The Challenge Of Sharing The Truth With A Person 1,000 Miles Away.

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

The Challenge Of Sharing The Truth With A Person 1,000 Miles Away.

I don’t know if this has happened to you, but I have had the wonderful opportunity to share the truth of the Bible with a non-Christian person I love and care about over the internet and on my cell phone. Sometimes this kind of opportunity happens suddenly and sometimes it is a long process where it starts small and gradually becomes a fuller explanation of the truth.

In one particular instance, I have been sharing with a loved one for more than a year and now I really need to be in the room with him so we can dive deeper. However, he is 1,000 miles away. And no, I am not using figurative language, he is actually 1,000 miles away.

So, what are our options? Well, I can travel back and forth to his location every week for however long it takes, and that’s not possible. I can write emails back and forth but that will take forever, so that’s not a good plan. We can have many, many phone calls, and that is a possible yes. But, if I am going to try to go through the Bible with him in any coherent way, any of these methods will be difficult.

So you say, how about sending him a commentary? Sure, it has been done before and I might even direct him to an online commentary. That would be a great way to walk him through let’s say, The Book of John. That way, he could read up on a chapter and we could discuss it on the phone. Pursuing that idea, I searched online for commentaries and found a good number of commentaries written by trusted men. They were thorough and had lots of cross references, explanations of the original languages and all sorts of “goodies” for the Christian.

But I’m not talking to a Christian. I’m talking to a man who once attended church decades ago and sleepwalked through the motions of a church service just like millions of other people in our country. His understanding of Christianity is that you are probably going to have to work harder on being a good person if you are to be accepted into the heavenly fold – an understanding that is completely the opposite of what God actually says in the Bible. I’m not sure if he ever read anything in the Bible but if he did, it was long ago and didn’t last for long.

So, will it be helpful for me to connect him to a commentary that is loaded with all of those good things that encourage a deeper study of the Bible? No, it would just be a ball of confusion and if I were there with him, I would be taking the time to share Biblical truth in bite size pieces that can be digested by someone who is not familiar with the Bible.

But wait- maybe I can be there. I’ve been recording weekly articles and great Christian books for a website, podcast, and YouTube channel for a year and a half. Why not write and record my own commentary on the Book of John for my dear friend? I can decide how deep to go in each episode, how long it should be, anticipate his questions, and do it all in a voice that is familiar and trustworthy to him!

And so here we go. The Book of John has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest letters ever written and many people have sought to explain the letter by providing wonderful, thoughtful commentary.  However, my commentary will be fairly simple and basic. I won’t cover every possible idea that can be drawn from the letter and even though I am 1,000 miles away, I will be  writing and speaking my comments as if I were in the same room with my friend.

Of course, I will recommend that the he purchase the Book of John, borrow a Bible, or look online for The Book of John that has the English Standard Version of the Bible. My hope and prayer is that my friend and anyone else on the world wide web will attain enough of an understanding of Who God is and what He has provided, that they will find the hope and truth that every human being needs, and live in that joy and peace the rest of their lives.

By the way, if you are a person who is already familiar with the Bible and you have a friend who needs to hear this great book of the Bible, you might want to consider using this YouTube playlist to share with them after you have reviewed it for yourself. You might also consider purchasing The Book of John for your friend. You can find the book online and they cost only about $2 each.

I’m excited about this project not because I believe my explanation of the letter from John is going to be worthwhile. No, that part of this project scares me. I am excited because “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13).” So the thought that God might possibly use His word in this way is thrilling.

Final thoughts: I would greatly appreciate your prayers for me. Pray that I am diligent with God’s word. Pray that I have the wisdom to choose what to emphasize in each passage. Pray that I don’t stop working on this project until it is complete- maybe 100 episodes. If you would like to check out the series, “A Basic Explanation Of The Book Of John For Those Unfamiliar With The Bible. Hope And Truth!” you can search for cherishephesians64 on YouTube, or you can click here in the article:  https://youtu.be/SoFLjo9pzxU I have also placed a link in this week’s weekly email.

Thanks for listening, see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT: A great evangelistic tool! “Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description:  Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

A Call To Prayer By J. C. Ryle.  Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id1672880807

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

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Last modified: January 26, 2024