I Once Was Lost Series

As one man once said “I find that when I pray, coincidences happen.”

So… what I want to do right now, is have us all pray that God gives us an opportunity this week to speak to someone about Jesus. (Lead the congregation in prayer).

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Now, of course, there is one more item involved here… the word of God.

Jesus told about a farmer going out into the field and sowing the seed and getting a marvelous crop. And then Jesus said: "The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11

It is difficult, if not impossible to bring people to salvation without the Bible. No matter how smart you may think you are… and how persuasive your abilities may be… neither you nor I are quite as good as God’s Word.

Hebrews 4:12 says “… the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

We need to know our Bible so that we can give people “memory verses” to help them learn about how to become God’s children. So, I’ve taken the liberty of making cards available for you to use.

You can take them home and study them.

You can hand them out to friends.

Or you can mark up a Bible with them and hand them out to someone to read.

GO OVER THE CARD (Information is at the end of the sermon)

CLOSE: A minister friend of mine related how his brother Jim had been a man who would have nothing to with church. He preferred to "enjoy" life, party, drink... and drink... and drink.

He was a salesman for "84 Lumber" and not only drank while at meetings, but also had his home well stocked.

One day, as Jim was in a fast food restaurant, he was approached by a seedy looking man in a long black trench coat and scraggly hair.

He just knew it was a beggar looking for a handout.

But instead, it turned out that the stranger asked if he could give him something. Taken back, he said "sure."

Out of his trench coat, the stranger took a witness Bible and said "read this."

Quietly, Jim took the Bible and later - at home - he began to read it and became convicted by what he saw in its pages.

The Bible had notations in the columns that advised him to turn from one page to another to read the underlined scriptures.

The final reference shook him. It was found on page 84 of the Bible - and he himself worked at 84 Lumber. He ended up pouring all of his booze down the drain and never touched another drop. And he was soon baptized and became faithful to Christ.

HANDOUT INFO

I used Microsoft Publisher to create 4 cards per sheet of 8 1/2 by 11 paper. These 4 cards had a message on both sides (I copied the master onto 67 pound card stock).

Side one: Entitled "We Have A Problem"

Text: All religions (other than Christianity) teach that man can be acceptable to God by doing good works. The Cross declares you can’t do enough to be good enough. The cross declares: you couldn’t earn your salvation, so God did it for you.

The cross declares: God took your sins upon Himself so that you could be free from the guilt and shame of the past.