From Shaw & Van Engen, Communicating God’s Word in a Complex World,
“Gospel presentation seeks to facilitate a process whereby people everywhere, belonging to every family, tribe, language and nation, may hear God speak in appropriate and relevant ways that impact the deep-level meaning of their worldview” (1).
On gray, drizzly days, I often find myself turning desperately to the Scriptures for encouragement. Do you do that? I’m pretty sure it’s not just me. Today, I found myself reflecting on Peter. What a guy. His life offered me a couple of lessons early today.
I’m reminded of this ongoing dialogue between Peter and Jesus. It went something like this:
Peter: I’m ready, Lord.
Jesus: No, Peter, you’re not (Matt 14, as he lifts Peter from the water)Peter: I’m ready, Lord.
Jesus: Nope. Not yet (Matt 16: “Get behind me, Satan…”)Peter: I’m ready, Lord.
Jesus: No, Peter, you’re not (Matthew 26, as He told Peter of his coming denial of the Lord)
Then, things changed. Jesus died but came back in victory. But he left again. Imagine how Peter must have felt. He had failed. Bad decision after bad decision seemed to leave him in a place he didn’t want to be. But Jesus had other plans.
Peter: I’m not ready, Lord.
Jesus: Yes, Peter, you are (Acts 2, the Holy Spirit falls, Peter preaches, and thousands respond).
I often think I’m ready. Lord, I’m ready to do something big. I’m ready to be what you made me to be. I’m ready to go. Like Peter, though, I’m on a journey of Jesus’ preparation — where he turns my pride to reliance, my little faith to mountain-moving faith, my self-trust to God-trust.
I’m not ready. Use me, Lord Jesus.
You?
From his inaugural at Furman University, 31 July 1856:
“The results of past missionary efforts, appear to indicate that we, like the apostles, must adopt the system of home laborers, if we would evangelize the world. We must get natives to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation. The men whom we send forth to missionary stations must then be qualified to instruct the native preachers in all the elements of theological education. They will not only have to put the Bible into their hands as a textbook, but they will have to prepare, in the native language, or translate into it such books of theology, as shall give them adequate instruction.”
– James Petigru Boyce, first President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
This post originally appeared in the Summer 2009 issue of YOU!, published by LifeWay Christian Resources
The city where you live is a place of contrasts. There is at the same time opportunity and brokenness, creativity and decay, wealth and poverty, plenty and suffering. How does a believer or a church begin to influence a city like that? Where do you start? What does it look like to engage your community? Continue reading
