The Average Joe by Keith Cook
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
How
does the average Joe think? Most of us have been in the faith for so
long we have forgotten what being lost is really like. We have forgotten
the loneliness and emptiness of life without Christ.
Most
lost people in North America somehow know and sense that they should go
to church. They often have tremendous guilt about not going to church.
Most unchurched people think of Sunday morning as the proper time to go
to church.
Most lost and seeking individuals would go
to church if invited by a friend or associate. They are often asked to
go to clubs, games, or events by friends but rarely to Christian events.
This
is hard to understand with all the media, materials, and emphasis on
Christianity in our culture, but most people have never really heard a
clear gospel presentation. They have heard about religion and debates on
the Bible, virgin birth, and church differences but they really do not
have a clue about how to truly come to know Christ and what it means to
follow Him as a believer.
There also are millions of
non-churchgoing individuals who longingly want Christian role models,
mentors, friends, teachers, and pastors in their lives. They value
believers' opinions and really listen to them when they speak. They may
not have the power to do anything or change anything in their lives, but
they do want you in their lives!
The lost person
thinks less about faith and religion as they rise the corporate ladder.
As a person rises socially and financially in our culture they seem to
buy a degree of insulation from any or most interaction with true and
real believers. They run in social circles where the talk is not about
absolutes or values but position and status. They are modern day
untouchables. They usually can not be reached unless someone from their
past can come into their world or someone in their social world dares to
share with them.
Most unchurched want their children
to go to church and have religious values. This is often out of a
fondness they have in their memory of past blessing received from caring
Sunday School or Vacation Bible School teachers.
Finally,
the lost are profoundly attracted by events that speak to specific
needs in their lives. They like financial seminars, family and parent
events, music and drama, and services and programs that speak their
language. While they are initially drawn by events or crisis situations,
they are held and kept interested by the relationships they form with
new friends they make at those events.
It is so
important for us as believers to invite all we can to come to exciting
events that speak to our generation and then care enough to continue to
be there for those we invite! Being a real disciple means not only
following Christ but also bringing others along with us.
Daily
Prayer Focus: Pray for the opportunity to invite your unchurched
friends, coworkers, and family members to your Church Service this week.
Pray that their eyes will be sensitive and ears attentive to the
gospel.
On The Go Prayer Focus: On The Go Publications
& Media Team. We are striving to saturate and minister to a
contemporary culture and society through modern media. This division
includes our audio, video, internet, and written materials. Through
these various ministries we reach out, train, and inspire Christians to
action.
Thank you for taking the time to pray for this
important division of On The Go Ministries. For more information on any
our ministries here at On The Go, you may send your questions to
info@onthego.org.
On The Go Daily Devotion for March 13, 2013
Brought to you each day by On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team
Copyright (c) 2005, 2013 On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team
Permission is granted to "forward" this devotional to friends and acquaintances. All other rights reserved.
On The Go Ministries / Keith Cook Team
P.O. Box 963, Springfield, TN 37172, (615) 299-0222, www.onthego.org
E-zine Editor, Laurie McTier, laurie@onthego.org
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