New Cartoon Tract Now On Sale

Recently I had the privilege of illustrating a comic-strip gospel tract for Living Waters. The tract is hot off the presses and now available for purchase. To read the entire tract, click on the image below. (No, I don't get any comission or royalties).

60-Second Challenge

"It is amazing that we hesitate to talk about the wrath of God, for fear of making sinners feel fearful. The fear they feel this side of the grave is nothing compared to the fear they will feel when they stand before Almighty God."
(Ray Comfort, Spurgeon Gold, p.4)

I challenge you to spend just one full minute contemplating the fate of the lost, condemned by their sins to spend an eternity in Hell. What must that be like? Think about it, imagine it for 60 seconds.

Then pray for God to enlarge your heart with a greater zeal to share the gospel. Go ahead. I double-dog dare ya!

Evangelism in the Early Church (Part 2)

Obstacles to Evangelism
(Adapted from Michael Green's excellent book, Evangelism in the Early Church.)

The first Christians faced overwhelming odds in spreading the Gospel to the world:

1. They were nobodies. A handful of men without formal religious training were attempting to correct the theology and belief of established religious institutions.

2. They worshipped a man executed as a criminal. This was blashpemy to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

3. They were a public menace, creating riots and contraversy wherever they went.

4. They were "narrow-minded". In a culture that worshipped any and every diety, they dared to proclaim their religion was the only way to God.

5. They were "unpatriotic". Anyone who would not worship the emporer or acknowledge the official Roman gods was labelled an enemy of the State and punished accordingly.

6. Persecution and death. Within decades the new faith was outlawed. To join the Christians meant to court martyrdom.

7. Wild rumors. A common misunderstanding of the Lord's Supper led many to believe the Christians were cannibals. Similarly, by referring to fellow Christians with loving and affectionate terms like "brother" and "sister", the rumor spread that Christianity was a religion of incest.

8. Ostracisim and Economic Boycott. Many early Christians were abandoned by their friends and family, forbidden to participate in public events, and in some cases even forbidden to use imperial coinage.

9. Social Hardships. Idolatry was everywhere in the ancient world. To avoid involvement, Christians stayed away from gladiatorial games and the theater; they would not join the army, teach in government schools, or become involved in public office. They even steered clear of business contracts because they involved taking oaths.

10. They were "judgmental". Immorality and moral compromise were everywhere in the Roman world, yet the Christians insisted on upholding the highest moral standards.


The early Christians faced all these obstacles, yet still dared to proclaim the good news so that others might be saved. As a result, Christianity became a world-wide religion.

The risks for modern Christians in the West are so much smaller. So let's "make the most of every opportunity" (Colossians 4:5)

More Spurgeon...

From Spurgeon Gold, page 52:

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay."

Fools for Christ?

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing..."
(1 Corinthians 1:18)

"Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders..."
(Colossians 4:5)

Late Saturday night I drove downtown for a weekly street evangelism session. When I arrived the weather was so cold and rainy that no one else had shown up. So rather than just drive home, I took a packet of creative tracts and just walked the street, offering them to people in front of the theaters, bars and clubs. I unloaded about 100 tracts, but I probably got about 250 terse rejections and funny stares. I suspect most of the people who did take tracts were just being polite, and many will wind up in the garbage or the gutter.

The whole experience got me thinking, what is effective evangelism? Jesus said we would face rejection, but I want it to be for the right reasons. If I'm not careful, my efforts to evangelize can make me look weird. Yes, we are called to be "fools for Christ". But it should be our beliefs that the world considers foolish, not our behavior or our attitude. People will take any excuse to dismiss the gospel, and we dare not give them one.

I'm still not sure if handing out tracts in the rain makes me look like a "weirdo" or not. But I know at least a few of them will get read, and for that I rejoice. At least it's better than doing nothing.

Evangelism in the Early Church

What can we learn from studying evangelism in the first and second centuries? A lot.

I just finished reading Michael Green's excellent book, Evangelism in the Early Church. Green asks, how is it that in only two centuries Christianity grew from a small band of ordinary men into a world-wide religion? Here are some of his conclusions, taken from the book's introduction:

1. Sheer Passion. For the early believers Christianity was not just an hour on Sunday morning. They were passionately convinced that men and women were lost without the gospel, and it affected everything they did and everyone they met.

2. The quality of their lives. The gospel brought a change in character and prioirities. Nowadays the lifestyle of Christians is hard to distinguish from those who make no such claim--apart from an hour on Sundays. In the early days the quality of their lives was blazingly distinct.

3. The capacity of the Christians to face criticism, hatred, persecution, and death with joy. You could mow these Christians down. You could throw them to the lions. But you could not make them deny their Lord or hate their persecutors.

4. Total surrender to Christ. There was no trace of compromise in their preaching. They looked for nothing less than total surrender to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, no matter the cost.

5. Conviction. They had a passion and a determination to act as Christ's ambassadors to a rebel world, no matter the consequences. Such conviction in the face of ridicule impressed people.

6. They went out into the secular world. The early Christians had no churches to hole up in. Instead, they went to the laundries, the street corners and the wine bars, talking about Jesus to anyone who would listen.

7. A strong dependence on the Holy Spirit. The early Christians had doctrines and methodology, but that was not where the power lay. They understood that the true power lay in the Spirt of God working through them.


My hope and prayer is that modern Christianity can somehow regain these qualities. Evangelism in the Early Church is a good read, and I'll share more of it's insights in the near future.

End of the Spear

I must confess, I was skeptical about this movie. But my wife and I went last night, and I was blown away. Yes, the production values could have been better. But the power of the story more than makes up for it. Many Christian films either water down the Gospel on the one hand, or get over-the-top sappy on the other. End of the Spear does neither. Instead it presents a Christianity that is both authentic and powerful.

The characters (both the tribal villagers and the missionaries) were surprisingly human and real. The film drew me in to the world of a remote tribe trapped in a cycle of "revenge killings", and I was moved to see people lost in such spiritual darkness. I was also inspired by the five missionary families who were truly willing to pay any price to bring the light of the Gospel into such a scary place. It made me realize that when the gospel is not only preached but also lived, it has incredible power to transform hearts and lives, even turning enemies into friends.

Go see this movie!

The Power of (Good) Tracts

One of the easiest ways to share the gospel is through tracts. Using good tracts has a lot of advantages. The late R. A. Torrey summarized them as follows:

1. Anyone can do it.
2. A tract always sticks to the point.
3. A tract never loses it's temper.
4. Some who are too proud to be talked with, will read a tract when no one is looking.
5. A tract will stay with a person after the evangelist leaves.
6. Tracts lead many to accept Christ.
(To read Torrey's entire article click here.)

I would also add...
7. Even a coward (like me) can use tracts. If you are uncomfortable approaching stragers, simply leave a tract in a public place for someone to find. Or hand one to the drive through clerk right before you squeal out of Taco Bell.

So why don't more Christians use tracts? Maybe because there are so many bad ones out there.

But there are plenty of good tracts out there, too. Living Waters is one of the largest tract distributors in the world (14 million last year alone), and their tracts are creative, smart, appealing--and most importantly, present the gospel simply and powerfully. You can purchase them here. My personal favorites are 101 Funniest One-Liners, The World's Best Optical Illusions, and the Intelligence Test Bookmark.

Evangelism Tips: Dealing With Questions and Ojections

(These tips are from the book Witnessing Without Fear by Bill Bright. I don't agree with everything in the book--Bright seems to imply you can lead almost anyone to Chirst if you just expain the Good News properly--but overall it's a very helpful resource.)



When sharing the Gospel, you will find that people have many reasons for dismissing the Bible or Christianity, and a few individuals are downright hostile to the faith. But you don't have to be intimidated by these responses. A loving, respectful attitude on your part can go a long way toward disarming critics and reducing conflicts. The Bible commands us to share the hope of the gospel "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15), for "A gentle answer turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1).

Some Basic Principles:
1. Never Argue.
Remember, your job is to share the Gospel, not win an argument. What good is wining an argument if you lose a soul?

2. Don't try to reason within the listener's sphere of expertise.
You can't know everything. If you try and argue philosophy with a philosopher or science with a scientist, you will probably lose. Keep bringing the conversation back to what you know: Jesus and the Gospel.

3. Remember what God has commissioned you to do.
Your job is to proclaim; it is God's job to convert. You do not have to win a convert in order to have a successful encounter. Successful witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God.

4. Try to move into the Gospel as soon as possible.
Whenever appropriate, use the questions or objections as a means to transition into your presentation. Many questions and objections will be resolved once the hearer gains a complete understanding of the gospel message. If not, there will be plenty of time for discussion afterwards.

5. Appeal to the listener's intellectual integrity.
Most people haven't really considered the Bible and it's claims objectively. Gently point out that it is intellectually dishonest to reject the claims of Christianity without first understanding them. Encourage them to set aside their preconceived ideas and give the Gospel a fair hearing.

6. Avoid rabbit trails.
Questions and objections can easily sidetrack the conversation. Do your best to be polite and patient, staying focussed on the Gospel. If a question comes up during your presentation, graciously ask them to wait until you are finished explaining the Gospel. The only exception is if the person is obviously becoming irritated. If this happens, politely respond by saying "I'm sorry if I've offended you. Here, why don't you take this tract and read it through later when you are ready."

7. Always, if the listener rejects the gospel, leave him with something to read.
Give him a gospel tract or a New Testament, and suggest a THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE: Ask them to read the Gospel of John for five minutes a day, every day, for thirty days. Each day before reading they should pray, "God, if you are real and the Bible is Your truth, please reveal it to me." When you don't know what else to say, let God's Word do the talking.

8. Never rush a decision.
You've laid a foundation with the Gospel and done your best to answer the listener's questions, but they may still need some time to think it all over. If this happens, leave them with a tract and entrust them to God. A true conversion that takes time is always better than a false conversion that happens all at once.

(To read a longer treatment on this subject, visit ShareYourFaith.org.)

More Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon wasn't called the Prince of Preachers for nothing. I've been reading some of his books and sermons lately, and they are hitting me just as hard (or harder) than anything in the modern Christian landscape. The man could preach! Spurgeon is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

From Spurgeon Gold, page 50:

"You will tell me, 'This is very unpleasant,--to be made to feel that you are sinful.' Ay, but it is very necessary. There is no getting to Christ in any other way. Christ died for sinners, and if you are not sinners, what interest can you have in His death? Why should you think that He died for you? You must be convinced of your sinfulness before you can possibly realize the value and need of salvation."

Why More Christians Don't Witness

"Religious faith should be a private thing. I don't want to be a religious fanatic."

"Mind your own business. You don't have any right to force your views on someone else."

"You're going to offend this person. Don't say anything."

"He'll think you're a fanatic."

"This person will say 'no' and I'll be embarrassed."

When it comes to sharing the Gospel, have you ever wrestled with these thoughts/feelings? If so, the folks at ShareYourFaith.org have a terrific article excerpted from Bill Bright's book Witnessing Without Fear. Click here to check it out!

Adventures of a Chicken

Charles Spurgeon on evangelism:
"Face the people feeling that you are going to tell them something worth hearing, about which you are quite sure, which to you is your very life." (Spurgeon Gold, p.75)

I can be such a coward sometimes. My wife and I went to Wal-Mart tonight and I was super excited to hand someone a copy of my new tract. I planned to hand one to the cashier as I left. But as she handed me my receipt another man came over to talk to her, and I chickened out. Instead, when I thought she wasn't looking I quickly slid it onto the counter as I turned to leave. All of my body language was screaming "Timid!" Out of the corner of my eye I noticed she had seen my sly move, and her expression told me she thought I was some kind of weirdo.

Isn't it amazing how something as simple as handing someone a piece of paper can make a person's heart beat fast and palms sweat? Yet I think fear is a common reaction when we attempt to share our faith. Maybe that's why more Christians don't do it. Apparently even Timothy struggled with it, because Paul had to tell him "God did not give us a spirit of timidity..." (2 Timthy 1:7)

Then tonight I read the above quote by Spurgeon, and I was encouraged. If I really believe that the Gospel is God's good news to save people, how dare I be timid about it? Lord, please give me boldness.

New Gospel Tract

As a freelance illustrator, I have a passion for using art and media to help spread the Gospel. Recently I had the privilege of illustrating a gospel tract in comic-strip form for Living Waters Publications. The tract is hot off the presses (my copies arrived today) and should be available for purchase shortly from Living Waters. To read the entire tract, click here or on the image below. Feel free to post a comment and let me know what you think.

Way of the Master Radio

Finally, a show on Christian radio dedicated to evangelism! Way of the Master Radio, hosted by Todd Friel (a former comedian who once opened for Jay Leno) with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron, is a live call-in show about sharing the gospel. To quote their recent press release:

The Way of the Master Radio will be hosted by actor Kirk Cameron and best selling author Ray Comfort, co-founders of The Way of the Master ministry, and radio talk-show veteran Todd Friel. Cameron and Comfort currently host “The Way of the Master” TV show, which garnered the NRB’s Best Program Award in 2005 as well as People’s Choice Awards in 2004 and 2005, while Friel hosts a successful Christian talk show in Minneapolis.

“It will be a talk show that grabs the listeners’ attention, but rather than doing it with politics or social issues, we will do it with the only thing that matters, the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said. “We won’t be tap-dancing around any Christian theology—if people are offended, it will be for the same reason Jesus offended people.”

If you can't hear it in your area, listen on their website, on Sirius satellite radio (channel 159), or download their free podcast.

Welcome to Courage to Share

As a Christian I try to share the Gospel regularly, but I often find myself afraid of saying the wrong thing--or worse, afraid to say anything at all. I know I'm not alone in this. So I've created this blog as a way to share resources, ideas, training and tips that have been an encouragement to me. My hope is that God will use this blog to challenge all of us to be more bold and effective in serving our Master.