'Earn the Ask'
by Timothy Moore
I read an article today about the decline of the church and its influence in America. Such articles abound. Yet this week, I saw people make the decision to trust the Lord Jesus. I had people, in one of the least churched areas of North America, ASK us to share Christ with them. In fact, I've had close to a thousand people outright ask, and then pray to receive Christ, in the past three years.
How?
I'm glad you asked! In a moment, I'll share some stories that will answer that question. But first a few affirmations.
First, the gospel will ALWAYS be the the very "power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
Second, people are still responding to the gospel. All people are looking for Jesus Christ, they just don't know it yet. He is still the answer.
Third, people want to hear the gospel, but they want to hear it from someone they trust, someone they are convinced cares about them.
Kids, Whiskey, and a Soul Harvest
For several years, my wife and I have helped with a horse camp for kids held at the local rodeo grounds. It's not our event, we just help out. Some kids are pretty advanced riders, others intermediate, and a few are beginners. After three days of coaching, the kids put on a horse show for their families and friends. On the second day with the kids, there were a few cowboys (rodeo leaders) sitting at the rodeo cook shack, around a picnic table, watching. During a break, they asked me to come over and join them.
Each man had brought a bottle of his favorite brand of whiskey and they were passing them around. One of the guys was in charge of the horseback riders in the upcoming July 4th parade. He said, "What you all have been doing with these kids is pretty remarkable (He takes a drink of whiskey and continues). When we stage the riders in front of the clubhouse for the parade, would you want to share like...a short cowboy church message?" Somewhat jokingly, I put a finger up, closed my eyes, and said, "Let me pray about it...YES! I'll do it!"
The morning of the fourth, I had a couple of other guys with me, playing worship songs on the porch while riders gathered around. I told them that I'd been asked to share a brief message of hope with them that had hugely impacted my own life. The message was simple. I said, "Today is a day that we celebrate freedom purchased through shed blood and sacrifice. It's been said that only two defining forces have ever willingly died for our freedom, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the American G.I." After acknowledging the sacrifice made by our soldiers, I explained the sacrifice made by Christ. I told them that He lived the life we should have lived, then willingly died for all our sin and shame. I explained how he conquered death to prove He is the only source of our forgiveness. I acknowledged that this may be new information to some, but that some may be ready to believe and follow Christ. I invited everyone to bow their heads and pray. I encouraged those who were ready, to call upon Jesus Christ in prayer. I told them they could acknowledge their need for forgiveness, trust in Christ's sacrifice for their sins, and commit the care and control of their lives to Him as Lord. I then asked those who had done so to look at me. Fully half of the riders acknowledged that they had prayed to receive Christ (about 50 people).


We share with those who ask, but we EARN that 'Ask'. What do we mean? 1 Peter 3:15 says, "…if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.”
I’ve often said that people come to Jesus with their eyes. When folks make a decision to follow Christ, it’s because they have seen Him in others. Jesus said it this way, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16 NLT). The Holy Spirit uses the good deeds of believers to make hearts ready for Christ.
Jesus and the Weenie Wagon
Another time, we heard about two homes for battered women and children that were in disrepair. After seeking the Lord about our part in helping, I sensed that I was supposed to go to a local service organization and attempt to engage them in the project. In this particular group, I had heard that you could make a small donation ($5) and talk for one minute.
It just so happened that the Fire Chief and Police Chief were special guests that evening. I had an idea! What if we had a Chili Cook-Off between the fire and police departments to raise funds for this project? So, I gave my donation and instigated a feud. I said to Fire Chief, “Chief, there’s a rumor going around in the police department that firemen can’t cook chili from a can.” Then to the Police Chief, “Chief, certain fire department personnel have given you the nickname ‘Hormel’.” “Now, I’ve also heard that there are two homes for battered women and kids in our area that need repair. I bet we could raise some funds and settle the score once and for all by a having a chili cook-off in the park between the departments.”
The Fire Chief literally kicked his chair over, pointed at the Police Chief and shouted, “You’re going down!” Everyone erupted in laughter. The leader of the service group said, “We have a Weenie Wagon, I can get it ready and bring it.” The local newspaper printed a front-page article with the title “Local Minister Instigates Feud for a Great Cause!”
The evening before the Chili-Cook-Off, I stopped by the house where the Weenie Wagon was kept. The man in charge of it was finishing up preparations in his driveway. I stopped and asked if he needed any help. He said, “No, but I’ve got a question for you. Do you think it is possible to know what happens after we die?”
This man was 65 years old and had never been to a church service. He was raised in the ‘never-churched’ Northwest, worked in the Alaskan oil fields, and moved back to a bedroom community north of Seattle to retire. He had also been diagnosed with cancer.
I said, “I can tell you what Jesus said about that if you want to know.” He responded in a crass way and sort of growled, “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know!” So I shared John 14:1-6 and other promises about heaven. I shared Christ and invited him to receive Jesus through prayer. He said, “Right here in the driveway?!” I said, “It’s not about where you do it. God is always with us. It’s a relationship. You can talk to Him anywhere.” He said, “Well let’s do it then!”
After he received Christ, this man asked if I would consider coming to dinner at his house to share this with his entire family. I did. A month later I had the privilege of baptizing his entire household. And there’s more…
After having the Chili Cook-Off (which was a huge success), we mobilized folks to do the construction projects on the houses. While there, with a tool belt on my waist fixing a dilapidated porch, a young woman came out and thanked me. She said that she and her sons had recently needed to come and stay due to domestic violence. She said she had heard about all the wonderful things we were doing in the community and asked what our motivation was. I told her it was the way we lived out our faith and followed Christ. She literally looked heavenward, raised her hands, and said, “God. I’m listening.”
I asked if anyone had ever told her what Christ did for her and how she can have a relationship with God. She said no one had, but that she needed Him. I led this young woman to Christ and right after she prayed, she stood up and went inside. A moment later, she brought out her sons, introduced them, and asked if I would share Christ with them. I did. Both boys (10 and 12 years old) prayed to receive Christ. I baptized them the following Sunday.
We ‘earn the ask’ by serving in a Christ-like way. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Christ-like service is the platform for sharing.
Earning the ask (1 Peter 3:15) creates open doors for 1 Peter 3:18, which is the fullest expression of the gospel in a single verse. It says, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.”
by Timothy Moore
I read an article today about the decline of the church and its influence in America. Such articles abound. Yet this week, I saw people make the decision to trust the Lord Jesus. I had people, in one of the least churched areas of North America, ASK us to share Christ with them. In fact, I've had close to a thousand people outright ask, and then pray to receive Christ, in the past three years.
How?
I'm glad you asked! In a moment, I'll share some stories that will answer that question. But first a few affirmations.
First, the gospel will ALWAYS be the the very "power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
Second, people are still responding to the gospel. All people are looking for Jesus Christ, they just don't know it yet. He is still the answer.
Third, people want to hear the gospel, but they want to hear it from someone they trust, someone they are convinced cares about them.
Kids, Whiskey, and a Soul Harvest
For several years, my wife and I have helped with a horse camp for kids held at the local rodeo grounds. It's not our event, we just help out. Some kids are pretty advanced riders, others intermediate, and a few are beginners. After three days of coaching, the kids put on a horse show for their families and friends. On the second day with the kids, there were a few cowboys (rodeo leaders) sitting at the rodeo cook shack, around a picnic table, watching. During a break, they asked me to come over and join them.
Each man had brought a bottle of his favorite brand of whiskey and they were passing them around. One of the guys was in charge of the horseback riders in the upcoming July 4th parade. He said, "What you all have been doing with these kids is pretty remarkable (He takes a drink of whiskey and continues). When we stage the riders in front of the clubhouse for the parade, would you want to share like...a short cowboy church message?" Somewhat jokingly, I put a finger up, closed my eyes, and said, "Let me pray about it...YES! I'll do it!"
The morning of the fourth, I had a couple of other guys with me, playing worship songs on the porch while riders gathered around. I told them that I'd been asked to share a brief message of hope with them that had hugely impacted my own life. The message was simple. I said, "Today is a day that we celebrate freedom purchased through shed blood and sacrifice. It's been said that only two defining forces have ever willingly died for our freedom, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the American G.I." After acknowledging the sacrifice made by our soldiers, I explained the sacrifice made by Christ. I told them that He lived the life we should have lived, then willingly died for all our sin and shame. I explained how he conquered death to prove He is the only source of our forgiveness. I acknowledged that this may be new information to some, but that some may be ready to believe and follow Christ. I invited everyone to bow their heads and pray. I encouraged those who were ready, to call upon Jesus Christ in prayer. I told them they could acknowledge their need for forgiveness, trust in Christ's sacrifice for their sins, and commit the care and control of their lives to Him as Lord. I then asked those who had done so to look at me. Fully half of the riders acknowledged that they had prayed to receive Christ (about 50 people).


We share with those who ask, but we EARN that 'Ask'. What do we mean? 1 Peter 3:15 says, "…if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.”
I’ve often said that people come to Jesus with their eyes. When folks make a decision to follow Christ, it’s because they have seen Him in others. Jesus said it this way, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16 NLT). The Holy Spirit uses the good deeds of believers to make hearts ready for Christ.
Jesus and the Weenie Wagon
Another time, we heard about two homes for battered women and children that were in disrepair. After seeking the Lord about our part in helping, I sensed that I was supposed to go to a local service organization and attempt to engage them in the project. In this particular group, I had heard that you could make a small donation ($5) and talk for one minute.
It just so happened that the Fire Chief and Police Chief were special guests that evening. I had an idea! What if we had a Chili Cook-Off between the fire and police departments to raise funds for this project? So, I gave my donation and instigated a feud. I said to Fire Chief, “Chief, there’s a rumor going around in the police department that firemen can’t cook chili from a can.” Then to the Police Chief, “Chief, certain fire department personnel have given you the nickname ‘Hormel’.” “Now, I’ve also heard that there are two homes for battered women and kids in our area that need repair. I bet we could raise some funds and settle the score once and for all by a having a chili cook-off in the park between the departments.”
The Fire Chief literally kicked his chair over, pointed at the Police Chief and shouted, “You’re going down!” Everyone erupted in laughter. The leader of the service group said, “We have a Weenie Wagon, I can get it ready and bring it.” The local newspaper printed a front-page article with the title “Local Minister Instigates Feud for a Great Cause!”
The evening before the Chili-Cook-Off, I stopped by the house where the Weenie Wagon was kept. The man in charge of it was finishing up preparations in his driveway. I stopped and asked if he needed any help. He said, “No, but I’ve got a question for you. Do you think it is possible to know what happens after we die?”
This man was 65 years old and had never been to a church service. He was raised in the ‘never-churched’ Northwest, worked in the Alaskan oil fields, and moved back to a bedroom community north of Seattle to retire. He had also been diagnosed with cancer.
I said, “I can tell you what Jesus said about that if you want to know.” He responded in a crass way and sort of growled, “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know!” So I shared John 14:1-6 and other promises about heaven. I shared Christ and invited him to receive Jesus through prayer. He said, “Right here in the driveway?!” I said, “It’s not about where you do it. God is always with us. It’s a relationship. You can talk to Him anywhere.” He said, “Well let’s do it then!”
After he received Christ, this man asked if I would consider coming to dinner at his house to share this with his entire family. I did. A month later I had the privilege of baptizing his entire household. And there’s more…
After having the Chili Cook-Off (which was a huge success), we mobilized folks to do the construction projects on the houses. While there, with a tool belt on my waist fixing a dilapidated porch, a young woman came out and thanked me. She said that she and her sons had recently needed to come and stay due to domestic violence. She said she had heard about all the wonderful things we were doing in the community and asked what our motivation was. I told her it was the way we lived out our faith and followed Christ. She literally looked heavenward, raised her hands, and said, “God. I’m listening.”
I asked if anyone had ever told her what Christ did for her and how she can have a relationship with God. She said no one had, but that she needed Him. I led this young woman to Christ and right after she prayed, she stood up and went inside. A moment later, she brought out her sons, introduced them, and asked if I would share Christ with them. I did. Both boys (10 and 12 years old) prayed to receive Christ. I baptized them the following Sunday.
We ‘earn the ask’ by serving in a Christ-like way. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Christ-like service is the platform for sharing.
Earning the ask (1 Peter 3:15) creates open doors for 1 Peter 3:18, which is the fullest expression of the gospel in a single verse. It says, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.”
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