What Did Jesus Say To Bill Bright?

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.