Bulletin Articles
Who are you bringing with you?
The longer you are a Christian and the more faithful you are, you will get to hear hundreds if not thousands of invitations. I think sometimes we get a little numb and the more innovations we hear our mind says this sermon is over and now we go home. I was at a Gospel meeting many years ago and the guest speaker was a gospel preacher named Dee Bowman. He was a very gifted speaker, and not only did he know the bible he was also gifted in his speech and delivery. On this night it was time to end the sermon and Dee said these words. “I don’t know about you all here tonight, but I am going to heaven!” Why don’t you stop thinking and join me. I have seen person after person not fight to come forward but fight to stay in their pew when you know you need to do the right thing. The only person that is stopping you is you! Then he stopped…. He just stood there. I am sure it was only for a few seconds, but it seemed like an hour. You could hear a pin drop.
Then he said this, “why not now?” He paused again and waited. I was a Christian, already baptized and I could see a few in the crowd tear up a little. Then it started one or two went forward as we started to sing the innovation song. The two were baptized and you could tell there were others who wanted to go forward but just waited. What a great sight.
Well, I could breathe now were going home, nope! Dee asks everyone to set back down. He spoke to the crowd and said this. This is a happy and sad night. I am thinking, what? Two people were just baptized. He said oh that is the happy part. Now here comes the sad. He read:
Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Then he said for all you that are Christians. I have one question for you? WHO ARE YOU BRINGING WITH YOU TO HEAVEN? Once again, he just stood there…… Now I just stood there and said to myself. The is uncomfortable. Not because of the ongoing silence. I knew in my mind I needed to get busy. My list needs work. Actually, my list needs a lot of work.
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 (Watering, Working, Warning) - Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
We’re not bringing any one with us if don’t learn to plant! This is one innovation I will never forget!
