Monday Morning Insights

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    Live Q&A with Dino Rizzo on “Servolution”… Don’t miss it!

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    It all happens on Friday (February 20) at 1:15 EST (12:15 Central) right here...

    7 Days of Servolution is churches from all over the world coming together to express the love of Christ to the people in their communities through simple acts of kindness and generosity. From April 3rd through the 9th we are asking you to partner with us and churches from all over the world and bring that example set by Jesus to the people in your community. As you know this is the week leading up to Easter weekend. We believe that this is a great opportunity to invite people from all over your community to come out and be a part. Many times it's during those weekends that people are the most receptive to the Gospel message and we want to help do all that we can to fill churches everywhere for people to have an opportunity to experience the love of God through salvation.
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    1. CS on Thu, February 19, 2009

      I went to the website, watched the videos, and listened to the pastor’s idea behind this.  And I feel like I have to say it again—we need to be preaching the Gospel AS we are doing such things.  Good works on their own are nice things, but we must be sharing the Good News verbally / directly along with those kind deeds because people are dying in their sins every day.  Yes, God sent us to serve, but He also sent us to share the Gospel with everyone (Mark 16:15).  And we must do this with words, and not just with deeds.



      CS

    2. Todd Rhoades on Thu, February 19, 2009

      CS…


      Thanks for your comments, but I think they are grossly unfair.  If you knew anything about Dino Rizzo and Healing Place Church, you would not question their spreading of the gospel and sharing the love of Christ with literally thousands in Baton Rouge and around the world.  I’m really proud to know Dino and the people at Healing Place… they are one church that I really think is doing some great things and are passionate about sharing Jesus and the gospel.


      Thanks,


      Todd

    3. CS on Thu, February 19, 2009

      Todd:


      True, I don’t know much of Rizzo beyond what I have read here, so I could see how you perceived my comments to be unfair.  And I am glad to hear that he does spread the Gospel from someone such as you who is intimately familiar with him.


      My comments were more as a general statement for those churches out there who have been doing so much goodwill and kind deeds, but sometimes go so far as to say, “Don’t mention the Gospel because we’re out here to do only good works and don’t want to scare anyone.”  I have seen so many churches showing their activities, but the vocal declaration of the Gospel has been notoriously absent from their charity.  And when we have a larger activity such as, “Servolution,” I worry that some of the churches participating may have similar views.


      When I saw an absence of the Gospel being directly mentioned in the videos on the page, except for people possibly going to church and hearing it, I did jump to the conclusion that this might have been one of those churches initially.  And I am sorry about that.



      CS

    4. Christian Music Rocks! on Thu, February 19, 2009

      Today is the day!!! Enjoy the show everyone. I certainly will.

    5. dan ohlerking on Thu, February 19, 2009

      todd thanks for helping spread the word about the live Q&A;friday. i do wanna make sure we get the word out about the new link we have set up that will hopefully make for a fuller experience in the Q&A;:

      [url=“http://servolution.org/live” ]http://servolution.org/live


      [/url]

       

      and as for cs’s comments, i can totally understand his point. goodwill isn’t going far enough. the whole point is getting people to see Jesus in the acts of kindness. i hope people give a long enough look at servolution to realize that we are not the red cross or UNICEF as great as those organizations’ work is… we are the body of Christ, and the Gospel is our message. we just choose to start the message by serving people…


      thanks todd for your friendship and for representing our heart well in your comments.  hope everyone with any questoins like CS’s will come hear the Q&A;tomorrow for themselves, too.

       

    6. Katrina on Fri, February 20, 2009

      CS,


      I am often amazed at your intuition. I used to attend Healing Place Church. This church has an amazing reputation of love and caring here in Baton Rouge. They have an incredible ministry called Cooking for Christ and with its staff of great Cajun volunteers, they put out some SERIOUS “groceries!”  I often brought up the idea of using these outreaches as a platform to preach the Gospel to those we serve. If nothing else, attach a tract to the styrene trays of food for the recipient to read. I gave them a curriculum for teaching biblical evangelism to church members who wanted to learn how to more effectively share their faith and was summarily rejected.  It seems to me that they are more concerned with their reputation and how much the community likes them than they are about sharing the truth with the lost.  No doubt about it….they are a compassionate church and expend an incredible amount of resources to care for our community but I have never seen them hand out a tract or preach the gospel message to those they serve.  Please understand, when I say Gospel I mean the whole counsel of God….sin, righteousness, judgment to come as well as the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I gave Pastor Dino Rizzo a cd of “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” by Ray Comfort. In it he clearly delineates the practice of the modern church to candy coat and compromise the COMPLETE message of the Gospel.  Dino gave it back to me and said that HPC is more bent on grace.


      Todd,


      I’d love you to ask Dino if they will pass out Biblical based tracts or witness on a one-to-one basis to those they will be serving. Not the excuse of the un-biblical phrase “Preach the Gospel and when necessary, use words” but clearly tell others how we stand before the holiness of God and what He has done to rectify it. Our works are important as a demonstration of our faith but kind actions are not what God uses to save others.  Scripture tells us “...that it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Cor 1:21) The deeds are great and truly demonstrate the love of Christ but how much love do we really show if we leave them in their sins without telling them how they can be washed white as snow and live for all eternity. Waiting for them to come to church before we tell them about salvation through faith in Jesus is like waiting for criminals to turn themselves in before we arrest them.

    7. Shawn Wilson on Fri, February 20, 2009

      I find that people like and Katrina and CS are usually the people that never stick around a church longer then 3-5 years.  They get mad because they don’t think the leadership is “preaching” the full Gospel or they are to soft.


      Katrina says that she used to attend HPC.  I currently do and have found that Dino and the staff at the church preach and live the Gospel.  What is the Gospel?  Just preaching?  No.  It’s preaching to the lost.  Helping the hurting and needy, etc.  Jesus spoke to us about being sheep or goats.  Many people think that he was speaking of christians and nonchristians but if you read it correctly that is not the case.


      Jesus didn’t say if you preach this right you did good.  He said if you took care of this person you took care of me.  If you didn’t you were more about yourself and making yourself out to look good or godly.


      How will the world know we are Christ disciples?  By preaching?  By condemning?  By fighting one another?  NO BY OUR LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Love for each other and love for theose who need Jesus.  Should we preach?  ABSOLUTLY!!  But we must also work.


      Much love,


          Shawn WIlson

    8. CS on Fri, February 20, 2009

      Sorry that I didn’t have a chance to tune in earlier today.  The perils of having a job sometimes interfere with things like this.  =)


      Shawn:


      “I find that people like and Katrina and CS are usually the people that never stick around a church longer then 3-5 years.  They get mad because they don’t think the leadership is “preaching” the full Gospel or they are to soft.”


      You’re a little off there.  If a church is not preaching the full Gospel, I will not go there.  If a church is preaching the full Gospel, I rejoice.  That’s pretty much it.  I’m sure Katrina agrees with me there.


      “What is the Gospel?  Just preaching?  No.  It’s preaching to the lost.  Helping the hurting and needy, etc.”


      The Gospel is outlined pretty well in the first part of 1 Corinthians 15.  You do have to explain a little bit more what sin is, and why there is such a penalty for it, and why Christ sacrificed it, but Paul hit it well.  And like he says in Romans 10, the Gospel has to be spread directly with words.


      “Jesus spoke to us about being sheep or goats.  Many people think that he was speaking of christians and nonchristians but if you read it correctly that is not the case. “


      That’s not quite right, according to Matthew 25, particularly, the last half of the chapter.  You’re right about by caring people we have cared for Jesus by proxy, but it’s pretty clear that goats are nonbelievers, because they are the ones who will be cast into Hell.


      “Should we preach?  ABSOLUTLY!!  But we must also work.”


      You’re absolutely right.  Words without actions are worthless, and actions without the Gospel makes happy people who go to Hell.


      As someone who attends this church, let me ask you directly:  As you participate in this program, what ways are you preaching the Gospel that the Holy Spirit would use to convict a person of his sins and come to repentance and faith in Christ?  Specifically, what do you say?  Or do you give Bible tracts?  Or, have you not mentioned the name of Christ aside from a casual use?



      CS

    9. Katrina on Fri, February 20, 2009

      Shawn,


      Let me be clear….I have a special place in my heart for HPC and Pastor Dino and the staff.  I was invited to HPC the week after God saved me and I was excited about it. I was baptized at HPC by Pastor Dino and could never imagine ever leaving that church.  HPC boasts 5000 + members which is incredible considering the 13 or so years they’ve been in Baton Rouge.  They have earned their reputation of compassion and service to Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish.  With all they do they could easily use it as a springboard to share the Biblical message of salvation…Biblical is the key.  If every one of their 5000 members would share the Gospel message with one stranger a day, they would reach the entire population of Baton Rouge proper and Ascension Parish TWICE in a years time. You want to talk about impact!!  How many souls would be saved?  But unfortunately in order to keep ANYONE from saying bad things about HPC, they never risk offending anyone by sharing the Biblical account of sin, righteousness and judgment to come.  WHY!?  It is not our message…it’s God’s.  It IS offensive but it is also effectual because it breaks the hearts of the proud and it gives grace to the humble.  Yes, in preaching God’s message of redemption you will make some angry and might even get assaulted or run into the law…it has happened to me…but when you preach it in love knowing the fate of those who reject it you do so while pleading with them to turn and repent.  No sugar coating-no compromise. 


      Serving the community in humility and love after preaching God’s Gospel will testify of your love even to those who think you are a fool to preach it or even believe it.  We must be faithful to the Great Commission and tell everyone the truth…even to our own hurt then let God do the rest and turn their hearts towards Jesus. I am puzzled by the constant resistance to a Biblical presentation of the Gospel to the lost.  I don’t understand it how a true Christian could ever argue against the imminent return of Christ and thus the dire necessity of sharing the Gospel to the lost.  But too often the idea of building “relationships” is pushed to the forefront as priority.  If someone is in a burning building and is unaware of the danger, I don’t need to build a relationship with them before telling them to run from the fire.  I’ll have all eternity to build that relationship in heaven when I see them there.

    10. Shawn Wilson on Fri, February 20, 2009

      Here’s what I don’t get.  People who use the Ray Comfort method think that theirs is the only way to share the gospel.  Look I think that method works but you must realize that it doesn’t work every time.


      Each person is different and we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit on our dealings with people.


      I have seen many people come to Christ because someone wanted to know why we (HPC members in an outreach) would give them food, clothing, etc.  Because of the generosity of others in the name of Christ the Holy Spirit grabbed their hearts and they became followers of Jesus.  I have also seen were we got real person with the person and their life of sin and they came to Christ.


      My only problem here is that those who think that there is only one way to share the gospel thinks that their way is it.  Those who exclusively use the Ray Comfort method seem to be these kinds of people.  They say that this is how Jesus used it.  If I remember right Jesus used it one time in dealing with an individual.


      My point here is that many people in the Church think that their way is the only way.  Well I have heard it said that there are many ways to Christ and only one way to the Father, Jesus.


      All I think I am asking here is that we be a little open minded on how God can reach others.

    11. Leonard on Fri, February 20, 2009

      Well said Shawn.  One struggle I have with some people is that they do not seem to enjoy people coming to Christ.  Someone prays to receive Christ and they want to direct the words and measure things only brought about by sanctification. 


      I gave my life to Christ 43 years ago and knew nothing of doctrine, the deity of Christ, the sovereignty of God… I just know I was missing something and that Jesus loved me.  I told God I was sorry and surrendered what I knew of my life to what I knew of Him. 


      Sanctification taught me doctrine and how to put into practice what was sown in me as a young kid, coming to Jesus. 


      I did not know I was depraved, I simply knew I was loved.  When I discovered the goodness of God, repentance entered my life. 


      I was actually told recently that unless someone understand the sovereignty of God, the depravity of man, repents in drastic fashion they cannot be saved.  I responded, So much for children coming to Christ.

    12. CS on Sun, February 22, 2009

      Shawn:


      “My only problem here is that those who think that there is only one way to share the gospel thinks that their way is it.  Those who exclusively use the Ray Comfort method seem to be these kinds of people.  They say that this is how Jesus used it.  If I remember right Jesus used it one time in dealing with an individual. “


      The, “Ray Comfort method,” to which you refer is nothing more than a normal biblical model for going and sharing the Gospel that has been employed for thousands of years by millions of people. 


      -For someone to be saved, they need to have the Gospel presented to them (Romans 10:13-17). 


      -The Gospel is the message of Christ dying on the cross for our sins, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 


      -How do you know what sin is?  By the Law (Romans 7:7). 


      -It’s a schoolmaster that brings us to faith (Galatians 3:24-25). 


      -And in response to our sins and the atoning work of Christ, we need to repent and put our faith in Him (Mark 1:15, Acts 3:19, Romans 10:9)


      Also, Jesus always gave Grace to those who were humble and poor in spirit, and the Law to those who were proud (James 4:6), which is what the, “Ray Comfort method,” prescribes. 


      “Well I have heard it said that there are many ways to Christ and only one way to the Father, Jesus.”


      No, this is a wrong belief that has gained popularity recently and is used by many to explain a, “wider mercy,” view.  There is only one way to Christ, and that is if the Father draws them to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 6:44,45; 3:8).


      Again, going back to my earlier question, in what ways have you directly communicated the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people as you have participated in this program and in your church?



      CS

    13. Shawn Wilson on Sun, February 22, 2009

      CS


          What I am trying to say here is that you and those like you whom use this method of witnessing see others and their methods as wrong or ineffective, with no evidence to support your claim.


          I’m not saying that at times I don’t use the same method because I do.  However, I yield to the Holy Spirit to see where He is leading me.  I think we need to look at how we approach each person and see what God is doing.


          As for what do I say in our encounters with those we serve.  It depends on the situation.  However, I always share the gospel with them.  To just walk up and go through some rehersed line over and over again I see as ineffective.  Not that the method is but I see people who do that are often unconnected from the people they are trying to win to Christ.  I think that is wrong.  Jesus was sensitive to the Spirit and what He was telling Him about the people He was dealing with.  We should be the same way. 


          What if the person we are witnessing to has heard the gospel and all it is gonna take to win them is a little love, kindness, help, etc.  You can’t say it doesn’t work because I have seen hundreds for whom it has, just as I have seen people won by the “ray comfort” method.


          Also on your last point I don’t think you got the Spirit of the quote.  There are many ways people come to Jesus.  Some come at church, others on the street.  Some with a preacher, others by hearing a sermon on cd.  Some come simply by reading the Word, others by the lives of Godly men and women around them.  However, there is only one way to God the Father, Jesus.


          Look I am not here to bash or hate on anyone.  Just trying to get people to see that we are working together.

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