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Motivation for Mission #4: Worship
Many years ago, the word ‘worship’ was almost synonymous with singing, with Christians gathering together to praise God. Thankfully, our understanding of worship has grown to encompass much more than that. I don’t mean simply all the other things we do when we’re gathered together as a body either, like Bible reading, prayer, preaching, communion, and other such good things. I think we’ve also grown to understand that worship is what we do with all our lives. Our daily work, when offered to God in faith, is worship; the way we conduct ourselves in marriage and parenting and household chores and so on can also be worship. All those things, when done for the Lord in faith, are part of our worship of God. Real worship is so much more than singing praise, it is a whole life of worship lived for the glory of God.
But have you ever considered that evangelism is also part of worship? We definitely know it’s worship when we gather together as Christians and speak and sing about God’s glory and his great acts of deliverance of his people. But have you also thought that when we go outside the church, when we’re scattered across our communities and schools and workplaces, that when we speak well of God there, that that is also part of our worship? Evangelism is part of worship because it’s part of a life well-lived for the glory of God. Evangelism is part of proclaiming the goodness and glory of God to a world that doesn’t know him yet! It’s speaking the name of Jesus in places where he is as yet unknown. It’s proclaiming that he alone is worthy of our worship – and calling people to abandon their idols and worship only God!
When God called Moses he said, “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Ex 9:16). Moses saw a nation delivered. Our New Testament calling as a church is even greater than his, as it is through evangelism that the whole world will finally be called to know, love and worship God!
The flip side to this is that if we don’t share the gospel we are withholding worship from God! That would be a scandal, when God is worthy of all our lives, all our speech, and definitely worth talking about wherever we go.
Prayer: Lord, I love worshipping you in church. Help me to worship you with all of my life, and to proclaim your name in everyday life to those around me.
One evening in Denny
Denny Baptist Church is part of the Baptist Union of Scotland (BUS) and our initial contact with them came after Andy Bannister spoke at the BUS ‘Canopy’ conference last year. We also have a good friend in common, Derek MacIntyre from the ‘Jesus the Evidence‘ ministry here in Scotland too.
Denny is one of several towns and villages which lie west of Falkirk in Scotland’s central belt. With significant council and former council housing developments forming the villages – this area around the River Carron once formed part of the epicentre of Scotland’s heavy industry before it went into sharp decline in the 1980s. Church life across this area has also seen decline in recent decades with several historic churches closing, and a major merger programme amongst the parish churches.
In the heart of Denny, pastor Jonathan Boyers and Denny Baptist Church is pushing ahead with growing the church and looking to plant new congregations into other villages which no longer have a Christian worshipping community there. They are busy with youth and children’s work, social action projects, sharing the gospel and seeing people won to faith in Christ. They have the happy dilemma of starting to outgrow their current premises too!
Denny Baptist Church hosted Steve Osmond from Solas for a midweek night of evangelism training and equipping as a mini ‘Confident Christianity conference’. Fifteen or so folks gathered at the church for Steve’s sessions on the question of suffering, and conversational evangelism – which led into Q&A and then some personal conversations at the end. Several of the questions which came up related to sharing the gospel with people who identify as LGBTQ+ in a way which is faithful to scripture but gracious and compassionate too.
For Solas, meeting people like this who want to gather for an evening to talk about how we can share the gospel effectively is a real joy. Our prayer and desire is that something of what Steve was able to do that eveinng will be an encouragement to the folks at Denny Baptist and that God will richly bless that fellowship as they seek to turn the spiritual tide in the Central Belt.
Playing the Long Game (with Mark Fleming)
Many sporting clubs are the largest social group in any given local community. Do the local churches view them as rivals, or mission fields? Today, more clubs are recognising the competitive benefits of caring emotionally and spiritually for their athletes, opening up huge opportunities for Christian ministry. Here on PEP Talk, sport enthusiasts Gavin Matthews and Simon Wenham learn more about the the area of sports chaplaincy.
Playing the Long Game (with Mark Fleming) – PEP Talk
Our Guest
Mark Fleming has been chaplain to Partick Thistle Football Club since 1989. He now serves as National Director for Scotland at Sports Chaplaincy UK, where he recruits, trains, and mentors chaplains across the nation. He has provided in-house mental health awareness training at a range of football clubs and sporting governing bodies such as the English Football Association, Scottish Football Association, Scottish Rugby Union and the Camanachd Association. He has written a book on his experiences titled “Confessions of a Football Chaplain” available here.
About PEP Talk
The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast aims to equip listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Each episode, our hosts chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip you to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with your friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.
Spotlight on Islam: Equipping You For Gospel Conversations This Ramadan
As Ramadan starts this month, we look at how we can reach Muslims around us. What are the main differences between the world’s two largest religions, and how can we begin to talk about Christ with Muslim colleagues, classmates, and neighbours?
REACHING MUSLIMS
Two Main Reasons Andy Isn’t A Muslim
“I have a PhD in Islamic stuides. I’ve spent 25 years studying Islam. I read the Qu’ran in arabic… Why, given all I know, am I not a Muslim and why am I Christian?” Andy Bannister shares what his studies have taught him about the world’s second largest religion.
Page Menu
- Two Main Reasons Andy Isn’t A Muslim
- Questions That Matter: Reaching Muslims
- Same God Or Different Religion?
- Jesus Through Muslims Eyes
- A Battle Of Minds: How A Debate Led To Jesus
- The Call And The Cost: A Pilgrim Finds Christ
- Do Muslims and Christians Worship The Same God?
- Reaching Muslims: A One-Stop Guide For Christians
- Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Jesus
- Explore More Resources on Islam
- Has The Bible Been Corrupted?
- Qu’ran Tools: Learn More
- Host A Confident Christianity Event (Focusing On Islam)
Questions That Matter: Reaching Muslims
Questions That Matter: Reaching Muslims
“I have a PhD in Islamic stuides. I’ve spent 25 years studying Islam. I read the Qu’ran in arabic… Why, given all I know, am I not a Muslim and why am I Christian?” Andy Bannister shares what his studies have taught him about the world’s second largest religion.
EQUIPPING CHRISTIANS
Same God Or Different Religion?
Many people think that different religions worship the same God. But is that true? Do Muslims and Christians really believe the same thing?
Jesus Through Muslim Eyes
“If there is one thing I want Muslims and Christians to have a productive conversation about, it’s Jesus!”
STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
A Battle Of Minds: How A Debate Led To Jesus
“That friendship was absolutely critical in order for me to begin to hear the Gospel… After about a year, I came to the conclusion that the New Testament manuscripts were reliable…”
The Call And The Cost: A Pilgrim Finds Christ
“I was very devoted to Islam… During university I started to ask questions about the creator, because I felt a disconnection from him. I felt I couldn’t feel him…”
RESOURCES YOU CAN SHARE
Do Christians and Muslims Worship The Same God?
Discover the uniqueness of Christianity’s answer to the question of who God really is.
Reaching Muslims: A One-Stop Guide For Christians
A helpful introduction to Islam, covering theology, culture and much more.
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christ
A personal account of how arguing about theology led a devout Muslim to Christianity.
Explore More Resources On Islam
Further resources on Islam can be found on bethinking.org (UCCF’s website).
Has The Bible Been Corrupted?
Muslims believe the Bible has been corrupted. Andy shares how we can respond.
Qur’an Tools: Learn More About The Qur’an
A free, helpful digital tool for exploring the Qur’an and how it was put together.
GET INVOLVED
Host A Confident Christianity Event (Focusing On Islam)
Are there lots of Muslims where you live? Would you like to be better at speaking to them about Christ? If so, why not invite Solas to do a Confident Christianity at your church with a focus on Islam?
Do you know someone in your church who would benefit from this resource? Please forward this onto them!
Steve Goes to Lewis and Harris
A visit to the Isle of Lewis and Harris marked another productive stretch of partnership-building between Solas and the Free Church of Scotland. It was great to welcome friends from several other congregations across the islands to the meetings we held there too. A good number of attendees from outside the Free Church joined the weekend’s events at the CCC, reflecting the widening reach of the collaboration.
The weekend opened with the Saturday Confident Christianity Conference, which focused on conversational evangelism and a discussion of “the truth about truth,” tackling the challenges posed by contemporary relativism. Although attendance was modest, engagement was strong, with a lively Q&A and a noticeably younger demographic than on previous visits.
On Sunday morning, I was able to preach at Carloway Free Church, where Rev. Thomas Davis—soon to assume the role of Principal at Edinburgh Theological Seminary—serves as minister. The evening service followed at Stornoway Free Church. Both sermons centred on the theme “Mission Manifests the Kingdom,” drawn from Matthew 5 where Jesus tells his people to function as ‘salt and light’ in the world
What had been planned as a small youth gathering after the evening service quickly escalated into a crowd of around 120. The expanded audience prompted a full presentation on the reliability of the New Testament and the resurrection, followed by an energetic question-and-answer session. Among those attending was a young woman first met during a previous youth event in Harris. Though not yet a Christian, she returned with evident openness, asking numerous questions and seeking conversation afterward. If you are a Christian reading this report, please do keep her in your prayers.
This was my second trip to Lewis and Harris, and it is a place I am quickly starting to love. The churches there take the word of God seriously and really engage with the material I present; and offer visiting speakers such a warm welcome and genuine fellowship. I’d love to go back!
Motivation for Mission #3: Like Sheep Without a Shepherd
In Matthew 9:35 , it says,
“Jesus looked at the crowds and he had compassion on them, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.”
That’s why his great heart was moved in compassion for them. And so should ours be for people today, because so many people in our world meet that description: harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. They don’t know right from wrong, they don’t know where they’re going, they don’t know where they came from, what they’re here for, or what their destiny is.
But we know the good shepherd. We know that Jesus the good shepherd will welcome them into his fold, will adopt them into his family, and ‘lead them beside still waters’. Jesus is the good shepherd. Evangelism is about introducing people who are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd, to the one who we know will care for their souls, who will look after them in this life and the next, and bring them safely home. We have found a place of love and security and peace in the care, protection and provision of the one truly Good Shepherd.
Jesus looked upon us in our confusion, lostness and sin – and he was moved by compassion towards us. Does he not look at the lost people of our cities, and communities today with that same compassion? When he sees them trying to bear the burdens and pressures of life on their own, alienated from the God who can help them – is his great heart not still moved? United with Christ, we must learn from the master, and look at the crowds around us with similar compassion and go to the harrassed and helpless to tell them of the Good Shepherd who will enfold them in his love.
Prayer: Thank you Lord that you looked at me in my harrassed and confused state and had compassion on me. Forgive me for apathy and give me something of your compassion for the lost, those who don’t know you, who are like sheep without a shepherd.
The Temptation of Jesus is Good News for Us
Culduthel Christian Centre in Inverness (CCC) is a church we’ve enjoyed working with over many years. Their pastor, Alistair Macleod was an undergraduate theology student along with our Director, Andy Bannister a few years ago! In more recent times, our late colleague Jeff Howarth was a member of CCC.
I was invited up to Inverness to update the church about the work of Solas, thanks them for their support – and speak at their Sunday morning service. Aware that along with the church members, their would be a lot of people who are not yet believers in Christ – I took them to the story of Jesus’ temptation from Matthew 4.
Often we use this narrative as merely an example of what we ought to do when we are tempted. That’s fine as far as it goes, but I went on to try to show people that the fact that Christ didn’t sin when tempted means that he is able to rescue those of us who have fallen. The message of this text is liberating news for all those of us who have fallen for temptation. The talk is available below.
If you would like a Solas speaker to come to your church, to tell your congregation about our work in evangelism and evangelism-training; please do get in touch via the connect button at the top of this page.
Evangelism in the Age of AI (with Stephen Driscoll)
Is it the dawn of an utopian age? Or will humans be relegated to the Matrix? It certainly seems that recent developments in artificial intelligence will bring profound changes to our world. But right now, profound questions are there to be asked. How can we show that the Christian message gives the best answers, and use AI as a platform for the gospel? Andy Bannister and Simon Wenham chat with Australian author Stephen Driscoll about God, AI and humans.
Evangelism in the Age of AI (with Stephen Driscoll) – PEP Talk
Our Guest
Stephen Driscoll wrote Made In Our Image: God, Artificial Intelligence and You (2024 Matthias Media). He studied at Moore College, the University of Sydney and the University of NSW. Stephen serves with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students in Canberra, where he disciples Christian students and shares the gospel with nonbelievers. He is married to Lauren and they have two young children.
About PEP Talk
The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast aims to equip listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Each episode, our hosts chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip you to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with your friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.
Jesus’ Last Command: Why Christians Can’t Stay Silent
Why do Christians feel compelled to talk about their faith? Why not just keep it private? John Lennox explains why, if Jesus really is who He claimed to be — risen from the dead and Lord of all — then silence was never an option. From Jesus’ final command to His followers to the confidence that comes from knowing the truth, this video explores why Christianity has always been a shared faith. Sharing faith isn’t about being pushy or loud, it’s being a witness to something that has changed everything. Whether you’re a Christian wanting confidence, a sceptic asking honest questions, or simply curious about why faith motivates people the way it does, this conversation is for you.
A weekend of Solas ministry at Buccluech Free Church in Edinburgh
A small team from Solas had the joy of spending the weekend with Buccleuch Free Church, which meets in a quite majestic building on the edge of “The Meadows” parkland, just south of Edinburgh city centre. It’s a warm, welcoming and quite diverse fellowship whcih is deeply committed to sharing 
the gospel of Christ with the community around them. So, we put a whole weekend of ministry together in conjunction with their minister, James Ross.
The weekend kicked off with an outreach event at the church on the Friday night, at which Steve Osmond spoke about finding hope. Our world seems to be sufferring from a profound hope-defecit at the moment, and in his thoughtful talk, Steve looked at human hopelessness, and some of the symptoms of that which experience in a daily basis. He examined some of the ways in which try to construc hope for oursleves as humans and why these so often fail. He commended faith in Christ as the basis for true hope, not based upon human performance, or on blind optimism; but on his resurrection from the dead and offer of eternal life for people who come to him.
On the Saturday, Gavin Matthews came down and joined Steve for a Confident Christianity conference. The church provided an endless supply of tea and coffee, home baking and musical worship; and Solas provided four sessions of equipping and encouraging Christians in sharing their faith. Steve kicked the day off with a session called “Conversations that Count”, which is really a primer on how to ask good questions which open up conversations which can lead to the gospel. Gavin then did a session entitled “5 Steps for Answering Any Tough Question”. After more coffee and cakes, Steve then looked at the subject of hell, and God’s promise to judge fairly and quarantine all evil for ever. Gavin then delivered the final session on ‘Engaging the Apathetic’ – which then led into a Q&A time.
It was great to get so many really thoughtful and insightful questions. Equally heartnening were some of the individual conversations we had with people who had come for the day, who wanted to speak more personally and individually about their own joys and struggles.
The minister James Ross said, “I have received so much encouraging feedback in the last few weeks about the impact of the teaching sessions and also the really helpful Q&A session. Your content was pitched at a perfect level so that everyone present could certainly feel more confident in their Christian faith and be more willing to share it. Since then I know that people (myself included) have an increased desire to look for gospel opportunities and have been thinking creatively about building pathways to connect non-church friends to the church and Christian friends. It came at the right season for us as a church and tied in so well to what we have been learning in the Book of Acts. Thanks again, James”
Steve then rounded up the weekend by preaching on the Sunday morning from 1 Peter 3. You can watch that message here:
We are hugely grateful to James and the folks at Buccluech for their warm welcome, and enthusiastic partnership in the gospel We were so glad to hear that it had been an encouragement to the church!
Sharing Hope in Fife
Recently Steve had the opportunity to partner with Kirkcaldy Free Church for an outreach event that was hosted at their church. The church has a real heart for the community that’s it’s in, and this was evident by the number of guests who came along that evening, who were well known to the church there, even though they don’t necessarily come on a Sunday or consider themselves Christians. But they knew they were welcome and were keen to come share a meal and hear what the Bible has to say about finding hope in a world that can seem so hopeless.
Sharing food is a great way to make people feel welcome, to bless them and to get to know them. Being hospitable is biblical, as is sharing food together. If you want to know more about why eating together is a brilliant way to start an evangelisic meeting, read Tim Chester’s little book “A Meal With Jesus”, especially the section entitled, ‘meals enact the gospel’. It’s quite surprising the emphasis and importance scripture places on sharing food!
Following the meal, Steve gave a talk on ‘Is there any hope for the future’, which was followed by a time of Q&A. It was a great way to love people well and to point them to the hope that only Jesus Christ can truly bring.
At Solas we really enjoy doing these kind of events in whcih we get to engage the world with the claims of Christ. We do so, winsomely, persuasively and in a way which speaks directly to the questions people are asking today.
If you would be interested in running an outreach event in your community like this, please contact Solas to see how we can help your church host something like this. You can reach us here.
Spotlight on Student Mission
Are university campuses secular spheres closed off to God or are they open spaces ripe for the gospel?
STUDENT MISSION
Joined-Up Evangelism: Responding to Culture
What questions do young adults have today? How do we reach those around us? Andy Bannister encourages us to do “joined-up evangelism”.
Why Ministry To Students Matters
Listen to Naomi Brehm and discover for yourself why reaching young adults is so important.
What Hope Is There In Education?
What education offers students the most hope? Michael Reeves looks at the difference Christianity makes.
What’s Happening On Campuses?
Read inspirational reports from the Solas team about how God is working among students around us today.
Page Menu
- Joined-Up Evangelism: Responding To Culture
- Why Ministry To Students Matters
- What Hope Is There In Education?
- What’s Happening On Campuses?
- “I Hated God, But God Loved Me!”
- “A War Between My Heart and Head”
- Five Steps For Answering Tough Questions
- How You Can Use Questions To Reach Students
- Have You Ever Wondered What To Give A Student?
STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
“I Hated God, But God Loved Me!”
How could a good God allow all the suffering in the world? Find out how a voyage of discovery at university helped Nathaniel overcome his biggest doubt.
“A War Between My Heart and Head”
What happens if you spend six months researching different religions? Lena Dacca describes her experience, and how that led her into student mission.
EQUIPPING CHRISTIANS
Five Steps For Answering Tough Questions
How can you help students have the courage to share their faith and not fear the “killer question”?
How You Can Use Questions To Reach Students
Randy Newman shares why using questions is one of the best ways of reaching others.
RESOURCES YOU CAN SHARE
Have You Ever Wondered What To Give A Student?
What do you give to someone who is thinking about the big questions of life, but who might not read the Bible? Many university Christian Unions are already using Solas’ popular Have You Ever Wondered? Exploring themes like beauty, justice, identity, love and hope, the book features 30 chapters that show why God makes sense of the world we see around us.
A Deep Dive in Devon!
In this short ministry update video, Andy Bannister reports on recent work at Lee Abbey in Devon, a week-long deep dive into evangelism at Lee Abbey. It was a partnership between ourselves, Lee Abbey and the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity.
Witnessing On The Ward (with Kelvin Burke)
Many Christians will be familiar with the practice of praying for and visiting those from their own church who might be sick in hospital. But the role of the hospital (or hospice) chaplain can allow for ministry to all kinds of people. What are the challenges, joys, and opportunities experienced in this unique role? This time on PEP Talk, we hear from a hospital chaplain who himself spent eight months in hospital after a car crash which left him permanently paraplegic.
Witnessing on the Ward (with Kelvin Burke) – PEP Talk
Our Guest
Kelvin Burke is an Anglican minister and Healthcare Chaplain. After his time as Priest-in-charge at St Andrew’s Wakefield Kelvin was called to Minister in Healthcare Chaplaincy, starting out as Honorary Chaplain at Wakefield Hospice and then Pinderfields Hospital where he had been an inpatient for nine months in 1979/80 following a Road Traffic Accident which left him paraplegic. He was appointed Chaplain at Leeds Teaching Hospital during which time he studied for and attained a Masters in Theology at Cardiff University. In 2010 he moved with his wife Jennie and three teenage daughters (Chloé, Katie and Ellie) to the Isle of Wight, and after a short time as Chaplain at Mountbatten Hospice and St Mary’s Hospital, he was appointed Senior Chaplain of Isle of Wight NHS Trust.
He is the author of “Lake of Tears”, a compelling book with a unique application of God’s partaking in the face of suffering.
About PEP Talk
The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast aims to equip listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Each episode, our hosts chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip you to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with your friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.
