SOS Monthly Newsletter - August 2005

Ten Servants

Dear Christian friends,

In Luke chapter 19, Jesus told a parable -- known as the "parable of the pounds" -- about a nobleman who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom. Before he left, he called ten servants, giving each a pound (about three months' wages), and telling them to put the money to work until he returns. When the nobleman returned as king, he called the servants to him, to find out what they did with the money.

One had earned ten pounds. He was commended, and given charge of ten cities. Another had earned five pounds. He was also commended, and given charge of five cities. A third servant had hid the money, and returned it to his master. The king was angry. He took away the pound, and gave it to the servant who had earned ten pounds.

"I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?...I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me."

In this parable, the nobleman clearly is Jesus. He will ascend into Heaven and later return to earth as King of Kings. Most of the inhabitants of the earth have rejected Him as King and will be cast into Hell. The servants are those who at least profess obedience to Him. The nobleman gave each a task to do -- take a pound and invest it. Two of the servants obeyed him and were rewarded. The third disobeyed and was called a "wicked servant." In a similar parable given in Matthew 25:14-30, the wicked servant shows himself to be a "false believer" and is cast into outer darkness.

This wicked servant clearly had a wrong concept of his master, i.e., God. He saw God as harsh, as unreasonable in his demands, as someone who cannot be pleased. In his great commentary written three centuries ago, Matthew Henry wrote, "He thought that it was reaping where he did not sow; whereas really it was reaping where he had sown. He had no reason to fear his master's austerity. This was a mere sham, a frivolous groundless excuse for his idleness...If he dared not trade for fear of losing the principal, yet that would be no excuse for his not setting it out to interest, where it would be sure. Whatever may be the pretenses of slothful professors, the true reason of it is a reigning indifference to the interests of Christ and his kingdom. They care not whether religion gets ground or loses ground, so long as they can but live at ease."

When Jesus left this world, He gave us a task. It was not to make money. It was the Great Commission: to take the gospel to the world, making disciples of all nations. Like the wicked servant, many professing Christians are disobedient to the One they call Lord. Their excuse: "I was afraid." But the real reason is slothfulness, an "indifference to the interests of Christ." If you were afraid to invest the money, at least you could have put it in the bank and earned interest. If you were afraid to tell people about Jesus, at least you could have left gospel tracts in phone booths and mailed them with your bills.

Jesus said, "You shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me" (Acts 1:8). "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant" (2 Corin. 3:6). Jesus has given us everything we need to be successful in the task He gave us. The question is, do we care about seeing Christ's kingdom advance? Will we obey Him like the righteous servants, or disobey like the wicked servant?

ON THE STREETS

A few months ago, I received a call from a woman from "Student Matters", a ministry that organizes mission trips for youth groups around the US. I arranged for a team of 18 youth from Mountain View Baptist Church in Tucson to meet at our house for evangelism training on June 17. That night, they witnessed with us at Powell and Market St. For many, it was their first experience in street evangelism. They did very well and had some good conversations.

The next day, we witnessed at UN Plaza. Normally, this area is the site of a large "flea market" where various items (some of which are stolen) are sold. When we arrived, the plaza was empty because the police had cleared everyone out. We decided to set up our PA system near the corner of 7th St. and Market where we would have more people to minister to. The band Factor 11 from Marin County played that afternoon. Their excellent music drew a large crowd.

At one point, I was passing out tracts. Suddenly, I found myself on the ground. I looked up and saw two large men, one a police officer, on top of me. The officer had been chasing the other man, who ran into me. The force with which I was pushed to the cement would normally have hurt me, but God protected me and I didn't have a scratch or bruise. The police caught their suspect.

On Saturday June 25 we conducted two outreaches simultaneously. Last Days Harvest Church and By Faith Alone, both from Sacramento, ministered at Union Square. Shiloh Full Gospel Church, San Francisco, and Paul and Noreen Coca ministered at Fisherman's Wharf. Shiloh drew one of the largest crowds we have ever seen at the Wharf. People loved their music and didn't want them to stop.

In June and July, I had opportunities to share about SOS-San Francisco on the "My Messiah" radio program in Santa Cruz and on "Lifeline" at KFAX radio in the San Francisco area. I also had opportunities to share about the outreach at New Life Christian Church (Castro Valley), Promised Land Fellowship (SF), and Abundant Life Church (Cupertino).

	Mark prays with people who respond to altar call at UN Plaza
	Paul prays with man at UN Plaza on June 18
	Mary witnesses to Selena, a crack addict, while the band “Factor 11” plays at UN Plaza
	Bob and Mark pray for Robert, just released from prison, to rededicate his life to Christ
	Teenage boy stops to read tract at Powell and Market

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 541-9903 (cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday August 12, 19, 26 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call for location).

Sat. August 13 1-5 PM San Francisco Outreach. Washington Square (Columbus and Union St.) Last Days Harvest Church, Sacramento.

Sat. August 20 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach. Telegraph and Haste St.

Sat. August 27 San Francisco Outreach (Call for location).

Ministry News and Needs

Once again we want to thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We still have openings for two Christians to live in our ministry house. This house is not for new believers but for those who are ready for evangelism ministry. We are looking for soldiers who will endure hardship and persist in God's calling to evangelize the San Francisco Bay Area. Also, we still need someone to lead worship on the streets on Friday nights. We have worship on some Fridays, but still need a worship leader for some of our Friday outreaches.

Our Tape of the Month is Fundamentals of Evangelism. This is a teaching I gave on how to witness—on the streets and in your everyday life.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum