December 16, 2002
TOGETHER:
Christmas planted; pray for harvest
___Christmas is a great time to think about how good the gospel of Jesus Christ really is for this world.
___Irenaeus affirmed, "The Word of God, Jesus Christ, on account of his great love for mankind, became what we are in order to make us what he is himself." God came to us. That is the meaning of Advent. That is why Jesus is called "Immanuel--God with us" (Matthew 1:23).
___Jesus came to save us.
___John Calvin said: "If he had not been man, he could not have touched us. If he had not been God, he could not have saved us."
___Jesus came to show us the passion and purpose of God.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___In "Everything Belongs," Richard Rohr wrote, "If Jesus is the revelation of the heart of God, it's very good news about the nature of God."
___John's epistle sings: "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9).
___In a world where competition is fierce for the allegiance of the people's hearts, this is our message: "If you want to know who God is and what he wants for the world, look to Jesus. He is the light that shines in the darkness of the world's confusion. He is the way that, if followed, leads to God. He is the truth that, if heard and obeyed, reveals the will of God. He is the life that, if received, gives forgiveness, meaning, purpose and joy for every day and forever more. That is why we call him Savior and Lord."
___As you get ready for Christmas at your house, speak mostly about Jesus. He is the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life expressing the character and purpose of God. He died a sacrificial, atoning death for our sins. He was buried and arose in triumph over sin, death, hell and the grave. He sent his disciples into the world to tell the good news of God's victory over death and his power to forgive every sin.
___Wherever that gospel has been preached, people have experienced forgiveness of sin and the power to live a new life. The church--the body of Christ and his continuing incarnation--preaches and lives that message of hope and salvation so that all the world may know him and be prepared for his return.
___What can you do to help your church be a place where people come to know Christ?
___Our evangelism leader, Rick Davis, urges churches to pray for the lost to be saved. Recently, the Center for Strategic Evangelism sponsored an evangelism summit at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment. Pastor Ernie Boren of Valley View Baptist Church in Dallas went home from the summit resolved to have his church pray for the harvest in every service. In the next two months, Valley View reached and baptized more people than in the previous year.
___The Texas Baptist Evangelism Conference will be held Jan. 27-28 at First Baptist Church in Arlington.
___This can be a turning point for us--evangelism for a new day in Texas. There will be special opportunities for training and for worship to get us ready so that God can do in all our churches what he did in Valley View.
___Pray for this harvest.
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