Restaurant evangelism

I am supposed to be on vacation from my part-time job.  So, today Jim and I went out for a day trip.  We decided to head south to a restaurant known for great biscuits and gravy.  The busy freeway offers many truck-stop restaurants each with their own signature décor and food offerings.  Our restaurant of choice had stopped serving their breakfast biscuits by the time we arrived, so we opted for lunch.

What I find unique about this restaurant, and usually not found in most places of business, is the message of the love of God.  A reader board in the foyer read “Repentance means hating sin enough to turn from it” with a scripture reference to Hosea 6:1-6.  Just inside the front door, in front of the pie rack so you cannot miss it, was a revolving bookrack stuffed with books of inspiration, devotional materials, how to books on finances and even some Bible trivia.  Also, on our table a flyer proclaimed the message of good news for your day.

I know it is rare to find these good news messages in the typical restaurant or any business.  It seems the norm is for owners to be politically correct so as not to offend anyone who may want to shop or eat at their business.  However safe that is, the alternative has eternal consequences.

 The meaning of “good news” or “gospel” is from the translated Greek word for “evangelism.”  In Local Church in Evangelism (p.27), the end objective of evangelism is a disciple–a committed and faithful follower of Christ. 

 We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.  Colossians 1:28

 As a believer it is not our responsibility to convince someone to make a decision for Christ; all we need do is “proclaim” the message that Jesus is the answer–He changes lives.  I am finding the simplest way to share is to just tell what Christ has done in my life.  Trying to come up with just the right scripture or defend a “truth” someone wants to pursue, just causes distraction from the real purpose – to share Jesus.  Being an effective witness does not necessarily depend on how long a person has followed Christ or even how spiritually mature he or she is.  (Evangelism, p.29)  

The restaurant we were in today is using the opportunity of providing food to share the good news with customers.  Our opportunities may come entirely different as we work or play with our friends and family. 

I am Learning – In His Time – He will lead me

Jesus -- Who and Why!

Just to let you know up front, I'm in the final days of the latest Bible study course I'm taking.  This study has been a real challenge to me and how I perceive my roll as a believer in Christ.  Our text book is from A/G’s Global University, The Local Church in Evangelism, and while reading Chapter 7 we were presented with Peter's preaching style found in the books of Mark and Acts.  The key components of Peter's message on the Day of Pentecost were relating who Jesus is and why He gave His life.  Peter’s presentation of the gospel is so easy to understand that I wonder why it has taken me so long to grasp it.  Why do I find it difficult to talk about this amazing savior to outsiders?  I decided to gather more specific historical information about Jesus. 

As you may know, the internet is really not the best place to find truth–remember even basic facts are subject to the author!  On one site I found a statement that Jesus never lived.  He was only a fictional character made up from many past characters.  My son, Jim, is finishing his last year at Northwestern University.  So, I went rummaging through his growing library of text books from Bible encyclopedias and Parallel Bibles where eschatology, theology and exegesis get lost in so much verbiage.

This is what I found regarding Christ.  A Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus was an eye-witness to history and is best known for his works War of the Jews and Antiquities of the Jews, which are considered by many scholars most authoritative.  These and other of his writings provide historical insight to Jewish customs and culture, even referring to Jesus. 

I even found references in The Bible Almanac (Packer, Tenney, White, 1980) to a Roman biographer Suetonius, a historian of the second century, Tacitus, and a Roman writer Lucian.  These men referred to the fate of many Christians during Nero’s reign.  Lucian described “Christ as the man who was crucified in Palestine.”  (Almanac, p. 511)  So how is it that a man who never existed can be found in ancient history.

So, who was Jesus?  The most important authority is still the Word of God.  Jesus was and is, period.  We know he was God in human form.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and conquered death by rising again to offer us forgiveness of sin and the gift of everlasting life.  (Evangelism, Ch. 7, p. 91.)  We also know who He was not.  Jesus was and is more than a fictional character; more than just a man, a great teacher or even a prophet as some historians tend to depict.

Here are some of my favorite references to who Jesus is:  the Son of God (Mark 1:1, 24); The Christ – The Messiah (John 1:41); The Bread of Life (John 6:35, 47); The Lamb of God (Luke 22:14-18); The true vine (John 15:1).

The second half of Peter’s sermon presentation is “why He gave His life.”  I think the key element here is in the wording.  He gave His life.  No one took it from him.  His mission was to purchase our redemption.  That He did on the cross, shedding His innocent blood as a sacrifice for sinful man. 

Also consider the why in that:  Christ should suffer (Acts 3:18; Mark 8:31); your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19; Salvation is in no other; no other name under heaven by which we are saved (Acts 4:12; 10:43); Forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31; 13:38); Put to death on the cross (Acts 5:30; 10:39).  (Evangelism, pp. 90-91)

Jesus is the gospel message.  The good news I want to share. 

I am Learning – In His Time – He will lead me