"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word" 2Thes 2:16-17

Thanks be to God for the grace in Christ Jesus who came into the world to die for sinners! It is through His sacrificial death and resurrection that we were once dead but now made alive by His very work. Through the com- fort of His love, our Lord calls us to every good work and word. The motivation for every good work is love. Not just any love, but the love of Christ. And likewise, the motivation for witnessing is love.

"Many Christians struggle with guilt over evangelism. They know that they're supposed to tell people about Jesus, but they don't for any number of reasons. Some are convinced that they don't know how to be effective witnesses of Jesus. Others are afraid of how people might react. Many feel beaten up by well-meaning pastors and church leaders who have tried to motivate them to do their duty. They've used the law of God to push people to be witness. But the law doesn't motivate us to do good works, even the good work of evangelism" [Everyone His Witness pg50].

When hearing the keywords, "evangelism", "outreach", "witnessing", or "reaching the lost", how quickly we are burdened. Why? When we hear these words, our motivation begins with the law and inevitably continues with guilt. Thus, as we head down the path of the law, how quickly we find ourselves pressured in our proclamation rather than being a joyful witness of Christ. And soon enough, we tell ourselves that we are "ineffective", "not good enough", or "its simply not for me". But remember the love that God has given you first in Jesus Christ. Though we were once dead, Jesus has brought us from the "domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" [1Col1:13-14]. Through
His love we know how to love [1Jn4:19].

As the world continues to search for fulfillment in so many fleeting ways, it is through the motivation of love that we open our mouths and share the life-saving, life-rescuing message of the Gospel. This message of Christ and in Him Crucified [1Cor2:2] is the only name by which we are saved [Ac4:12]. Therefore, through His love, we are motivated [by the love of Christ] to be a joyful witness to those that God has placed in our lives.

On a separate piece of paper, I encourage you to write down every person that you have frequent contact with [ie. Family-parents, spouse, children, cousins, aunts, uncles, niece, nephew, friends co-workers, church members -visitors, house neighbors, community-i.e.. local mechanic, dentist, physician, clerk, teachers. The list is end- less]. This list will remind you of the good work that God has prepared for you as His witnesses. Continue to pray as you "prepare to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason that is in you"[1Pt3:15].

In this good work and word, may the Lord grant you His wisdom and faith to proclaim Christ to all the nations [Ac1:8].

If you have ever have any questions about evangelism, feel free to ask! I'm here to help as we continue to work together to be the beacon of light to our community.

Have a blessed October!

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2019/2019-10-Newsletter.pdf