Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of John

“Observe what Andrew says to his brother, ‘We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.’ You see how, in a short time, he demonstrates not only the persuasiveness of the wise teacher but also his own longing that he had from the beginning. For this word, ‘we have found,’ is the expression of a soul that longs for his presence, looking for his coming from above, and is so ecstatic when what he is looking for happens that he hurries to tell others the good news. This is what brotherly affection, natural friendship, is all about when someone is eager to extend a hand to another when it comes to spiritual maters.”

Monday: Read Matthew 28:18-20
“As you are going,” Jesus said, “make disciples.” Where do you go each week? Are you making disciples there? Have you mapped out your own Personal Mission Field, and begun to work it for the love of Christ?

Tuesday: Read Acts 1:1-8
Is there a connection between the coming of the Kingdom of God and our calling to “be” witnesses? Why did Jesus emphasize the need to “be” witnesses rather than to “go witnessing”? What’s the difference? Why are both essential to loving our neighbors as ourselves?

Wednesday: Read Matthew 22:34-40
Jesus explained that the Law of God, and all the prophets of the Old Testament, are intended to equip us to love God and our neighbors. Meditate on Psalm 1: Does this describe your approach to the Law of God, and all the rest of His Word?

Thursday: Read 1 Peter 3:8-17
How can Christians learn to love their unsaved neighbors by working hard at loving one another? If we love as Jesus did, thus living out the hope we have in Him, what can we expect from the lost people around us? What does it mean to always be ready to give an answer for that hope? Are you ready?

Friday: Read 2 Timothy 2:22-26
Who are caught in “the snare of the devil”? What is our responsibility toward such people? How can you prepare to be more effective at this high calling?

Saturday: Read Psalm 107
What does God call the redeemed of the Lord to do? Read through the “testimonies” in this psalm. Do any of them reflect your experience? Which? Share your testimony with a Christian friend this week.

Sunday: Read Luke 12:8-12
What does it mean to “acknowledge” Jesus before others? What does Jesus promise us, if we are willing to do this? Outline how you think such a situation might unfold in your life:

Lesson for This Week
We are called to love our neighbors, and if we truly love them, we will tell them about Jesus. Download and fill out the Personal Mission Field brochure and develop a strategy for consistently reaching out to the people around you – saved and unsaved alike – to help them know and love the Lord as you do.

Next steps: Make several copies of the readings for this week’s Ancient Paths. Give them to some friends. Then ask them to meet you in one week to discuss how you might help one another become more effective at showing the love of Christ through a faithful witness to the Lord. Meet regularly for prayer and sharing, and to encourage one another in your witness.

For more information on this topic, get the book, Tactics, by Greg Koukl, from our online store. You might also like to read the article, “Little by Little,” by T. M. Moore.