FORT MYERS, Fla. (BP)–As I travel around and speak in churches, I often suggest that the pastor use a visual to remind the church the importance of the Great Commission.
After Share Jesus Without Fear has been taught to the church, I ask the pastor to place a candle at the front of the church and have it lit the following week as the congregation comes in. The congregation is then told the pastor is going to ask a question before every service begins: “Did anyone this week share their faith?” If for some reason no hands go up, the pastor blows out the candle. “Our light is out,” he might say, “our wick is wet.” The candle will smoke and stink, and it should, because we have been disobedient to Jesus Christ.
Visuals can be used for baptismal services, too. After a person leaves the baptistery, hand them a plate with salt on it and have them place salt on their tongue. They’ll never forget the taste. And say, “Now, go be salt to the world.” Hand them a lit candle as they leave the baptistery and say, “You are now a light to the world.”
Sometimes we need to see in order to understand. Our walk is by faith, but sight sometimes gives us a great encouragement. But the best encouragement you will have is when you see God change a life as you proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Bill Fay is an evangelist and author of “Share Jesus without Fear.” To contact him, visit www.sharejesuswithoutfear.com.
