As a boy I grew up where the center of town was not the mall for there were no malls. The center of town was downtown main street. You could walk on the sidewalks from store to store and see what they would showcase in the windows. During Christmas it was amazing.
What are we as the church showcasing regarding Christianity? Is it facts of the Bible? Repentance, confession, baptism, no instruments in worship, the Lord's Supper every Sunday, giving, and morality...? We try to sell a legal code and wonder why people are not that interested. We quote to the high heavens Acts 2:38 and forget the first part of the entire message. Peter laid the ground work by showcasing Jesus Christ. Peter did not even state 2:38 until the crowd had asked him about what they should do. If we are excited with Jesus Christ other people will see that and ask us about Jesus.
What are we as the church showcasing regarding Christianity? Is it facts of the Bible? Repentance, confession, baptism, no instruments in worship, the Lord's Supper every Sunday, giving, and morality...? We try to sell a legal code and wonder why people are not that interested. We quote to the high heavens Acts 2:38 and forget the first part of the entire message. Peter laid the ground work by showcasing Jesus Christ. Peter did not even state 2:38 until the crowd had asked him about what they should do. If we are excited with Jesus Christ other people will see that and ask us about Jesus.
Are we showcasing Jesus Christ? I believe the showcase of Christianity should be Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Cor. 2:2). The reality of Jesus being the Son of God who died on a cross to pay for our sins and was resurrected by the power of God to reign at the right hand of God, was the showcase of the early church.
Yes, other things are important and should be studied in proper order. However, none of those things matter if we have not drove home the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We must stress Jesus and get people to fall in love with Him.
Jesus is wondrous and so beautiful! Most people have a false view of Jesus. Whose fault is this? Many have presented Jesus in a way that is not that attractive. Let us get back to talking of Jesus, the greatest person who has ever lived. See His mercy, grace and love. See as He calls all to a better life (Jn. 10:10). Our Lord and Master! The King of Kings!
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (Jn. 12:32).
Allen Ashlock, 2014
Yes, other things are important and should be studied in proper order. However, none of those things matter if we have not drove home the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We must stress Jesus and get people to fall in love with Him.
Jesus is wondrous and so beautiful! Most people have a false view of Jesus. Whose fault is this? Many have presented Jesus in a way that is not that attractive. Let us get back to talking of Jesus, the greatest person who has ever lived. See His mercy, grace and love. See as He calls all to a better life (Jn. 10:10). Our Lord and Master! The King of Kings!
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (Jn. 12:32).
Allen Ashlock, 2014
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