Last week, we looked at Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1876) who played a big role within evangelism. As we continue to navigate and examine different people who played a part in growing the Kingdom of God, it is important to understand that times were different when it came to spreading the good news of Jesus. Some people were open to receive His gospel message and wanting to grow in their faith, while some were the exact opposite and wanted nothing to do with it whatsoever. There was a movement known as the Jesus Movement which took place from the 1960s through the 1970s. During this time, lots of people made their name within evangelizing as well as worship music. This week, we will look at several different people first through the Jesus Movement. This movement originated in San Francisco during the Baby Boomer Revival era between 1965 through 1985, and the movement specifically went between the 1960s and 1970s. One man who began or initiated the Jesus Movement was Jack Sparks. He started as a statistics professor and then he established the Christian World Liberation Front (CWLF). Since then, there have been other people who have contributed to this specific movement. One of those people was Chuck Smith. He was a preacher at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California and one of the things that he started to do was baptizing people in the Pacific Ocean and more than 200 young people confessed Jesus as the Savior and Lord.
Challenge
I want to challenge you to think about what it means to step out in faith. I remember watching an episode of the TV series “The Chosen” and there was a scene where Matthew and Philip are having a dialogue about what it means to be on the outside of the circle. This stuck out to me because so often we want to be included and inside the circle, but sometimes it is good for us to be on the outside of the circle. Here’s what I’m saying: you can step out in faith without stepping into the circle. In other words, we cannot be conformed to the patterns of this world, but instead we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). I want to challenge you to step out in faith but don’t step in the circle. When we start doing this, we will begin to see what God is trying to reveal to us and what we need to do to stay in tuned or in lined with Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray for Your continuous strength and wisdom as we continue to do the things that You have called us to. As we grow Your Kingdom, let us not be ashamed of it. Instead, let us embrace it and let Your word shine before others so that the darkness will flee and Your light will shine through. In Jesus name I pray, amen.