We are nearing the end of our winter Exploring Christianity series. Thank you for partnering with us in prayer. The next two Wednesday’s are key messages in our series – “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” and “How Can I Be Sure I Am Saved?”
Last Wednesday
Last week we answered the question, “What EXACTLY is the Gospel” by presenting four pictures of the gospel from the New Testament. Attendance was up from the prior week but there are still several people missing. Please pray that those who have not yet placed their faith in Christ would come this week and there would be genuine repentance and faith.
This Wednesday
This week I am speaking on “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” I tell them three things. (1) Turn to Jesus in repentance. Here I stress they’re turning from sin and it involves a forsaking sin for the sake of Christ. (2) Trust in Jesus. Here I try stress that the object of their faith must be Jesus Christ. He is the one who saves them. (3) Talk to Jesus by asking him to forgive you for your sin on the basis of Jesus Christ and His life, death, and resurrection. It is a very simple but a very clear message.
Preaching the “Cost” of Following Christ
The last few EC series we have been doing a better job of preaching that there is a “cost” to follow Jesus. J.C. Ryle, in his chapter on “The Cost” in his book HOLINESS talks about the necessity of telling unbelievers about the cost of following Jesus.
“Press them to consider their ways. Compel them with holy violence to come in, to lay down their arms, and to yield themselves to God. Offer them salvation, ready, free, full, immediate salvation. Press Christ and all his benefits on their acceptance. But in all your work tell the truth, and the whole truth. Be ashamed to use the vulgar arts of a recruiting sergeant. Do not speak only of the uniform, the pay, and the glory; speak also of the enemies, the battle, the armor, the watching, the marching, and the drill. Do not present only one side of Christianity. Do not keep back ‘the cross’ of self-denial that must be carried, when you speak of the cross on which Christ died for our redemption. Explain fully what Christianity entails. Entreat men to repent and come to Christ; but bid them at the same time to ‘count the cost.’”
Prayer for THIS Wednesday
- Pray for the teaching this Wednesday – pray for clarity, faith, conviction, and a strong call for those listening to repent and believe in Jesus.
- Pray for those who have not yet repented and believed in Jesus Christ. Pray that after considering the cost they would walk through the narrow gate this Wednesday night.
- Pray for those who have repented and believed in Jesus Christ; pray that their faith would prove genuine and God would give them assurance of their salvation.
- Continue to pray that God would bring people back to hear the gospel on Wednesday, even when the gospel appears to be foolishness.
- Pray for the discussion group leaders, that they would be bold in encouraging individual members of their group to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
- Continue to pray for the EC workers and children; that God would provided everything we need to care for the children and it would be done with great joy.
- Pray for everyone serving, that through their selfless and joyful service non-Christians would experience the love of Jesus and see the truth of the gospel.
