Saturday, October 20, 2018

100 Reasons & Ways to use Gospel Tracts



100 Reasons & Ways to use Gospel Tracts
(From a pamphlet published by Moments With The Book (www.MWTB.org))


Reasons to use Gospel Tracts
Using good-quality Gospel Tracts gives every Christian a simple and effective way to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
1. Tracts can get inside homes and stay there. You can’t.
2. Tracts never lose their temper or become involved in arguments.
3. Tracts never flinch or show cowardice.
4. Tracts can stick to the point without compromising.
5. Tracts never get discouraged.
6. Tracts are willing to be sent anywhere.
7. Tracts can work 24 hours a day.
8. Tracts are not expensive.
9. Tracts can be read many times over.
10. Tracts contain portions of Scripture, which God will use and bless (Isaiah 55:10,11).
11. Tracts can be used without fear.
12. Tracts have unlimited patience. 
13. Tracts are a great way for Christians to fulfill the Great Commission by sharing the Gospel often and widely.
14. Tracts are easy to give to another person with a smile and some encouragement to read them.
15. Tracts explain the Gospel clearly and simply so that the reader can make a decision to trust Christ (if he is at that point in his understanding and personal desire to believe).
16. Tracts go anywhere with you—work, school, vacation, shopping, repair shop, eating out, etc.
17. Tracts can accomplish their purpose anytime—day or night, winter or summer, good times or bad, “right now” or “later.”
18. Tracts can take advantage of a special event or activity—elections, sports, etc.—by taking that interest and relating God’s truth to it.
19. Tracts inject spiritual truth through specialized Gospel messages during seasons such as Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, Halloween, etc.
20. Tracts are proven to work. History records the testimony of many who were saved through tracts.
21. Tracts often get read by more than one person.
22. Tracts are “portable”—carry them in your pocket, purse, planner, notebook, or laptop bag.
23. Tracts are also portable when used for large outreaches. Just one person can pack and carry several thousand tracts.
24. Tracts can be used in quantity, multiplying your witnessing opportunities.
25. Tracts can be distributed as part of your normal routine (if you’re living a consistent Christian life).
26. Tracts are available in a variety of designs and formats to suit your tastes and preferences.
27. Tracts address subjects that are current as well as topics that are timeless.
28. Tracts give God’s point of view about life and death issues.
29. Tracts get their point across in an easy-to-read, brief format suited for a generation raised on sound-bites, e-mails, and texting.
30. Tracts cross educational hurdles and are available on various “grade” levels.
31. Tracts can communicate in languages you don’t speak.
32. Tracts cross age and gender differences.
33. Tracts don’t require a degree, special giftedness, training, or experience to use.
34. Tracts never compromise their message.
35. Tracts cross socio-economic barriers.
36. Tracts may contain the only portion of God’s Word some people have ever read.
37. Tracts never get tired.
38. Tracts give their message when the reader is ready to receive it.
39. Tracts continue to repeat their message as often as necessary.
40. Tracts cross ethnic and cultural barriers.
41. Tracts can start a conversation.
42. Tracts reinforce what you say about the Gospel in a conversation, talk, or sermon.
43. Tracts get their message across when no conversation is possible—in a letter, with a bill payment, or when you have only seconds with another person.
44. Tracts can address difficult issues (when written by an expert) on which you aren’t an expert.
45. Tracts can communicate to a non-reader who asks someone to read it to him.
46. Tracts generally add their message to other factors from the reader’s past that may eventually lead that person to salvation.
47. Tracts are a testimony—even if the recipient doesn’t read the whole message, they are reminded of their need of Christ.
48. Tracts provide a point of reference for the reader to find spiritual help by contacting the publisher, church, individual, or website listed on the back.
49. Tracts can directly address certain beliefs—like Islam, Catholicism, and Mormonism—comparing them with Biblical truth.
50. Tracts can be adapted to share their message through various media to reach people and places that you cannot otherwise visit.

Ways to use Gospel Tracts
Hopefully the following list will give you some ideas of how you can put the “silent missionaries” to work. No matter where or how you choose to distribute tracts, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for each tract placed, and then pray for the Lord of the harvest to bless the seed sown.
51. Tracts can be placed in greeting cards.
52. Tracts can be passed out door to door.
53. Tracts can be shared with fellow campers.
54. Tracts can be posted on bulletin boards in public areas.
55. Tracts can be put in pockets of used clothing given away.
56. Tracts can be passed out at parades, festivals, and other special gatherings.
57. Tracts can be handed out at stadium entrances before sporting events, concerts, etc.
58. Tracts can be left in laundromats.
59. Tracts can be included in a mailing to people in your community—or around the world.
60. Tracts can be given to attendants at parking garages, toll booths, etc.
61. Tracts can be left in motel rooms (in the drawers, telephone book, etc.)
62. Tracts can be included in bills paid by mail.
63. Tracts can be handed to store employees, check-out clerks, valets, etc.
64. Tracts can be left in returned library books.
65. Tracts can be put with other reading materials in waiting rooms.
66. Tracts can be placed in tract racks in stores and other public places—with permission, of course.
67. Tracts can be enclosed with letters to prisoners, pen-pals, etc.
68. Tracts can be left with a (generous) tip in restaurants
69. Tracts can be given to hospital and nursing home patients while visiting.
70. Tracts can be handed out at zoos, picnic areas, and beaches.
71. Tracts can be left on a seat in a bus, cab, plane, etc.
72. Tracts can be left in a locker at the gym.
73. Tracts can be passed out on busy street corners.
74. Tracts can be given out on college campuses.
75. Tracts can be left in the break room or cafeteria at work or school.
76. Tracts can be left for paper and mail carriers, etc.
77. Tracts can be placed in each box or bag of merchandise you sell.
78. Tracts can be placed in airport lounges, or distributed in bus, train, and subway stations.
79. Tracts can be given to students at Vacation Bible School and Sunday School.
80. Tracts can be given away from booths rented during fairs or carnivals.
81. Tracts can be given with Christmas cookies (or gifts) to neighbors each year.
82. Tracts can be given to attendees of church choral programs at Easter and Christmas.
83. Tracts can be handed to anyone who has helped you at a store, given you a haircut, serviced your car, or worked in your house.
84. Tracts can be taken overseas on short-term missions trips in the language of the country being visited.
85. Tracts can be handed out during special community outreach programs and events like fall festivals, Christmas programs, etc.
86. Tracts can be placed on a business counter or in an office for people to pick up.
87. Tracts can be included in disaster relief packages.
88. Tracts can be placed in Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets that are given to needy community families.
89. Tracts can be included with Christmas cards and annual letters for a clear gospel witness.
90. Tracts can be given out during appointments with doctors and health care workers. 

Ways NOT to use Gospel Tracts
When distributing the Gospel, be sure to do so in a way that brings glory and honor to God. With that in mind, here are some things to avoid.
91. Don’t litter—tracts left outdoors can easily blow around and become a nuisance to those who have to clean them up.
92. Don’t leave tracts in Post Offices, mailboxes, or other places where literature is prohibited.
93. Don’t force tracts on people.
94. Don’t be rude when someone turns down your tract.
95. Don’t trespass.
96. Don’t leave tracts on houses or cars where they can get wet and make a mess.
97. Don’t leave a tract in place of a tip (or with a tip of less than 15%)—it is a very poor testimony.
98. Don’t use bad tracts. Make sure they are attractive and contain the true Gospel message.
99. Don’t use tracts that you haven’t read. Make sure to study the message (and all referenced Scriptures) so you are familiar with what you are distributing.
100. Don’t do it alone—seek God’s guidance and blessing at every turn.

A Gospel Tract in a Grocery Store Checkout Lane


“Nothing surpasses a tract for sowing the seed of the Good News.” –Billy Graham

“When preaching and private talk are not available, you need to have a tract ready . . . get good striking tracts, or none at all. A touching gospel tract may be the seed of eternal life. Therefore, do not go out without your tracts. Let each one of us, if we have done nothing for Christ, begin to do something now. The distribution of tracts is the first thing.”  –Charles Spurgeon

“The smallest tract may be the stone in David’s sling. In the hands of Christ it may bring down a giant’s soul.” –Robert Murray M’Cheyne 

Did you know that George Whitefield, a preacher of the Great Awakening, was saved by a Gospel tract? After reading it he wrote, “God showed me I must be born again or be damned.”

The great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, was also saved by reading a tract.


God even used a Gospel tract as the tool that led Greg Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason, to Christ. He has stated that “some brave soul” put it in the bottom of his grocery bag while checking out.

Mary Passing Out Tracts - Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market
 

Monday, October 8, 2018

Sunrise from Orbit

From an article I saw online, from The Daily Mail about photographs of the sunrise from orbit (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6253295/ISS-astronaut-captures-stunning-shots-space.html?ito=email_share_article-masthead).

The article notes: "Alexander Gerst captured these incredible images of it from aboard the International Space Station...The orbiting station is 220 miles above Earth."
As you can see in the photo below,  Mr. Gerst states: "I don't know any words, in any language, to match the beauty of an orbital sunrise."



I do, Mr. Gerst: I know of words from the One who created the sunrise.
David, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and speaking about the LORD God, said:
 

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.  
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 
 Psalms 19:1-6

"They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice." Psalms 65:8

These scriptures always come to mind when I behold the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, or view the moon and stars on a clear night. I agree with Mr. Gerst: a sunrise is a beautiful sight. Even more beautiful is to know the One who made it.
Paul.

Saturday, August 25, 2018

"Serve Where You Are" by Lonnie Carpenter

I just got back from our annual family get-together at Gravel Lake, which is located in southwestern lower Michigan. On the map above, Gravel Lake is pinned, and is just to the south of the village of Lawton, Michigan. When we're there, I have the privilege of worshiping God with the brethren at First Baptist Church in Lawton. This year, they had a fellowship meal after the church meeting, and I got to spend some time chatting with Pastor Lonnie Carpenter, and it was a great time.

I really appreciate this body of believers: though we only see them once a year, they usually remember us and welcome us into their church family. Lonnie has a heart to reach the lost for Jesus Christ in the Lawton area, and preaching and teaching the word of God and evangelism seem to be the heart and soul of the ministry.

Pastor Lonnie Carpenter (left) of First Baptist Church

Lonnie shared a message out of Acts 6-8 at the meeting I attended, and I thought it might be an encouragement to others who, perhaps, feel discouraged with the ministry the Lord has given them. We all could use a little encouragement, right? I mean, many of us cannot go to far off places to reach the lost like, a Jim Elliot or an Adoniram Judson did, though we thrill at the stories of these and other "heroes of the faith". And, probably, we don't have the organization, support and skills to gather a big crowd and record YouTube videos while street preaching, like a Ray Comfort. But God gives all of us opportunities to be faithful in small, perhaps unnoticed or mundane ways. 

I am reminded, however, that we are called to be faithful, not necessarily "successful", at least in the way we look at success from a worldly perspective. Lonnie's message was a good reminder for me to be content with that which God has given me to do, and trust God to be content with that until or unless God calls me to something else.

Lonnie titled the message, "Serve Where You Are & You Will Go Far." Click on this LINK to listen to the audio message by Pastor Lonnie. Enjoy and be encouraged, my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ!
Paul.

Book Review: Gospel Reset by Ken Ham

Gospel Reset: Salvation Made RelevantGospel Reset: Salvation Made Relevant by Ken Ham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a must-read book dealing with which could possibly be the biggest problem plaguing the evangelical Christian church. This book is in the form of a wake-up-call to the church to start teaching the bible and evangelizing the American culture the way Paul did in Acts 17.

For many, many years we have been witnessing and sharing our faith to a Greek culture (who does not have the biblical foundations of God, and how He created the heavens and the earth) the same way we share our faith to the Jewish culture of Acts 2 (Who has the biblical foundations of God and creation). No wonder why when we are sharing our faith to the lost in America that they look at us as nuts. Even when using the Romans Road, or Ray Comfort's way of evangelizing and using the 10 Commandments to show a person they are a sinner, people still have no concept of what sin is, or that they violated any moral regulations to a deity who created them and everything in the universe. We have got to change how we evangelize to our Greek culture and first give them a foundation to set the whole house of the gospel on.

This book was revolutionary for me in that I need to change how I share my faith to people. I need to stop using the Romans Road, and start using a modified version of it, applying creation and our accountability to a just, holy, righteous creator. I need to be absolutely careful what tracts I use so as to not confuse people any further. I need to consider that people have no idea that there is one God, what sin is, or that they are accountable themselves. I have met multiple people right here in the bible belt of America that had no idea who Jesus was. Never heard of Him. Shocking. I need to be prepared to give an answer TO THOSE PEOPLE as well. To prepare yourself...first read this book. It is a quick read, and full of information. Straight to the point with no irritating filler.

Whether you are a Pastor, Youth Pastor, Evangelist, parent, or millennial, you need to read this book.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Witnessing At Iowa State Fair 2018

Words cannot express how awesome this year was witnessing at the Iowa State Fair this year. This was the first time since 2004 we have been able to do witnessing inside the fair, instead of just witnessing outside the gates, talking to people leaving or going in, or people parking cars on their front lawns. This was a huge opportunity to be a part of.

Answers In Genesis Booth: August 9-14

Pella Tulip Time Festival was a great outreach not only for me witnessing, but meeting more evangelists, becoming friends and also networking with them. Not only with those from Iowa, but all over the U.S.. It was at this festival where I met guys like Tony Ramsek from Answers In Genesis. While I was at Tulip Time he invited me to join him and others to work the Answers In Genesis Creation Booth at the Iowa State Fair. Starting July 11, I signed up and started my Creation Apologetics 101 training and completed it a few weeks later. This was necessary tools to work the booth, and prepare me to answer tough questions in Creation Apologetics. 

The highlight of the booth was an 8 foot replica of Noah's Ark under glass with two trains underneath to show in relation how big the ark would be. It was pretty cool to share with people how big the ark would be in relation to the Varied Industries Building where we were. It was neat to see their eyes light up when I said that the ark was 10 feet longer than the building and 7 stories high! But what was even cooler was to share how the ark only had one door for salvation from the water. This was a picture of Jesus, the only way to salvation and escape hell. 

We also had a station where we gave children and some adults tattoos, which were the biggest and brightest tattoos of the entire fair. As I am writing this on August 20th, my tattoo I put on my leg is still visible since the start of the fair on August 9th! This is what I wrote on my Facebook wall about putting tattoos on kids. 

"Matthew 19:14 - "Jesus said, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
For the past 2 days for the most part I have been putting these tattoos on children. From the outside looking in, one might call it a failure and a waste of resources. One person said to me that ive been to really rough environments, shared Christ to the toughest cults, and open air preached to people who would rather see me dead, and here I am giving kids tattoos. Though I imagine I've done several hundred tattoos or even more, I have enjoyed each one. I find it that I am more blessed than they are. Here I get to fully engage children, hold their hands, or arms, or even legs, look them in the eye, and tell them how much God loves the, cares for them, and that He even sent His own Son so that they can be with Him forever. That Jesus is the ARK for today. The only Ark with the only door for the only way that leads to salvation. Any other time this is not possible. I am an extremely blessed man."
 The booth also had a plethora of tracts, booklets, DVD's and featured two TV's displaying videos of the Ark Encounter in Kentucky, where they built a life-size ark. We met many people who were planning a trip, or have already gone.

The booth did attract the attention of cults as well. I personally spoke with 3 Mormons, 2 Jehovah's Witnesses, and we even had the President of the Iowa Atheist group come. Most of his time was telling us how sad we were and hardly got a word in.

Gideon's International Booth: August 10th

I was also blessed to be a part of the first ever Gideon's International booth at the Iowa State Fair. We were located on the East Exhibition Hall underneath the grandstands. Here we gave out personal worker's testaments to adults and testaments to kids 5th through 12th grade. We did have a young man named Vince, who spent alot of time getting questions answered. He was a professed atheist, but was really interested in what the bible had to say. The group worked very well with each other, and throughout the fair days there were calls and emails for more pocket testaments needed for the booth. It was a great success and hope this will continue in the future. 

Interview on 99.3 FM The Truth Radio: August 10th

Probably the amazing unexpected thing happened that I couldn't have forseen. While I was waiting for the bus to get to the fair, Chris Rohloff, Station General Manager of 99.3 fm The Truth, contacted me through Facebook Messenger and asked Tony Didlo or I, if we would like to be on the radio talking about evangelism in the Iowa State Fair. Since Tony couldn't get there this year, I volunteered to be on the show Faith Works Live with Mike Demastus and Chris Rohloff.  

The radio spot went well, and I was really excited to be a part of it. Without going into great detail I talk about how the Iowa State Fair affected me in ministry, conquering fear, and answering other questions regarding witnessing at the fair. You can listen to it HERE on facebook. My spot starts at 20:15 and lasts two segments between commercials. 

Even though I only spent the 9th through the 14th doing evangelism at the fair, it was an unbelievable time spent serving God and promoting the gospel of Christ. It was really cool working together with other evangelists, learning from each other, fellowshiping with one another, and being the church we were called to be. I love the men and women whom I work with, and look forward to being together again.