What is stopping the gospel?

[newbie]

what is stopping the gospel from being heard?

what is stopping people from accepting it?

why are hearts not turning towards the truth?

[Carl]

what is stopping the gospel from being heard?

what is stopping people from accepting it?

why are hearts not turning towards the truth?

IMO you've heard it before, our churches are closed to outsiders. Oh, they make a token gesture to bring a visiting relative to church for maybe one Sabbath but for the most part their closed. Every Sabbath, year after year, into decades. The same old thing, the regulars come to church, they doze off and go home, a continuous cycle.
No effort is made to bring new people EVERY Sabbath, those that never heard the gospel into church, they can easily do it, but their too lazy, they don't care, it's too much trouble.
The tiny seminars like AF hold at great expense are essentially closed too. Until you hear the name SDA talked about in the local Media and Internet searches as a common word, not just as a one time news but all the time. Of course it will raise trouble by some (the devil's tools) but until that happens, they will live on easy street.
They are all looking to please the world, stay neutral, stay in the background, stay out of controversy, they've succeeded marvelously. NAD being one example.


You heard the saying "they are no threat to the devil" so, he leaves them alone. The reverse must happen, of course it won't be fun.

[Raven]

IMO you've heard it before, our churches are closed to outsiders. Oh, they make a token gesture to bring a visiting relative to church for maybe one Sabbath but for the most part their closed. Every Sabbath, year after year, into decades. The same old thing, the regulars come to church, they doze off and go home, a continuous cycle.
No effort is made to bring new people EVERY Sabbath, those that never heard the gospel into church, they can easily do it, but their too lazy, they don't care, it's too much trouble.

When you've lived in an area long enough, you eventually run out of people to take to church.  There's the relative who hasn't come in years, and who gets annoyed if you try to encourage them to come.  More damage is done by pestering them than by leaving them alone and living an example, while praying for them.  Same applies to the neighbors who have shown over the years that they're not interested.  It sounds nice in theory, but, except in unique situations, I'm not sure it's realistic to expect anyone to bring a new person every Sabbath.  Even our most evangelistic minded members, who are doing a lot of outreach, can't achieve that goal.  You must live in a unique area if it's "easy" to bring a new person to church every Sabbath.

[Raven]

what is stopping the gospel from being heard?

what is stopping people from accepting it?

why are hearts not turning towards the truth?

We no longer live in a "Christian" nation.  100 years ago there was a common denominator:  most people had a Judaeo-Christian ethic.  The "Western World" has technology, and unlimited entertainment, which has replaced God.  As long as there are no major crises, it's hard to get people's attention focused on spiritual things.  This is not a problem in "developing" nations, where food and shelter and major concerns on a daily basis.  It's easier for them to be brought to recognize their spiritual need.

[Larry Lyons]

what is stopping the gospel from being heard?

what is stopping people from accepting it?

why are hearts not turning towards the truth?

We no longer live in a "Christian" nation.  100 years ago there was a common denominator:  most people had a Judaeo-Christian ethic.  The "Western World" has technology, and unlimited entertainment, which has replaced God.  As long as there are no major crises, it's hard to get people's attention focused on spiritual things.  This is not a problem in "developing" nations, where food and shelter and major concerns on a daily basis.  It's easier for them to be brought to recognize their spiritual need.

Very true raven. However the world, including the US appears to be in a increasingly rapid decline in every way imaginable and there seems to be a feeling abroad that something unusual (and bad) is about to happen. It is  time that students of prophecy (that's us, I hope) to wake up and encourage the pew warmers (that's not us, I hope), to wake up.

[Carl]

Raven I actually meant to use the Media more to announce Sabbath every Saturday, seminars upcoming, I still don't see why that doesn't happen. Another thing I don't quite see is preaching to the same ones all the time, year after year. That's what I mean by closed churches, it doesn't go beyond the old ears. Many of the sermons are great but it's to the same ones who's heard it a thousand times before and by the time potluck comes around, they've forgotten all about it. If they haven't produced fruit by now, seems it's time to expand out to those who will take the message and pass it on, those will need to come from new people.

You have a prophecy talk coming up? post a small ad, buy a spot on a local blog, buy ten second commercial on a small radio station, post a flyer at the supermarket, put a banner in front of the church, there are many ways, not too expensive.

No, their closed churches, or "self contained" if you will, the gospel stays with them and dies with them.

[Listen]

In the area that I live there is quite a bit of outreach.  (There are several churches within 50 miles.)   Any seminar, concert, whatever is well advertised.  The church I am a member of has community outreach weekly of different types.  The community knows we are here.  Individuals do outreach also.  They are opening a small school and only 1 student is from an SDA family.  We can reach out to others but we can not force them to join us.  Here are a few reasons people do not respond.
They have been taught in school the "science" of evolution and religion isn't necessary.
They are good people and God will save them when He returns.
They are going to be raptured, don't worry.
They are new age.
There are others that are so caught up in the distractions of the world spiritual matters don't compute.
They go to a church and believe whatever that church does and are happy with it.  Many of our churches are just like the world so why change just to go to church on a different day.

There is limited response but people are not flocking in.  So we just have to be faithful and sow seed.

[Raven]

Rwho will take the message and pass it on, those will need to come from new people.

You have a prophecy talk coming up? buy ten second commercial on a small radio station,

No need.  We have our own small radio station. 

It has not yet reached its full potential, but we're working on improving that.

[V. Hahn]

I think the missing component is prayer.  If a person prays that God will put them in contact with someone who is searching -- someone who is would be open to our message -- God will put that person in their path…whether the supermarket cashier, the parent of one of your child's friends, or a stranger standing in line at the bank.  We need to pray that God would open our minds and hearts to the opportunities that present in our everyday lives.  God loves to answer prayers like that!

[newbie]

seems like the answer is all of the above:

some in the church do not want things to change...

some do nothing to outreach to others

the world's draw is very strong right now and
   Satan is working 24/7 to deceive many

people do not want to listen, they reject the message

our religion requires a change once they come in...
   we lost 4 people recently over not wanting to give

prayer for God's help

then, others are doing all they can every minute of the day
   and whomever God puts in their path, and where ever they
   go...  every waking move and hour is thinking about saving
   souls... and still many do not want to hear and reject

we are told it is going to be like Noah's day...  he preached for
120 years and no one came to the ark except his family

... some that helped with the ark might have died before
the flood and they might be saved but seems like MOST rejected
the message

[Carl]

That's a good list newbie and right. Seems many (church members) have heard the message so often they've become immune to it, they don't really hear it anymore, much less to tell anyone else. Like that freight train or jumbo jet Doug talks about, after a while, they don't hear it anymore.
But some churches get it, the local Baptist church near me always posts a catchy, large banner in front of their church. Past week it was, "save your life here".

It's not rocket science, so what's stopping many our churches? Laodicia, complacency, scared of persecution, tired, bored, don't care, and probably a dozen other reasons. Time to bring in new bunch with fire in their hearts.

[Carl]

newbie, "the world's draw is very strong right now and
   Satan is working 24/7 to deceive many"

Yes, so true, everyday, something new is happening to further draw the mind away from the Lord. Look at the Olympics, they've made Michael Phelps a god and worship him. But the point is, it fascinates people, including SDA's and they spend time listening. The cellphone while is a handy tool, is also a handy tool to distract the mind. Life is so easy, comfortable, and fun today.

[Ed Sutton]

Quote from: newbie

what is stopping the gospel from being heard?

This kind of hearing is a response of trust, loyalty, obedience from the heart

what is stopping people from accepting it?

Accepting it - seems to mean - taking this information into the heart and mind, both, by believing it is true, desiring to obey it, desiring it enough to obey it and remove anything opposing it, then obeying it as best as understood.

why are hearts not turning towards the truth?

Turning toward the truth - are you meaning - repenting of all that contradicts what the Bible says to do, and explains how to go to Jesus and learn how He did then emulate and learn to do, and to go to Jesus and learn how He en-grafted these truths and humanly become in harmony with these truths, and understand the conditions of obtaining from Jesus, as Jesus obtained from Father God.

Defining what is being expected and desired of potential converts, helps understanding the process that needs to happen, and what is not happening, and the results of the flawed methods. 

These are 5 stages Jesus used, and those five stages are described in contemporary language.

 We are living in the midst of an "epidemic of crime," at which thoughtful, God-fearing men everywhere stand aghast. The corruption that prevails, it is beyond the power of the human pen to describe. Every day brings fresh revelations of political strife, bribery, and fraud. Every day brings its heart-sickening record of violence and lawlessness, of indifference to human suffering, of brutal, fiendish destruction of human life. Every day testifies to the increase of insanity, murder, and suicide. Who can doubt that satanic agencies are at work among men with increasing activity to distract and corrupt the mind, and defile and destroy the body?  {MH 142.4} 

     And while the world is filled with these evils, the gospel is too often presented in so indifferent a manner as to make but little impression upon the consciences or the lives of men. Everywhere there are hearts crying out for something which they have not. They long for a power that will give them mastery over sin, a power that will deliver them from the bondage of evil, a power that will give health and life and peace. Many who once knew the power of God's word have dwelt where there is no recognition of God, and they long for the divine presence.  {MH 143.1}
 
     The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago--a revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be accomplished.  {MH 143.2}  (  Is every truth presented made a revelation of Christ and how He humanly obtained this loyalty and practice of this truth from Father God ?   John 6:57;  Revelation 3:20; Luke 9:23; Matthew 11:29; John 15:1-17 )

     Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me."  {MH 143.3} 

     There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit.  {MH 143.4} 

The cycle of evangelism =
1. Prepare the soil -
2. Sow the seed -
3. Cultivate folks that show they are "sprouting the good seed" in their life (Bible Studies )
4. Harvest - train, prepare, baptize
5. Preserve the crop - discipleship train the baptized and train and tutor & mentor  both in  discipleship and soul winning. 

Pastor Mark Howard - Online SDA Evangelism Training
  https://courses.avadvance.org/courses/course-v1:EmmanuelInstitute+EM.Ev101+2016_T1/about#intro-video-modal   


  https://courses.avadvance.org/courses/course-v1:EmmanuelInstitute+EM.Ev102+2016_T1/about#intro-video-modal     

    http://emmanuelinstitute.org 

[Ed Sutton]

Jesus Christ in the Gospels is always the One spearheading the taking action to set the stage for teaching and training disciples by doing it in front of them. 

Jesus commanded "GO YE................"     To those who WENT......... He promised to be beside them till Earth was ended....................... to the rest He left NO promises .......................except this one in Desire of Ages.....

"Divine love has been stirred to its unfathomable depths for the sake of men, and angels marvel to behold in the recipients of so great love a mere surface gratitude. Angels marvel at man's shallow appreciation of the love of God. Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men. Would we know how Christ regards it? How would a father and mother feel, did they know that their child, lost in the cold and the snow, had been passed by, and left to perish, by those who might have saved it? Would they not be terribly grieved, wildly indignant? Would they not denounce those murderers with wrath hot as their tears, intense as their love? The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of God's child, and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger. This is the wrath of the Lamb. To those who claim fellowship with Christ, yet have been indifferent to the needs of their fellow men, He will declare in the great Judgment day, "I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:27.  {DA 825.4}

Matthew 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

  https://www.avadvance.org/en/   

In case you feel I speak too bluntly,  How blunt and frank is the interchange to the man who hid one talent in the dirt ?

[Ed Sutton]

What is stopping the gospel ?

Nearly 2+ Billion people have not heard it yet.

https://jesus4asia.org 

We ought to help these folks with prayers & $$$ & finding SDA Native speaking bilingual translators for the language groups.