How do you see yourself following Jesus? I used to resist my preconceived idea that I’d be called to Africa or somewhere outside of my comfort zone. With the man in this story, Jesus compelled him to tell his story to his family and community. There was a huge story to tell, backed up by his changed life. For me, I find it hard to courageously bring up topics that point to Jesus with extended family members. I want to do better, presenting my story of what I’m learning, how I’m changing.
“The gospel is the beautiful story of how God is bringing the world out of bondage to sin and death through the triumph of Jesus Christ. If you don't know how to preach the gospel without making appeals to afterlife issues, you don't know how to preach the gospel!” - Brian Zahnd, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God
“And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed” (Mark 5:20). The man did what Jesus told him to do. He told his story throughout the region of the Decapolis. Like the sower in the parable, he sowed the seed by telling his story. When Jesus returned to the Decapolis sometime later (Mark 7:31–8:10), large crowds came to him, just as they did in the Jewish territory of Galilee. The seeds the man had sown bore fruit.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford
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