OUR DAILY BREAD : TALKING ABOUT JESUS

[cimi]

May 8
Thursday


TALKING
ABOUT JESUS

READ:
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
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I determined not to
know anything among
you except Jesus Christ
and him crucified.
__1 Corinthians 2:2
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Former major league baseball player Tony Graffanino tells of an ongoing ministry effort in a European country. Each year his organization holds a week-long baseball camp. During this week they also offer a daily Bible study. In past years, the leader tried to find reasoned ways to convince the campers that God exists so they would place their faith in Him. After about 13 years, they had seen only 3 people decide to follow Jesus.

Then they changed their approach, says Graffanino. Instead of "trying to present facts, or winning arguments for a debate," they simply talked about "the amazing life and teachings of Jesus." As a result, more campers came to listen, and more chose to follow Him. The apostle Paul said that when we tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ, we should set "forth the truth plainly....We do not preach ourselves," he said, "but Jesus Christ as Lord" (2 Cor. 4:2-5 NIV). This was Paul's standard for evangelism: "I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).

We should be knowledgeable about the Bible and about the reasons for our belief, and sometimes we need to explain those reasons. But the most compelling and effective story we can tell puts Christ in the center. __Dave Branon

`````````````````Father God, please use me in the lives of others.```````````````````
`````````````````Remind me to talk about who Jesus is and His life``````````````````
````````````````and teachings. and not to be dragged into debates,``````````````````
````````````````````````but to share Jesus' amazing life.``````````````````````````
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The risen Christ is the reason for our witness.

**************************Today's Bible reading __ 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

1 Therefore, since we have
this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we do not
lose heart. 2 But we have
renounced the hidden things
of shame, not walking in
craftiness nor handling the
word of God deceitfully,
but by manifestation of the
truth commending ourselves
to every man's conscience
in the sight of God. 3 But
even if our gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those who are
perishing, 4 whose minds
the god of this age has
blinded, who do not
believe, lest the light of the
gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine on them.

5 For we do not preach
ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord, and ourselves
your bondservants for
Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the
God who commanded light
to shine out of darkness,
who has shone in our hearts
to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus
Christ.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Today's reading showcases a remarkable spiritual reality concerning
those who are resistant to the gospel. "But even if our gospel is
veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god
of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the
gospel of the glory of Christ...should shine on them" (vv.3-4). The
apostle Paul tells us that Satan, "the god of this age," has produced
a form of spiritual blindness that hinders one's perception of the
reality of Jesus Christ. Spiritual blindness can only be overcome by
the light of Christ. (v.6).

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