Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Reaching Out: 1st Century Style

Knock, knock, knock
Phillip: “Who’s there?”
Lucious: “Lucious, I want to come to your church.”
Phillip: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Good bye.”

Knock, knock, knock
Phillip: “Who’s there?”
Lucious: “Lucious, I want to come to your church.”
Phillip: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Good bye.”
Lucious: “Yes, you do. I hear laughing and singing coming from your house every night.”
Phillip: “That’s just us having a few friends over. Good bye.”

Knock, knock, knock
Phillip: “Who’s there?”
Lucious: “Lucious, I want to come to your church.”
Phillip: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Good bye.”
Lucious: “Wait a minute. You let Justus come. He was the most hated tax collector in the city. Now people are saying he’s the most generous man around.”
Phillip: “He’s just helping me with my tax returns. Good bye.”

Knock, knock, knock
Phillip: “Who’s there?”
Lucious: “Lucious, I want to come to your church.”
Phillip: “Why do you keep pestering me.”
Lucious: “I heard about the miracle with Lydia. Her hand was crippled since birth and now she can use it.”
Phillip: “I can’t talk about such things. Good bye.”

Knock, knock, knock
Phillip: “Who’s there?”
Lucious: “Lucious, I want to come to your church.”
Phillip: “You don’t know what you’re asking me.”
Lucious: “Yes, I do. I know Bartholomew. He’s changed so much. I want what he has.”
Phillip: “No, you don’t. Good bye.”

Knock, knock, knock
Phillip: “Who’s there?”
Lucious: “Lucious, I want to come to your church.”
Phillip: “Please go away. It’s illegal for you to come. Some of us have been killed already.”
Lucious: “I don’t care, I need what you have.”
Phillip: “Answer me this. Are you willing to give up everything to join us? You could lose your job or be sent to prison. Your friends may hate you. We’ve had friends killed just for saying the name, Jesus.”
Lucious: “Yes, when I see what you have, nothing else matters.”
Phillip: “You may join us, but you still can’t come to church.
Lucious: "I don't understand."
Philip: "We are the church.”

2 comments:

Jamie A. Grant said...

Now THAT is evangelism!

Anonymous said...

Dare I admit this -- I will. I have never "felt" God's presence in a church building or at a "Christian" evangelism event. BUT I have "felt" His presence several times -- in hospital rooms, at my child's funeral, reading letters from those serving in harm's way, even in the Post Office once,while driving, etc. I feel sorry for those who only "see" Him in a particular building on a designated day. They miss so much.

Sherry