One of the signs that a message is being heard/processed/ assimilated is that the message becomes a regular part of conversation. I don't mean the message itelf, but that conversations begin to be shaped by the content of the message. Over this last week - from last Sunday through today I have have had a number of conversations with different people involved at different levels with New City and time and time again the conversations centered on some aspect of the Gospel. From a thanks for the difference that the Gospel has made in the life of a "religious" person, and a 1 hour (or more) conversation with a guy who is just beginning to explore salvation by grace through faith, to conversations with three different long time Christians who each shared a life of religious legalism apart from a relationship of grace and mercy and love. Just today two people shared how glad they were to be able to listen to messages on-line, one a first time visitor to New City, the other sharing that even after hearing last weeks message on Sunday, he listened twice more during the week (a reflection of God's good work, not my own). Exciting. I am hearing a change in talk. I believe that reflects the start of a change in thought.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Gospel Talk
One of the signs that a message is being heard/processed/ assimilated is that the message becomes a regular part of conversation. I don't mean the message itelf, but that conversations begin to be shaped by the content of the message. Over this last week - from last Sunday through today I have have had a number of conversations with different people involved at different levels with New City and time and time again the conversations centered on some aspect of the Gospel. From a thanks for the difference that the Gospel has made in the life of a "religious" person, and a 1 hour (or more) conversation with a guy who is just beginning to explore salvation by grace through faith, to conversations with three different long time Christians who each shared a life of religious legalism apart from a relationship of grace and mercy and love. Just today two people shared how glad they were to be able to listen to messages on-line, one a first time visitor to New City, the other sharing that even after hearing last weeks message on Sunday, he listened twice more during the week (a reflection of God's good work, not my own). Exciting. I am hearing a change in talk. I believe that reflects the start of a change in thought.
