Judah Smith - Love Like Jesus: Reaching Others with Passion and Purpose

2013 by Judah Smith

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Bethany House Publishers edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-6719-1

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition originally created 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Other version used is NIVScripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Our Lords greatest commandment was and is to go out and make disciples of all the nations (see Matthew 28:19). In todays terms, we would call that soul winning. This book is an excellent resource for everyonefrom new believers to veteran Christianswho wants to draw closer to the Father in a practical manner. It is one thing to read the Word of God, but it is something entirely different to actually walk it out, to go out and meet the needs of the people around us.

The greatest sermons are not preached from behind a pulpit but rather from the way we live our lives. The world even knows this truth, which is perfectly illustrated in the simple phrase Actions speak louder than words. We may not all be called into full-time ministry, but we all are called to minister to those around us at all times. Judah Smith has written an excellent book that will inspire you to get out of your seat and into the streets.

Matthew Barnett

Senior Pastor

LA Dream Center

PREFACE

Recently I found myself leading an impromptu Bible study with some very un-churched people. They were all in their twenties, so at thirty-four years old I was the old guy. That didnt feel very good, but apparently my years of experience convinced them I had everything figured out about life, marriage, God and happiness. So I ran with that. I figured in that setting, I needed all the help I could get.

Part of me wishes I could say I delivered a flawless theological discourse that proved beyond a doubt the basic tenets of the Christian faith. But Im not that smart. So instead, I spoke on John 3:16 and simply told them about Jesus.

I told them who Jesus is, why He came to earth and died, and what that meant for our day-to-day life. I told them that God is a good God and that Hes not mad at us. I said that life can be tough and sometimes we do things we shouldnt do, but Jesus is on our side and never gives up on us. I preached hope.

It was pretty much the most basic explanation of the gospel ever given. But they had never heard it before, and to them it was earth shattering. After I finished, person after person told me how much my words meant to them.

It was an eye-opener for me. I watched as the same gospel and the same Jesus that have been preached for two thousand years continued to compel lost people to turn to Jesus. Logic and debates and threats of judgment could not have accomplished in a year what the good news of Jesus love did in a few short minutes.

I think sometimes we take the gospel for granted. Weve heard it and experienced it and even preached about it so much that it doesnt seem that amazing anymore. But then we spend time with real people with real problems, and we are brought back to this simple truth: Jesus is enough.

The longer I pastor people, the more convinced I am that there is nothing like the love of Jesus. That is the bottom line when it comes to evangelism. The focus of our conversation and our preaching is not hell or sin or self-effort. Its Jesus.

I first wrote the book you are holding when I was the youth pastor at The City Church over ten years ago. It was titled Soulseekers at the time, and true to my context many of the illustrations and comments are directed at young people or youth pastors.

Now Im the lead pastor at the same church. I face different challenges and greater responsibilities, but the truths and principles described here have not changed. If anything, my conviction that Jesus is the answer to the needs of humanity has only increased. This conviction is reflected in the new book title: Love Like Jesus. I have made a few updates for the sake of flow and consistency, but the bulk of the book has remained unchanged from what I wrote ten years ago.

I can think of no greater joy and privilege than introducing people to grace. Thank you for sharing that passion.

Judah Smith, 2013

INTRODUCTION

It is my desire that as you read this book your heart would be captured with a consuming passion for people. In these days where many see human life as less than significant, it is my aim that you find in your heart a new resolve to discover the significance of each human life. In preparing the messages and writings that make up this book, I came across a quote that sums up the life work of William Booth. It also encapsulates the message of this book:

For over thirty years the Salvation Army and William Booth in particular were subject to some of the most vile persecutions Christians suffered in modern times. But the General lived to see the day his army would be honored around the world. His own King Edward VII invited him to Buckingham Palace in 1904. All the persecution and trials of the previous decades must have seemed insignificant to Booth as he heard King Edward say, You are doing a good worka great work, General Booth.

When the King asked Booth to write in his autograph album, the old mannow seventy-fivebent forward, took the pen, and summed up his lifes work:

Your Majesty,

Some mens ambition is art,

Some mens ambition is fame,

Some mens ambition is gold,

My ambition is the souls of men.

What you are about to read is not an exhaustive resource or a theological discourse. It is simply the study of a passage of Scripture that is changing my life. In the last few months, it has become the theme of our youth ministry, Generation Church, and I believe it can raise the water level of soul winning in your youth church or place of influence as it has in ours. May our ambition become the souls of men!

Note

. Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations (Rockville, MD: Assurance Publishers, 1979).

LOVE LIKE JESUS

THE CHALLENGE OF COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE

HAVE YOU EVER BEFRIENDED SOMEONE OR GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO HELP SOMEBODY WHO YOU KNEW IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND WOULD PAY YOU BACK? Have you ever found yourself befriending an acquaintance only because of the money he or she had or the connections he or she possessed?

Our motives for loving people must rise higher than this. Luke 6:32-33 says, But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.