How To Lead A Soul To Christ

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all. And on all who believe for there is no difference. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God being justified, freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Christ. Jesus with that is the word of the Lord and you maybe see it at

The privilege to come today and share their would have got away with you. We're going to be looking at some key things that will help you in your Christian life. But before we begin, just let me just say a word or two of additional now and spends a few weeks ago. We had some Consultants hear. Some of you met them from the IFC, a note to self IBL and their case and their recommendation was that we do nothing for pastoral search until after Pastor John leaves so that we can focus our attention on saying goodbye to him. And so we've done that beginning. As soon as he leaves, we will have a board meeting on that first one day. And then, the following Monday to pass will search committee will meet. So, those of you that are part of that committee, keep that in mind and that will include Play some board members all board members because they're by Constitution the constituted the pastor search committee. But it Edition they'll be members of the congregation. And some of the board members and other people who are ladies. My experience is that ladies have a unique Viewpoint, sometimes their intuition will help. Those of you who haven't go right over their head, help us see some of the truth regarding individual. So I just wanted to say that we haven't forgotten the fact that the Lord is leading us to a new pastor, but we haven't started that process yet and the Consultants of told us that it might take 13 to 18 months. Was it about an accord with what I've experienced over the last several years? The Lord has led me to do this. I think about 15 times if my memory is correct. I met with pastoral search committees and so on and so forth. So Lord willing, he'll continue to lead us and directors and I regarded you pray for us and if you would desire to At 10, the pastor will search committee when it's announced when we get it set up, why you're welcome to come and watch us go through the paperwork and so on. It's really not that excited in process. But Lord willing, I will be guided through it. I also need to say that today, when we close this service. I'll ask the blessing for the food so that you can go to the park like immediately. And as soon as it's ready, you can start. But following the potluck appropriate with that time. There will be a special meeting to plan, the winkleman's farewell. So we hope that you can stay for that and be involved in that. So today. Well, let me let me back up a little last week. It was revealed that we're here. Heard Pastor Joel and talk about what we were supposed to do is Christian's. We're supposed to share the word of God is particularly the gospel with those that are not saved. And last Wednesday at Daryl shared regarding the Passover. He told us again that the Passover was given by God as a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when God sees the blood applied to our hearts, like he did the blood applied to the doorpost, in the linlin in Egypt, he will pass over us. As far as your husband is concerned. So those two messages prepared us for the day and I want to share with you a tool that may help you, you will notice that there's no overhead in front of you and your notes are a blank page. There's a reason for that. It's because I didn't want you to write down what I share with you as much as your impression and your take on what these various things mean to you. And so I'm going to share that as we go along. And if you miss something that I say, and you really want me to repeat it again, feel free to raise your hand or say something to me a number of years ago. I had a member of my congregation that was not the least bit afraid to stop me. And say, I don't understand that and one time he attended with me another church and I was speaking there and John interrupted me and everybody gasp. Like that isn't something you do in church while yes it is because that helps me to know whether I'm communicating with you. And it also helps you to learn something that you might have missed, if you don't say something, so feel free and I'll try not to get lost if you distract me. So anyway, I want to share some things with you. Not a question is when you're ready to share the gospel with somebody that you know, needs it. How do you lead into it? Well, let me suggest something to you. Internationally. And nationally. There are people facing death every single day of the year. Crane is many people perishing. And it's a very common Topic in talking with people today. And so it's possible to talk about that and lead into the gospel. And so, don't say, while I got to change the subject here because you, you want that subject? When friends does people say what has been terrible about, New York City or Chicago or Los Angeles? Yes. It is. People are perishing. So, don't resist that. Talk with him about it, established that relationship, and then I'll show you how to lean in from their wet. If, if they're talkin about local news, talk to them about the six people shot in Sacramento recently. All of this helps us to share the gospel. Now, once you started that process, then you say, I always get this wrong because those of you who are English Majors will tell me it should be. May I ask you a question but, usage is, can I ask you a question and people usually understand what you're trying to say, except for the English majors and they always try to correct you. But anyway, you as you were talking about the Ukraine or York City or Los Angeles or whatever you say. Can I ask you a question? And usually they'll say yes if they say no say, OK. And know that the Holy Spirit does not have the opportunity for you to share the gospel with them at that time. It's all right to give them a choice because God gives them a choice. If they say no, I don't have time for any questions. Say okay fine. Have a good time. And I'm go your way. But if you say can I ask you a question and they say yes. Then the first question you ask is this, do you know for sure that you have eternal life? A Taurus. I didn't say. Do you know for sure that you're saying they don't know what that means? Don't use anywhere in this presentation at this point. Any theological terms? Because you'll just confuse the matter. Say, do you know for sure that you have eternal life most people will know be able to figure out what eternal life is. You can ask it a little differently. If you want to. You can say I love you come to the place where you know for sure that you have eternal life. In any case, a doctor, Kennedy D James, Kennedy and Coral Gables. Florida has put together some of these questions. Some of them are from sharing from Bill bright. So on and so forth, but this is a presentation is fairly easy easy to remember and fairly easy for you to duplicate if you practice it, but let me tell you something. You can't just get up and start to do this without going over it in your mind. And advanced. You have to practice. You have to know what verse is you going to use? You have to make this up ahead of time. So you asked the question. Have you come to your the place where, you know, for sure that you have eternal life and if the person whatever they say, don't call me. Great Lengths on the answer, most people will say, well, yeah, I think so or I believe I have or I've never thought about it or as one fellow said to me while if there is a God Well, there is and that's something he had to face. I'll talk more about that later, but don't worry about what their answer is. Because immediately when you get a chance, you start sharing with them your testimony. Now, it's not the kind of a testimony that you give in some evening service. If we had one it's not the kind of testimony. You've given in church. It's not the kind of testimony that you shared with other Christians. Because again, that's probably talking about when you were saved when you were baptized and so on and so forth that has no relationship to what the unbeliever needs. I would say if I was giving my testimony to an unbeliever. I would say, you know, what, I was a police officer. It became very important that I knew for sure that I had eternal life because I faced death regularly. Now I want to share with you about how that happened. Only in police calls man with a gun and family disturbance, which is another, great killer policeman, but just driving through the city 8 hours a day or 10 hours a day or 12 hours a day. However, it was, I can remember one time. We were in the midst of a model change for one year model to the next. And normally we had black and white units with red lights and sirens on the top, the field Sergeant came to me and said, you won't be driving a black and white today. You'll have the captain's car. It was an all-black unit. Had a red spot light over. On the right hand side on a siren, it hidden under the grill. You couldn't really tell it was a police car. And so I started like a lot more. I hope I don't do anything to this car. I was scared to death. I only had about six months on the job. And I knew I didn't want take it back rap. so, I got a call all of a sudden, the only police when we had an apartment that time came in on the air and she use the code 999. That means officer needs, emergency help.

So Irish said I'm close, I'll respond and another unit was responding and I turned on my red lights and siren turned on the street. And within just about a quarter of a block, it was an underpass another railroad. I want an app that I can pass the other side and there was a signal intersection right there. It was green for me and I went through it. About a half a block for the lawn. There was a scientist car dealership on the side street. I'm just as I came through that it signaled intersection. I've looked at had now that I know are sue the intersection and a big 1958 Cadillac Coupe Deville with a continental kit on the back, pulled out of that side street and across both lanes like in front of me. And there was cars coming the other way.

I thought I'm in trouble. I went around the back of the got a vehicle with my brakes, on the car started to slide and slid broadside down the side street in between two sets of four Park cars. It was about 20 feet between those two sets of parked cars. The cruiser. I was driving was 18 ft long, which gave me one foot on either end.

And interesting Lee enough. The angel of Lord, I believe reach down and push that car right to those two sets of cars. I never struck any car when I stopped right at that driveway to the auto show dealership. So I pulled ahead and backed up and went out again, hit my shower and as I came back to the intersection cuz the guy was still sitting in the middle of those two lanes with his eyes about this big around. And I shook my fist at him, which I maybe should have done, is a good Christian. But anyway, I was a little upset with him and and I went to the call. It turned out that they please lady didn't understand the difference between officer needs emergency help and offer. Just needs her routine back up. So I explained that to her in great detail. I might add. And, and then she didn't do that again. Meantime, I let the other officer handle the backup that she needed and I left. My face was still a little white. I thank the Lord for his deliverance from Death Or possible, death that day. Those are the things that we face in that testimony, but I didn't tell her. I don't tell the average person, any of that background that I gave to you. I just say I faced death regularly is a policeman and I am happy to say that. I know for sure that I have eternal life, if something should happen to me. I will be internally secure. That's the whole of your testimony just saying that, you know, for sure that you have eternal life and you're happy for, that's not what we call and, and fundamental circles a testimony, but it's a testimony to a non-believer at that point and then you immediately follow up. Can I ask you another question?

May I like? Okay. Can I ask you another question? And if they say yes, you say, if you were to die tonight. It's that same question. That many of you have already heard when we visited you. If you were to die tonight and stand before, God, and he would have say, why should I let you into my heaven? What would you say?

Now, in most cases, if you're talked into a non-believer, he will give you an answer that involves balancing up the good against the bad. And hopefully, the good will outweigh the bad and you'll get into heaven.

This is where your start. The presentation, the gospel. It starts right here. Heaven is a free gift. It is not earned or deserved. Did you hear that? Heaven is a free gift. It is not earned or deserved. Now usually at this point is any number of verses that you can use but I use a portion of Romans 6:23.

And I'll tell you why I use just a portion because I'm going to use the rest of the worst. Later on. The gift of God, is eternal life. That's the portion. I used. The gift of God is eternal life. That's all you need to say. At this point. You don't have to go into the rest of the meaning of the verse. You just want to emphasize that heaven is a free gift. The gift of God is eternal life. Said it's the second half of Romans 6:23 and not all about.

We'll get the rest of the worst later on. But as you talk about that, you want to emphasize the fact that heaven is not earned or deserved. Now if that process if you want to, you can compare wages with a free gift and you could go to the rest of us and say the wages of sin is death. I don't I try not to go there yet because I want to use that first part of the words in a couple ways. But if they start to argue with it, well, I think we can still balance the good against the bed. You say really? Isaiah 7:14 says all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. We don't learn anything, but this is how I doing. In police work. When I was in Fullerton, they had a parking ordinance between 2 and 4 a.m. You couldn't Park on any City street, that was for purposes of cleaning the streets and keeping abandoned cars and Rex and so on and so forth off the street. So, every officer that I talk to about salvation was familiar with a parking ordinance and they were familiar with the fact that apartment complexes many times. People could only rent one guards and they had two cars. So they would leave one car on the street and hope that every night of the year. They wouldn't get a ticket. They usually God wanted to maybe once a week, every two weeks. And so they get 25 or 30 year and at that time, if it was only a $1 ticket or $5 ticket, I don't know, cuz I never got one, but it was pretty cheap. I didn't didn't go against your driving record. So it was pretty in the significant. Now, if you talk to the average person you say, have you ever done anything wrong in your life?

And usually, I'll say well, yeah. I remember I did something wrong one, surf, whatever. If they did something wrong, that's what you need to know. Because she the Greek word for shin doesn't indicate that you've done something worse than I've done. That's how it's often compared. What a sinner is somebody worse than I am. No, sin is the Greek word hamar tunnel, which means to miss the Mark, if you're shooting an arrow at a bull's-eye, that's about this big around from that distance. It means that you missed by just a little bit. Or if your policeman and shooting your weapon every month, it's the same thing. You missed the bullseye. God requires that, you hit the bullseye every single time.

In order to be like he is. In order to be perfect. Is there? Well, nobody's perfect. That's why Heaven is a free gift. It is not earned or deserved.

Now, that takes us to the second question. And that is that man and woman. Boy and girl are sinners. Mancon humankind are sinners. All have sinned. Romans 3:23 says, I'm come short of the kingdom of God. I remember when I was 19 years old, Los Angeles, Police Department was hiring, they were hiring people, 19, as Cadets, and they became police officers at 21. I haven't found any other job. This will be a good one. So, I went and took the written exam and passed. I took the Physical Agility test and passed. And then I had to take the physical. At that time lapd's requirement as 510. So I went to the chiropractor and got an adjustment and, and I realize that if I could wear my shoes. I was just 5-10. I was actually in my stocking feet 5 Don and a half, but I thought well, maybe the doctor. Let me wear my shoes. Guess what? You've been through that before. And I was disqualified because I was a half an inch short. At that point, it wouldn't have made any difference if I was 5, Don and a half or 49 and a half.

I came ashore.

Now what you need to impress people with it is the fact that glory of God all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That's a word that indicates God's absolute perfection. I'm here requires you to be perfect in order to get into heaven. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So it's interesting when you consider this that God has made the arrangements for you and me to get into heaven, not because we've earned it. You see if you earn something. It's called what?

For the wages of sin is death. If you aren't it, its wages. Anna wages of sin is death. I told you I'd come back to that verse, but the gift of God, that's something you don't deserve. That's something you get for nothing, not because you weren't it. But because God loves you, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through. Jesus Christ, Our Lord. God gives us eternal life. And you know what? He sent his son to die for our sins. Not for his, but for ours, that's the message of the Gospel Christ died. What, for our sins? According to scripture. That's what the pastor shared with us. Last week. Christ died for our sins. According to the scriptures. Jesus Paid the penalty. We're going to talk about that or May 15th. There's two more points. And I'm a butt that time have these review points on the screen so you can actually refresh your memories and see what I do. But I wanted you to just think this through and have your stamp of approval on it and have it in your words rather than mine. Cuz if you see if you take my words, they don't really mean something to the person you're talking to because you haven't been a policeman. You can't use the same illustrations all used, but you can use some of that you have, that's what God calls us to do. And you know, what's interesting. He will enable you to do it. I I saw a film on Elmer Years Ago, by D, James Kennedy, the author of evangelism explosion and he said it was always difficult for him to share the gospel. No matter how many times you practice. I might have how many years. He's been a pastor. It was always difficult for him to do. So he developed the Habit, as he was sitting down, he would slap his knee, just as he started. And I watched him share the gospel later on another film. You know what he did. Just as he got to that point where he had to share the gospel. He slapped his knee. That's what you have to do. You have to come up with something there to remind you. Now. The Lord is going to Naval me to share with this person.

I'm going to tell you a couple of additional stories and then we're going to close for the day. And we're going to pick this up again. The next time I speak in May 15th, and there's going to be two more points, but I want you to think this through and begin to think. What, what, what do I say that helps people to understand that I know for sure. And the reason why I know for sure and why it's important to me to know, for sure that I have eternal life cuz it's got to be your testimony not money. I was sharing this with a policeman friend of mine who went through the same Academy that I did in Fullerton. He had retired after 35 years. He was known through much of the State of California as a check expert, expert and fraudulent checks. He was a sergeant of the time we retired and I was playing golf one day and the fellow is playing with found out that I used to be as Lord. And please you said, did you ever know a guy named motormouth? Guess what? That was Glenn deveney that I went to Academy with the became the checks expert. He was known throughout the state of California, hardly. Anybody knew that he was a talker and that his nickname was motormouth. I shared with Glenn two days before he died. I want boys house. And share this with him. And you know what, his response was a person would be crazy not to accept a gift. That's right. It's a gift. God has done this for you. You don't have to do anything. It's a gift. And a gift is only something you receive.

Let me paint a picture for you to help you understand this. Supposing you leave here today and you drive down the street to Jack Tone Road. And just before you get to Jack Tone on the stop, sign something falls off the seat and you don't want to spill all over the floor. It's a drink or something, and something, that'll make a mess in your car. And so you reach down to get it. And in the process, you missed the stop sign and drive through it. I just them coming. The other way, is a car on Jack Tone, the T-Bones your car. That's not the end of the store. However sitting at the corner, watching the whole thing as a California highway patrolman. He comes and investigates the accident and he write you a ticket notice to appear. Greetings from the state of California.

And so you have a court date and you think about showing up in court and giving the judge. Well, I spilled this and, you know, I was reaching for it. I missed the stop sign on. Sorry. What you got the court? CHP officer sitting right of the DA's table Smiles at you and you think probably isn't much sense in prison not guilty. I might as well plead guilty. And so you do. And the judge looked at the report. He says. Well. I know you can't afford to pay the fine. So if you'll step over to the bailiff, some of you've heard this story before and you'll probably hear it again. If you'll step over the bailiff, the bailiff has a check made out and my signature on it for the entire amount of the fine. All you need to do is endorse the back of it. What would you do? Take the check and endorse it. Give it back to the Baylor. The judge has paid your fine, but that's not all. He says, I know you wrecked your car and you can't get it fixed cuz it's cold. So, the bailiff will hand you a new set of keys for a new car. Man, oh, man.

He probably not in a real Court in the state of California, then point. But anyway, let's go on with the store.

In addition to the new keys to the new car. He will hand you a credit card that you can use to pay all the expenses for that car.

If it needs repair, you can use the credit card. If it needs gasoline. You can use the credit card. If it needs an oil change. You can use the credit card.

And this car has a warranty on it so that if it wears out, it'll be taken care of.

I guess I could ask you, what would you do? But I'm not going to do that. Because again, as Glenn said, a person would be crazy not to accept a gift. This is what God in effect is done for you. He's giving you new life when your old one was wrecked. He's giving you power to operate and he pays the price for your sin. And for your new life. All of that is provided as a gift by God himself.

So when you share the gospel with somebody, it's good news. That's what gospel means. This is not bad news. This is good news that God is offering all of this for nothing. It's a gift. This is what God has done for us. And he did it before we were even born. That's what's amazing. It is a gift.

That we're going to talk about how you accept this gift and what it means on May 15th, but the important thing is, they do begin to think about the fact of this. And people that only you can witness to, I can't do it cuz I don't know. They don't know me. No one else is able to do it except you. I'm God has left you. And the place that you are so that you will share the gospel with them and you're scared. I can understand that.

But God has given us the tools.

Years ago. I was probably about eight or nine years old and my older brother was working on his car, trying to get a wheel bearing off. And he said, go get me a chisel now, He-Man the cold iron. She does look up. So I went over to my dad's toolbox. My dad was in the guards at the same time. Fortunately and I looked through, I found a nice shiny wood. Chisel.

I said will this work? Dad says no, that won't. It was the wrong tool for the job. I had to get the right two and I have given you a chance to obtain that right? 20 today to witness work with it. Get familiar with it and use it to accomplish God's purpose, for that job, witness on what God has done for you and what he offers for others. Let's try to get her in prayer, Our Father. We thank you for your word today.

We thank you for the fact that you have made it so simple. It almost boggles the imagination for her that it is. So simple. And sometimes we think well, it's got to be harder than that, but it's not. It is so simple and you giving us the message to give to others that it is a gift of God. But nothing they can do going to earn it. That nothing. They can do will accomplish it. It is a gift that they receive. Thank you for the fact that Jesus Christ is the atonement for all of our sin. Thank you for the fact that you have made it clear in the scripture that we need, the Perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to be saved. We pray that you will enable us to have confidence in what you've done for us and to claim the power that you've given to us in order to be able to witness to others. Plus we pray and bless the potluck to follow. Bless the food or bodies. Bless our fellowship together. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

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