by Annie Corser | Aug 9, 2013
A recent revelation that God has been showing me is that the Bible is saturated from beginning to end in the Gospel presentation. Jesus is first promised after the Fall of Adam and Eve when God talks about an offspring of Eve bruising the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15, Romans 16:20).
In the story of Ruth, the Gospel is clearly shown as Boaz is Ruth’s redeemer. I love that Ruth simply had to come to Boaz’s feet and allow him to take care of her, as we must come to Jesus’ feet. At the same time, Ruth had to be patient for Boaz to bring justice to her and fulfill her redemption as we do with Christ (Ruth 3).
Nehemiah also presents a taste of the Gospel. Like the broken city that needed to be rebuilt, our lives are able to be rebuilt through Jesus. There are more stories throughout the Old Testament that reveal God’s plan to restore His people, but I want to focus on how Jesus taught about the restoration that was to come through Him.
I have heard parables described as Jesus using earthly teachings to relate heavenly realities to simple people. Each parable clearly reveals the Gospel to those who have the ears to hear and the eyes to see.
Parables such as the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), or the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27, or the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), or the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14), or the two debtors (Luke 7:41-43) were used to reveal God’s ultimate plan for salvation through His Son. Even different events that are recorded in Scripture show us how Jesus spoke to everyday people to offer them salvation, such as the woman at the well.
Jesus spoke to tax collectors, sick people, Pharisees, rulers, prostitutes, beggars, widows and children. Each time He taught, He shared the same message of redemption, but He did not use the same “script” each time.
So why do we, as evangelical Christians, often times find ourselves reciting memorized scripts to reach out to the lost? How does a script about a builder relate to a mother or teacher or child who knows very little about construction? Likewise, how does a script about a tragic accident connect with someone of another religion?
When sharing your faith and the story found in the Gospel becomes a repetitive, non-relatable script, take time to re-evaluate how Christ interacted with the world around Him. Look over how He shared His purpose with people who were living in different life situations.
Here are a few tips:
1. People are relational and differentiate. Remember that each person is unique, and they have their own thoughts and experiences. Find a way to connect with those you are speaking with. Marketers do this in order to find common ground to build positive attitudes toward a product or brand. If you can find something that you have in common with whoever you are talking with, you will.
2. Listen to them. People like to know they are important enough to have someone listen to them. What are they telling you that they are going through? Are they alone and need a friend? Are they looking for something to satisfy an unending thirst? How did Jesus address similar issues through His teachings? What experiences have you experienced that relate to what they are going through and feeling?
3. Be Personal. Share your own experiences (you can discern how much or how little to reveal about your past). Share about how God has revealed Himself to you through those times. People may not believe you or listen when you quote Scripture, but they cannot doubt your personal, real-life experiences. Salt your story with the Gospel and feed them Truth.
4. Be Prepared. Do you know God’s Word? Be ready to use Truth to relate from earthly issues to heavenly realities as Jesus did in His teachings. Dig into Jesus’ life, the parables He told and the people He talked with to learn how He was able to relate to the lost world around Him.
Break away from a memorized script and allow your words to be Holy Spirit-led as you share the Gospel with those around you.
by Annie Corser | Jul 13, 2013
I love road trips and I especially love surprise road trips. I consider myself a good driver, with a good sense of direction, but I like to have directions to get me from one place to another, especially if it is new territory. Because of this, I am grateful I have the Maps app on my smartphone so that I am confident I am going the right direction.
The past week, I headed to the city to visit some friends who are in town for a week of camp. The place they were stationed was in an area that I was not familiar with, so I whipped out my Maps.
I like to know what is coming up, even several steps ahead. However, in this instance I did not have the luxury of getting an overview of my directions, so I used the hands-free, voice instructions. Using this, I listened carefully to the instructions as I was told my next turn, even down to a few feet in front of me. However, with the step by step instructions, I cannot see the bigger picture. I must rely on the GPS to tell me exactly when and where to turn. This is incredibly frustrating for me.
As I drove around trusting my GPS, not really knowing where I was or where I was headed, I realized, this is exactly how God instructs me at times. While some times He reveals the bigger picture to me, most of the time I am provided with the step-by-step instructions without seeing the bigger picture. This is frustrating because I want to know what is coming up, I want to be in charge and in control; however, God knows that if I knew where I was headed, I would attempt to change the specific steps He has given me in order to het there (although, sometimes I do this anyway).
God nudged me this week with the reminder that just as the GPS takes me exactly where I need to be, so He guides me perfectly where I need to be. If I trust my GPS, the step by step instructions make me less anxious for the next turn. In using this tool, I do not have to worry about the up coming directions. Instead, I am focused on accomplishing one thing at a time. Likewise, when God provides one instruction at a time, I find that I am less likely to become anxious. When I find myself facing the unknown, I put my trust in God and not myself, and I devote myself to accomplishing one task at a time.
What instructions has God given you lately?
Have you followed them, or have you made your own way?
Are you trusting Him, or are you worried about what might be next?
God never changes and He is forever faithful.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (HCSB)
by Annie Corser | Jul 2, 2013
Spoiler Alert: I am going to be bold on the topic of homosexuality in the following post. My target is to address those who believe it is correct to rationalize, justify and even commend homosexuals to give up the fight and act out on their temptations.
I am a sinner redeemed through the blood of Christ, and I consider myself a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Southern Baptist beliefs. Therefore, I do not pick and choose the teachings of God to fit myself. Rather, I fit myself to the teachings of God. While this causes me to face my temptations with self-control and confront myself when I fail, I am going through the process of sanctification.
I am not narrow-minded because I believe in the Truth within the Bible, the whole Bible. I am not judgmental because I view anything that displeases God as a sin (disobedience to His instructions equals sin). I am not old-fashioned because I believe parts of the Old Testament still hold Truths we should obey. (No, the Old Testament law does not save us. Jesus Christ finished the law, but as Christians we are called to walk in obedience).
I am passionate about the social issue surrounding homosexuality because it hits close to home. I grew up in Oklahoma, the Bible-belt of America, yet I grew up knowing several openly gay people. I never once called them names, avoided them or looked at them with disgust. However, they did know my beliefs about their “lifestyle.”
I recently read a letter to the church from a woman who struggles with the temptation to be homosexual. She admits that acting out on a homosexual temptation is a sin, but she also explains that she needs the support from her church to encourage and teach her how to battle her temptation.
Now for the real post:
Here is my problem with the discussion about same-sex marriage “rights.” It simply is not an equality issue. It is a heart and sin issue. Homosexuality has been proven to be a temptation that can be overcome, but it is not a fast or easy process.
I have read several articles recently from writers who deal compassionately and more eloquently than I am on this topic. One group of articles came from an insight in the June 13 issue of the Baptist Messenger and a second from further reading by Joe Dallas in an article titled Answering the Gay Christian Position.
In Dallas’ piece, he talks about his own temptation for homosexual behaviors. Dallas explains that as he gave up his fight over his homosexual temptation, he began to place importance on pleasing himself than being obedient in self-denial. He created his own interpretation of the Scriptures in order to make them fit his lifestyle. In his article he quotes Francis Schaeffer, saying:
“Schaeffer is more specific: “Here in the midst of life there is to be a strong choice, by the grace of God. It is not a matter of waiting until we no longer have strong sexual desires, but rather — we are to understand what Jesus means when He talks about denying ourselves that which is not rightfully ours.”
The social group now known as the gay and lesbian community believe they are a social class who have been oppressed. Trying to compare the gay and lesbian community to women’s suffrage and slavery has no bounds. Yes, many “out of the closet” gays were and are bullied, and sure, they realized their choices did not give them “equal rights.” However, their choice to live in a homosexual relationship is just that, a choice. Women did not choose to be women, yet they were discriminated against. African Americans did not choose their race, yet they were enslaved. In contrast, who will stop the “criminal social class” from fighting for their “rights” as citizens after they chose to break the law? Who is to say that pedophiles will not rise up for their “rights” to marrying young children after they chose to act out on their temptation and attraction for younger ages? Dallas emphasizes this idea as he states,
“Should the authenticity of our sexual desires be the criteria by which we judge their rightness? If so, one wonders whether pedophilia, incest, or sadomasochism might not also be legitimized so long as they ‘seem right’ to an individual.”
To the homosexual “rights” activists:
Are you really helping them by lying to them? Humans were made to have partners, yes. But our partners are to be of the opposite gender. Fighting for the right to publicly display sinful actions without “criticism” does not make homosexuality okay. There is a difference between being criticized for your actions and being criticized for who you are. God made each person wonderfully, and He also allows us to face our own temptations. Whether we fight to glorify Him through those temptations, or give into them and create a false reality is our own choice. As for me, I will not hate my brothers and sisters who battle with homosexuality, but I will also not tell them that it is ever okay to act out their desires.
To the church:
Do not be swayed by false witnesses. Do not turn from the Truth. The fight for homosexuality should not be seen as a political battle, but as a spiritual one. It should not be fought with anger but with love. As the body of Christ, with family members and friends who have succumbed to the temptation of homosexuality, may we not shun them out of the church, but spread the Truth to them and pray that their hearts be softened and their minds be opened to the Truth God has provided us in His Word. For those who are still fighting for control over their temptation, may we encourage them and stand alongside them so as to not let them fall into this sin.
Be bold, but be loving. Be passionate, but be compassionate. Be honest, but be humble.
Be mindful of the battle of the mind and soul, and be prayerful to a God greater than our trials.
by Annie Corser | Jun 21, 2013
I ended last week by attending Falls Creek as a sponsor with the youth from Sooner Baptist Church. As I sat in the evening worship service, I realized how many distractions there are apart from electronics. Often times I have the potential to be a distraction myself.
At camp there is little cell phone service, and ideally, the kids do not keep their phones with them (although, each group has a few rebels). For one week there is no Internet, no TV, no family problems, nothing to distract you from being in God’s presence…except for the other thousand people around you.
Waiting for service to start Friday evening, I noticed the teens in front of me playing a little game. A boy kept trying to place his nose on another girl’s shoulder (I know, it’s ridiculous, but apparently also popular). As the worship portion of the service began, I noticed they continued to do it one or two more times before being reminded it was time to focus.
I mention this to illustrate that even with the best intentions to get away and find an isolated place to meet with Jesus, there will always be a choice between being distracted or being focused. Wherever there is a desire to see God, there will be an attack surrounding us in an attempt to distract us. There is also a tendency to be that distraction ourselves when we are around others. We cannot always isolate ourselves, but we can choose to ignore all the distractions around us, at home, at camp and even at church.
Why do we often feel the need to isolate ourselves in order to meet with God? If you are a child of His, He is IN you wherever you go. When was the last time you walked into church, God’s House, with the intent of only talking to God? The church is not a building for fellowship with people alone, but to meet with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (I am not saying that building relationships within the church body is wrong, but it can often times lead to distractions).
What kind of example do you set for your friends during worship? For your family? For the guests in your church? What do your actions reveal about your heart’s intention to simply worship?
Worship is not about the song choices, the band or the choir or even the stories told. Worship is about the position of your heart as you present your praise to an audience of One.
This week, I want to challenge you to intentionally avoid distractions and avoid being a distraction to others.
by Annie Corser | Jun 18, 2013
I experienced my first “fire” at work a few weeks back (figuratively speaking). I created the fire and immediately called for help. I sought guidance as to how to handle the situation and to find a way to right my wrong. I would like to say that it was a quick-fix, but fires usually don’t work that way. There was a little bit of waiting and a lot of praying; asking God to help the situation be fixed.
I had a big blunder in one of my articles that is scheduled to be printed in this week’s paper. When seeking guidance, I thought I could fix it before it had been sent to the printer; however, by the time I found the mistake the paper had been received by the printing company almost 45 minutes before.
As I tried to get in contact with the printer, all I could do was wait.
And pray.
And wait.
(Here is where God makes Himself known) When the printing company called back, the paper, which typically goes to print as soon as it is submitted, had not started printing. Why? Because there was a problem on their end (a God-sized one I suspect). They were gracious and allowed us to resubmit my article and the fire was out before anyone else had even smelt smoke!
<strong>Application:</strong> God designed us to bring Him glory. After a busy week with more responsibility it would have been easy to feel good about what <em>ANNIE</em> had done this week. Instead, I am finishing the week remembering what <em>GOD</em> has done for me this week. His hand is at work even when we do not acknowledge it, and it is our choice to give Him the glory, or to take the praise for ourselves. Pray for God to make Himself known, expect Him to make a God-sized impact in your life, and then wait for God to reveal His plan to you. When He follows through, give Him all the glory.