Tag: gospel

Gospel Shoes

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

Link to watch

Ephesians 6:15 (NLT) For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (Or For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.)

How many of you all run around bare foot, or maybe you just wear flip-flops? There’s nothing wrong with that, but I can’t stand them. I also hate not having shoes on. About 19 years ago I was introduced to a website called Fly Lady. She helps encourage Sidetracked Home Executives, or SHEs. Typically this may be a mom, but can also be a dad. One of the baby steps is getting dressed to your shoes. Why? Because when you have your shoes on, and tied, you’re more likely to do the chores around the house that need to be done. I have found this to be true for myself. Not wearing shoes makes it easier to put off getting things done, (household chores, run errands, even taking a walk).

Today’s Bottom Line is: Get dressed to your shoes.

1) Find peace with God

Romans 10:9-10 tells us that “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” (NLT)

We have to have this peace with God before we can do anything. It should be one the most important things we hold onto. If we don’t have peace with God, it is unlikely that we will have true peace with anyone.

I came across a person on tiktok who goes by the name “theformerthings”. This man’s testimony is awesome. He came out of a lifestyle that was totally against God’s will; A lifestyle where he allowed sin to define him. In one of his recent videos he shared his struggle and temptations. But he ended by saying that his peace with God was so much more important than anything else. We should all have this kind of commitment to our relationship with God.

Let’s try to get a mental picture of the Roman military caliga. It was a vital part of the Roman soldier’s equipment. It was an open toed, light sandal that went partway up the soldier’s leg. How high up it went depended on the soldier’s rank. The higher up the leg it went the higher the rank. These shoes also had to be thick enough to protect the soldiers’ feet as they marched over rough terrain. The bottoms were embedded with spikes to ensure a good grip even on slippery ground. These shoes protected the soldiers’ feet, and shins, and the spikes helped to ensure that the soldier was able to keep a solid footing, and stay standing upright.

2) Stand against the enemy

The Roman soldier wasn’t responsible for the entire battleground. He was only responsible to defend his position; the square where he was standing. The same thing goes for us. We have to hold our position. And the enemy is always ready to attack. He may bring up our past, bring financial difficulties, he’ll interfere in our relationships. But our task is to stand firm in the battle.

Romans 16:20 reads, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (NLT)

Remember those spikes on the Roman soldiers’ shoes? They had another very important use. As the soldier marched across the battlefield, they would stomp on enemy soldiers who had fallen down, pretty much ensuring their deaths. Do your shoes have spikes in them to crush the enemy, and to stand firm in the battle?

3) Share Jesus

Are you ready to share the Good News of Jesus Christ? l have two verses I want to share for this point.

The first verse is Romans 1:16 (NLT) “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.”

Paul wasn’t afraid to share the Gospel. The guy on tiktok isn’t ashamed to share the Gospel. How about you? Are you looking for opportunities to share?

The second verse is Romans 10:15 (NLT) “And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'”

Consider yourselves sent. We have all been sent to share the Gospel.

The shoes of the Gospel enable us to be ready to stand firm, hold our ground, and also be ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bottom Line: Are you Dressed to your shoes? Are you dressed to the Gospel?

 

Bring Them to Jesus

/ CD Hamman

Video here.

Matthew 11:28-30

The world, our world, is in chaos. Everyone around us is dealing with something: sickness, death, homework, dating issues, rape, not being notices, depression, suicide, feeling inadequate, and feeling lost. In a word, they’re weary. We live in a world that is burdened. As I was substitute teaching this week, I spent Thursday subbing for a high school drama teacher. In the course of the day, I was privileged to get to watch the students rehearse their one act play for a drama competition. This play served as inspiration. You see, it’s not even just sickness, then homework, then depression… It’s sickness AND homework, AND depression, AND dating, AND…. And people are looking for an escape; and rest. And sometimes even WE, who call ourselves Christians, or believers, are burdened, and weary, and maybe even worn down. What is the answer to all of this? It is NOT found in our cell phones, that we seem to keep our faces buried in.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)

JESUS is the answer. He was the answer 2,000 years ago, and He is still the answer today. So, if Jesus is the answer, why don’t more people know Him? Maybe we aren’t doing our job and telling them. Are we sharing our stories? We need to take our testimonies outside of the church, and share them with the world.

But how do we share Jesus with a world that doesn’t know, or maybe even doesn’t want to know, they need Him? Some people have been deeply hurt by church. Some have never been in a church. Many see the Church as just another example of organized religion run amok. Some blame God for the problems in the world. And yet, these people are still empty inside, and they are trying anything to fill that void. Sometimes, they recognize that a spiritual world does exist, and they seek to fill that emptiness with ghost-hunting, the occult, or attempts to communicate with the dead. Others turn to drugs or alcohol, dangerous activities (for an adrenaline rush or to feel fear, just to feel something). Some turn to sex. And most frightening, most personal, to me is that some, when the emptiness and the pain, become so overwhelming, nothing else has worked, and the depression kicks in to high gear, some seek suicide. The answer, Jesus Christ, is so close, and they don’t know all they have to do is call His name. What do we do? How do we introduce the people around us to the ONE who can save them? How do we introduce the ONE who’s yoke is easy, burden is light, and who provides rest?

We have to earn that privilege. And it is a privilege, and a responsibility, to share Jesus with those around us. I am going to use an acronym to help us. Back in February, during our evangelism series, one of our sermons was on being salt and light. In Matthew 5:13 Jesus says “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (NLT). You might remember the qualities about salt that were mentioned: it operates internally, it is necessary for life, it has a distinct taste, it is a preservative, and it creates thirst. You might have guessed, I am using the acronym, S.A.L.T. (By the way, I got the idea for using the SALT acronymn from the drama teacher).

1) Start a conversation
Take time in the checkout line to say, “Hi.” Look for opportunities to reach out, and talk to someone.

2) Ask questions
Ask someone how their day is going. Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to talk. Ask questions to find out what interests you may share.

3) Listen
Listen to what they are saying. Listen for clues that may provide insight. Listen to their joys, their triumphs, and their concerns. Listen to get to know them, not simply to respond. Listen to their story.

4) Tell your story
Share your testimony. Remember your two minute testimony. Tell them what Jesus has done for you. Share how Jesus has eased your burdens, and helped you to find rest in Him.

So be SALTy. It may open the door to new friendships. Or help current friendships grow. As we have learned before, it may take some time for someone to respond to the Gospel message. The church is not supposed to simply exist. We have been commanded to be salt, and light, and to take the Good News to the ends of the earth. For some of us, that may be right next door, across the street, or across the country, or around the world. But the bottom line is the same: If not us, who will tell our weary, troubled, over-burdened world where they can find the rest that they desperately long for?

Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you know the one who provides rest? Are you sharing Him with others, especially your friends? Who do you know who needs to find rest in Jesus? Who can you invite friend day?

Sow Your Seed

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

I need ten people a month to plant a seed of $300 a month. God also told me he wants me to have a brand new RV, along with a new truck to tow it. When you plant your seed, and send it to me, God will bless you, richly.

Ok, ok. Stop. Please don’t actually send me money. Number one, it doesn’t work that way. Yes, God does ask us to tithe. This is how we support our individual local churches. God may ask you to support an evangelist, or a missionary, or some other ministry in addition to your local church. And he will baless you; but not necessarily financially. Besides, we don’t give in order to get. That’s not God’s plan.

Yes, there are biblical principles that should guide how we handle ALL of our resources, including money. But please, don’t fall for the lies of those who proclaim a prosperity gospel. Too many people are sending their resources, resources that they need, to charlatans who promise things that are nowhere in the Bible.

Sadly, these charlatans bear no resemblance to the local church. Most churches are small, and most pastors have a very small income. And the homes most pastors live in are quite modest, especially if provided by the church. Many pastors are working two or three jobs. So please, support your local church, and your pastor, first.

If God has blessed you financially, and is asking you to support anther ministry, then by all means, be obedient. There are many legitimate ministries who are serving people.