Author: Phil Rehberg

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Using Relationship Principles For Powerful Evangelism – Part 2

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Last week we looked at Part 1 of two posts on “Using Relationship Principles For Powerful Evangelism” We went through the attitudes towards relationships that many unbelievers have. Since many of these attitudes are compatible with Christianity we see that they are point of connection that we can bring up with our unsaved friends. Last week we started a sample talk that someone could give  on the subject of relationships. (If talking one-on-one obviously it should include more questions and be more interactive.) We focused on attitudes that seekers might have. Today we continue that talk with an explanation of how those attitudes fit with Christianity. “In the same way that you know that a loving and respectful relationship with your friend is a good thing maybe it is also a good thing to have a loving and respectful relationship with God. Perhaps there is a parallel between the two. Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

We Participate In Jesus – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“We have come to share in Christ” Heb. 3:14a (ESV) The Greek word for “share” in this verse means participate, or be a partner. We actually participate in Jesus. Think how incredible this is! We love Jesus for his unsurpassed life on earth. We love his wisdom and love and compassion. He is the one we worship. And in spite or our faults, we are privileged to share in Jesus. This is yet another biblical mystery that even though we can’t fully understand we continually grow in the reality of it. We participate in Christ’s righteousness, in his power, in his love and in his light. We see the same idea in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (ESV) Reflection: Put your name Continue Reading →

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Using Relationship Principles For Powerful Evangelism – Part 1

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Somehow I got into a debate online with someone who was complaining about God ordering the death of some people in the Old Testament. We went back and forth until finally I explained that the root reason for God’s judgment was that the people were destroying relationships. They had embraced a destructive culture even to the point of sacrificing infants to their idols. The other person didn’t respond to my comment. What could he say? Usually when we think of apologetics in evangelism we think of presenting evidence related to facts of the Christian faith. But sometimes apologetics relates to values or ideas that listeners already embrace. For example, when Paul evangelized gentiles he did not use the same ideas that he used with Jews. When he spoke to gentiles in Athens, Greece he talked about general ideas about God that many gentiles already had, such as the idea that Continue Reading →

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Jesus Came To Make Us Good News For The Poor

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It is encouraging to remember that when Jesus came to earth we find comfort for the poor from the very  beginning of his life. In her song to God when she is pregnant with the Messiah, a song we call  the Magnificat, Mary proclaims “he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty” (Luke 1:53, ESV). We also see that at the beginning of his ministry Jesus proclaimed these words “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18 ESV) From these passages we know that the advent of blessings for the poor was an important part of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus never promised to make the poor financially rich, but he did promise something better: to fill their hearts with spiritual wealth. More importantly, he Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Jesus Gives Power To Overcome Temptation – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Heb 2:18 (ESV) Since Jesus felt the suffering that comes with resisting temptation he is able to help us too. How does he help us? Through the reality that all believers are connected to him like a body to a head. Thus, the same power to resist temptation that Jesus had, he gives to us when we abide in him. Temptation can include temptation to pride instead of humility, or temptation to neglect devotional time, or giving in to any of the deeper weaknesses inside us. When we feel the trouble that comes with temptation, when we feel the pull of our destructive desires, when we want to follow God but feel weak, then we can stop ourselves and put our hearts in front of Jesus. He knows what it is like Continue Reading →