Evangelistic Encounter: 1/30/08

Last night at work my co-worker Mark [mentioned before HERE] told me about a conversation that he had with a Mormon. The Mormon had asserted that Mormons are Christians and that Mormonism is similar to Roman Catholicism [Mark is Roman Catholic]. I talked with Mark about some of the differences between Mormonism and Christianity- such as Christianity affirming the biblical doctrine of the Trinity, while Mormons teach that God was once a Man and that we can become gods- and tried to think of a way to use this to share the gospel message. Finally, I told Mark that any organization calling itself a church must be focused on who Jesus is and what He has done- that our great love and commitment must be to Jesus and that by asserting that people can become gods, Mormonism is man-centered rather than Jesus-centered in their outlook. At about that point I had to switch trucks I was working in and I began to speak to John, who had overheard part of our conversation. I asked John the question, "Who is Jesus in your life?" [A form of one of the opening questions used in Bill Fay's Share Jesus Without Fear.] John replied, "I guess I'd say He is my hero." At about that time I had to switch trucks once again and I was working alone. Tonight after work I am going to Steak and Shake with Mark and John. Hopefully another Southern Seminary student we've been working with will be able to go with us as well. Please pray that the Lord would allow the opportunity for Christ-centered conversation.

Timmy Brister on "Calling for Truth"

Today during the 1PM-2PM [EST] time-slot, my friend Timmy Brister will be on the Calling for Truth radio program in connection with his 2008Puritan Reading Challenge. You can listen to the program by going HERE and then clicking the “Listen Online!” icon in the upper right-hand corner during the time of the show. The program will focus on the suggested Puritan work for January, The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes. Sadly, I will be in class during the show, so I will not be able to call in to ask Timmy a question, but anyone reading this post is encouraged to call (toll-free) 1-888-660-9535 between 1PM and 2PM and ask Timmy a serious, on-topic question like, "How can The Bruised Reed be a help to pastoral ministry or to the Christian life in general?" Or you may choose to ask a ridiculous off-topic question like, "Can you please tell us all the words to "2 Legit 2 Quit" by M.C. Hammer?

The Most Interesting Christian Talk Show Episode I've Ever Heard

Last Thursday Calling For Truth broadcast the most interesting talk show I've ever heard. On this show, hosts Paul Dean and Kevin Boling interviewed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, asking him a couple of tough questions about his radical pro-abortion position. Next, they interviewed blogger Tim Challies about his new book, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. Listen to the broadcast HERE.

"Joel Osteen: A Case Study in American Religion:" 01/20/08 broadcast of The White Horse Inn

A week ago yesterday, The White Horse Inn broadcast a program titled, “Joel Osteen: A Case Study in American Religion,” examining the teachings of Joel Osteen. During this broadcast, Dr. Michael Horton of Westminster Theological Seminary speaks of being interviewed about Osteen by the 60 Minutes news program. The interviewer asked Horton if Osteen was teaching heresy, to which Horton responded, "It's hard to imagine that there's enough content for it to be characterized as heresy." You can listen to the rest of the conversation HERE.

FBC pastor to nominate Mohler for SBC president

Many of you already know about this news from last week, but those who do not can read the story HERE.

The following video last year's annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio helps to illustrate the clarity Dr. Mohler has in regards to focusing on crucial issues for the SBC:

Evangelistic Encounter: 1/4/08

Please pray for Mark, a co-worker of mine at UPS. By his own admission he is lost and going to Hell when he dies. At first, this did not concern him, because he said he thought Hell is pretty much like the world we're currently living in. I pointed out that Jesus said Hell is a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched and that the book of Revelation calls Hell a lake of fire. I told Mark that the Good News is that we do not have to go to Hell- Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, He lived a perfect life, perfectly keeping God's Law that we have broken, and He died on the Cross in the place of sinners. On the third day he rose from the grave, conquering sin, death, and Hell, and now lives, offering eternal life to anyone who repents of their sins and trusts in Him alone for salvation. Having been raised Roman Catholic, Mark had some notion of these concepts- though, I believe, in a distorted form. We had a good conversation as we worked (loading packages does not take much mental effort, so it is easy to do our job well and yet speak on deep issues). Still, I would have liked to have further pressed Mark with the urgency of his situation and my concern for his eternal soul. Please pray that God would grant me another opportunity to speak with him on these matters, that He would raise up additional Gospel witnesses in Mark's life, and that He would draw Mark to Himself by the power of the Holy Spirit.