February 22, 2008 by PastorBob.

ISSUE #1 - An outreach ministry of Leominster Assembly of God

My sermon last Sunday morning was entitled “Love the Lost”. In that sermon, I read what I believe was Jesus’ answer to why we were not immediately taken into Heaven the moment we were saved:

Matthew 5:13-16 – “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

I do not believe that God left us here on earth after we were saved for ourselves since life in Heaven will be infinitely more wonderful than life here on earth. Rather, I believe He left us here to reach out in love to the multitudes of lost souls that still need to here the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We should love the lost because God the Father and Jesus love them so much that Jesus was willing to pay the horrible price of crucifixion. Jesus paid the full price for every sin that has ever or will ever be committed so that lost mankind could be saved and spend eternity in Heaven (John 3:16 / Hebrews 12:2 / Romans 5:7 & 8).

We should love the lost because the Bible commands us to love them (Galatians 5:22 / 1 John 4:8 / Matthew 5:44). We can love anybody if we let Jesus love them through us (Galatians 2:20).

We should reach out in love to the lost because the consequences of their not being saved are terrible. If a person dies without Christ, he will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ. From there he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire where he will be tormented for eternity (Revelation 20:11-15).

We need to see people as God sees them. We see people as short or tall, rich or poor, black, white, red or yellow, popular or unpopular and so on. The successful people we know we see as wealthy, intelligent, popular, influential, beautiful, etc. God sees all people as either born again and headed for Heaven or lost and headed for the Lake of Fire. The Bible tells us that even the most successful people are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, naked, far from God, strangers, hopeless, condemned and spiritually dead (Revelation 3:17 / Ephesians 2:17 / Ephesians 2/12 / John 5:24).

Leominster Assembly of God provides many resources for reaching the lost for Christ including:

Amazing Love CDs and cassettes – Amazing Love is a clear, stirring presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ including an invitation to receive Jesus, a sinner’s prayer and instructions for growing in Christ. Amazing Love is a dramatic narration accompanied by a wonderful original music score and sound effects. Amazing Love CDs and cassettes are provided free of charge to all who will distribute them to the lost.

Gospel Explosion Services – These are dynamic, life-changing, evangelistic services that always include a clear Gospel message and an altar call. Flyers and/or tickets are available for distribution to your family, friends and acquaintances. Ground Zero, Master’s Commission from Pennsylvania will be featured at this Sunday evening’s Gospel Explosion service. This promises to be a lively exciting evening including stomp, drama and life-changing testimonies.

New Awakening Telephone Ministry – This is a clear Gospel Message presented 24/7 over the telephone. It includes a sinner’s prayer and an opportunity for callers to leave their name and address in order to receive a free Amazing Love CD. Professionally printed quality “calling cards” are available free of charge for distribution to anyone and everyone.

Alpha Course – This is a 12-week non-threatening, fun, proven study examining Jesus Christ and His teachings. Each session includes a 30-minute DVD teaching, a light meal, fellowship and small group discussions all in a casual, friendly atmosphere. The Alpha Course will be held in the church fellowship hall from 3:00 PM through 5:15 PM on Sunday afternoons starting on March 30. Brochures are available free of charge for distribution to your unsaved family, friends and acquaintances.

Effective Personal Soul Winning (EPSW) Class – This is a proven course in personal evangelism that my wife, Melinda, and I taught in over 250 churches throughout the United States with great results. Literally thousands of written testimonials attest to the fact that EPSW is easy-to-learn, easy-to-use and absolutely non-threatening. The goal of the course is to train, equip and motivate evangelical Christians to introduce their unsaved family, friends and acquaintances to Jesus. Because EPSW relies on the Holy Spirit to use willing Christians to reach the lost, there is no requirement on the part of the participants to memorize “canned” conversation or to demonstrate in front of the class. EPSW is held on Wednesday evenings starting at 6:30 in the triangle room which is just through the door on the right hand side of the altar area. There are still a few seats available for those who want to join the class that is currently in progress.

Evangelism and Spiritual Growth Resource Center – This is where you will find Amazing Love CDs, New Awakening Telephone Ministry “calling cards”, booklets, tracts and other materials for your personal spiritual growth or for distribution to your unsaved family, friends and acquaintances. The first three booklets are free. There is a nominal charge for additional booklets to cover our cost.

Personal Consultation – I am available to speak with you personally over the phone or in my office concerning how you might approach a family member, friend or acquaintance in order to lead them to Christ. If you have not already done so, I urge you to attend the Effective Personal Soul Winning Class. EPSW includes a great deal of information concerning ways to approach and reach the lost for Christ.

Meetings with the Unsaved – If you can arrange a meeting, I would be happy to meet with any of your family members, friends or acquaintances to discuss why they should and how they can be saved.

Pastor Bob Salliby

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February 17, 2008 by PastorBob.

Love The Lost, Pastor Bob Salliby, Sunday 02-17-2008

INTRODUCTION

1. SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 5:13-16 (JESUS) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
2. PRAYER
3. WHY DID GOD LEAVE US HERE? When we get to Heaven
   1. BIBLE – The living Word (Jesus), Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, Moses, Isaiah, David
   2. PRAYER – We will speak with Jesus face to face
   3. WORSHIP – We will worship literally in His presence
   4. FELLOWSHIP – Saved family members, friends, Joshua, Daniel, Benjamin, Mary and Joseph, Phillip, Mary Magdalene, Samaritan Woman,
   5. THOSE WHO LED US TO CHRIST
   6. THOSE GOD USED US TO LEAD TO CHRIST
   7. IN HEAVEN WE CANNOT INTRODUCE ANYONE TO CHRIST
   8. MATTHEW 5:16 “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

WHY SHOULD WE LOVE THE LOST?

1. BECAUSE GOD LOVES THEM:
   1. John 3:16 (Jesus) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
   2. Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
   3. Romans 5:7 and 8 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2. BECAUSE THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO LOVE THEM
   1. Galatians 5:22 and 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control
   2. 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
   3. Matthew 5:44(a) (Jesus) “But I say unto you, Love your enemies,…”
   4. A slogan that used to be very popular is, “Jesus in me loves you”. This is the key to loving everybody and anybody. The apostle Paul is quoted in Galatians 2:20(a) as stating what should be the testimony of every true Christian: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
   5. DRAW CLOSE TO GOD – Bible, Prayer, Church, Christian Fellowship, Availability (Surrender) to God: God will supply the love you need, even for your enemies, if you will allow Him to love others through you. As God’s love shines through you, you will likely be amazed at how many lost souls are drawn to you and to Him.
3. BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT REACHING THEM ARE TERRIBLE
   1. Those who die without Christ will appear before the Great Throne Judgment Seat of Christ
   2. Revelation 20:11-13 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades (hell) gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.
   3. Those who die without Christ will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
   4. Revelation 20:14 and 15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
   5. Matthew 13:42 (Jesus) They (angels) will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
   6. Matthew 25:41 and 46(a) (Jesus) Then he(Jesus as Judge) will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Then they will go away to eternal punishment,
   7. Proverbs 11:7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes.
   8. Using these and other related passages of Scripture, the following is probably a reasonably accurate description of the eternal torment awaiting anyone who dies without Christ.
   9. A sinner (Romans 3:23) who dies under the penalty of death (Romans 6:23) finds himself before the Great White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ (Revelation 20:11-13). Just one glance at the awesome magnificence of Christ in all of His glory (Daniel 7:9 and 10) causes him to tremble uncontrollably. After just that one glance, he painfully realizes that the most important thing he could have done in his ill-spent lifetime was to have accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and lived his life for Him (John 1:12 and Matthew 16:24-27).
   10. In total awe and overwhelming fear, he falls to his knees and proclaims with a loud, trembling voice, “Jesus is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11). But, it is too late (Proverbs 11:7). His name is not found written in the Book of Life, and he is cast howling and screaming into a pitch-dark lake of fire (Revelation 20:15 and Matthew 25:30). In absolute horror, he realizes that the burning, tormenting flames are not consuming him (Matthew 25:41 and 46). He cannot see his hand in front of his face (Matthew 25:30), and although his ears are filled with the wailing of great multitudes of people all around him (Matthew 13:42), he knows there is no such thing as friendship here … he is very much alone.
   11. With agonizing frequency and seemingly brain-shattering volume, thoughts of his past life relentlessly bombard his tormented mind. But, no thought brings such paralyzing horror as when he recalls that the person who told him about Jesus, or perhaps the angel that cast him into the fire, warned him that the agony of the lake of fire would last forever … unending … eternal … no hope … no second chance … everlasting … FOREVER!!!! (Matthew 25:46)

GOD SEES THE LOST DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO?

1. MAN’S VIEWPOINT
   1. tall/short, fat/skinny, black/white, good looking/not good looking
   2. rich/poor, educated/not educated, popular/unpopular, famous/unknown, smart/not
   3. tend to see “successful” people as
   4. Wealthy
   5. Intelligent
   6. Well known
   7. Successful
   8. Popular
   9. Influential
   10. Beautiful
   11. Perfect
2. GOD’S VIEWPOINT
   1. SPIRITUALLY born again and going to Heaven or LOST and going to Hell
   2. REVELATION 3:17 wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked
   3. EPHESIANS 2:17 FAR FROM GOD
   4. Ephesians 2:12 STRANGERS AND HOPELESS
   5. John 5:24 CONDEMNED AND SPIRITUALLY DEAD
   6. LIFE IS SHORT (SNAP)

TOOLS FOR REACHING THE LOST

1. AMAZING LOVE
   1. Proven – Many testimonies
   2. Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation
   3. 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
   4. Professionally produced – dramatic narration – powerful original music score and sound effects
   5. 2 CDs PER MONTH
2. GOSPEL EXPLOSION
   1. MASTERS COMMISSION GROUND ZERO
   2. Always Evangelistic
   3. Always Dynamic
   4. Always Clear Gospel Message
   5. Always Life-changing
   6. Last Sunday of Each Month
   7. 1 ticket or flyer per month
3. NEW AWAKENING TELEPHONE MINISTRY
   1. Clear Gospel Message
   2. Available 24/7
   3. Includes Sinner’s Prayer
   4. Free Amazing Love CD is Offered
   5. 1 card per week
4. ALPHA COURSE
   1. Proven
   2. Non-threatening
   3. Fun
   4. Casual Atmosphere
   5. Thorough
   6. Effective
   7. Fellowship Hall – Sundays 3-5:15 PM – Starting March 30
   8. 1 BROCHURE
5. EFFECTIVE PERSONAL SOUL WINNING CLASS
   1. Proven
   2. Easy to Learn
   3. Easy to Use
   4. Holy Spirit based
   5. Non Threatening
   6. No Memorization
6. EVANGELISM AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH RESOURCE CENTER
   1. Booklets, CDs, DVDs for Evangelism and Spiritual Growth
7. PERSONAL CONSULTATION
8. ARRANGE FOR MEETING WITH UNSAVED

CONCLUSION

1. TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS
   1. 250 people distributing 2 Amazing Love CDs every month = 500 people monthly hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ each month
   2. 250 people distributing 1 Gospel Explosion flyer every month = 250 people invited to an evangelistic service each month
   3. 250 people distributing 4 New Awakening telephone ministry cards each month = 1000 people are invited to hear an evangelistic message each month
   4. 250 people distributing 1 Alpha Course brochure = 250 invited to the Alpha Course
2. ALTAR COURSE

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September 3, 2007 by PastorBob.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES, By Pastor Bob Salliby

I am certain that the great majority of Christians are aware that just as there are sins of commission there are also sins of omission. James 4:17 makes this point crystal clear: “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” And yet I wonder how many of us ever really think about this or even take it seriously.

2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Is it possible that when we stand before Christ’s judgment seat He will reveal to us the multitudes of golden opportunities He provided for us that we let slip through our hands or possibly even ignored?

Of all the things Jesus told us to do, there is probably nothing that is as neglected as His command to reach the lost with the gospel. The help us accomplish this, the Holy Spirit provides all of us with countless golden opportunities to reach them. Are we taking advantage of those opportunities? What are we doing to actively and prayerfully reach people with the gospel? In fact when is the last time we spoke to anyone about Jesus? When is the last time we gave anyone a gospel tract, an Amazing Love CD or even a telephone ministry contact card? When is the last time we invited anyone to a Gospel Explosion service that is purposely designed to present the gospel to the lost? How many people did we invite to the last Friendship Sunday or the Alpha Course? How many of these golden opportunities have we neglected?

One of my favorite Bible passages is Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Surely, just as Paul, we all recognize that we have not attained all that Christ has for us. Isn’t it time for us to do the same thing Paul did? Isn’t it time to forget about the past, especially since there’s nothing we can do about it, and to determine to start now to push ahead to accomplish the goal God has for us? Let’s determine to agree with Pastor Mark who has said that he wants to live in such a way that the day he appears before Christ’s judgment seat will be the best day of this life.

I’ve got great news for you. There will be at least three golden opportunities for you to reach your world for Jesus Christ in September and early October. Keep your eyes and ears open for more information on the following opportunities and how you can take advantage of them.

September 12: Effective Personal Soul Winning class begins. This is your opportunity to learn how to introduce your family, friends and acquaintances to Christ. Most of the people who have taken this course will tell you that they were surprised how practical, easy to learn and effective it is.

September 30: Friendship Sunday. Last year’s Friendship Sunday was an overwhelming success. We are doing everything possible to make this year’s even better.

October 7: Alpha Course begins. Most of those who attended the first Alpha Course have either been saved or impacted in such a way that they want to come back again. Our only problem was that we could have ministered to far more people that those who came. We need your help to make this Alpha Course an overwhelming success. The Alpha promotional materials do a great job of “selling” this course for you. All you have to do is give the materials to as many people as you can.

Why not take just a few minutes to write these dates on your calendar and let God know that you will do everything you can, with His help, to take advantage of the golden opportunities He provides to reach the lost for Christ. I can assure you not only that lost souls will be saved, but also that the rewards you will receive will last throughout eternity.

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