5H. Three Evangelistic Talks

I suppose that every disco you go to these days has flashing colour lights. Have you ever thought what light does? (Draw in filament to the Light Bulb.) It seems to dispel darkness, it shows you what is around you and where you are going. It helps you relax and calms your fear.

When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy in Edinburgh he was fascinated by light and particularly by an old man who went around the streets with a ladder at dusk lighting up the street lamps. One day his parents overheard him say "Look, look! There is a man out there PUNCHING HOLES IN THE DARKNESS." Jesus too punches holes in the darkness of our fear and lets the light of God pour into our lives. He said he came to be the LIGHT OF THE WORLD (fill in) (In addition you may tell the story of the blind man in John 9, as an illustration of the work of Jesus).

Most of us have probably eaten some bread today. Perhaps you had some toast for breakfast or a sandwich for lunch. Bread has been called the "Staff of Life" because it is such a valuable part of our diet. Jesus called himself the TRUE BREAD (fill in)

He wants to become a valuable part of our life - the "Staff of Life." During the Second World War, Brother Andrew, then one of a family of six, lived in constant gnawing hunger in Holland under the Nazi occupation. His family was so desperate they dug up tulip bulbs and ate them as potatoes. His mother went hungry and eventually fell ill because she starved herself so that the others might have enough. When at last the end of the war came, Dutch people flooded out into the streets rejoicing. "But I was not with them," Brother Andrew wrote. "I was running every step of the five miles to the Canadian encampment, where I was able to beg a small sack full of bread crusts. Bread! Quite literally the bread of life! I brought it home to my family with shouts of `Food! Food! Food! As Mama gnawed the dry crusts, tears of gratefulness to God rolled down the deep lines in her cheeks!" Jesus, the true bread, can give us the same satisfaction and joy when we trust in Him. (In addition you may tell the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand as an illustration of the work of Jesus. John 6)

During the reign of Queen Victoria, there was a fascination with death and dying much in the same way our own generation is preoccupied by sex. Everyone then talked about death, they made elaborate preparations for it - it intrigued them. Today we shun and fear death, but Jesus didn't! He said that he was the: LIFE (fill in) Resurrection and the Life. He had not only come to terms with death, but he had also conquered it. DEATH (cross out)

In the lush gardens of Florida they grow and sell a very strange dead-looking variety of fern called the "Resurrection Plant." In its cellophane bag, the dry dusty brown lump looks good for nothing except the garbage pail, but when it is placed in a bowl of water, a miracle takes place. From the brown dry clump uncurls the most delicate and beautiful ferny green leaves. It will stay dry and apparently dead for years, but with nourishment springs anew with lush green foliage. In the same way, those who trust the Lord Jesus can be sure that from the dust of death they will just as surely spring to vibrant resurrection life. (In addition you may tell the story of the raising of Lazarus as an illustration of the resurrection Jesus promises. John 11)

Grease

A. Grease is a love story. Two people played by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John fall madly in love. Both are head over heels in love with each other in a very special way. Perhaps you've been in love that way too? Did you know that someone cares for each one of us in a very special way! That someone is God Himself. From the very beginning He cared for us and wanted us to love Him too. So we can read "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son..." (John 3:16)

B. You might remember in the film version of Grease that John and Olivia, after an initial romance on their summer holidays, were separated, seemingly forever. So our second keyword is: PARTED (fill in) But as John and Olivia's first love was severed, so is our own natural relationship with God. The great barrier in our case is our own evil nature, those things we do which offend God. We are all tarred with this same SIN brush, (Write GOD and US on the sides of the Gulf) and we are separated because of it. (Play record "Summer Nights")

C. The song we've just heard was called "Summer Nights" and was sung by John and Olivia while unknown to one another they were on different sides of the same college campus. At last they were REUNITED (fill in) Their love was then rekindled. You know, even though our own relationship with God has been severed by sin, God has taken steps to reunite us. (Draw a cross over Gulf) When Jesus died on the cross He was bringing God and mankind back to one another in a wonderful way. Do you ever long to know a real peace in your life, of sins forgiven, and a lasting sense of God's presence with you? Open your heart and let Jesus come in now. He has promised to bless you and bring you back to God if you want Him to.

This is Your Life

If someone stopped you in the street and announced that they could show you every event in your life, I wonder what your reaction would be.

If your whole life came flashing up on a screen I wonder what would stand out as the most important thing you had done? Perhaps your support of a football team. Perhaps the motorbike you lovingly polished or perhaps even a pop star you idolized. Any of these THINGS could be your God. Are they worth it? Jesus said "Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal." (Matthew 6.19) (Cross out "Things" Heart)

If the most important part of your life is not a thing then perhaps a personal relationship is most important. This might be a very special boyfriend or girlfriend? A PERSON (fill in) But tell me how you feel when they let you down? (Cross out "A Person" Heart) We all have faults, none of us is perfect. So we can't place our faith in other people - no matter how good they may appear. I'm afraid this is not the answer if we're looking for a really satisfying life.

Let's move on to what Christians believe is the most meaningful relationship a person can have. This is a friendship with God Himself in Jesus. Jesus paved the way for this when He died on the cross for you and me. (Draw in cross) He wants each one of us today to put Him first in our lives and to live only for Him. Your life will count because you have a relationship with Jesus.

"Practical Christian Outreach in the Local Church"

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