9. Shooting Arrows
Children are arrows in a quiver, and they are to be trained as missionaries and shot at the Devil.
Jim Elliott is the author of this quote and he was an inspiration to me in my early teen years. He was a missionary who gave his life at the age of 28 in 1956, while attempting to evangelize unreached people groups in Ecuador. He left behind his wife and his one year old daughter. This is one of my favorite quotes. I believe the greatest joy a Christian parent can experience is seeing their children serving the Lord. I believe the second greatest joy a Christian parent can experience is seeing their saved children become a fervent soul-winner and discipler of men and women in Christ.
Jesus said in Luke 19:10: For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. I believe the mission of Christ can be summed up in those twelve words. I believe our mission can be summed up in these thirteen words: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” Mark 16:15. See the parallel? Christ’s desire is to save lost men and women. Christ’s desire for believers is to be the median by which He accomplishes that task. Now, remember, we don’t save anyone. But we are the means (faith comes by hearing and hearing by God’s Word) by which God draws men and women unto Himself. This was the Apostle Paul’s declaration in Romans 10:14-15, How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?…As it is written, ”How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Do you want your children to have beautiful feet? I do. Then train them to be soul winners! Teach them how to preach the gospel. More importantly, show them how to preach the gospel to the lost. Help them reach their friends with Christ. Help them reach their family with Christ. Model to them what a soul winner looks like. Take them along when you do local outreaches. Take them along when you go on mission trips. If there’s one thing you want your child to be an expert on, this is it.
Meditate on these verses and answer the questions below. Remember, this isn’t a thorough study on evangelism, just a “warm-up” study. I encourage you to utilize the additional resources available (Books or Sermons) on evangelsim. Also, spend a few moments and read some great quotes on evangelism here.
Questions:
1. What is the Gospel? Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 2 Timothy 2:8, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Acts 26:22-23. What did you learn from these verses?
2. Are all believers really commanded to preach the gospel? Read: Mark 16:15, Acts 10:42, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 28:19, Mark 13:10, Matthew 24:14, Romans 10:14-17. What did you learn from these verses?
3. How to you preach the biblical gospel? (This is my personal version) What did you learn from these verses?
- Start with the Holiness of God. Read: Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 19:2, Isaiah 43:15, Isaiah 6:1-10
- Discuss the sinfulness of man. Read: Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 15:19, Romans 3:23, John 8:34, Isaiah 53:6
- Use the commandments of God to reveal sin. Read: Romans 3:19-20, Romans 7:7, Romans 5:13, Galatians 3:24, Colossians 2:17.
- Talk about the atoning death of Christ. Read: Isaiah 53:4-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24.
- Discuss the resurrection of Christ. Read: Matthew 20:18-19, Luke 24:46-47, 1 Corinthians 15:16-20
- Warn them of the judgment to come. Read: John 3:36, Jude 15, 2 Peter 3:7
- Call men to faith and repentance in Christ. Read: Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21, Acts 17:30-31
- Talk about the cost of discipleship. Read: Matthew 16:24-25, Luke 14:26-27, Luke 14:33, Matthew 10:37-39
4. Is your family Missions focused? Are you teaching your children the importance of foreign missions?
5. What happens to someone who dies without Christ? Read: (These are all quotes from Jesus) Luke 16:24, Matthew 13:42, Matthew 25:41. What did you learn from these verses?
Pray:
- Pray that God will give your children a passion for the lost. Pray that God will give you a passion for the lost.
- Begin fervently praying for your lost family members, neighbors and co-workers.
- Pray that God would open doors for you and your children to witness
- Begin memorizing key verses that are important to know when witnessing. Teach your children these verses (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:1, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:13, Mark 1:15)
- Read the following article on evangelism. 10 Steps to Conviction. Write a short paragraph about what you learned.
- Spend some time listening to some sermons on evangelism. These sermons vary in length. You can find the sermons here.
- Begin praying (with your family) for lost people. Pray for unreached people groups.
