Day 1: Have you felt uncomfortable talking about God? Like you're viewed as stupid? Maybe you don't want to be public about it? Ultimately, Jesus told us to pray for laborers to go into the harvest, but it's tempting for us to say, "I'll pray for laborers, but I don't want to do it myself. That's not really my calling. I'll just be on the sidelines and encourage those who are working." In Zephaniah 1:12, God had harsh words for a certain group, saying,
"It will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit..."
Those who refuse to stand against Satan ultimately aid him, which is why God became so upset in the above passage. Don't let Satan keep you quiet! Don't let him convince you that spreading the good news isn't possible anymore! "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind!" (2 Tim 1:7) Need a battle buddy to help you get started? I'd love to be that person, and I'm not alone in that desire.
Day 2:
Are you convinced that spreading the gospel isn't for you? That being Christ-like without ever mentioning Christ is the best way to go? Like talking about God is kind of a social faux pas that upsets others?
Before we ate as a group during my deployment, my young commander stopped everyone and said that he wanted to say a prayer. Since he isn't a chaplain, it was unexpected. And he even ended it in Jesus' name, which was even more surprising. This same commander was out shoveling sandbags with me. As Christians, we all need to be willing to show that sort of leadership. We need to be willing to proclaim our God to anyone. We need to be willing to serve others out of love.
An incredible image of our Savior came when He washed the feet of His disciples in John 13, and then said, “You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Jesus wasn't talking about just feet, but servant leadership! And Paul powerfully said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
Recognize that being a servant-leader will make people respond positively to your message of the gospel. Don't be ashamed! Be bold! Serve others! LIVE like Christ!
Day 3:
I think that we're getting pretty close to the last days. Do you go home from church and say, "Wait, is that true? Is that really accurate in context?" Do you think, "You know what, I want to know the truth. I don't care if it goes against everything I was raised with. I just have to know the truth." Most people want to hear what they grew up with. What is comfortable. It's easier to have people tell you what to think in a nice sermon or catechism or youtube video. It's easier to be a "normal Christian." Consider these two types of people:
1—"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great EAGERNESS, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11)
2—"For the time will come when they WILL NOT ENDURE sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." (2 Tim 4:3)
I love a good sermon. But I go home and say, "I'm going to investigate this further, because my life depends on this." Satan himself was great with quoting scriptures to Jesus (check out Matthew 4), but he pulled them out of context. It's great to quote God, but anything in your Bible can be twisted to cause destruction. Fact-check me. Fact-check your preacher. That's your responsibility, because if Satan tried it on Christ, he'll certainly try it on you.
Day 4:
It's hard to know people based off of their "church attendance." At church people can seem so Christian, but if you saw them at work, or school...they could seem so different. It's like some people have a spiritual off switch. If they're in assembly, they listen to the sermon with the rest of the sermon-listeners. If they're with their friends who are partying, they're partying also. They're Christians by coincidence.
And then others just grew up with Christian parents. They're not going to rock the boat. It's a system that works pretty well, so they're going to go to church, too. There is no evangelism to spread the Gospel. They're Christians by coincidence. If they'd been born to Mormons, they'd be Mormons. If they'd been born to Church of Christ parents, they'd be Church of Christ.
We are the bride of Christ, and what we work at—or avoid working at— reveals a lot about our spiritual state. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil 2:13) I always ask myself, "How is God using me for His pleasure? Am I stifling His Spirit in me?"
Day 5:
Have you ever heard someone say on Sunday, "Now we take up collection on the first day of the week, as we have been commanded?" I hear that a lot, but it is interesting to me that Paul once wrote that this was something which "I am not commanding you." Consider this brief bit from 2 Corinthians 8:
"For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints...I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also."
Doing things because they are "commanded" doesn't prove earnestness. Being a Christian because "that is what separates us from those going to Hell" doesn't show a marriage to Christ, but rather a contract for reward or punishment. Let's show the sincerity of our love by being exceptionally bright lights, not just "normal Christians."
Day 6:
Christians often lament the decline of America. Why are there so few Christians? Ultimately, it is because we, as Christians, have a problem with ourselves. If we genuinely love people, we naturally want to help them, even at our own expense. Consider your genuine love—is it communicated to people in everything you say, everything you do, the way you hold yourself? That's hard to fake. It's easy to brush yourself with a veneer of Christianity, pick up your Bible, and head out the door...but people can see through that.
The key to spreading our faith is in changing our character so that we genuinely care. People will believe us, because it's actually true. If we don't want to ACTIVELY share Jesus with others—not just hoping that they get Him through spiritual osmosis—then we really don't love others. It's about being ACTIVE. Not just sitting in a pew. Not just having a Bible. Not just wearing our "Christian-name" around town. Those things don't make you like Christ. The ACTIVE commission that Jesus gave is this:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Mt 28) Are you ready? Do you REALLY care about Jesus and others? Then let's get started. I'll help ya!
Day 7:
There is an elephant in the room for Christians, and it makes us uncomfortable and even upset to think about. We'll be singing songs about ringing out the message true and glad, about bringing in the sheaves, yet...that's not what we're doing. "Bringing others to Christ....that's not really my gift," you'll hear. As one lady told me, "I just want to be a normal Christian, not vocal and studying the Bible with people like you do. You're too Christian."
But God doesn't really break this down into "you make new Christians" and "you don't make new Christians." In fact, we know that He gave us all talents and expects a return FROM EVERYONE. (Mt 25) He expects all of us to be making disciples (though there are a million excuses not to)!
The elephant in the room is that Jesus said, "“Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) There is no other option. There is no getting around our calling to study Jesus with people. We must make disciples. We must bear fruit. The only time that you can ever know that you have is the present, so now's the time to get started.
Day 8:
What are some reasons that Christians don't share their faith with others? Why do we often say internally, "I'll believe in Christ...but the souls around me are on their own?" Here are some common things that you hear:
-"I'm afraid that I'll lose a friend/girlfriend/boyfriend."
-"I worry that I don't know the Bible well enough and don't have all the answers."
-"I feel like I'm not given that gift...that's for a pastor or preacher."
-"I'm afraid that my past is kinda shady...people will think I'm a hypocrite."
-"I'm worried that I'll get in trouble."
-"I'm afraid that I'll be thought of as weird."
-"I'm afraid that I'll fail!"
These are valid fears! Yet all these thoughts contain, "I'm afraid that it's going to cost ME." Stop. Take a step back for a second—what we're really saying is, "I'm afraid of growing up into the character of Christ. I don't want to grow up." The only obstacle that we have to sharing our faith is US. Not anything around us. Not a girlfriend. Us. Our own fears. Consider whether or not your own, personal evangelism is important. I'd like to leave you with this from Revelation 12:
"They overcame [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." Your testimony and Jesus, working together, even unto death, are what overcomes Satan. Your testimony is not just words, but your life. The time you give to others to bear the gospel. Are you ready? Are you willing?
Day 9:
"I'm not a vocal Christian...I prefer to keep it to myself." I used to think and feel that way myself. It proves that our emotions follow our investment, "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Mt 6:21) If we are invested in Christ, we will not have a "live and let...die" mentality. We will be passionately compelled to fight for others' eternities, because we will love them as Jesus does!
After Jesus came back from the dead, He talked with some people and they said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us?" (Luke 24:32) He WANTS to burn brightly within us! He WANTS us to be straight-up Hunger Games Catching Fire, a flame that everyone can see and which cannot be put out!
And so He said, "I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49) Take EVERY opportunity to bring people to Christ! Study! Pray! Fast! Don't let Satan have an inch! Refuse to be lukewarm—be on fire!
Day 10:
There are two classes of people: those who are baptized and clothed in Christ (Gal 3) and those who are held captive by Satan to do his will, whether they know it or not. (2 Tim 2) Think about your friends. How many of them are outside of Christ. Do you love them? Check out this attitude: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." (II Corinthians 5:20)
YOU are the ambassador that has been sent! Think of one person you know who is outside of Christ. Pray for them—make dedicated time to pray at length. You'll become invested in them, instead of them just being another casual write-off. Pray for an open door to bring them to Christ.
And if that door opens even a hair, take it. Need help with presenting the good news? Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2) I'd be honored to labor with you and help you out!
Day 11:
Are you a Christian? This is straight-up for you:
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the [Christian] may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17)
How familiar are you with the Bible? Can you explain why you believe what your preacher says is true, instead of brand X down the street? If so, good, but notice that God's end point is not just to know stuff, it's to do EVERY. GOOD. WORK.
The best work we can ever do is bringing someone to Christ. Happy are the feet of those bring the good news! (Romans 10:15) Be a child of God in more than name—get involved in making Christians.
Day 12:
Spending time to bring the gospel to people is the easiest thing in the world to avoid! Too old, too young, too busy, too experienced, too afraid...the saints in Christ are too SOMETHIN'!
It's easy to beg off of being a fisher of men.
"I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.” The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you." (Jer 1.6-7)
God has work to be accomplished, and it's for all of us, no excuses! Let's use the power He gives to be His mighty, living army, with a heart of flesh, not of hard stone (Eze 36-37). A heart that cries out for all to come to repentance that none should perish!
Day 13:
Ever seen someone that really needs some solid spiritual leadership in his/her life? Maybe you've thought, "Wow, I can fix this person!" At some point, you'll meet someone who says, "I don't think you're the right one to help me, sorry."
That can be true. As Paul noted in 1 Cor 3:6, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth." Apollos was the one to really help provide guidance—not Paul.
Don't be offended if someone rejects your help. Ask if you can assist them in finding someone that will be a good helper for them. Remind them that you can always be of service and that you love them!
Day 14:
You were there and saw it. Your friend died in front of your eyes. People killed him and there was nothing you could do—he gave his life to keep you safe. He loved you beyond your comprehension.
In response, you sat on a bench an hour a week! Ticket to an eternal reward, too! Ticket to heaven! Christ died and all ya gotta do is believe it! Right? That's what a loving relationship looks like?
"And the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army." Ezekiel said in 37:10 that Christ died so that our hearts would be changed from stony, unloving ones, to ones of loving flesh—that we would be an overwhelming army, as Christians.
Christians have a new heart. They're valiant. They're an army. They, as Christ did, seek to save the lost.Does love for the who died for you look like a chair or pew an hour per week? Or would you, for the man who died for you, offer "your bodies as living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your rational service?" (Romans 12:1) What's love look like? Are you in love with God?
Day 15:
Consider the following statements from two sites regarding the worship services on Sunday:
—"God actually cares what we do when we come together to worship as his people."
—"Worship is the most important thing humans do...In those few minutes, we have God’s undivided attention. "
Now ask yourself these questions: "Is there a time when God doesn't care what I do? Is there a time that I can't have God's undivided attention? Where does the Bible mention a "worship service?" Consider that God said that Christians would receive His Spirit in them (Eze 36 & 37), and that Jesus, when asked where to worship, said it would no longer be a physical place, but rather "in spirit and in truth." (John 4)
Ask yourself, "When am I not in spirit? When should I not be submitting spiritually to God? Does worship have an "off switch?" Lastly, consider Isaiah's prophecy of Christians and ask yourself if it seems like it means, "an hour per week."
“So your offspring and your name will endure.
“And it shall be from new moon to new moon
And from Sabbath to Sabbath,
All mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.” (66:19-23)
Day 16:
I've said before that Hillary Clinton is the world's most lifelike AI—that her human suit is almost enough to fool me. While I've said that in jest, it's very easy to carry the title of "Christian," without actually being one. It's easy to get some externals right—goes to church on Sunday, acts polite to elders, posts a Bible verse on Facebook every now and then—while being anything but like Christ inside. No set of laws is adequate for an immoral people, and so Jesus said,
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also." (Mat 23:25-26)
If you want to be a Christian, in the end it has to be more than a name. It has to be who you are inside. If you can change the desires of your heart, the outside will become truly clean—you'll be eager to spread the good news to people, you'll want to help those in need, you'll love praying with others, and no amount of "church attendance" will seem like enough. You'll be on fire inside, and everyone will see the glow outside!
Day 17:
Ever met someone who is weak in their Christianity? These people need you to slap 'em around a bit so that they wake up! (J/k) Check out what Paul said:
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more...to the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel." (1 Cor 9:19-23)
Sometimes people are fragile and weak in their faith, and they need a gentle hand to help build them up. Much like a husband and wife, nagging them to do better isn't very healthy. Instead, encouraging their good traits can be the best option.
Day 18:
In my not so distant past, I used to have some disdain for Christians that I saw as being "not really on fire" for God—and that's a BAD spiritual sickness on my part! My friend Jeff Hostetter from Ghana (been there for over 3 decades) reminded me that, "Jesus would not extinguish a flickering wick."
"A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish." (Is.42:3)
I was recently reminded by a friend that I can get somewhat patronizing sometimes, and that's to my shame. "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." (1 Cor 8:1) When you see the flickering ember, help it grow strong and bright! Protect it until it can go on its own. Don't be the Christian Fire Brigade that comes to put it out.
Day 19:
Christianity's dying, folks. You're a lazy bum—a total scumrotten slobbergoat—and you know it. Just kidding with the last part! Let's be serious for a moment. What is your function? What's your job? At work? In your family? What do you do to pull your own weight? Do you have role at work and home, or do you just show up?
If you've been baptized, you have a job. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...the body is not one member, but many. But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. (1 Cor 12)
The fact is that God gave us differing abilities and He expects us, as His children, to use them. In the parable of the talents, the one slave returned exactly what he'd been given, and his master was angered. That's like us showing up with just ourselves to God and saying, "Yeah bro, kept this meatsuit safe, pretty sure Ya owe me." Yet God said of us, "the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. AND AS EACH INDIVIDUAL PART DOES ITS WORK, the body grows and builds itself up in love." (Eph 4:16)
The body grows ONLY when each of us recognizes what God has given us and uses it. Wonder why Christianity is dying out? Like a bodybuilder whose muscles wither away, we're shrinking from a lack of us. Because we show up to work and sit in the break room. Let's fix it!
Day 20:
So God gave you...yourself! In return, He's looking for you to bring your ol' meatsuit to heaven, right—the ultimate show of love? "Made it, God, kinda resented the whole "be like Christ junk," really wasn't feelin' the whole "teach and baptize and spread the gospel nonsense," but here's me, so how boutcha hit me with that reward!" In Matthew 24:14-30, Jesus told a parable about some men who were given money by their master. "To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability."
Two of the people went and made a profit off what they'd been given. God told those two, "‘Well done, good and faithful servant." The other one, while appreciative in a way, just buried it in the ground and later returned exactly what his master had given him. The master was less-than-pleased, saying, "‘You wicked and lazy servant! You ought to have invested my money with the bankers...cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’"
Imagine: God has given us a lot. He loves us. When we're in love with someone, we shower them with affection. When you're in love with your spouse, you do stuff for them. Yet we often treat God with a subtle resentment: "Jeesh, look, I'm looking for the heaven, but hold the Christ." That's like saying that you love your spouse so that you can stay in his AWESOME house, without ever actually showing any love.
Love is a verb. Love is a doing word. Don't show up with just yourself. Spread. That. Gospel.
