Stone the Preacher

GET EVEN WITH TAILGATERS AND BACKSLIDERS!
This sure beats a fish on the bumper or the “Jesus Loves You” sticker on the trunk lid, or the “God is my co-pilot” sign on the dashboard, or the “In case of rapture, this car will be empty” license plate holder, etc.

(Thanks to Anna “Banana” Jackson for this creative idea! See more creative evangelism stuff at “Evangelism Stuff, here.) To see how to do this to your back window, go The Living Waters Newsblast here.

Last week I explained the importance of posting evangelistic videos to YouTube, but there’s another unique opportunity: GodTube.
Why? It’s a great way to show the non-evangelizing Christian how to witness, it convicts the backsliders, fakers, and religious hypocrites; and these videos encourage those who are faithful to Jesus’ command to “Go!”

I was surprised to see my interview with a KISS wannabe on Hollywood Blvd. at #16 in the most viewed category with almost 20,000 viewings!
And what a discussion, too! The comments fall along the lines of whether I’m sharing my faith the right way, or if I’m too harsh—and some even defend me. Here’s a sample comment: “This video certainly evoked all different kinds of responses! It sure shows how varied the body of Christ is. I am a Christian and I don’t like that style of witnessing. The preacher reminded me of an attack dog that has been told to sic’ em. Yet some people thought it was great! Just goes to show that believing in Jesus doesn’t make everybody think alike.”

Judge for yourself if what I’m doing is injurious or enjoyable by watching “Kiss, Off!” here.

The motto of every evangelism class that I teach is:

“Go and make _______!!!”

Fill in the last word. Disciples, right?

Wrong.

Go and make mistakes!

Jesus said to “Go!” but He didn’t tell us how, per se; so we need to be bold, adventurous, risk-takers.

Go ahead, make that foolish error that offends someone.

Tell someone too harshly that they are going to Hell. Shake your finger in someone’s face. Get in the flesh once or twice.

Heck, turn the volume of your bullhorn up real loud. Accidentally.

The only way we learn and get better at something is to try. You can’t be a Barry Bonds without striking out. Tiger Woods duffed many. And I’m sure that Beckham didn’t bend it with out biffing it one or two times.

You have my permission to muck it up, screw it up, and just plain blow it when sharing the Gospel. You will get better, I promise.

Spurgeon said to “Do something! Do something! Do something!”

Don’t listen to those misguided anti-evangelists who promote “Do nothing! Do nothing! Do nothing!”

I’m proud of you.

Two weeks ago I featured a story about how Anna (Banana) Jackson witnesses inside a local Starbucks with management’s permission. I provided a link for a “Coffee Trivia” tract but there was a problem: the tract said “Coffee TriVA“.
If you’d like to download the new and improved “Coffee TriVIA” tract with the correct spelling, it’s available here.

This book will scare the Hell out of you and cause you to long for Heaven more. At only 93 pages, it describes the reality of both eternal states in a concise, intelligent, easy-to-understand manner.
According to Dr. R.C. Sproul, no other theologian in American history has explored the nature of Heaven and Hell more deeply or more biblically than Jonathan Edwards. Click here to take a look.

Todd Friel is the co-host of The Way of the Master radio.

The music weeps, the preacher pleads, “Give your heart to Jesus. You have a God shaped hole in your heart and only Jesus can fill it.” Dozens, hundreds or thousands of people who want to get their spiritual life on track make their way to the altar. They ask Jesus into their heart. Cut to three months later. Nobody has seen our new convert in church. The follow up committee calls him and encourages him to attend a Bible study, but to no avail. We label him a backslider and get ready for the next outreach event.

Our beloved child lies in her snuggly warm bed and says, “Yes, Daddy. I want to ask Jesus into my heart.” You lead her in “the prayer” and hope that it sticks. You spend the next ten years questioning if she really, really meant it. Puberty hits and the answer reveals itself. She backslides. We spend the next ten years praying that she will come to her senses.

Telling someone to ask Jesus into their hearts has a very typical result, backsliding.
 The Bible says that a person who is soundly saved puts his hand to the plow and does not look back because he is fit for service. In other words, a true convert cannot backslide. If a person backslides, he never slid forward in the first place. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (II Cor.5) No backsliding there.

Brace yourself for this one: with very few if any exceptions, anyone who asked Jesus into their hearts to be saved…is not. If you asked Jesus into your heart because you were told that is what you have to do to become a Christian, you were mis-informed.

If you have ever told someone to ask Jesus into their heart (like I have), you produced a false convert.
 Here is why:

1. It is not in the Bible. There is not a single verse that even hints we should say a prayer inviting Jesus into our hearts.
(more…)

What do you do when you are with someone who absolutely hates/is squeamish/embarrassed/or dies a million deaths when you try to give the Gospel to a lost person? Like when you are with your wife, sister, or shy Christian friend… Do you not give the Gospel? Do you push through and risk alienating your acquaintance? Or maybe, you ask their permission to do it?

In politics, the third rail of anything is a very dangerous and risky endeavor. The third rail is the “live” rail of the subway; if you touch it you will die because of the electrical current that runs through it. The Social Security system is known as the “Third Rail” of politics because if anyone touches it—and tries to change it—it is political suicide.

There is also a “Third Rail” when sharing your faith: an unwitting wife, relative or timid Christian friend. It’s hard to “touch” someone with the Gospel when the person you are with just doesn’t understand the urgency of your message. So what do you do when you see a witnessing opportunity arise and you are with one of them? What I try to do is ask their permission to share the Gospel–most of the time.

Hey! God is sovereign. He’ll use someone else to share the Gospel if you are not able too. And be patient with timid Christians—there are more of them than any other type.

The evangelism team went to a combined church outreach on Saturday at the Huntington Beach Pier. Many churches combined to “outreach” to all the unsaved who so willingly and enthusiastically attended Christian programs, listened to Christian bands playing Christian music, and took lots of Jesus stuff.
Yeah, right. When you were a pagan, how many Christian events did you attend, unless you were conned by a less-than-honest disciple.

As a rule, non-Christians don’t like going to Christian outreaches. Atheists don’t listen to Christian bands, New-Agers believe they are God, and agnostics are undecided about the whole thing. So what is the purpose of a combined church outreach? I think it’s a placebo we take in place of actually doing “something, something, something” for the Lord, something that might cost something.

Though there is certainly nothing wrong with churches getting together to celebrate the Lord—in fact, that is a very good thing, church unity and all—let’s be clear about what it is not: church outreach. To “outreach” means to “reach out,” to go out of your way to “reach” sinners. A cloistered cadre of canvas Christian “Easy-Ups” is a far cry from what Jesus meant when He said “Go!”

Ray Comfort and his Way of the Master film crew were outside the fair because as he put it, “The Christian bands are so loud that you can’t witness to anybody.”

Our team went outside the fair where the non-Christians were… lots of non-Christians. The first three kids we talked with came to a saving knowledge of Jesus—outside the fair.

We preached open air on the benches set up along the pier, just out of range of the blaring bands and “God loves you” messages. We even interviewed a Hindu family, each bearing the name of a Hindu god.

The age of Christian “outreach” fairs, “relevant” messages, and stadium crusades has passed.

Christians need to get away from the “dog and pony shows” of shallow, showy, salvation sermonizing, and get out onto the highways and byways—where the sinners are!

Am I wrong here?

Even though there is a wealth of evidence from Scripture, history, and the great teachers of the past (including Jesus, Paul, Peter and the gang), in regard to the efficacy of using the 10 Commandments in a Gospel presentation, you will still face the greatest opposition when sharing your faith in this way from… Christians!

Yes, Christians.

Some of the most difficult people to reason with are religious people, people of faith…
…nay, followers of Christ.

Make sure that when you share this Biblical principle of using the Law with a believing friend that you remain reasonable. Don’t fight. Don’t argue about it. Remain calm. Take a deep breath and… give them a copy of “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” or direct them to the Living Waters website where they can hear this teaching for free. I have found that some “get it” while others don’t. That’s okay. Remember, it is Hell’s best kept secret.

If your Christian brethren insult the teaching, the teacher—or even you—understand that there are a few underlying motives for them opposing you:

1) They probably don’t share their faith on a regular basis and are feeling threatened.

2) They are afraid to share their faith and don’t want to be exposed as cowards.

3) They aren’t really Christians.

So what should you do? What is the proper response from an evangelist who is highly effective, but faces opposition from a cowardly, unbelieving, disobedient Christian who rejects all convincing arguments that using the Law is the most biblical way in reaching the lost?

Do what Jesus did.

When the rich young ruler told Jesus that he had kept all the Commandments since birth, how did He respond to the ruler’s ignorance? He didn’t go into a tizzy and screw up his witness. He refused to huff and puff and blow the man down. And He resisted calling lightning down from Heaven.

No, Jesus simply challenged the young man on what he believed, then looked at him—and loved him.
We should, too.

Make it a point when sharing your faith with someone to be aware of others standing or sitting around you—then raise your voice a decibel or two; the results are amazing!
Remember, humans are natural eavesdroppers—everyone loves to hear a private conversation, so use that fact to your advantage for Jesus’ sake! Give the Law, talk about Judgment Day and Hell… then the cross of our Savior, not only to the person with whom you are talking, but to all those in the crowd as well: patrons waiting politely at their lunch table, the gang-bangers sitting on the curb, or those standing behind you at Starbucks.

Nothing is more satisfying than seeing eyes role in your peripheral vision as an unwary bystander reacts to the full Gospel while standing quietly beside a bus stop.

Everyone knows that second-hand smoke from cigarettes is harmful. What many don’t realize is that second-hand faith is actually quite helpful when presented in a gracious, courteous and… loud voice.

If you think the Million-dollar bill Gospel tract is cool, wait till you try this one out on your unsaved friends and loved ones.
There is a full Gospel message on the back of this hundred—and kids love them! (Adults do too, until they read the back.) Just ask this when giving it away: “Do you have change for a very large bill?” Take a closer look at them by clicking here!

Since writing last week about my illegal prayer in the name of Jesus at a City Council meeting (Click here to read it), I have thought deeply about this issue and have decided to obey the law next time I’m asked to give an invocation at a venue that specifically forbids “sectarian” prayer. I will not pray in the name of Jesus.
But here is what I will do… Before I open an event in prayer I will say something like this:

“I understand that prayers at events like these can be controversial. The pressure is great to offer an invocation that everyone will be comfortable with.

I thank you in advance for your understanding and your tolerance if your particular way of praying—or not praying, as the case may be—is different from mine.”

[I will then pray, ending the prayer with]:

“For Your sake, and for the sake of Your Kingdom.

Amen.”

I obey the law; everybody’s happy; and God still gets the glory.

They might even ask me back!

(Thanks to Stand to Reason for this prayer suggestion.)

What do you do when you run into a person who has asked “Jesus into their heart,” but still leads the life of Hitler?

How should a Christian respond to someone who says that they were born again at age three, but their photo is on the post office wall?

How can a believer appropriately deal with a “cursing like a sailor,” yet “Spirit filled, sealed by the blood” follower who also owns a strip joint?

Simple. Don’t assume that they are believers. Most likely they are false converts who believed that all they had to do was pray a “simple prayer” without any repentance.
Jesus says that a believer will bear “much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” There really should be evidence of a changed life when someone calls himself a Christian. If there’s no fruit, they are still in their sins and will end up in Hell if found guilty of breaking any of God’s ten commandments, like lying, stealing, lusting, or misusing His name.

John writes, “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” (1 John 1:6) And “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar and the truth is not in Him. But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6)

Back to that questionable Christian. He’s not so questionable now is he? Although he says he loves the Lord, he still gets loaded, lies to his wife, runs guns to the Middle East and voted for the pro-choice candidate. Don’t sweat it. Don’t argue about whether he’s truly saved or not… treat him like a pagan by lovingly asking if he’s kept the Commandments, warning him about Judgment Day and Hell, then telling him about the Savior who died for fakers as well.

The church can always use more ex-hypocrites!

(For more Scriptural references about how to tell believers from unbelievers as well as the church’s mandate to judge believers… (more…)

I love this! Everyone gets it wrong. Read the three phrases in the triangles out loud and see if you get it right! We blow these up to poster size and use it to attract crowds. After a person reads the test, we turn the card over and have them answer some more questions on the back—which leads to a Gospel presentation! (Living Waters Ministries has allowed evangelists to do this.)
Take a look and order some here from Living Waters; they are only 5 bucks for a 100!

I love escalators! Not only do they save me from all that arduous legwork incurred by lifting too-heavy gifts up too-steep stairs, but I can stand at the bottom and hand out Gospel tracts; I’ve handed out hundreds in just a few minutes. There is a theatre in a local mall that transports people down a level after the movie ends. I simply ask an usher what time the movie is over and wait!

Here’s my 5-year-old Laurel demonstrating excellent form:

Some members of the evangelism team, Robyn and Robert, do not want to be shown up by a little kid.

Let me caution you about the herd mentality, though. If one person says no to a Gospel tract, the whole line of people on the escalator says no. What you have to do after someone says no to a tract, is to skip three or four people and start again. If a person says yes, they all say yes and take them!

If you’re like me, you want your unsaved family members to come to know the Lord, so that when they die they will not pay for their sin themselves for eternity in Hell (ooooo… sounds kind of harsh doesn’t it?).

Let me try that again: If you’re like me, you want your unsaved loved ones to ask Jesus into their hearts, so they can know God’s wonderful plan for their lives, so He’ll fill that God-shaped vacuum in their hearts, so that they will be healed of all their diseases, get big houses and cars, and be trouble free in this life—because we all know that God is a big cosmic Santa who does whatever we ask.

Wait a minute… that’s a lie!

Okay. You understand my point… all those who have had their sins forgiven through Christ and have become born again want the same for all those they love—but how do you introduce the subject? There is an awesome opportunity every year at Christmas time, but it is very difficult for many of us, (myself included), to broach the subject with Mom, Dad, Grandma, and all those cousins.
Do you really want another year to pass with the risk of them perishing?

I didn’t think so.

Here’s a strategy that you can employ that will allow you the freedom to remain removed and all the blame will fall on me.
Seriously! Read on.

PART 1: Below this post is a very comical video from Sermon Spice that EVERYONE will enjoy and EVERYONE will laugh at and agree with the message, (even Papa, who drinks to much). Have everyone gather around the 21st Century hearth (the computer), eggnog in hand, and click this video on. Say something like: “Hey everyone! Come over here and watch this silly video!” They will laugh and “get the message” of Christmas in a totally non-threatening way, because everyone knows Christmas is about Christ. Don’t preach, just laugh with them.

PART 2: Tomorrow, I will post another video called KISS, OFF! It’s an interview I had with a man dressed as Gene Simmons from the band Kiss, who got very shaky when confronted with the 10 commandments. The message is very clear, and all your church-going family members will be confronted with the truth from my mouth. After you watch this, you can say: “What did you think of that interviewer? Was he harsh or what? etc.”

Blame everything on me; it’s okay, because you will definitely get a reaction.

I showed it to two family members already. My sister talked nervously through the whole thing while my brother-law laughed and agreed. I’m showing it to my Mom today.

Don’t wait another year; there may not be another one for Auntie.
(To make it easier for you, I will post the two videos again—at the top of the page, on Friday, without this article—and I will leave them there until the day after Christmas. Please let me know if you were bold enough to do this.)

Whenever I go with a team of people to hand out Gospel tracts and share our faith the first thing we do is hand out a tract to the very first person we see. It gets the initial jitters over with and allows you the freedom to get “into a groove.” You will be amazed at how easy it is once you get the first one “over with.”

Here’s my 5-year-old Laurel “breaking the ice” in the parking lot of the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica before we hit the mall:

A secondary tip is to teach your kids to evangelize when they are very young, so they won’t be evangelistic wimps when they grow up like the rest of American Christians.

The first time I met Ray Comfort he showed me his office and pointed to the tiniest desk you ever saw in your life; it was the size of a T.V. dinner table. With a smile he pointed to it and said, “That’s Kirk’s desk!” I laughed as he then led me to his desk, pulled open a drawer, and drew out The Smart Card.
“Put your finger in the center and hold it there for fifteen seconds; if it turns a bright red then you are a good person and you will go to Heaven.” Being the sucker that I am I did just that, it didn’t turn bright red and Ray said, “Everyone does it— they all put their finger on it!” And they do!

This is a great way to break the ice, get a quick laugh… then share the Gospel. (They no longer have the “Low Tech” red spot Smart Card. It’s now high tech with reflective images—and it works great! TAKE A LOOK AND ORDER SOME HERE!

In American Christianity there is a great emphasis on “getting decisions” for Christ when evangelizing. This puts the pressure on the person sharing their faith to get as many decisions as possible without regard for the “sinner’s” heart. Many people will say the “sinner’s prayer”, walk down an aisle, raise a little hand, do a little dance—and get saved tonight, yeaaaah, get saved tonight!

These questions should arise: Are they really saved? Was there any repentance? Were they forced into a decision?

If there were as many Christians as the media says there are, do you think we would have over 45 million abortions a year? Would we tolerate state sanctioned prayerless in schools? Would there be the level of godlessness that we see in this nation?

We have a nation of false converts.

These people prayed a prayer and bought into the man-centered Gospel that says ”God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life;” people who made a “decision” for Christ, but didn’t count the cost; people who raised their hands while the lights were low and the piano played , but never repented of their wickedness.

So what is an evangelist to do?

Trust that it is God who does the saving and that He saves to the “uttermost.” We get to play the part of a seed-sower or a waterer, but it’s God who causes people to get saved.

I like to look at it this way: I lead everyone to the Lord everytime I talk about Christ, AND I always get a decision. When I talk about Jesus I lead them to the Savior, and they make a decision to follow Him or not.

You’re on the horns of a dilemma: A member of your family loves restaurants that serve all-natural-no-preservatives or meatfat, fleshless-food.

You don’t.

It’s not a matter of faith, just a matter of taste. She doesn’t mind bland tasting things soaked in soy, battered in bristle flour, tasting like wet cardboard and tempe.

You do.

As a loving husband, (oops… I gave myself away!), you live with your wife in an understanding way, take her to the no-kill zone, and offer to share a plate of gluten-free product with steamed veggies.

That’s not dilemma, that’s love.

The problem lies with all those idols decorating the establishment: the multi-headed thing with wings, the big, framed, all-knowing eye , and that lady with eight arms and thirty-two breasts sitting atop the coffee carafe. What’s a Christian to do? You know that an idol is nothing, still, those ugly pieces of wood and stone and metal and plastic bug the heck out of you because other people believe they have some sort of power.

And while you are chewing on the baby broccoli, you’re forced to stare into that big, framed, all-knowing eye… while trying not to stare at that idol-lady with the eight arms and—oh, nevermind!

Here’s what you do. Take an attractive Gospel tract, like a Million-dollar bill or something, and place it strategically on the idol. When the all-natural-cotton-baggy-pants set gives a holy acknowledgement to the lifeless thing, they will—out of intense curiosity—grab that tract, possibly read and obey the message, and turn to the one true God who gave them life and breath and everything else!

Or, they’ll just crumple it up and throw it away. Oh! But what fun!!!

-Steve Sanchez

If you are on a plane, train or automobile with the unsaved, this is a great way to break the ice and get a laugh before starting an evangelistic conversation. I like to tell the unsuspecting unsaved that this is the best book for the scientific proof for evolution that I’ve ever read, then I hand it to them. As they open the book, they see that it is completely blank. I don’t give it to them to keep; I just want them to take a peek at it. There is a Gospel message on the back and lots of quotes from scientists about the ridiculousness of this fiction, including a quote from Darwin himself:

“Often a cold shudder has run through me, and I have asked myself whether I may have not devoted myself to a fantasy.” — Charles Darwin, Life and Letters, 1887, Vol. 2, p. 229.

There are seven other books in the series including, “What Man Has Learned About Women.”

Each book is only two bucks! Take a look and order here!

When I teach my evangelism class these questions always come up when it comes to verbally sharing our faith:

What should you do when someone doesn’t believe in God?
How do you handle a person who says that they just go in the ground when they die?
What if they insist that God will not judge them because there is no Judgment Day?
Or, “I don’t believe in Hell?”

It’s very simple: Use the word “if”. Posing your inquiry as hypothetical questions does not change the reality of eternal truths. So as you engage the skeptical, the atheist, the ignorant, and the defiant, simply ask your questions this way:

“IF there was a God…”

“IF there was a Heaven or a Hell where do you think you would go?”

“IF there was a Judgment Day, would you be innocent or guilty of keeping God’s commands perfectly?”

Remember a person’s belief (or lack thereof) of what you’re saying does not alter facts .

An iffy situation can easily turn into an opportunity for salvation.

The Apostle Paul said, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this all for the sake of the Gospel…”

John, a University of Southern California student popped into my office with a bag. “This is for you,” he said. I pulled out a brand-spankin’ new red and yellow—no, scratch that, cardinal and gold—T-shirt with “USC football” written on it. He knew that we were heading to the SC tailgate party on Saturday and he wanted me to “wear my colors.”

He had a point.

USC alumni, students, and fans are more likely to take a Gospel tract or listen to me speak about Christ if I am “one of them.” How an evangelist dresses is very important!

We got booted out of the Jehovah’s Witness Convention (see “A Great Cloud of Jehovah’s Witnesses”) a few months back because we didn’t do our research ahead of time. They were dressed to the nines in suits and floral dresses; we were in “California Casual.” The Christian sore thumbs stuck out way to boldly.

On our evangelistic outings I tell everyone to leave their “Lord’s Gym” T-shirts, “What Would Jesus Do” bracelets, Savior hats and John 3:16 fright wigs at home; I want us to blend in like a common pagan.

So wear the clothes of the fans, even if you hate the team.

I love giving this pressed penny to people after a succesful Gospel presentation. They accept it readily and leaves quite an impression. They pick it up, squint, and ask if all the commandments are really on there. I say, “Yes. But you have to hold it up to the light.” They don’t understand the joke, but I have a little laugh inside. After taking them through the 10 Commandments and seeing that they understand that they have broken them, will be found guilty on Judgment Day and will pay for their sin in Hell—and after I give them a clear presentation of the Gospel—I hand them a penny and say, “Here’s a gift for you. It’s a 10 Commandments penny. Remember, you can’t keep the commandments—except in your pocket!”
Order some now by clicking here!

Carrying around little Gospels of John is a wonderful way to share your faith. They are offered by the The Pocket Testament League for free and you can order up to 30 Gospels a month(all you have to do is pay the S & H, which is about 8 bucks). See a few of the 23 different covers below.

You can also choose different translations. I use the New Living Translation because we live in a post-literate culture and this translation is written at a 6th-grade level.

After I verbally share my faith, if I sense that they are interested, I then give them a Gospel of John. I have stickers that I put on the back of the Gospels that has contact info so they can call or email me. Also, I put my church address and service times on the sticker. I only give the Gospels out to those who show interest in Christ, otherwise they will trample Him underfoot. Think: Pearls before swine!

I once gave them to some Jewish guys. They were in their car ready to leave, so I handed them each a Gospel. As they drove away they tossed them out the window!

One caution! I tear out the first 3 pages because it contains an easy-believism, man-centered Gospel message that may create a false convert. I also tear out the second to last page; read it and you will know why.

This makes for a great gift; pagans actually appreciate them. Someone gave me a Gospel of John a few months before I was saved sixteen years ago. I think I still have it among my memorabilia.

(This begins an occasional feature that promotes helpful tools for sharing your faith.)
I love this tract! People laugh when I hand it to them and say, “Here’s my new job title.” Then I remind them to read the back. When they turn it over, they see a Gospel message written sdrawkcab! I then say, “Annoying isn’t it?” What a great way to break the ice and start an evangelistic conversation. Take a look at the whole thing by clicking here!

We have a command from Jesus to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” This literally means “go into ALL the world.” That includes bars, movie theatres, stadiums, “Red Light Districts,” Chinatown, Koreatown, and Boystown. It also includes places where freedom of speech is protected and where it ain’t, which means public places and private spaces.

Not everyone is built the same, though.

That’s why I tell people that they should not only be led by the Holy Spirit, but also by the three “C’s”:
Courage
Convictions
Conscience
This will help you to go into all the world and not stumble while doing it.

After all, one man’s Areopagus may be another man’s Sodom.

The Bible says that we are to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil ( Ephesians. 5:15), that’s why I don’t let anyone get away when I ask the million-dollar question, which is: “If you were to die today, would you go to Heaven or Hell?” I use the acrostic P.E.E.P. to help me remember what to do…

P.–Preach! I try give the full Gospel to an unbeliever, talking about the 10 Commandments, Judgment Day, Hell, and Salvation through Jesus.

E.– Exort! If someone says they are a Christian I ask them what they mean by that . If they say, “I’ve asked Jesus in my heart.” I ask them what that means. I want to hear that they have repented and trusted (or believed) that Jesus died for their sins. If they say that they’ve done that, then I exhort them to know what they believe and get back in church. (A lot of “Christians” these days don’t go to church). I use this analogy: Not going to church is like being married and not living in the same house with your spouse.

E.–Encourage! Someone may have all the right answers and really know why they are saved. I then ask them what church they go to. Then I ask for the name of their Pastor. You’d be surprised how many people don’t know their Pastor’s name. I encourage them to get more involved and be authentic about their faith.

P.–Pray! If I sense that a person is a true believer, I ask how I might pray for them—and I lay hands on them right then and there.

If you use this acrostic while sharing your faith, you’ll be amazed at how much ministry you can do outside of church walls.

Here are two short lessons from “The Way of the Master” to help you in your understanding of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Click here to get to the site. Then put your cursor on “Get Equipped” and click on “Answers to 100 common questions”
Then hit “In Depth,”
then “Jehovah’s Witnesses” It’s worth it!

In anticipation of our incursion of the Jehovah’s Witness convention on Saturday, I’m rerunning this article by Ray Comfort. Never be afraid to answer your door again…

I rushed down the stairs to the sound of a barking dog and our doorbell. When I opened it, two well-dressed young men stood in front of me. I greeted them with a warm, “Hi,” to which one of them asked in perfect English, “Do you know of any Spanish speaking families around here?”

“Next door there is a Spanish speaking family. Across the road there is an Indonesian family, then an India, then English, and I am Chinese. Do you want to see a picture of me on a cruise?”

They politely said they did, so I quickly opened my wallet and showed them a picture of Tom Cruise with the word, “ME,” on his forehead. They laughed.

“So what are you guys selling?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you Mormons?”

“No.”

“Jehovah Witnesses?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me this. I have a knife in my back. I have three minutes to live. My blood and life are draining from me. I know I’m dying. What are you going to say to me. How can I enter the Kingdom?” Click here to continue reading!