A few weeks ago, we held a garage sale, and our goal was less about raising funds and more about clearing out years of accumulated belongings. The most surprising part of the garage sale was meeting many wonderful strangers. I shared from the pulpit one Sunday that one of the couples who came by told me they were in town to watch their granddaughter's soccer game. When I asked where they were from, they answered Rancho Bernardo! Another young father who came by to buy children's toys found out I was a pastor, and we had a lengthy conversation about God, church, and Christianity. Whether it was the great prices or the nice weather, several visitors freely opened up about their lives. I simply listened and conversed with them, mentioning I was a pastor only when it naturally came up. I found the garage sale was a powerful way to do outreach and evangelism.
Presbyterians, along with other Reformed Christians, have long held the theology that God is sovereign, which means God is completely in control of salvation. God the Holy Spirit alone convicts, elects, and changes a human heart. However, an important understanding is that this does not mean we as the church sit back and do nothing. We proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to save us from sin. Proclaiming the good news is the literal meaning of the word "evangelism." We also live in ways that bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, pointing people to know God. An easy way to understand this is from a children's riddle, "What do Christians read to learn about God? Answer: The Bible! What do non-Christians read to learn about God? Answer: Christians!" In both word and deed, our lives point people around us to Jesus Christ and trust that the Holy Spirit will do His work in people.
When Cathy and I were scrambling to get the garage sale ready, we were not planning an evangelism program. However, 1 Corinthians 10:31 reads, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." When we live every day for the glory of God and are mindful that God is always at work, we gain front-row seats to God’s work of bringing Christ to the world. This means that mission work happens where you are, through your authentic Holy Spirit-filled life! At RB Community, we proclaim in words the good news of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world. We also live as witnesses to Jesus Christ who show genuine grace, concern, and love for people around us. And as we live in this life of the church, God will certainly move and work in people around us. What a privilege to live as Christ's ambassadors!
God bless you, brothers and sisters!
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Jason Ko