I Love to Tell the Story
I love to tell the story, For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
‘Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story, ‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love
(A. Catherine Hankey, 1834-1911).
What a beautiful song that has been a favorite of Christians down through the ages. It was one of the first hymns I learned as a little boy growing up in South Georgia. We have just finished a month of missions and my what a wonderful month it was. Missionaries shared their burdens and told us about the fields the Lord is directing them to. The International Meal that we had on our last Sunday was magnificent. At least 27 different countries were represented and our people really enjoyed it. Reaching the lost around the world has always been a goal of the Corinth Baptist Church. BUT…
What about those that are lost here among us? What about those within our circles of influence? Unsaved people aren’t only in South Africa or Tasmania. There are unsaved people in Loganville. All around us, in all these little towns such as Grayson, Snellville, Lawrenceville, Stone Mtn, Lilburn, Monroe, and Covington, there are lost people that you and I know. For the month of October, we are now going to place an emphasis on reaching the lost that are closer to us than the lost thousands of miles away. We are using an old theme that first originated with a dear mentor of mine, Dr. Elmer Towns. He put together a campaign decades ago and called it FRANtastic Days. Each week we are asking our church family to invite a different person of a little different relationship to be with you at the Lord’s house. Sunday is FRIEND Day. Next week is RELATIVE Day. The next is ASSOCIATE Day. The last is NEIGHBOR Day. All of us have some of those type of relationships. Let’s invite them to be our guests. Their lives could be changed in an instant just like yours and mine was when we trusted the Lord Jesus for our wonderful salvation. Once I trusted the Lord Jesus, my love for church burst forth in such a way that I have never gotten over it. My love for souls began immediately. I love seeing people saved and have their lives blessed as only God can do it. The first church in the Acts of the Apostles was a church that turned their community upside down. Sure, the change made some leaders angry and brought some suffering and persecution, but my how thousands had new life in Christ. This church is a model of what churches should be like today. I pray ours is like this church in some small way. In Acts 2, there is a beautiful description of how they did church and how that behavior was a draw for those friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors of the church family. Let me mention four in today’s blog.
1. Doctrine (2:41-42). The people of Jerusalem had seen a marvelous change in those early Christians. The unsaved didn’t understand the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but they did understand these people of “the way.” The “people of the way” were those that followed the way of Jesus of Nazareth. They knew they had something they didn’t have. The teaching of the Apostles, doctrine, was the foundation upon which the church operated. Without solid beliefs, Bible-based beliefs, the foundation is nothing but sand that moves with wind and water. Nothing can have stability with such a foundation.
2. Fellowship. The Greek word is koinonia which means sharing, a partnership. They were companions, and deeper friendships than ever before had been forged. When the church comes together in times of fellowship it is glorious to behold. Most of you don’t see the order of service we use on the Lord’s Day, but it says this: “Together in Singing.” “Together in Praying.” “Together in Reading.” “Together in the Word.” Why is it that way? The unity of a church draws people and produces great joy among the church family. It is a testimony to the guests and to those that possibly watch online.
3. Breaking Bread. This is far more than just partaking of the Lord’s Supper, Communion. It again, is speaking of friendships that are made that strengthen us in our Christian Walk. Proverbs tells us that “iron sharpens iron.” We spend time together. You can come up with many ways to spend time with other Christians. Meals or just a cup of coffee. Golfing, hunting, game days (which our ladies already do), sharing a Bible study or playing basketball in the Family Life Center (FLC). It is a testimony to the lost that Christians enjoy one another.
4. Prayers (42). Praying is always a great thing for God’s people to be active in. We are told in I Thessalonians to “give thanks in everything.” There is much to pray about these days and when prayers are answered the lost may doubt, but when it keeps on happening it causes them to think, “Maybe, just maybe, this Jesus thing might be real.”
I am pushed for time today so I’ll close, but I hope you will spend some time meditating on Acts 2:41-48 and ask the Lord who He would like for you to invite this Lord’s Day and all during the month of October.