he felt so comfortable in a prison. The addictions, the broken relationships were the cause of much pain, and at the end of his life he recorded a beautiful song, ‘Hurt.’ If you ever get a chance, listen to it.

But here’s something else you may not know about him. In the late 70’s, Johnny Cash became even more irreverent when he stood on a podium with Billy Graham and told of his devotion to Jesus Christ. Few people ever realised that Cash was a believer. Along the way, thanks again to his wife June Carter, the seeds of God’s love were sown into his life and he found faith in the only person who could rescue him, Jesus Christ.

Recently I watched a documentary of his life, and towards the end of it, in one of his last interviews shortly after the death of his wife, he said; “I’ve finally realised that  God has forgiven me, and so I’ve had to come to terms with forgiving myself.” Johnny Cash died within 4 months of June’s passing, unable to live without her. To his death, he testified to the saving grace of Jesus.

Many reading this today, will struggle with the same thing asking, has God really forgiven me? This could be the most crucial blog I ever write. We simply struggle to see how God could possibly love us and wipe the slate clean. We know we sin each and every day and offend our Father in some way. It is devastating.

When we talk to people about Christ, conservatively 8 out of 10 people believe they are good enough to meet God. Where did that notion come from? Simply I think, decades or centuries of wrong teaching about sin. It is alarming that so many believers refuse to talk of ‘Sin’ when they share the Gospel, preferring only to speak of God’s love. You cannot speak of his love, without talking of our sin. The Gospel without sin, is no gospel at all.

But I can say without doubt that there is a sense of relief amongst people when we share with them the fact they are grave sinners in God’s eyes. A quick review of the 10 commandments has most running for cover; or the new iPhone app that records the worst 5 minutes of your life in full video, and which will be played before a Holy God when we stand before him. Think you’re still good enough? We smile when we see the reaction.

When we begin to grasp the extent of our sin, we can begin to grasp the extent of God’s grace at the cost of his Son, and so the huge extent of his love begins to dawn on us. It seems staggering he has forgiven me.

This passage in Hebrews tells us that grace through his Son has made us Holy, perfect in his eyes. It says we are completely and totally forgiven. As if to emphasise the point Jesus told his disciples they were now his friends – friends of God; nobody is a friend of God unless they are first made pure, Holy.

But this verse also tells us we are being made perfect, like the Son. One day when we see him John tells us, we shall be like him, perfect, sinless. I suspect we will always know where our salvation comes from, and it will keep us humble. In the meantime, like Johnny Cash, our loving Father continues to shape us and perfect us.

Explaining this to people is the source of more relief in people’s lives (including believers) than most anything else. To finally come face to face with who we are, and the fact that we are not alone and don’t have to carry the burden of our failure is life changing to all who experience it. God has saved me. To face our sin, to accept our vagrant state before God, is to find total release into his love, his forgiveness. The effort is all his, all we need do is sign up to his endless grace.

The next time you want to talk to someone of God’s love, make sure they understand that sin is important in that equation, else who needs a Saviour?  Oh, and don’t forget to listen to that song by Johnny Cash, Hurt.

More than most he understood the devastation and consequence of sin, but also the transforming power of a God who loved him because of his Son, Jesus Christ. No more Hurt now though Johnny.

You must warn each other every day, while it is still today, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. – Hebrews 3: 13

Last weekend, we managed to spend an entire afternoon speaking to people on the streets, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We feel it is always beneficial, as so few have any real clue as to what that Gospel really entails, and we have no idea how God will use the seed we plant.

We managed to speak to 3 young teenagers as we spoke first about skateboarding, and then about Jesus. We’re hoping that they will start attending a Discovery Group which we have started in our home for young people who want to know more about Jesus Christ. We are praying, and we shall see. If you’ve never tried it, then let me tell you there is nothing more fulfilling than sharing the Gospel with someone who knows nothing about it.

There are many ways to do that of course, but we prefer to go slowly, as we have always felt the Gospel takes time to share. You can share your own testimony, or a simple Bible passage, or simply talk about why Jesus had to die, and the different sides of God’s character, Holiness and Love. That in particular, seems to always intrigue people. Whatever you do though, make Jesus the front and centre of anything you present. He is always, always the attraction.

Over the years, we have watched and listened to presentations that emphasise certain elements of scripture, usually tied in closely with the person’s denomination or church background. In the end, I always sense there is demand being made on the person that overshadows the Gospel, whatever that is. Groups that promote a particular brand of Christianity, tend to exclude certain passages and highlight others that support their views. These are often the same people that insist on those interested in Christ, coming along to “their church”, as they raise their own extrabiblical belief and church practice to the level of Scripture.

In our experience though, this ends up being a failure. The people we talk to are intrigued by Jesus Christ. The intensity in their listening, willingness to be prayed for, discussed with and even followed up bears this out. We don’t need to insist on catechism, baptism, speaking in tongues, confirmation, church attendance or anything else that we might deem essential to Christianity. We forget that Christ left a group of illiterate, uneducated people to fulfil his work of spreading the Gospel. There was no money, no building, no priests, no New Testament – only the very real presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

So we encourage each of you to speak the person of Jesus Christ into your neighbourhood, wherever that may be. This week we spoke to a young Czech man; he was very curious and willing to listen, even though there was no immediate response. Was that a wasted half an hour? We never think so, who knows what will happen in his life. Most people sail through life never thinking about why they are here, or where they come from or are going, and we get a chance to introduce them to their creator for just a few moments. If he then came across you the reader, you would have the opportunity to build on what had already been said. We never know.

The good news is, there are other Discovery Groups forming and we are beginning to network and connect into other areas in the city. We can go out with them in their area, train them and share fellowship, the very real church where Jesus is the head. It seems in the last days, that God is starting to stir people in the West, moving them out into the marketplace to proclaim his Son.

As we continue onto our goals of ten new converts this year, we have always found one thing to be true; if we will take the first step toward doing something for God, he always sends the resources and people to help accomplish the job. We are not alone.