We are a busy people.  “What are you doing?” “Well, I’m staying busy”. That's our standard answer. We are talking to people, but what about?  Our conversation is jobs, vacation, where’s the best place to eat, our children and grandchildren, our houses, our things.

            Have we lost confidence in the gospel?  Paul said “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  (Rom. 1:16)  Jesus said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”(Mark 16:15, 16) We can trust the power in the gospel to save souls.

            Have we lost confidence in the gospel?  Are we telling the story of Jesus?   Have we lost confidence in this Jesus, in our God?  We say no one wants to listen anymore.  Granted, some people are not interested, they are very busy. God did not give us a message to preach that would become “ outdated”. He knew what He was doing when He gave us the gospel.  Do we think God incapable of designing a message that would appeal to people in the first century but not today?  The problem is not in the message.

            God told Ezekiel. “Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me even unto this day. For they are impudent children and stiff hearted...Whether they will hear or whether they will forbear, yet shall they know that there hath been a prophet among them. Be not afraid of them, nether be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. (Ezek. 2:3-6)  We are sent to a rebellious nation today, they are stiff hearted. We must preach to them anyway. Why?  Because we have been commanded. (Matt. 28: 19.20)

Are We Growing or Dying? 

             Flavel Yeakley from Harding University  did a study. He reports between 1980-1990 the Churches of Christ grew 3-3 1/2 %. One half of this growth includes the Boston Movement leaving us with 1 3/4 %. This includes what we call liberal, conservative, all of us. This is over a 10-year period. If this is figured on an annual basis, we are growing at the rate of 16/100 of 1% per year.

            The Assemblies of God church grew at a rate of 34% in that 10-year period. The Mormon Church 32%, Southern Baptist, 16% and the Catholic Church grew 12 1/3 %.  This was the last decade.  Iin the 90s we averaged 50 members for each church, with a growth rate of 8 becoming Christians each year. Six of those are the children of the members and 2 of those are outsiders. Out of the 2, 1 of them will fall away in the first few weeks. So we are winning 1 outsider each year. ( I haven’t seen any figures for after the year 2000) .   Are we dying?

            The Christian Chronicle printed the results of a study interviewing about 2000 Jr. High, Sr. High and college students. Out of that figure 80% did not believe that one had to be an active member of the church to go to heaven. (These were from the Churches of Christ) It was said, “That they appeared to have little passion concerning church, and found it hard processing the word “passion”.  This is the church tomorrow.  (Larry West, We Care Ministry, Seminar, Sherwood, Ark., Dec. 1996)

We Are Afraid.  Do We Doubt Jesus and His Message?

            Yes, it seems that we are afraid of being rejected. So we are saying that all we must do is: “Just live the life of a Christian and people will come to us and ask us about our Christianity then we can teach them”.  Is this working? 

            This is not something new with us in the 20th century. When Moses was called by God to go into Egypt and deliver God’s people, he was afraid. He said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt”?  God said “Certainly. I will be with thee”... (Ex. 3:11, 12)

            When Moses sent the 10 spies out to spy out the land of Canaan. Two of them came back and said” Let us go up and take the land. We are well able”.  The other 10 spies said, “No, there are giants in the land, we are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we”.  (Nu.13: 31)  Faithful Joshua and Caleb tried to overcome the fear and disobedience of the 10 spies. “If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” (Nu.14: 8, 9) they trusted in God and His message.

            The Hebrew writer reminds us again, “For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.”  (Heb.13: 5b-6)  “For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your souls. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin”. (Heb12: 3, 4) If we are afraid, let us do as the early Christians. They lifted up their voice to God and said, “And now Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.” (Acts 4:29) God hath not given us the spirit of fearfulness; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. (11 Tim.1: 7) “The wicked flee when no man pursuith, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1)

            It has been said that it is easier to raise money to preach the gospel abroad than to preach it here in the U. S.  Could it be that we think our fellow countrymen will not listen, so we have given up? We can’t give up on America. What about our grandchildren? What kind of a heritage are we leaving them?  Our forefathers stood and preached in hard times and in hard places. Not everyone was delighted to hear. They preached it anyway!

We Must Put Away Fear, Trust Jesus, His Gospel, and Preach it.

             For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!   (1Cor.9: 16)   Paul was active in, “warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  (Col. 1:28) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Tim.4: 2) Paul also told Timothy to “endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill thy ministry”. (2 Tim. 4:5)

             Our enemy Satan has no defense against the gospel. It is certainly, without a doubt trustworthy. The gospel is the story of Jesus death, burial and resurrection.  Jesus’ blood that was shed in His death has the power to wash away sin. That takes care of our sin problem.  His resurrection takes care of our grave problem, we will rise, never to die again, but to live eternally with Him. Satan cannot stand against such power. If we are with Jesus, we stand with the one who has all power. (Matt.28: 18)  Why should we fear?  The world needs to hear this gospel. True, most will reject but some will obey and rejoice in their salvation. Sinners will be snatched out of the fire and God will be glorified.

                                    We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

                                    Spread the tiding all around; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

                                    Bear the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves;

                                    Onward! ‘Tis the Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

            Sisters, let us encourage ourselves, our husbands, and each other to go forth to our neighbors, friends, relatives, the hi-ways and bi-ways-- the whole world teaching the “wonderful words of life”!!

Let our children see us involved in soul winning so that they will grow up trusting in the power of the gospel to win souls, trusting in God, His word and the blood of the precious Savior to wash away sins.  Let us study so that we might be prepared to teach. Let us pray for boldness to proclaim that word. God will honor that prayer and give the boldness and strength necessary to do the job. 

                                     Into our hands the gospel is given,

                                     Into our hands is given the light.

                                     Haste let us carry God’s precious message;

                                     Leading the erring back to the right.
 

                                                                                                          Wilma Hendrick