Keeping the Gospel at the Center

Last night I went to church in order to serve in high school ministry as I normally do. Usually I serve as worship leader but we had guest worship and a guest speaker led by the college & career ministry last night so I was able to sit back and partake which I was really looking forward to.  But God had other plans… 

After our time of worship, I decided to go to the foyer in the back because I wanted to ask my wife something and discovered she wasn’t there.  I noticed that Maria, (one of the other counselors)  was outside with one of the kids and when she saw me, she rushed over to me and proceeded to tell me that he was having family problems and needed someone to talk to.  So I went over there thinking I would just listen to him, give him some words of encouragement, pray for him, and go back in and enjoy the service. 

Right after I introduced myself, he started telling me about how his cousins are gang members and that they’re always talking bad about him and his mom.  Then he told me that they want to take his house away.  Then he told me about how him and his sister always fight.  Then he told me about the bad dreams that he’s been having.  Then he told me about how two of his cousins got shot.  Then he told me about how he doesn’t want to be a gangster like his cousins, but they keep hounding him to.  He was slightly scatter brained about it too, so it was really hard to follow him at times!  I kept looking for opportunities to interject and share with him from the Scripture, but he just kept going.  In the middle of it I began to think and pray, “Lord, what would You have me to say to him?  This guy needs counseling or something…”  But then it seemed like the Lord was just telling me, “Tell him about me… share the Gospel with him.” 

So at the right time I jumped in and asked him if he thought that he was a Christian.  He said, “I don’t think I am…  if I was to die I think I would go to hell.”  At this point I was relieved that he at least admitted the fact that he isn’t saved.  Almost all those kids would say that they’re saved even though a big majority of them do not show any fruits that would lead me to believe that they are. 

What was frustrating is the fact that he kept trying to go back to his stories.  So I just had to cut him off and bring him back to the most important issue that he has… that he must stand before God one day and give an account of his life!  I said, “even though those issues are legitimate problems and I sympathize with you,  if you will repent of your sins and trust in the Savior you will be saved.  I’m not saying that Jesus will rid you of your problems, but He promises to give you joy unspeakable and peace in your heart even in the midst of your pain and suffering.  You can’t get that anywhere else but in God.  I told him that if he were to die tonight, he would surely go to hell.  He just looked at me.  You need to repent and trust in Christ and he will save you.  I went on to explain the whole Gospel starting with the depth of our depravity and not being able to meet the righteous requirement of the Law, our need for a Saviour, and Christ dying on the cross for the sins of the world.  After this we prayed and I exhorted him to go home and ponder the things I spoke to him.  

I was blessed as he actually thanked me for listening to him and for sharing with him!  He comes to church regularly so I will follow up with him when I see him.  

To the praise of the glory of His grace!  

- Soli Deo Gloria,

- Roger Servin