Yesterday was not a terribly irregular day at Phillips Street. Our morning Bible classes and worship hours went as normal. We did have a couple of afternoon activities – a workday for our VBS teachers and a meeting with the men to discuss a new ministry opportunity. Our evening service was quite typical – but the day ended with a bang.
You see, like most any congregation, among the many Christians we have who assemble with us regularly we have a few other folks who attend all the time. And when I say all the time, I mean all the time. They’re there Sunday and Wednesday, gospel meetings, lectureships, vacation Bible schools, etc. Anytime the doors are open you can count of them being there. Any unsuspecting person would think they were Christians, but they’re not. They’ve just never taken that step. The last few years we’ve had a couple obey the gospel but there were a couple that we had been praying about for a long time; older folks who had been at Phillips Street for years but had just never taken the step.
But last night one of them did. I was honestly so shocked I almost forgot what I needed to do when she stepped out into the aisle and walked to the front. But I quickly gathered myself, went to meet her in the aisle, and heard her say with a smile, “You finally got me!” Seventy-six years old and she finally decided to take the initiative to become a Christian. Sweet and unassuming and within minutes she was saved!
But interestingly that’s not where the night ended. Just about 20 minutes later I saw another lady with whom I had studied and talked over the last couple of months come back into the auditorium. This, too, took me back because they had left shortly after the service had ended. She should have been home by now, but there she was. She, along with her sister and brother-in-law, had been on their way home and she made him stop, turn around, and come back to the building because, as she said, “I couldn’t wait any more.”
So another lady, in her late sixties, made the sweet confession of faith and was baptized for the remission of her sins. She was delivered out of Mormonism and became just a Christian. One gospel and two receptive souls brought one fruitful harvest in Dyersburg last night.
But you know, the interesting thing about our experience last night was not just what happened in Dyersburg. A quick scan through Facebook and Twitter informed me that two congregations in Illinois and Florida celebrated three baptisms between them yesterday. Another congregation not far from us experienced two restorations. There’s no telling where else in the world souls were receptive to the gospel.
I say this not to brag on Phillips Street (though I easily could), and it is certainly not to draw attention to anything I have or have not done. But instead I want to illustrate that when it’s given a chance, that’s what the gospel does. When it’s planted into a good and honest hearts Jesus said it brings forth fruit. So in a world otherwise filled with gimmickry, let’s remember that there are no gimmicks that can save the souls of men – just the gospel (Romans 1:16)!
“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God…but that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience!” (Luke 8:11,15).
-Andy Brewer
From being able to worship with you online via the internet, my life was enriched and my faith strengthen by witnessing the baptism of a now sister in Christ who is in her seventies. Our God is alive and I am so thankful to the Phillips Street congregation and her Elders for providing this service to those of us who are bound at home. Thank you
Thanks for being such a devoted Christian and a regular reader. You and Scott encourage us as much, if not more!
Not far from your building the West Dyersburg church had a lesson on hell. We too had a responce of restoration. Last week the sermon was on heaven and was for sure more fun. But yesterday proved by preaching the whole truth ,which is so important when preaching the gospel ,hearts can be softened. The great truth about the “GOSPEL” is what was accomplished by Jesus paying our debt and defeating death so that we do not have to experience hell. Oh what a Savior!!!
Thanks for your blog and encouragement to our community,may God be glorified.
Food for thought,Jesus used food,healing and forgiveness to draw people to Him some might call that gimmickry.
Thanks again, Chuck Walden (a member at West Dyersburg).
That’s great new Chuck! There’s always the temptation to preach the fun sermons and forget the other side of the story and all preachers, myself included, have to remember that the gospel is balanced and our preaching needs to reflect that balance.
I would definitely disagree, as you do, that Jesus used gimmickry. Those acts were merely a reflection of God’s love. In the same way our acts of love are able to make the same impact in softening the hearts of the world to prepare them for the gospel. That is definitely not gimmickry, that’s just God’s way.
However, doing things to make religion more tolerable to society in hopes of drawing folks in are a different matter. I think forms of entertainment, whether in worship or without, is the most common form of gimmickry in religion today. Of course, my question along with others is if we have to gimmick people into the church what are we going to have to do in the future to make sure they stay.
Thanks for reading Chuck, and I hope that my clarification helps.
I do agree that once you start with certain gimmicks you might have a hard time uping the last one to keep them entertained. There has to be a balance in all that we do. Jesus was so concerned about meeting the needs of those that he came in contact whether they was physical or spiritual. We have been discussing church growth and have concluded if you have good church health growth will come.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit is key to a healthy Christian and church.
Thanks again, In His service Chuck
Sunday was a great example that we should never give up or lose faith on anyone willing to listen to the word. We need to continue to teach, pray and encourage. Great job and keep up the great work!