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Linking hearts in Christ
LYNC Network Street Map
See:
thejudgment.us
for a list of all our handouts
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Why are we knocking on doors?
Churches and individual Christians are uniting and working together, each one
adopting a street or streets and focusing on sharing the good news of Christ's redemption to every household and to
give an opportunity for all believers to
intentionally make disciples and become disciples. Disciples are simply
students and obedient followers of Jesus Christ.
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. Mark 16:15
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven".
Matthew 6:10
Why: Why should we obey God's will instead of just doing our own thing? It's
very simple. God wants us to do so because God is the perfect Father
and He knows what is best for His children. He cares about what we do and
why we do it; yes, He even cares about how and what we think.
How: God wants us to obey Him; to behave as dear children- obediently obeying our
Father in heaven but the BIG problem is that obeying God is no small task, it's
one that everyone has constantly failed at, so how is that supposed to
happen? The answer is not so obvious, but there is a way for man to be right with God and to
obey Him.
IMPORTANT! God has interacted with man in amazing ways and He has given us a unified collection
of inspired writings spanning thousands of years that record those interactions.
In this Bible, He even gave us instructions as to how we can have the power to actually obey Him and of course most
importantly, He tells us in great detail how we can be forgiven when we
inevitably disobey.
This network and all of true Christianity is about
spreading the good news of how
God Himself came to earth as a man to be the sacrifice, to take the punishment
we deserve for our sins so that we can be reconciled to the Father and live with
Him forever.
If you do not understand or believe this part, the
network will make no sense at all. For a better understanding of the
Christian viewpoint, please check out the
Online Summit first and come
back to read about the network later.
Dear Christian,
It is simply time we start obeying what is written in those precious inspired writings...
Relevant "Christian" Cultural Note: Without facade, apology, shame
or excuses we "lay all of our cards on the table." Some who appear to be
"in the Church" today have hidden the message of Christ behind vague general
spirituality and mysticism for so long that if they once knew the truth, they
seem to have forgotten it. These who hide the offense of the cross behind
more palatable philosophy often excuse and embrace their Christ-less false
religion because of hypocrisy and shallowness in "the Church". If they
only fully understood the good news they might not be so ashamed of it.
For it is clear from God's revealed Word that the problems and hypocrisy "in the
Church" do not stem from "too much Christ" but rather, not enough Christ; they
stem from those who profess Christ but never really knew Him! Our lives
and this website are dedicated to the fact that the only "cards" that any of us
hold that have any value at all are those that bear the face of Jesus Christ,
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is Him we boldly proclaim and
serve.
CAUTION- The following admonishments are strong and to the point; many
are not "easily swallowed" and must be "chewed thoroughly". They are
listed here to show the goals and ideals that we believe faithful followers of
Christ must embrace but it is not expected that they can be instantly embraced
and followed, they require a lifetime of fellowship and discipleship and even
then, as the Apostle Paul said of himself, we will still just be "pressing on"
without having attained perfection- until we meet Him face to face and are
changed to be like Him. But nevertheless these following challenges
are a taste of the high calling that God extends to us who are IN Christ Jesus.
We welcome you to arise, forget those things that are behind and press on with
us to that high goal in Him.
The Obedience of Faith can change a nation
It should be clear by the loss of our nation's Christian values that
"whatever" the church has been doing lately it has not been enough; the status quo
was not working.
But now, together, we are doing something about it!
YES, God can transform, first us, and then even use us to turn our culture away from
the self destruction it seems "hell bent" on pursuing! Many people
see the situation as hopeless, or at least act like it is... But by the
authority of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I declare "it is not hopeless!"
Many times throughout history, deep darkness covering a land has been shattered
by the light of the gospel, it is no different now, the same gospel that
awakened our nation in the past can awaken us now.
"Grass Roots"
It seems that how we reach our neighbor today must change if we are to see this
new awakening; for to a great extent, our culture has
turned a deaf ear to the paid clergy of our land; for good and bad reasons many people no
longer trust them as much as in bygone eras. So now it is up to you-
the "rank and file" Christian, the man in the pew, not the pulpit... it is up to
you to see God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Of course it
will be accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit, but He must work through
you- dear follower of Jesus Christ. This is Biblical after all; the
"pulpit" was only meant to inspire the believer to do the "work of ministry" so
that all the parts of the body work together to accomplish the work as in 1
Corinthians 14 and Ephesians 4.
Our goal is that the Spirit of God would use the tools and communication
available through this simple web site to track our progress and allow us to
work together in our neighborhoods to create and build relationships; so that
God would use neighbors, filled with His Spirit, to share the good news and
disciple their neighbors.
It is time that we, "the church", awaken from sleep and become
salt and light in a crooked and perverse generation; that Christians of every
denomination and flavor would join together, loving each other and our
neighbors, obeying the
Word of God- through the demonstration and power of the Spirit- showing the
world that Jesus is Lord, declaring that all should follow Him; and demonstrating
by our love and unity that we are indeed His disciples.
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. Mark 16:15
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
In a "nutshell", to accomplish this great commission we all must:
- Repent and believe, trust completely in Christ for your salvation and
your daily survival.
- Read and obey the simple, straightforward Word of God-- without compromise.
- This includes
"redeeming the time
because the days are evil", which means we must...
- Quit living like the world,
to do so reveals our lack of faith in Christ and calls our lives into
question as to whether we even know Him! Peter describes the state of
a false Christian or Prophet and cautions us throughout 2 Peter chapter 2,
summarizing at the end that to "feed on" and love the world is, to be blunt,
to
feed on vomit! We must rather be filled with the Word and Spirit
of God- not drunk with wine or with the wine of the
harlot's fornication-
entertainment!
- Once convicted, repented and transformed, we must simply be hospitable; invite everyone for a meal. When needed,
even take in the stranger.
- Share the Word and hope of God with your guests- invite them regularly, in other words:
make disciples.
- Share your faith with "every creature". Integrate your faith with all of
your daily life, but do not rely on chance nor wait for them to come to you,
but...
- Go to the highways and byways and compel them to come to the
great feast that is prepared.
- Do not waste time repeatedly casting your pearls before swine- before those who
are arrogant and believe they do not need God. Spend your energy
on those that are hungry.
- Invite your brothers and sisters to pray together and go with you to the
streets, or wherever the hungry souls are.
I hear you: "That's a great list", most real Christians know that we should
be doing all that- but how do we do it?
By God's grace and through much study and experimentation, the Lord has shown us
simple, concrete Biblical principles and practices that allow the grace that is
found through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus to work effectively
in us. All Christians have known the strategy of the war we are in,
and we know who it is that leads us to victory, but how to function in the "day
to day" tactics of the battle seems often to evade us.
But first, to reiterate the importance of the source!
The underlying strength to follow the methods on this site lies in "walking in
the Spirit", not "hop, skipping and jumping" in the Spirit, but consistently
abiding, staying in the vine. God is calling us all to constant
dedication- to "pray without ceasing". YES, if it's actually
done, that is pretty radical but that kind of a radical committed lifestyle is what we've been reading in the Bible
all these years! It is what Christ describes as taking up your cross
and following Him. It is simply time to repent and obey the gospel. Out of the spiritual life of Christ in you,
the tactics become more clear, natural and easier to follow. Those
"tactics" are enumerated in the "bullet points" below the next section.
The key is consistency- at any and all times, in season and out of season...
We must be
INSTANT in season and out, in other words, be ready to share your faith at
any and ALL times! We know we are supposed to minister and share
our faith at times that are appropriate, times that are "in season" but God also
calls us to do so when it is inappropriate or "out of season". The message
of Christ is so important that we must share it all the time! The only
time we shouldn't be sharing is
when God tells us not to! (Of course employees must work and do what
they are paid to do- I'm not talking about preaching at work instead of working.
Employees can invite co-workers or customers to lunch or to your home, where you
are then free to share the faith that is in you.)
As you meet humble listeners, seekers or devoted Christians throughout your daily life, travels, or in the
neighborhood door to door- you simply care, share your faith and make disciples
by inviting them to do the same things you are doing.
This is the simple Biblical way of realizing the coveted "multiplication" of
discipleship we long for in the church. Through genuine hospitality each
Christian essentially moves the "church" to the streets, neighborhood and
everywhere they go; they open their home to the saints and the lost.
The goal is not to make "new home churches", it is to BE the church in the
neighborhood, our work places, everywhere. It is to facilitate the breaking of
bread and continuing steadfastly in the apostles doctrine because you have
opened your life and your home to Christians and the lost. The goal is that the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness becomes the focus of our lives instead of
watching ungodly TV shows and other wastes of time.
You may be one of the many believers who are chomping at the bit to do something for Jesus
Christ and this is a simple way to let the love of God flow out and stop the
stagnation of "ever learning" and never giving or teaching!
The "How to"
We invite you to join us as we follow Christ...
We have found that it takes many different areas of effort to fulfill the
great commission in our lives. Each of the points below are simple and effective ministry
outlets in season and out of season.
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Biblical Hospitality
is "Relational Evangelism" on steroids. Opening your heart and
your home to all who will come is the most important and simplest of
all the things we can do to be like Christ.
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Discipleship-
Through hospitality we must intentionally make disciples, starting
by becoming a disciple of Christ ourselves.
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Street adoption-
Go door to door with the invitation to know Christ and follow Him
using a straight forward questionnaire as a guideline to remember
what's important.
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Tracts- Whether
handing out a single one to someone you don't have the time to talk
to or leafleting parking lots or neighborhoods, this is always a
quick way to reach many. We have some powerful comprehensive
tracts
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Preach everywhere you are in every situation.
2 Timothy 4:2, 5 NKJV - Preach the word! Be ready in season and out
of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching. ... But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
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Market Place Ministry Bring Christ with you to work
Leave the doubt, believe and act!
It's interesting to note that right before Jesus gave us this great
commission, His disciples had been in somewhat of a self absorbed pity
party that Jesus said had to stop. Likewise, we too by His grace
can leave our unbelief, hear His voice and obey the good shepherd.
Mark 16:14-20 NKJV - Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table;
and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not
believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
And He said to them, "Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And
these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons;
they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink
anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick,
and they will recover."
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was
received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went
out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word
through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Matthew 28:17-20 NKJV - When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
"teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
May the simple truth and love of God burst forth in
your life, and may the blossoms that have adorned your life turn to
fruit, that many may be saved,
- In His love,
- Dyrell Hicks
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If you'd like to talk, feel free to call anytime. (I'm
on the east coast)
- 757-672-8031
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Online Summit
This website has a fairly extensive "Virtual Conversation"
feature where we use a "flow chart" like conversation to answer common questions and roadblocks people may have
about Christianity.
We link to the Summit from many of our tracts and websites
This part of the site is laid out like a virtual
conversation where ideas, questions and thoughts are presented in chunks and then links
with some typical responses are in
bright colors. The idea is to simulate a conversation that follows your
lead as you choose the vein of thought that is similar to your own. This
way you don't have to read the whole web site, only what is pertinent to you.
Choose your response:
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Love Your Neighbor Christian Network