A crisis is “a time of great danger or trouble, whose outcome decides whether possible bad consequences will follow.” We constantly hear via TV and other media of a crisis somewhere in our nation or in the world. From floods in Bangladesh to droughts in the midwest to forest fires in Yellowstone, there are terrible problems that confront mankind. This has always been the case.

A Spiritual Crisis

But there is another crisis that I want to talk about. And certainly, its outcome will decide eternal consequences in the lives of numerous people. That is the crisis of sharing our faith. The only way souls are saved is by the gospel being shared with the lost one. The only way the church grows is by the teaching of His word. The only ones to do this teaching are Christians. That means you and me. The crisis is seen in that so few of us are sharing our faith with others. It is so easy to become complacent. it’s rather like some of the work that needs to be done around our house. When we moved in, we said that “this” has to be done. Well, “this” still must be done — it just hasn’t been done yet. And the more time passes, the less important it seems. Other things come up that seem more important. And finally we just learn to live with the “status quo” and think nothing else about it. That’s what happens spiritually. We all agree that we need to share our faith with others. We say “Amen” when someone brings the subject to our attention. We study how we should do this. We learn all the passages that are vital to it. But we don’t do it. Thus, we have a crisis.

What Do We Do?

Can we reduce the solution to basic simplicity? What we do is simply ask. We ask for Bible studies. We ask people to attend services with us. We ask people to our homes to study with us. We ask if we can come to their home to study with them. Now, really, is it all that difficult? Did you ever ask people to come for dinner? Did you ever ask anyone to go with you to a play? or picnic? Then you know how to ask. Instead of saying, “Will you come over for dinner?” say “Will you come over for a Bible study?” See, just a minor change of words.

But They Might Say “No”

Yes, they might. Did anyone ever say “No” when you invited him to dinner? Did you get all upset about it? You probably invited someone else in his place. And, you probably invited that same person again some other time. Such will work in our inviting others to services or to study the Bible.

How Can We Grow?

How can the church here grow? How can we see souls saved and Christians be edified? We do have a crisis, but I think that by now, if you have read this far, you know the answer. We can grow when each member is committed to the Lord to the extent that we share our faith with others. The process of sharing our faith begins by our asking. Ask your family members. Ask your friends. Ask your neighbors. Ask the grocery clerk, the station attendant, the school teacher; ask the butcher, the baker and the candle-stick maker! Somewhere along the line someone is going to say, “Yes, I really would like to study the Bible.” That one will probably become a Christian. Why? Because you asked him! Let us do something about this crisis. Eternal consequences are at stake.

Forrest D. Moyer, 1988