July 1 - Who are the Best Evangelists?

Who are the best evangelists?

Then the woman left her water jar

and went back to the city.

She said to the people,

"Come and see a man who told me

everything I have ever done!

He cannot be the Messiah, can he?"

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him

because of the woman's testimony …

John 4:28,29,39

The deadly enemy of the church is the plateau.

In the journey of faith, mountain climbing is exhilarating, and mountain tops are joy. In the journey of life, dark valleys often prompt us draw closer to God in prayer. However, the plateau – which is a normal place – is a deadly enemy. We’re neither up nor down. We’re neither hot nor cold. We’re not growing or changing or evolving. We’re just sitting there. In fact, too many Christians sit in neutral for a very long time.

In a hungry world, people’s attention is naturally drawn to movement and change. A downward tumble draws the world’s focus, and Christians can witness as we cling to hope in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death.

Upward elation can also draw attention! (Although too much passion can often push away as many as it draws in.)

But who are generally the best evangelists? It’s new Christians. Why? It’s not because they know all the answers. It’s because a dying world sees the joyful movement, the purposeful change, and a desirable transformation. Like the woman at the well in our lesson for today, our passion, joy, and purpose makes others curious.

So … you’re not a new Christian, you say. How can you be more effective at evangelism. Get off the plateau! Don’t settle for comfortable and mediocre! Whenever you notice you’re stagnant and stuck, change something for the better!

And remember the motivation … it’s not’s just for you. It’s for our neighbors in a dying world. Our faith needs to rub off on them.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s buying

climbing gear