What do you think?
Rate this book
Prepping for Engagement
When Jesus sent his disciples out on their first “short-term missions” trip, he told them not to be distressed, unsure of how they would answer when they found themselves in a tight spot.
“When they hand you over,” he said, “do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say, for it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matt. 10:19-20).
Good advice, to be sure, but easily misunderstood. Notice Jesus did not give this assurance at the beginning of his ministry, but well into it. When he first called Simon and Andrew, for example, he made a different kind of “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19).
There was work to be done before these novices could cast their nets for the Kingdom. Jesus was going to train them. He was going to instruct them, test them, frustrate them. He would put them through their paces so they would be ready to face the competition.
Paul says something akin to this in his final instructions to Timothy. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Yes, God could be trusted to play His part, but Timothy had his own responsibilities.
In this month’s Solid Ground, I want to give you an inside peek at what my diligent effort looks like when I prep for a cross-fire type event. Specifically, I want to walk you through the precise steps I took to get ready, both strategically and tactically, for my national radio debate with atheist Michael Shermer last December.
“When they hand you over,” he said, “do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say, for it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matt. 10:19-20).
Good advice, to be sure, but easily misunderstood. Notice Jesus did not give this assurance at the beginning of his ministry, but well into it. When he first called Simon and Andrew, for example, he made a different kind of “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19).
There was work to be done before these novices could cast their nets for the Kingdom. Jesus was going to train them. He was going to instruct them, test them, frustrate them. He would put them through their paces so they would be ready to face the competition.
Paul says something akin to this in his final instructions to Timothy. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Yes, God could be trusted to play His part, but Timothy had his own responsibilities.
In this month’s Solid Ground, I want to give you an inside peek at what my diligent effort looks like when I prep for a cross-fire type event. Specifically, I want to walk you through the precise steps I took to get ready, both strategically and tactically, for my national radio debate with atheist Michael Shermer last December.
9 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.