3 Things I Learned from a JW

Romans 1:15-16

A wise man once said that he could learn from anyone… did you catch that?  He was wise… because he didn’t let anyone stand in his way of growth.  Not their successes or their failures. Not their preferences, their convictions, their methods, their mannerisms, their eccentricities.  We would be wise to learn from this as well… everyone can teach you something!  Some might teach you WHAT to do, HOW to live, WHY, WHEN – but others might teach you why, how, and what NOT to do!

Whether you and I agree with the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons, we would have to admit that their growth indicates they are doing something “right.” Here are three things that I’ve learned from my encounters with these men and ladies:

1. They are genuinely friendly and nice. They have learned the ancient truth that a smile will take your words deeper than volume. Kindness works much better than a bull-horn. They are intentionally building relationships to build their kingdom.  Why can’t we do that!? 🙂
2. They are faithful to get out of their own world and enter into mine. This is not something that I’m good at… getting out of my comfort zone; but this is exactly what Jesus did! The Word became flesh—it’s called the incarnation. And the gospel needs incarnation today, through you.
3. They refer back to their books & materials an awful lot. I’m not intimidated to start a conversation with them, but I am convicted.. because they know their false literature better than I know the Truth & they will not be side-tracked from their message. The only thing that has power to change people is the gospel… so I need to start sharing it more and more!

Prime-Time Discussion:

Think about how many times JW’s get greeted at the door with anger and hatred, yet their kind smiles are always the first to greet you. What can you learn from them?

Talk about the last time you took the risk of speaking up to someone about Jesus… when you started a spiritual conversation.  How did it go?

I think that one reason we don’t share more often is that we feel unequipped. Many are afraid because they don’t know the answers to theological questions. Has that ever affected you? Should it?

devotion by Patrick Nix

Go & Tell

Luke 8:26-39

One of my favorite things to hear are the testimonies of fellow believers. I love to hear how the faithfulness of God always provides a way when there is no way. I love to hear when the grace of God reaches down into the darkness and brings a heart to life. I love to hear when the once unloved now realize what true love really means. Our God is a God of amazing and wonderful things. Amen!?

When reading through the Gospels, we see that during the start of Jesus’ ministry He would work miracles, but then tell the people not to say anything about this. When we read in Luke 8 however, we see that Jesus tells this man to go and tell. What’s the difference with this dude? After reading, you can see that this guy literally lived in death. I mean think about it, the reality of physical death surrounded him. Not only that, but he was possessed by demons. I love this story so much because at the sound of Jesus ALL darkness flees. At the sound of the name of Jesus!

Now I want you to imagine yourself as that man. He was in bondage, but now set free. He lived in death, and now had been given life. The things that held him down held him no more. My friends, GOD IS AWESOME! And all Jesus tells this man to do is “DECLARE how much God has done for you.” I know that I do not stand alone, but God has done the miraculous in my life. I pray that we be a church that proclaims the faithfulness of God. He is worthy. He is faithful. Will you go and tell!?

Prime-Time Discussion:

Grab a sheet of paper. Take some time today to write out your testimony. Write about what God has done in your life.

This week tell someone you know, believer or non-believer, your testimony in 3-5 minutes.

Take some time today and recount and rethink on the blessings and the faithfulness of God.

Night-Time Prayer:

Jesus, you are faithful. Thank you for the ways you have worked in my life! Help me to share what you have done in me with one who needs to hear about who You are.

devotion by Channing Gillespie

Go, Tell What We Know

Matthew 28:19

One of the great joys of my life today is being Grace Park’s Visitation Pastor, a position I never take lightly or for granted.  It’s a true privilege and honor to serve God through His church everyday; whether I’m visiting a first-time guest to Grace Park, encouraging a church member who’s going through a trial,  praying with a family who has lost a loved one or sharing my testimony and Jesus to the lost.

If we as Christians truly love the Lord, then sharing the Good News should not be a chore.  In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands us to “Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

The Gospel is the beautiful story of Jesus leaving His Father’s right hand, becoming man, taking our sins upon Him on the cross, so that through faith we can live forever with Him in Heaven!  Jesus instructed those who want to be His disciples to follow Him.  So following Him involves movement!

If we become too comfortable where we are, we may resist Christ’s invitation to go elsewhere for Him.  He may lead you across the street to share the Gospel with your neighbor, across town or to the other side of the world.

Wherever He leads, be prepared to go and tell others of God’s great love for them and for what He’s done for you!

Night-Time Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your Son and all You’ve done for me.  May I be faithful in sharing Your wonderful story of love and forgiveness to those around me.  I love You and want to please You.  Help me to listen to You and go where You want me to go.

devotion by Louie Roberts

His Cross, My Cross

Read or Listen: Ephesians 2:8-10

We cannot fully discuss the goodness of God without turning our attention to the cross of Christ… It is only because of the goodness and kindness of God that we are saved.  In Romans 2:4, Paul asks the question: Don’t you know “that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”  Our sinful nature is not good. “There is none that does good, not one.” (Rom 3:12). Only by being born again and becoming “partakers of the divine nature” can we ever hope to experience His goodness (2 Peter 1:4).

But it would be incomplete to consider Christ’s cross without considering our own cross as well… As Christians, we were created “unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10); we were called to be the “light of the world.” (Matt 5:14). If we are to fulfill our mission, we will be compassionate about those around us.  We will sympathize with the hurting, we will be sensitive to our neighbor’s needs, and we will serve others.

Goodness will not only carry the gospel to a lost and dying world, but will carry it in the spirit of Christ.  Not only will goodness will speak the truth, but it will speak it in love.  Goodness will care and it will go.

Yield to Christ, and His virtues of integrity and love will be reproduced in you.  His fruit in you will be in high contrast to wickedness of the world and to the status-quo Christianity.  Only then will you be kind and good… because that is what God is like and that is what gives Him the most glory.

Prime-Time Discussion:

Do you want to be good? What does ‘goodness’ as a Fruit of the Spirit mean to you? Is it difficult for you to be good when others are not??

So many in this world think of God as mean, harsh, and angry. We know that God is holy and just, but how does this compare with his goodness?

Night-Time Prayer:

Lord God, I believe that you are good. In my own power, I’m not good—like you are. Please fill me with your Spirit so I can be good, too.

devotion by Patrick Nix

By This, We Know Love

Read or Listen: 1 John 3:11-18

The most famous verse in all of Scripture talks about God’s love. In John 3:16 it says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son…” Though almost everybody knows John 3:16, I bet most people don’t know what 1 John 3:16 says. It is also a verse about God’s love. In fact, it is blatant about telling us what love is. It starts off saying, “By this we know love…” So, if it is defining what love is, let’s see how it defines it…

1 John 3:16 says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”

So, in love, there is a two-fold laying down. There is a sense of giving up all of oneself, ones very life, for the sake of another. The epitome and the standard of this kind of love, agape love, is God’s love for us…exactly what John 3:16 talks about.

We know love because Christ laid down His life for us. But 1 John 3:16 doesn’t just stop there with its definition of love. It then says, “and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”

As Christ expressed His true love for us by laying down His life, we must express our true love for Him by laying down our lives for those that He loves…all His people.

Laying down our lives requires action. It requires hard work. It requires humbling ourselves. We can’t just talk about God’s love and quote John 3:16. For the world to truly see the absolutely unbelievable and incomprehensible love that God has for His people, we must do as 1 John 3:18 tells us… “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Prime-Time Discussion:

If you told someone that God loved them, but you are harsh, uncaring, rude, and unloving to them…should they believe what you said about God’s love?

What does it mean to lay down your life for someone else?

How will you show God’s love by laying down your life?

Night-Time Prayer:

God, thank you for loving us. Help me to love you better by laying down my life for the people that you love so much you died for.

devotion by Jacob Haywood

Oh, Be Careful…

Read or Listen:  Colossians 4:5-6

Like many of you, I grew up going to Sunday School.  I’m sure most of you remember the children’s song that said, “Oh, be careful little eyes what you see”, and the other verses, “Oh, be careful little feet where you go”, or, “Oh, be careful little mouth what you say”.  That’s some great advice for all of us at any age.

How do you behave with (and toward) unbelievers? Do you like them?  Do you tolerate them? Do you act like them when you aren’t in Christian company? Do you snub them if they aren’t holy?  Do you share your faith using hugs or headlocks?  Or do you even share your faith at all?

Today’s passage is very specific about how we are to conduct ourselves toward non-believers.  First, we are to behave wisely.  This means that we should be sympathetic, compassionate, humble, patient, and slow to speak.  Our behavior toward non-believers should guard & defend the reputation of the gospel.
If we conduct ourselves wisely, the name of Christ is exalted and not mocked.

Next, we are to make the most of the opportunities with non-believers. One should not just sit and wait for opportunity to fall into your lap, but go after it.

Finally, we are instructed to be gracious when it comes to what we say.  Our speech is to be kind, gentle, positive, helpful, and insightful.  We need to be careful when we speak in public and private, (no gossip).   Careful when we speak to an equal or someone in power, (no slander).  Careful when we speak to the poor and the rich, (no favoritism).  What we say should be of benefit to those who hear it and there is to be no corruption or imitation of the world.

What you do, what you say, and how you say it are vitally important when dealing with everyone around us, especially non-believers.  You never know who is watching and listening to you, so be careful.

Prime-Time Discussion:

Identify one way you can put the instructions from this passage into action today.

Of these instructions, which one(s) are the easiest for you to do?  Which one(s) do you struggle with? ?

Night-Time Prayer:

Lord, help me to make the most of every opportunity that is given to me and may I behave and speak in a way that brings you glory and is beneficial to those around me.  Help me to surrender my weaknesses to you, so that I can change and grow into what You desire me to be.

devotion by Steve Gillespie