“God speaks through his Word as believers read and study the spiritual truths of the Bible. There is nothing more important than a regular systematic study of the Bible. John Calvin tells us, “Scripture is needed as guide and teacher for anyone who would come to God the creator.” A daily reading of the Bible helps disciples to grow and mature spiritually. The Bible will strengthen your faith, speak to your heart, and guide you in all of life’s tough decisions.”

Winfiled Bevins.

I have recently been impressed by Winfield Bevins and what he has to say about discipleship and evangelism. He has a free ebook available online or you can buy the hard-copy about organic evangelism; its called Grow.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

This imperative from the Lord was not invalidated when man sinned, it just became impossible to do. Jesus repeats the command in saying:

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

This imperative from the Lord was not invalidated when man sinned, it just became impossible to do. Jesus repeats the command in saying:

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“A sovereign command of God which comes to everyone who hears the gospel is the command to believe in Christ. The truth that no one can believe unless God draws him by the irresistible grace of the Holy Spirit (John 6:44) does not detract an iota from the binding force of that command. Nor is there anything unreasonable about that command. For God to require of man to do something which he could not do as he came forth from the hands of the Creator, as for instance, to alter the orbit of the earth around the sun, would indeed be unreasonable, and unjust, too. But when God requires of man that he put his trust in God, He demands only what man was able to do originally. Although man in his fallen state no longer has that ability, he alone is to blame for its loss. God’s right is not affected. So the sinner must believe, or he will perish everlastingly. What an incentive for issuing that command to the lost!”

RB Kuiper, God-centred Evangelism p. 182

A.) follow a daily Chronological plan of OT reading; 3-4 chapters a day.

B.) 7 NT chapters repeated daily for month:
Jan John 1-7
Feb John 8-14
March John 15-21
April Matthew 1-7
May Matthew 8-14
June Matthew 15-21
July Matthew 22-28
August Mark 1-8
September Mark 9-16
October Luke 1-8
November Luke 9-16
December Luke 17-24

2012
Jan Acts 1-7
Feb Acts 8-14
March Acts 15-21
April Acts 22-28
May Romans 1-8
June Romans 9-16
July 1 Cor 1-8
August 1 Cor 9-16
September 2 Cor 1-7
October 2 Cor 8-13
November Galatians 1-6
December Ephesians 1-6

2013
Jan Philippians 1-4 Colossians 1-4
Feb 1 Thessalonians 1-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-3
March 1 Timothy 1-6
April 2 Timothy 1-4, Titus 1-3
May Philemon 1, Hebrews 1-6
June Hebrews 7-13
July James 1-5, Jude 1
August 1 and 2 Peter
September 1, 2 & 3 John
October Revelation 1-7
November Revelation 8-15
December Revelation 16-22

…the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18

They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.

Psalm 94:21,22

There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men’s souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

Isaiah 58: 6,7 ESV

Hospitality builds friendship like nothing else. Friendship is the basis from which all Christians can share the gospel. All this is nothing, of course, without God working in people’s lives. Through Christ there is pardon for sinners and freedom from slavery to sin. From our part then, in and before all this must be fervent prayer.

Aware that there is a roaring lion,
Christians are not to be afraid of demons as we have authority over evil spirits.

Be aware of your own evil desires (James 1:14)

There can be direct attack from satan also: particularly when involves in mission in deeply satanic regions.”

Tim Chester, Total Church p85

We watched this lecture by Tim Keller last night and Josh and I found it very helpful and challenging – Enjoy.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/1832/Video/

So if you have told someone the gospel, and they’ve responded by becoming Christian, you may already have accidentally planted a ‘church’. After all, it only takes two or three to constitute a church, and when it meets, Jesus is there in the midst (Matt 18:20). Now, having planted a church is not a cause for panic. Rather, praise God and keep at it! Keep meeting with your church and teaching him or her the Bible, as this is the only way God uses to ensure that it will endure to judgement day.

If this sounds simple, it is. The only equipment required for church planting is the gospel (supplied by God) and a mouth to speak it with. If you care to compare it with terrorism, it is considerably easier and cheaper to achieve, and it has more powerful results and longer lasting (i.e. eternal) consequences.

Extract from Firing up for evangelism

The “Bookends” of Biblical Theology, ESV Study Bible