SOS Monthly Newsletter - September 2006

Genuine Conversion

Dear Christian friends,

One of the temptations for those involved in evangelism ministry is to water down the gospel message. In doing so, they can generate excitement about their ministry by reporting about the hundreds or thousands that were saved. If we avoid talking about sin and repentance, if we tell people that Jesus is a quick fix for all their problems, we can get lots of people to raise their hands or sign decision cards.

However, when we try to follow-up on such "converts," we find out that very few were really saved. Hundreds of people may have "prayed to receive Christ" during an outreach, yet often less than 10% will begin to attend church. Of these churchgoers, many want Jesus as their savior but are unwilling to obey Him as Lord. "The evangelist told me I only needed to invite Jesus to be my savior and I would be saved. Why are you now telling me I must make Him lord?" Eventually, the church becomes full of such people who won't witness or deny themselves for Jesus. Repeated exposure to a watered-down "gospel" has immunized millions against being infected with the true gospel.

The Function of God's Law

Many of you are familiar with Ray Comfort's teachings on the use of God's law in evangelism. Ray has ministered several times at SOS-San Francisco and preached on the streets with us.

Recently, he has joined with actor Kirk Cameron to produce a TV series on evangelism. Basically, Ray argues that the primary reason for the lack of genuine conversion in our evangelism is that we fail to lay the proper foundation in our gospel presentation. Before a person can fully appreciate the good news, he must first learn the bad news. He must see himself as a lost sinner deserving God's judgment, like the publican who smote upon his breast, saying "God be merciful to me a sinner."

According to Ray, the way an unsaved person will come to see his sinfulness is through proper use of the law. Here are some scriptures he uses: "I had not known sin but by the law; for I had not known coveting except the law had said, Thou shall not covet" Romans 7:7. "Sin worked death in me by that which is good (the law) that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful" Romans 7:13. "Whatever things the law says, it says...so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God...By the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:19-20. "Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith" Galatians 3:24.

While this approach to evangelism is rarely used today, it was commonly used by great evangelists in the past. John Wesley said, "Before I can preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law, and judgment." He wrote to a young friend, "Preach 90 percent Law and 10 percent grace." Charles Spurgeon said, "They must be slain by the Law, before they can be made alive by the Gospel!" He wrote in one of his sermons: "All the Ten Commandments, like ten great cannons, are pointed at thee today, for you have broken all God's statutes, and lived in daily neglect of all His commands....What will ye do when...the great books shall be opened, and all your sin and shame shall be punished?" Charles Finney, who had an 80% success rate for lasting conversions, wrote, "It is of great importance that the sinner should be made to feel his guilt, and not left to the impression that he is unfortunate. Do not be afraid, but show him the breadth of the Divine Law, and the exceeding strictness of its precepts. Make him see how it condemns his thoughts and life. By a convicted sinner, I mean one who feels himself condemned by the Law of God, as a guilty sinner."

"Owing to the fact that the Law is rarely used in modern-day evangelism," Ray writes, "many are frustrated to a point of making the Gospel `man-centered' in an effort to attract converts....Instead of driving the fish to the nets using the Law, they are trying to attract them by holding up only the `good things' of the Gospel. Let me give an example of an average altar call:

"`Come to Jesus; won't you give your heart to Him? He loves you and died on the cross for you. He wants to give you love, joy and peace...He will make your life happy and give you what you've been looking for.'

"Instead of desperate sinners knocking on the door of Heaven, we paint a picture of Jesus pleading at the heart of the sinner, almost giving the impression that the sinner will be doing God a favor if he responds." Those who respond to such a gospel presentation, Ray argues, will often be like the seed that falls on rocky ground in the Parable of the Sower. They are expecting Jesus to do all these good things for them, and when they face tribulation and persecution, they will often fall away disappointed, and be much harder to reach in the future. "I came to Jesus expecting him to improve my life, but things only got worse."

In contrast, those who through use of the law (and conviction of the Holy Spirit) are made to see the full extent of their sinfulness and need for a savior will really appreciate what Jesus did for them. Jesus said, "to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little (Luke 7:47)." Those who come to Christ in true sorrow over their sinfulness will want to turn from those ways and obey the Lord. They are likely to continue to follow the Lord even in times of adversity.

When we proclaim a strong message about sin and judgment, it is important that we do so in a manner that is loving, gentle, and shows our brokenness over our own sins. Ray has written 40 books on evangelism. For more information, write or call Ray Comfort, P O Box 1172, Bellflower, CA 90706, (877) 496-8688, or visit their web site at The Way of the Master..

On the Streets

On Friday July 7, we witnessed at Powell and Market. We put up our 10-foot banners between two poles near the cable car turnaround. However, after one person complained, the security guard told us to take down our banners. We put them up on some scaffolding. That night we had several good conversations. Brandon witnessed to John from Hayward and prayed with him. He was quite receptive to the gospel.

On July 8, we witnessed in Berkeley. Tom Coker and Carol Ferris led worship. Eric witnessed to Ryan, a young Jewish man. Ryan had questions about Old Testament prophecies, especially concerning the virgin birth. Afterwards, I emailed him some more information about that subject. Mike and Becky ministered to Ivan, a struggling Christian. Tom prayed with Kerry to rededicate his life to Christ.

On July 14, we joined the SF House of Prayer at Treasure Island before witnessing at the Giants baseball game at AT&T Park. The team at Treasure Island prayed for us before we went out on the streets. That night, we preached to over 10,000 people at two locations, gave out many tracts, and had some good conversations.

On July 15, we had two outreaches. Pastor Ralph Etheridge brought a team from Calvary Assembly of God in Merced to minister at Union Square. Their music drew a large crowd. I preached several times that afternoon. Meanwhile, Tim Moon and Phil Taylor from the band "Bluedog" ministered at Fisherman"s Wharf. A youth worship team from a Tracy church walked by our outreach and we invited them to play. They drew such a large crowd that a police officer came over and complained that the crowd was too large. Non-Christian groups regularly draw very large crowds at the Wharf, but we rarely have this "problem".

	Tracy worship group plays at Wharf
	Brandon ministers to John at Powell and Market
	Merced Assembly of God plays at Union Square
	Eric witnesses to Ryan in Berkeleyr
	Tom prays with Kerry to rededicate his life to Christ in Berkeley

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 213-3092 (new cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday September 1, 8, 15 7:30 - 10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call for location).

Sat. September 2, 16 11:30 AM - 5 PM San Francisco Outreach. (Call for location).

Sat. September 9 12:30 - 4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach. Telegraph and Haste St.

Sat. September 16 2:30-5:30 PM San Francisco Outreach. Dolores Park, 20th St. and Dolores.

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Please pray for the people mentioned in this newsletter, as well as Bobby, Warren, Randy (SF), Rick (SSF), and Janell (Norwalk, CA mental hospital) who wrote us this past month in response to tracts. We gave out about 60,000 tracts during the SOS outreach and our tract supply is very low. We would like to print about 300,000 tracts, which will cost $4750.

We still need someone to lead worship on the streets on Friday nights. Also, we need a volunteer to help with office work about 6 hours a month.

Our Tape of the Month is Revival is Here by Tommy Barnett, Pastor of Phoenix First Assembly of God. This church has over 15,000 attending weekly, and sponsors over 200 different outreach ministries.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum