Elders' Corner

From Jim Winkelman

As I began growing in my Christian faith, and discovering the difference between the law and the covenant of grace, I became very aware of the small number of “commands” in the New Testament. Oh, don’t mistake my words – there are plenty. But the focus is so narrow. Matthew 22 and Matthew 28 sum it up nicely. Matthew 22:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

There are two. Love God and love each other. And the big one, Matthew 28:
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I want to talk about this one. How is your personal evangelism? Do you excel or struggle at sharing your faith? Peter says in Romans 1, “16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Why would anyone be ashamed of the gospel?
What has made you ashamed to share your faith?
What is the hardest thing about sharing your faith?
Why did Paul call the gospel “ powerful”?

Over the next few articles I will provide, I would like to share some Personal Evangelism Training I received from Jeff Walling. We will talk a little about S.W.A.T. – Start, Witness, Ask, Tell.
Start = Romans 1:16 - How to Begin a Conversation about Jesus
Witness = Mark 5:19 - Sharing What God has Done for You
Ask = 1 Peter 3:15 - Learning to Listen as You Share with Your Friends
Tell = Acts 8:35 - Presenting the Good News in a Good Way!

Lets us learn together how to best share the “good news” with all who cross our path.