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God Has Given Us Incredible Tools · Bible Tract Echoes Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Hey friend, welcome back to Bible Trek Decos.
• 0:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm like McCurray your host.
• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for joining me today.
• 0:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna ask you to grab your Bibles.
• 0:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Go to the book of Matthew chapter number 19.
• 0:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'll join you there in just a moment, Matthew 19.
• 0:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: I am reminiscing today just a little bit.
• 0:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Our theme is 21st century evangelism.
• 0:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: How to reach people in the 21st century.
• 0:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I'm thinking back.
• 0:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Some years ago, I was an associate pastor in Akron, Ohio, and we greatly enjoyed our time there, both of our girls were born in Akron, Ohio, and we got to do some, yes, some growing up as a young couple, my wife and I, but got to have the opportunity to invest in some folks, be invested in by my pastor there, Joe Romaldi, and to God be the glory.
• 0:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: He gave us a wonderful time.
• 0:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: One of the things we enjoyed most was getting to know the people to become a family with them.
• 0:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think of Brother Christine.
• 0:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Brother Christine, he is, well, he's hilarious for one.
• 1:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: There's a few things that just stand out of it with a Christian.
• 1:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: He is, he might have a world record.
• 1:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: for the loudest sneezes possible.
• 1:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: And you got to realize, put a crisp time, we busted each other's chops all the time.
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: So anything I'm saying right now, I have said to his face.
• 1:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: So please understand, I'm not just airing dirty laundry on worldwide radio.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: But, um, sometimes he'd sneeze, during, you know, a Sunday afternoon, or it's Sunday evening service or something, and you, you felt like your ears, your ear drums were going to explode.
• 1:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was so loud.
• 1:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: I joked at the last time I was an acronym.
• 1:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: I said, whenever I'm an Illinois, who I live, when I'm not on the road, whenever, whenever I'm an Illinois, you know, it's spring time, we get those spring showers, and you hear distant thunder in the distance.
• 1:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's used sneezing, isn't it,
• 1:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: because he just could sneeze so very loud, but uh, but the Chris Dine, he loves still to this day loves fishing.
• 1:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: He is, he could talk the legs of a chair about fishing, most certainly.
• 2:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's a good fisherman.
• 2:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: He goes after all kinds of things, but he enjoys bluegill, crappy, all those types of
• 2:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: a fish.
• 2:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: He would do a fish fry every year at the first factors of Kenmore there in Akron and we enjoyed it at a wonderful time.
• 2:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Great how a fellowship and most often he would supply all the fish and our good friend Adam Letts.
• 2:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: He maybe do some of the fish fishing to Brother Kristine.
• 2:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: He could certainly catch his weight in fish.
• 2:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: It helped because Brother Kristine was a pretty short of stature guy, but Brother Kristine, great guy and he wanted to take me fishing.
• 2:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: We were probably, we hadn't been there, oh, maybe two, two and a half years or so.
• 2:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: In Akron, I was there for a total of five, five and a half years, roughly half we threw our time, and it was probably a Monday.
• 2:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Monday was normally the day off there, as the system passed, your pastor probably liked for us to take Monday's off and come off a busy weekend, a nice time to just relax, recuperate and things, and I think it was a Monday.
• 3:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was a warm day called what month it was, but it was a, it was a, it was a,
• 3:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Beautiful day.
• 3:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was a little warm.
• 3:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't say unseasonally so but you could feel it on back Your neck you knew if you'd have a hat on it was gonna get to it was gonna get to you have to a little while And we were out there for about two hours get a real eyes for the christian It's like a routine for routine for him He knows what he's doing and he was trying to teach me a little bit.
• 3:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: I told him
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: But at the crest on, I am not a good fish.
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: And can you imagine, small lake?
• 3:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think was public, again, forget my ignorance.
• 3:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: I know nothing about fishing, which will be demonstrated in just a moment.
• 3:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he wanted to teach me, small lake.
• 3:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: We went out and you could, you could see them out there sometimes.
• 3:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: You could see in the water.
• 3:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: I can't remember if I even had polarized glasses on or not.
• 3:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: But you could see them.
• 3:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he was catching.
• 3:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: We were out there for maybe an hour and a half to hours.
• 3:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: and he was catching him and catching him and he tried to give me a tip or two and I'd be cast and it wasn't like I was just on a wrong side of the boat I mean he would flip the boat around he'd use his little motor thing and he'd flip it around so I could fish where he had just been fishing and catching I did a lot of fishing that day and a lot of catching I mean we ended up and this is not hyperbole he caught about two hours something like
• 4:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: 50 plus fish.
• 4:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: The number that sticks to my head is like 73 or something like that.
• 4:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean it was bang, bang, bang, toss in the water and he'd get him.
• 4:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Mike McCurry, yours truly.
• 4:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: The host of this radio broadcast.
• 4:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: He, for the Christmas time, called 73, I caught zero.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, you heard that correctly.
• 4:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Those you that are fishing out there feel free to chuckle at my expense.
• 4:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And for some reason, honestly, I enjoy it.
• 4:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: I just never really did a lot of it.
• 4:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Love it.
• 4:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: The fishing, my dad being in the military, the very, very busy and of the things that we did when he had a Saturday, free or something like that, fish, he was just not high on the priority list.
• 5:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Never really grew up fishing.
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I don't dislike it, nothing like that.
• 5:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: I can absolutely understand the allure, your out nature, have it opportunity to catch something often, something that you can actually eat, and so there's some utility there.
• 5:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: But that day, I was not enjoying the fish.
• 5:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now, hold up a moment.
• 5:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do have a point to this long story.
• 5:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I am going somewhere biblical with it, OK?
• 5:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: But in all seriousness, we pull the boat up out of the water.
• 5:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: We load it up and we're putting the rods away.
• 5:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I notice something.
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the crystalline has, as I recall, a little red lure on the end, right there by his hook, you know, right right there, head a little red lure, and the exact same size, exact same shape, exact same plasticity.
• 5:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Is that a word?
• 5:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, like, kind of jiggles around, I had the exact same kind on my hook.
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: On my rod, exact same kind of several one subtle difference.
• 6:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Not so subtle actually, his was red, mine was white.
• 6:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I looked at the bookrest and I said, did you ever think, but I was always exasperated honestly, did you ever think?
• 6:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe just maybe you should have given me a red?
• 6:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, water under the bridge, spilt milk off of ducks back under a bridge.
• 6:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's too late.
• 6:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Day late and I was short to fix that occasion.
• 6:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: I have at times caught a few fish.
• 6:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: I have nothing to brag about.
• 6:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think I caught a snapper in the ocean once that was pretty hefty.
• 6:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: I have no clue cannot recall what the weight was but the length was.
• 6:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: It really was pretty big though.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't have any great fish stories, most of mine involved me failing, like I just told you about, but as I think about that, as I reminisce all it honestly, it was a good time.
• 6:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Had a good talent with a crisp time, he's a fun guy, he's a cut-up, he's just a great personality, love him, love his family, miss Debbie, all your folks, we love your folks.
• 6:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: But as I think about that, in application.
• 6:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: to this concept of 21st century evangelism.
• 7:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think about the fact that we have an opportunity to reach people with unique tools.
• 7:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're a Matthew chapter number 19.
• 7:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: Matthew 19, you may recall that the Pharisees were tempting Jesus.
• 7:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: He departs from Galilee.
• 7:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: They want to have asked some
• 7:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Then comes to him a rich man.
• 7:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: He comes to him and verse number 16 of chapter number 19 Matthew 19 16 and behold one came and said in him good master, what good thing shall I do?
• 7:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Did I may have eternal life and he said unto him, why call us now me good?
• 7:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: There is none good but one that is God, but if that will enter into life, keep the commandments, and Jesus of course, not just savvy, but supernaturally wise.
• 7:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: He knows how the conversations are going to go.
• 7:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: He sayeth unto him, which that rich man says, which?
• 8:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jesus says, that I shall do no murder, that I shall not commit adultery, that I shall not steal, that I shall not bear false witness, honor thy father and mother, and that I shall love thy neighbor as I sell the young man, so that them all these things have I kept from my youth up, what lack I.
• 8:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yet, Jesus say to him, if that will be perfect to go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me.
• 8:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: When a young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great.
• 8:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: possessions.
• 8:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: See, Jesus interacts with this man on an individual basis.
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: He speaks to him right where he is.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jesus knows.
• 8:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: He knows what his portfolio looks like.
• 8:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: He knows what his 401k, how hefty it is, and so he begins prodding him a little bit, tells him he got to keep the commandments, and then he even lists off some commandments.
• 8:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: The rich young ruler says, I've done all those things.
• 9:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: What else do I lack, and he says, ah.
• 9:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: I've got you now, buddy, go and sell all the hosts, give it to the poor, and that was the difference.
• 9:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now, you say, hold on, brother, Michael, you've talked in times past, multiple times that the gift of God is by grace through faith.
• 9:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's not of works.
• 9:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'll actually read it for you.
• 9:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't want to miss quote it.
• 9:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Galatians Ephesians, Ephesians chapter number two.
• 9:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: What verse number eight for by grace are you saved through faith in that not of yourselves?
• 9:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: It is the gift of God not of works less any man should bow she say brought a mic up We're talking about 21st century evangelism.
• 9:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: You said yesterday on the program with a mic A salvation hasn't changed.
• 9:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's still by grace to faith, and so what's different today?
• 9:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Why would Jesus tell this guy?
• 9:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's got to go do essentially a good work go be charitable be philanthropic?
• 9:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: if I can use a dime word there, a tencent word.
• 10:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Why would he tell him that?
• 10:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well you see whatever it is that is holding you back from salvation.
• 10:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: That is holding you back from salvation.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: People ask it, do I have to give up drinking to to get saved?
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: No.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: But for you, yes.
• 10:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: You say do I have to stop swearing to get saved?
• 10:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, but for you, yes Because if you'd ask that question if that would be a reason that you would not get saved then I sounds like you do need to get rid of that
• 10:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Not because your good works are going to out away your bad works, not because you need to give up your riches and give them to the poor and help old ladies across the street.
• 10:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: Not because you need to give up your alcohol and your cigarettes and your recreational drugs.
• 10:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Not because you have to do those things.
• 10:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: So you can outweigh the bad you have done, but because that is keeping you.
• 10:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you think you can hold on to that, if you're not willing to trust God for everything, then you may as well not trust them for anything.
• 10:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: we're talking about reaching people in 21st century.
• 10:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Today, something of an application, but really, this illustration of the different types of lures, I want to point out the fact that Jesus reached people in different ways.
• 11:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: Think about the maniac of Gadera.
• 11:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was reached.
• 11:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: in a specific way, where he was.
• 11:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jesus actually came to him, yes, the man ran out of the tombs and came to him, but Jesus came and spoke to him where he was dealt with him in his particular situation.
• 11:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jesus didn't cast out demons out of everyone, because not everyone had it demons to deal with.
• 11:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Not everyone came him unclosed and out of their right mind, and so Jesus dealt with this man.
• 11:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: differently than maybe he did others.
• 11:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: We have an opportunity in the 21st century to reach people where they are.
• 11:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'd like to ask you today.
• 11:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: Are you reaching people where they are?
• 11:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you have questions about something I've said today.
• 11:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Some of that maybe did not click.
• 11:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe something that did not make sense.
• 11:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'd love to hear from you.
• 11:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can text me at three zero nine three one six.
• 12:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: 7, 2, 4, 0.
• 12:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Again, that number is 3, 0, 9, 3, 1, 6, 7, 2, 4, 0.
• 12:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: I love to discuss it with you.
• 12:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: I have no problem.
• 12:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: If someone takes the Bible and challenges something I've said because I want to be biblically right.
• 12:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, one more time, that number is 3, 0, 9.
• 12:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: 3, 1, 6, 7, 2, 4, 0.
• 12:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: I look forward to continuing this discussion on 21st century evangelism as we go forward.
• 12:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Have a great day.
• 12:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: For his glory, we'll plan on talking to you soon, God bless.
• 12:59
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 13:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for tuning in to Bible Tract Echoes, the radio ministry of Bible Tracts Incorporated.
• 13:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Want to see our gospel tracks and other resources?
• 13:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: Visit us online at BibleTracksInk.org that's BibleTracksInk.org or follow us on social media to learn how you can partner with this ministry.
• 13:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks again for listening.
• 13:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: May the Lord richly bless you as you live for Him.