Courage to Share the Gospel

Thursday, July 10, 2014

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Acts 4:29–31

After both of his sons enlisted in the Army to fight in World War II, Henry Gerecke, the pastor of a small church in Missouri, volunteered to join the Army as a chaplain. In addition to his skill with the Word of God, Gerecke spoke fluent German. He was often called on to work with German prisoners as the Army moved forward. When the war ended, the Army asked him to serve as chaplain to the members of the German high command facing trial at Nuremberg.

Some people opposed the idea, believing that war criminals like Herman Goering and Alfred Jodl did not deserve spiritual comfort. But Gerecke answered the call, even though doing so meant another year away from his wife and home. Eleven of the twenty-one tried at Nuremberg were sentenced to death. Gerecke continued to witness and minister to them up to the day of execution. He later wrote that four of them “died as penitent sinners trusting God’s mercy for forgiveness. They believed in Jesus who shed His blood for their sins.”

Most of us do not face the challenge of sharing the gospel with hardened criminals who have the blood of multiplied thousands on their hands. Yet, in truth, every sinner, whether his sins are small or great in our eyes, stands condemned to death and eternity in Hell apart from God’s grace. Let us never fail to witness to anyone because of fear.

Today's Growth Principle
There are no people whose sins are so severe that the grace of God cannot save them—so we should witness boldly to all.

Old Testament Reading

Psalm 1-3

PSALM 1

¹ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

⁴ The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. ⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. ⁶ For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

PSALM 2

¹ Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, ³ Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. ⁴ He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. ⁵ Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. ⁶ Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

⁷ I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. ⁸ Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ⁹ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

¹⁰ Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. ¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

PSALM 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

¹ LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. ² Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. ³ But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

⁴ I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. ⁵ I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. ⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. ⁷ Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. ⁸ Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

New Testament Reading

Acts 17:1-15

¹ Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: ² And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, ³ Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. ⁴ And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. ⁵ But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. ⁶ And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; ⁷ Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. ⁸ And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. ⁹ And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

¹⁰ And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. ¹² Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. ¹³ But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. ¹⁴ And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. ¹⁵ And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Proverbs Reading

Proverbs 11

¹ A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. ² When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. ³ The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. ⁴ Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. ⁵ The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁶ The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. ⁷ When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. ⁸ The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁹ An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. ¹⁰ When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. ¹¹ By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹² He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. ¹³ A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. ¹⁴ Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. ¹⁵ He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. ¹⁶ A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. ¹⁷ The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. ¹⁸ The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. ¹⁹ As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. ²⁰ They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. ²¹ Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. ²² As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. ²³ The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. ²⁴ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. ²⁵ The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. ²⁶ He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. ²⁷ He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. ²⁸ He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. ²⁹ He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. ³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. ³¹ Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.