What Did Jesus say to Bill Bright?
Thesis: Bill you need to fulfill the Great Commission, by leading people to me and then disciple them and make sure they learn to pray and fast!
Texts:
Matthew 28:18-20: 8Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.¨
Mark 16:15, 16: 15He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Introduction: Bill Bright is the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. This is a brief timeline of his life:
He was born in Coweta, Oklahoma on Oct. 19, 1921
He played High School football and sustained an ear injury that would later block his acceptance to the military. 1935
He graduated from Northeastern State College and receives a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. Upon graduation he tries to enter the military and he is denied 1943.
He heads to LA in 1944
On his first evening in L.A. he sees a young man looking for a ride and thinks why not. He picks him up the young man asks where are you going Bill said to enlist in the army as he mumbled in disgust for being turned down. The man a navigator asks him were he is staying Bill tells him he does not know he just hit town. The man invites him to spend the night at his place. Bill agrees. They drive to the home of Dawson Trotman founder of the Navigators. Bill has dinner with the crew and observes them quoting Bible verses by memory through dinner. They then invite him to a party for a Navy man coming home from the war. He tags along and notices these Christians are sharp he spends the night and heads off the next morning to try to enlist in the army. He is turned down again.
He goes to work for a ship yard building ships for the war effort. The business was corrupt and he could not stand it. He quits. Bill then enters the business world. He visits Hollywood Presbyterian. He works hard and ends up running his own business he has money and the good life.
In 1945 he commits his life to Christ; he begins to be discipled by Dr. Henrietta Mears at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood.
In 1946 he enrolls at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey
In 1947 he enrolls at Fuller Theological Seminary in California staying closer to his business.
In 1948 he marries his wife Vonette from his hometown
In 1951 he writes his contract and signs ¡§The Contract with God¡¨; he then experiences his vision for Campus Crusade for Christ on the campus of UCLA.
In 1957 He writes the Four Spiritual Laws.
In 1961 he starts a weekly broadcast
In 1967 Campus moves into Canadian and European countries- 700 students accept Christ at Berkley in California
In 1968 Campus moves into Africa
In 1979 The Jesus film conceived by Bill Bright is produced and completed.
In 1980 Bill Bright co-hosted the million man march on Washington DC where the multitude was called to pray for the nation
In 1983 President Reagan makes this year ¡§The year of the Bible¡¨ by Bills influence.
In 1988 The Jesus film shown in 120 languages, with more than 30 million recorded decisions for Christ. The National Day of Prayer established, largely through the efforts of Vonette Bright.
In 1996 Bill Bright receives the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion and dedicates the 1,050,000 prize money for prayer and fasting for world revival.
In 2000 the Jesus film reaches 4.5 billion people; total distribution of the Four Spiritual Laws presentation reaches 2.5 billion copies, representing every major language in the world.
ƒÞ His and Campus Crusades impact as of 2000: More than 54.5 million decisions for Christ through Campus Crusade for Christ¡¦s outreaches. Over 20,000 full-time staff worldwide. Over 700,000 trained volunteer staff just in the year 1999. More than 852 million people exposed to the Gospel in the last year. Campus Crusade helped plant over 100,000 churches in the world. They are in over 181 countries around the world reaching 99% of the world¡¦s population with the Gospel.
ƒÞ Bill has authored over 100 books and booklets reaching millions.
I. What Jesus said to Bill, "Fulfill the Great Commission!¨
a. The close encounter with God.
i. Bill makes a contract with God.
1. His reasoning behind the contract is spelled out for us in this statement about him:
a. "There are no unhappy obedient Christians, and there are no happy disobedient Christians. Bill came to see happiness as a contentment and inner peace about circumstances as well as an exuberance about God. This condition, Bill decided, comes from knowing one¡¦s sins are forgiven and from knowing the faithful forgiver who holds tomorrow in his hand. The joy of knowing he was forgiven by such an amazing God made him want to bask in that condition, literally, all the time. He found his sinful acts were terrible interruptions of this joy, and he wanted to get back into the joy as fast as possible.¨ (56).
b. The day he signed his contract he had his vision for Campus Crusade. He said this about his contract, "Apart from my salvation this was the most important decision of my life. That day I became a slave of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the first time in my life I was actually free." (60).
ii. The vision from God
1. "Without apology all I can say is I met with God. I didn’t see a physical form, I didn’t hear an audible voice, but I have never been the same since that unforgettable encounter."
2. The vision was to help reach the world for Christ and fulfill the Great Commission in his lifetime.
a. He was to start by reaching the leaders on college campuses
b. The Sound Mind Principle
i. Bill always uses an exacting logic that demands a decision about not only the person of Christ but also about this Great Commission and of personal obedience to it. He recounts the Sound mind Principle: If Jesus is God, and the greatest thing in the world is to know God, then what is the best thing you can do for another? Introduce that person to Jesus Christ!¡¨
ii. Bill himself would always be sharing the good news with others. On the plane, in cafes, in the hotels, and every place imaginable.
T.S .- Bill has the passion for evangelism and he models it daily and Jesus¡¦ words still ring in his ears 50 years later like that very special day. Why because he also listened to Jesus voice to make sure he humbled himself and prayed.
II. Jesus told him "to humble himself and pray."
a. Bill has taken this charge and done it with his whole heart.
i. Bill has done 7 -- 40 day prayer and fasting retreats. Were he prays for revival in the world and the harvest of souls.
1. Bill would say that his times of prayer and fasting he became more aware of God’s presence in his life.
2. His primary reason for seeking God was for the Great Commission to be accomplished and for revival to break out across the world.
3. Bill reported that during his first 40 day fast he began to for see a vast spiritual awakening with "The greatest spiritual harvest of the Church.¨ The scope of this revival would depend on "How believers in America and the rest of the world responded to this call." (195).
4. Upon completion of his fast he wrote 100¡¦s of letters inviting Christian leaders to come and pray and fast. He held the all expense paid time of pray and fasting in Orlando. He prayed for 300 and 600 showed up.
a. He now yearly hosts a prayer and fasting retreat in the USA.
ii. Bill is up not long after 6am kneeling by his bed praying every morning. He says this is his most precious hour of the day.
iii. His life is one of prayer! He prays for others and will on occasion just drop to his knees and pray on the spot.
b. He has also sought to influence the government through prayer and fasting.
i. He often quotes 2 Chronicles 7:14: if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.¡¨
ii. In 1980 he and Pat Robertson put together the million man march on Washington and it incorporated an extensive time of prayer and fasting.
1. Result’s were incredible in 1983 President Reagan made it the year of the Bible.
2. In 1988 with the hard work of Vonette Bright the National Day of Prayer was signed into law.
T.S. - Jesus said to Bill ,"Make sure you are prayed up and go make those new converts disciples and show them how to reproduce new life."
III. "Make disciples and train them to reproduce themselves."
a. Bill believed that success in the Christian walk came from training, nurturing and coaching.
i. He implemented training as one of the core missions of Campus Crusade. The training was practical, comprehensive, and repetitive.
ii. He placed a strong emphasis on the basics and being repetitive about them because this aided learning.
iii. He believed training produced maturity in Christ and fruitfulness.
b. He stressed that people who knew about the character of God and understood him rightly would want to reach out to the world.
i. They stressed the 13 key attributes of God:
1. Because God is a personal spirit, I will seek intimate fellowship with him.
2. Because God is all powerful, He can help me with anything.
3. Because God is ever present , he is always with me.
4. Because God knows everything, I will go to him with all my questions and concerns.
5. Because God is sovereign, I will joyfully submit to his will.
6. Because God is holy, I will devote myself to him in purity, worship and service.
7. Because God is absolute truth, I will believe what he says and live accordingly.
8. Because God is righteous, I will live by his standards.
9. Because God is just, he will always treat me fair.
10. Because God is love, he is unconditionally committed to my well being.
11. Because God is merciful, he forgives my sins when I sincerely confess them.
12. Because God is faithful, I will trust him to always keep his promises.
13. Because God never changes, my future is secure and eternal.
(Richardson, 188)
c. Discipleship was in Bill’s mind the key to serving God and staying strong in the ministry.
i. He stated: "In meetings and conferences, almost all the teaching messages would be designed to build Christians in the faith and challenge them to become disciples. We train carnal Christians to become spiritual Christians, teaching them the difference between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit, and showing them how to share their faith in Christ more effectively with others." (69).
ii. His text 2 Timothy 2:2: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
iii. Campus kept discipleship training as a focus and it impacted millions of lives.
d. Campus Crusade stressed personal devotional time as spiritual growth time. They would give the following suggestions for individual reading and personal devotion time.
i. Begin with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you and understanding of God’s word.
ii. Keep a Bible study notebook.
iii. Read the text slowly and carefully; then reread and take notes.
iv. Find out the true meaning of the text. Ask Yourself:
1. Who or what is the main subject?
2. Of whom or what is writer speaking?
3. What is the key verse?
4. What does the passage teach you about Jesus Christ?
5. Does it bring to light personal sin that you need to confess and forsake?
6. Does it contain a command for you to obey?
7. Does it give a promise that you can claim?
v. List practical applications, commands and promises.
vi. Memorize the Scripture- particularly key verses.
vii. Obey the commands and follow the instructions you learn in God’s Word.
Conclusion:
Many have asked Bill Bright, "How did you do it?" He would respond:
1. I discovered that the awesome Creator God and loving Savior loved this one little depraved termite. Ever since, it has been my desire to love him supremely, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Three in One. He led me to sign a Contract with Him to be his slave throughout this life. He gave me a Vision for helping reach the world with the word of his love and forgiveness. In obedience to His plain word, I devoted myself to seeking to help fulfill the Great Commission in this generation.
2. As I went, I practiced spiritual breathing, confession of sin, and being filled by His Spirit. I discovered there is room for only One on the throne of my life, and my goal has been to stay in tune with Him twenty four hours a day. On my knees, as an act of worship, I read his word, the Holy Bible, every morning and evening as if He were speaking directly to me, and I obey what he tells me. On my knees, my prayers are that He would keep me from sin as well as empower me for service, and we share moments when I feel especially enveloped in His presence.
3. On my knees with my precious and adorable, loving partner, Vonette, we pray specifically for our priorities: our first love, the Lord Jesus; marital love and strength; family faithfulness; and fruitful ministry. Out of the overflow of these disciplines and of his love, I have wanted to share my faith every day, faithfully making known the claims of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.¨ (237).
Bill’s challenge to us today is this I believe, - using his own words - "The Great Commission is His idea (Jesus) it has not been rescinded." (225). "So go and share the Four Spiritual Laws, then after they accept Jesus disciple them and remember never quit praying!"
In 2000, Dr. Bright was diagnosed with pulmonary Fibrosis, an ailment afflicting the lungs, for which there is no known cure. Because of his desire to do a series of additional books and video training materials, he passed the torch of leadership after 50 years as founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ. He continues to serve as founder and chairman- always focusing on the Gospel! The ministry has been trained well and it continues to grow and bear fruit!
