Ready With Answers

Bulletins

Brian Nielsen
08/18/24 - General

Are we really ready?

First Peter 3:15 tells us, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

Many of you are probably familiar with 2 Timothy 2:15 -- "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Despite being aware of these passages, I have found myself thinking of things I wish I would have said when given the opportunity to share the gospel.

Just three of such instances have been:

1) After inviting someone to our church service or Bible study, the reply was, "I'm set and comfortable with my own faith."

OK might be the easiest and non-combative answer, but it isn't the best. I wish I would have said that you shouldn't take my word for it, you should remember what Jesus said in Mark 7:9 -- "He said to them, 'All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.' "

Rather than clinging to man-made traditions or what we've been told, we need to follow 1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- "Test all things; hold fast what is good."

Our test should always be the Bible.

2) Related to this, when presented with scriptures disputing a friend's feelings, the friend while showing commentary from someone from his denomination said, "I have to trust the scholars on this."

The problem is we have many Bible "scholars" with different opinions. We need to be aware of 1 John 4:1 which says, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out in the world."

Jesus warned of this in Matthew 24:11 saying, "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."

3) I have also been told, "When I was growing up my parents had me going to church. I got burned out in the church a long time ago."

Staying in Matthew 24, I should have quoted Jesus from verses 12-13 -- "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

What does that say about those who do not stay with God's word in the church?

I'm sharing these answers in case any of you are presented with a similar response from others. There are many other scriptures that could also be applied, and scriptures could also answer many other excuses or misguided thoughts. These situations can be an opportunity if we use it.

For those who have not obeyed the gospel and are not a Christian, each of the scriptures mentioned are even more so for you.

(Scripture quotes are from the NKJV)