Are Gospel Tracts Effective Tools for Witnessing?

Whatever name they go by, these wonderful little booklets and leaflets can be used as conversation starters, and are usually based on a specific theme. The theme may be a holiday, a timely issue, a movie or TV show, etc.  They give you something to focus on in your conversation and if designed properly, also will provide you with an organized way to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The goal of a gospel tract is to get the gospel of salvation of Jesus Christ into peoples’ hands in an interesting and easy-to-read format. While the precise origin of gospel tracts is uncertain, there are records of them as early as the 13th century A.D. Gospel tracts were popularized during the Protestant Reformation, and the invention of the printing press made mass-production of tracts much easier and faster. The most well-known gospel tract is likely “The Four Spiritual Laws” written by Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Gospel tracts can be a very effective method of evangelism.  The famous missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ one day after picking up and reading a gospel tract.  He then went on to faithfully serve Christ for 51 years in China, founding the China Inland Mission, which employed more than 800 Christian missionaries and established more than 300 local offices in China. Again, if the biblical gospel is presented in a clear and understandable manner, God will use it (Isaiah 55:11).

Any time God’s Word goes forth, it is powerful and effective.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).

People who are not otherwise effective communicators can overcome such a weakness by use of a gospel tract. Gospel tracts are an excellent choice when you simply do not have time to stop and witness to someone. Gospel tracts can be left in strategic locations for people to pick up later and read.  My favorite place to hand them out is with the tip after a good meal in a restaurant. 

There are perhaps two issues I have with gospel tracts. First, there are a few gospel tract publishers who produce tracts in which the gospel is not as clear as it should be.  Some of the pseudo-Christian cults are well known for having tract ministries. Before you consider handing out a gospel tract, read it closely and do some research on its publisher. Make sure that the gospel is clearly presented. If the tract endorses a website or other source of information, ensure that the message presented there is biblical.

Second, some people rely entirely on gospel tracts and intentionally avoid directly sharing the gospel with others. Giving someone a gospel tract is easier than personally sharing the gospel. While there are definitely many situations where giving a gospel tract is entirely appropriate, there are other situations where only a personal testimony as well as a clear gospel presentation will be sufficient. We are all to be ready, willing, and able to share the gospel.  “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."  (1 Peter 3:15)   (See also Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8)

If you haven’t used tracts before here are 7 tips to get started:

1) Tracts are tools best used as an outgrowth of relationship, not in place of relationship.

2) Know your audience; choose an approach that fits with the person to whom you’re talking.

3) When leaving a tract at a restaurant, be generous and thoughtful with the amount of tip. Remember that for many servers, you’re representing Christianity as a whole. Use the opportunity to reflect God’s grace and generosity.

4) Tracts are strategic tools, but they aren’t comprehensive. Be ready with other resources such as Christian books to help answer any additional questions that come up.

5) Have your Bible or Bible app close by; ready to read the Word of God with the people you’re caring for.

6) Pray for the people you share with consistently and, on occasion, let them know that you’re praying for them

7) Follow up with the person you’re sharing with and help them find a church home.

What an opportunity we have share the good news with the world around us.  Gospel tracts can be an important aspect of sharing the gospel, but it should not be the sole means of our outreach.

 Please prayerfully consider how God might use you in someone’s life today.



 

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Are You a Cheerful Giver?

Tithing!  One of the most dangerous, yet legitimate, topics any preacher can tackle in front of their congregation.  Now, there are many Christians who do not believe that tithing is scriptural.  There are some who believe we should tithe, but that ten percent is not required.  And there are some who believe we should not only tithe ten percent, but even more. 

Did you know how we handle money reveals a great deal about the depth of our commitment to Christ?  There’s an old saying that goes like this, “Show me a man’s checkbook, and I’ll show you where his priorities are.”  That’s why Jesus often talked about money.  Money mattered then, just as much as it matters today.  Unfortunately, it matters too much for some of us.

Did you know that nationally, only 20% of those who belong to a church claim to tithe?  Most churches nowadays begin to struggle financially long before the end of the year because so few of us tithe anymore.

Some believers argue that the whole notion of tithing is an Old Testament practice, largely from Mosaic Law, and does not apply to any of us who live under grace. They seem to forget that it was Jesus who said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will be any means disappear until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18)

He also said, “...Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's..." (Mark 12:17)

The fact is both the Old and New Testaments speak often about money and giving generously, although the New Testament does not specifically appear to require a “tithe.”  The problem is that we get so bogged down in the legalism of tithing that we miss the whole point. Tithing is not something that we have to do, but the born-again Christian should want to tithe.

One of my favorite stories is about how Alice and I became tithers shortly after we totally committed our lives to Christ.  I felt God calling for us to tithe as a family.  I had been reading my Bible when I seemed to continually come across scripture that talked about giving back to God a portion of what is His.  Having been a believer for just a bit longer than my wife, and having grown up in a family of committed, consistent tithers, I cautiously approached Alice about wanting to begin tithing from our income.  “Tithe!” she said.  “We can barely cover our bills each month.”  Ultimately, she agreed to sit down together and begin looking at what the Word of God had to say about this topic.

Some of the verses that jumped out at us were, "Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you." (Deut 16:17), "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Corinthians 8:12)

And finally, Malachi 3:10 which says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” 

Malachi really clinched it for us.  Here was God telling us to go ahead and “test Him” in this and see what He will do.  So, if we were sincere about our faith in Christ, and our willingness to trust Him with our lives, then tithing was an important part of that commitment.  Alice and I agreed to begin tithing and give it six months.  If we didn’t have enough money to cover the bills, then we would discontinue. 

Well, that was over 20 years ago, and we are still tithing.  I can’t say God made us rich for being faithful, nor was there a great deal of excess money floating around to fulfill our desires.  I can say, God has never let us down, and He has always supplied our needs no matter how much.  Sometimes it was at the last moment the funds arrived, but they always arrived.  In this day and age where there is a decided lack of integrity, many people suspect we may be stretching the truth when we make these claims, but our testimony today is one backed up by a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

We need to remember that God is not as concerned about the money as He is about our hearts when it comes to tithing.  He’s much more interested in our attitude towards tithing than how much we put in the plate.  Sure He expects us to tithe, because tithing is also worship, and an outward and visible sign of our acknowledgment that it really all belongs to Him. Frankly, the whole purpose of tithing is to teach us that God wants to enjoy first priority in our lives. 

Paul also states that tithing entails more than just money, it also includes all we are and do, when he said, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Most importantly, the Lord expects nothing less than our best from us when it comes to tithing, and He wants us to do so with an attitude of joy.

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

I believe that promise because my own Christian walk has taught me that you can never out-give God! 

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing 
change in your own life.

Discover how you can find peace with God.