A Passion for the Lost

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I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.          --1 Corinthians 1:10 I heard about a lady who was a die-hard Southern Baptist. She was Baptist and three-fourths! So when her grandson decided he was going to join the First Presbyterian Church down the road, she was dismayed, to say the least. Her grandson came to visit her one day, and the two began talking about his new choice of church. “Grandma,” he said, “You know I love you. But what if you get to heaven and you find out Jesus was a Presbyterian?” The lady quipped back, “Sonny, if I get to heaven and somebody tells me He’s Presbyterian, I’ll know it ain’t Jesus!” The truth is that there are going to be a lot of Presbyterians in heaven, as there will be many other stripes of Christianity. Jesus wasn’t a Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, or Pentecostal. He is the resurrection and the life. And if people of any denomination know Him, they’re in! Your church isn’t the way to eternal life. Jesus is. Let’s get past the differences on our church signs and be united in Christ. Work together with others for the sake of the Kingdom. Be one in the Savior! JESUS, NOT YOUR CHURCH, IS THE WAY. WORK WITH CHRISTIANS FROM MANY DIFFERENT STRIPES AND MOVE THE KINGDOM FORWARD.

A Passion for the Lost

Thursday, October 10, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”

Romans 15:18–21

The Roman Empire in the days of Paul was huge, stretching across most of Europe as well as parts of Africa and Asia. Paul took advantage of his status as a full Roman citizen and used the network of roads built by the empire to travel across much of it preaching the gospel. His vision and passion was to go to places where the news of the Saviour had not yet reached, and it was to that cause he devoted so much of his life.

In our day with modern communication technology, we tend to think that the gospel is already everywhere—that there are no places where Christ is not named. But in truth there are still many nations and people groups with no clear gospel witness. This ought to concern all of us who are Christians, for it is our responsibility to change it. Paul wrote, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:34). Even in America where there are many churches, there is still a great deal of darkness. Between the false teachings that are so popular and those who ignore or oppose all religions, there is much confusion we must counter with the truth.

Today's Growth Principle: 

We need a renewed passion and sense of urgency for reaching the lost with the gospel.