What do you do whenever you come home from a church meeting feeling really uncomfortable, since the meeting was all about sharing the Bible with adults? Evangelism through Bible sharing is something that others are called to do, is not it? Not me, surely? I made a decision to hope about it.
So, what then do you do when the reply to that prayer comes very clearly and instructs you to approach your Iranian neighbour? Yes, that is right, the Muslim lady who you hardly know. You tell the Lord that your spiritual hearing’s not excellent and you should have misunderstood Him. Guess what happens next? Yep. He tells you to stop running and get on with it, that He will probably be with you, and that each one you’ve gotten to do is to issue the invitation. Not too hard, surely?
My neighbour, Sara, is a really private person. I’d never knock on her door because she doesn’t answer it. We hardly saw one another, so I used to be unlikely to bump into her. I did not have her phone number either. We are several many years apart in age, so it will be weird to ask her out for an off-the-cuff coffee. I did nonetheless, for reasons which I am unable to remember, have her email address. So, email it was then. I invited her to hitch me to read the Gospel of John through a resource which was latest to me: The Word One to One.
Expecting to be completely rebuffed, I used to be astonished when a reply email got here back almost immediately saying, “Sounds interesting, let’s meet.” That was two and a half years ago and we’re still meeting. My neighbour, who I barely knew, is now my friend.
The Word One to One is a guided read through John’s amazing Gospel. It is an excellent resource to enable you share the Gospel and tell people concerning the Lord Jesus. It is written specifically for cowards like me who’ve never done anything like reading the Bible with someone who is not Christian of their lives before. My friend Sara and I actually have each downloaded it onto our phones and after we meet, we dive into the following of the “Episodes”, each of which is fastidiously crafted so you could read the Gospel together in small chunks which permit time for questions and discussion.
Of course, sharing The Word One to One with someone whose first language will not be English is interesting, to say the least. Our meetings are sometimes hilarious, at all times interesting, and infrequently quite difficult. At our first meeting, Sara’s unfamiliarity with Christian vocabulary kept me on my toes as I attempted to reply rapid-fire questions: What is Gospel? What is apostle? What is disciple? Why are there 4 Gospels? Why are there only 4 Gospels when you’ve gotten just explained to me that Jesus had twelve disciples?
When we got here to John 3:16, my heart was in my mouth as I read aloud that the majority profound of truths: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. There was a silence and I could tell by Sara’s face that she had not comprehended the vocabulary: it transpired that the word “perish” was the source of confusion. “To die and face God’s judgement,” I explained, “not only physical death, but spiritual death.” Sara’s face became very concerned as she replied, “So how is that this working for the perish churches then?” As we each collapsed with laughter, I explained the difference between “perish” and “parish”.
Other moments have been difficult. When Sara told me emphatically that the Lord Jesus was a false prophet, I used to be lost for words and sent up a silent “Lord, help me!” prayer. The answer got here back immediately: “I can handle it, move on.” So we simply got here back to the Bible text and I used to be humbled by how powerfully God’s Word speaks for itself, if only we are going to trust Him and open it up with one other.
What a privilege it’s to be a part of a conversation which starts with what “Messiah” means, moves on to the second coming of the Lord Jesus, and on the best way reveals that your friend didn’t understand that Jesus lives. Sara thought that Christians await the second coming because that is when Jesus will probably be raised to life: she had never heard that the resurrection has already happened and that He lives and reigns in Glory. What an incredible conversation that was!
I actually have learned much about Iranian culture, Islam, and the way rewarding it’s to be a part of a friendship I’d never have encountered, had it not been for Bible sharing. I actually have also learned that there’s nothing to fear! God’s Word speaks for itself: it’s powerful: it’s Truth: it is going to stand ceaselessly: it is going to never allow you to down.
By the best way, today, July thirtieth, International Friendship Day, is my birthday. I’m 72 years old. So, if you happen to’re reading this considering you are excused since you’re too old, re-evaluate! Open God’s Word and stretch out the hand of friendship.
