A Strategy for the Near Lost

Living and Discipling among the Lost – What did Jesus do?

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)

There is no greater evangelist than our Lord Jesus Himself and we would do well to study His strategies. It seems although Jesus did spend effort on the far lost (those who would not readily receive the Gospel of the Kingdom), He spent most of His energies on those who were spiritually hungry.

Even His beginnings in ministry point to a divine strategy. He went to those whom we would presume were ready to listen to His message. Ray VanderLaan, in his message “Follow the Rabbi,” makes the observation that Galilee was “a hotbed of revival” in Jesus’ day (Mt 4.12-17). Jesus Himself defines His primary target as “the lost sheep of Israel.” (Mt 15.24) When Jesus came to a new town to preach, He would go to the “religious” first by entering the synagogue (Lk 4.44). And, when He gives instructions to His disciples on their mission trips, He tells them to find a “friendly host” who would listen to them (Mt 10.11-13, Lk 10.5-8). His instructions to them about those who were hostile were quite different. He tells His evangelists to shake the dust of their sandals in protest and move to the next town (Mt 10.14, Lk 10.11).

The Apostle to the Gentiles practiced the same strategy. When Paul entered a new town, he went to the synagogue first (Ac 17.1,10,17). And if there was no synagogue, he went to a place where religious people would tend to hang out (Ac 16.13). If the crowd became hostile, he focused his efforts on those who embraced the Good News of Jesus (Ac 13.46).

I have a saying, “You can’t push a rope.” Why would we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to convince a person who doesn’t want to hear about Jesus when there are many around us that do? The key is finding these spiritually hungry people. One of the best places to look is in your church. Start inviting some of the parishioners to lunch and ask them to share their testimony. I guarantee you will have plenty of opportunities to lead people to Jesus. And, if all the people of your church are saved, start aggressively inviting the lost to attend and focus on the ones who actually show up.

A Love Hate Relationship with Evangelism
LOST - They are not on an Island!
Evangelism: Methods or Majesty
Reaching the Far Lost, How would Jesus do it?
The Near Lost - Low Hanging Fruit
A Strategy for the Near Lost
Inside Out Witnessing
The Shocking Reality - Cold Contacts
Do Not Feed the Lost?
Leaders: Do the Math
A Summary of the Living and Discipling Among the Lost


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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

The Near Lost - Low Hanging Fruit

Living and Discipling among the Lost – Finding the Hungry

And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?" He *said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:38-39)

A group of brand new Lieutenants had just finished physical training in their first days of infantry training. They were enthusiastically talking about their new found fellowship and commonality in Christ. Without thinking, one of them invited a straphanger to check out the Bible study. As the words left his mouth, he realized he was talking to one of the most profane officers in the platoon. Expecting a rejection full of explicatives, he received quite the opposite response. “Sure, I’ll be there. I need to get some religion.” A few weeks later the young office gave his life to Christ.

This kind of spiritual hunger is more prevalent than one may think. We call these who are ready to meet Jesus “low hanging fruit.” As a community, we have led many men and women to Christ in recent years. I think it has a lot to do with our evangelistic posture.

There really is no gimmick, we are simply leaning forward in the foxhole. That’s what I mean by an evangelistic posture. When a soldier talks about leaning forward in the foxhole, it means he’s alert and ready. We can adopt the same posture as fishers of men. We eagerly seek the lost and invite them to join us in a study about Jesus.

We run a very aggressive invitation campaign (we call it recruiting). With a core of about 30 laborers we will invite between 400 to 600 men and women to Bible study in a week. You say, “How absurd! Your numbers are surely exaggerated.” Part of our tactics is to stand outside 4 different mess halls and invite soldiers to the Bible study or Chapel. It’s very easy for us to talk to that many people in a week’s time. You may say, “Well, you probably get mostly Christians.” Correct, but there are a handful of non-Christians in each of our 5 Bible studies. There is a venue in these studies for these seekers to hear about Jesus and ask questions. And it is not a one shot deal. They are invited to various social functions (mostly in our homes) and we begin forming friendships with them and continue to answer their questions. We are just putting ourselves within arm’s length of those whom the Holy Spirit is already tugging on. That’s how we are leading so many to Christ. The power of an invitation to the hungry.

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A Love Hate Relationship with Evangelism
LOST - They are not on an Island!
Evangelism: Methods or Majesty
Reaching the Far Lost, How would Jesus do it?
The Near Lost - Low Hanging Fruit
A Strategy for the Near Lost
Inside Out Witnessing
The Shocking Reality - Cold Contacts
Do Not Feed the Lost?
Leaders: Do the Math
A Summary of the Living and Discipling Among the Lost

© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Reaching the Far Lost, How would Jesus do it?

Living and Discipling among the Lost -The Far Lost

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)

First, I don’t think Jesus concentrated on those who were hostile to the gospel. On the other hand, He didn’t ignore them either. Jesus focused most of His efforts on those who were seeking. Whether it was spiritual truth or just being healed of disease, Jesus did not force Himself on anyone. He provided an environment of truth and grace and the people were free to come and go as they pleased (Jn 6.66).

Some may count the woman at the well (Jn 4.4-30), Zacheus (Lk 19.1-10), and the demoniac (Mk 5.1-20) as the far lost but they were all converted in a relatively short amount of time (leading one to believe that they weren’t as far away as one might think). Generally, we see the far lost as one who is hostile or apathetic toward spiritual truths. Much time and effort needs to be expended toward inching them toward the Kingdom. Based on this reality, these folks tend to be family members, lifelong friends, neighbors, and co-workers. I like to look at these relationships as “simmering” in an environment of truth and grace. Due to many factors these people may not embrace Jesus as their Messiah in a short period of time.

We all engage in these kinds of relationships and although they are tough, we certainly don’t give up. We do what Jesus did. We serve and love them. We continue to live out our witness to Jesus’ power in our own lives. And, yes, we speak truth and warnings into their lives as appropriate. When we study Jesus’ approach, He was very free with His compassion for the people. He demonstrated sacrificial love and spoke poignant truth with anyone who would listen (Jn 1.14,17). But even then there was not a guarantee that they would make Him their Savior and Lord (Jn 6.44). Although Jesus made considerable investments in serving and preaching to the multitudes, we see Jesus bearing most of His fruit with the spiritually hungry, who are ripe unto harvest (Jn 4.35-39). How you sow your seed has a direct correlation to the crop you will yield.

A Love Hate Relationship with Evangelism
LOST - They are not on an Island!
Evangelism: Methods or Majesty
Reaching the Far Lost, How would Jesus do it?
The Near Lost - Low Hanging Fruit
A Strategy for the Near Lost
Inside Out Witnessing
The Shocking Reality - Cold Contacts
Do Not Feed the Lost?
Leaders: Do the Math
A Summary of the Living and Discipling Among the Lost

Please leave me your feedback by clicking on "comments" below.

© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Chuck and Debbie Wood's Newsletter - February 2009

Revival in Our Midst

“Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47)

We feel like we are smack dab in the middle of a revival. Men and women are coming to Christ, disciples are growing and laborers are working the harvest. The Lord is blessing us here at Fort Benning beyond our wildest expectations. The only thing we can humbly say is, ‘Thank you Lord for including us in Your work.’ We added a 5th Bible study in December and the leaders are not only serving as study facilitators, but investing their lives on a daily basis to help young soldiers become more like Jesus.

Becoming Fishers of Men

And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

Part of our outreach strategy is to ensure new single soldiers are invited to lunch after chapel. Through small groups, we begin developing friendships by trading testimonies and teaching basic truths from the Scriptures. This has become one of the most exciting parts of our ministry as we watch young men and women become skilled ‘fishers of men’. Also, we have seen several folks come to Christ in a natural, genuine environment.

Building an Army for Christ

"Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses." (Joshua 1:3)

This last President’s Day Weekend we had our 4th Annual All Army Navigator Conference in Albany, New York. Over 170 people from 19 Army Installations came to be encouraged and inspired to reach the next generation for Christ. The Army work has grown beyond present capacity to lead it and major shifts in leadership are necessary to facilitate the movement. Please pray with us that God will provide the laborers and full time staff required to keep up with the harvest.

Diagnoses: Multiple Sclerosis

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Last June, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a disease that attacks the nervous system. I have experienced significant fatigue, weakness and tremors as primary symptoms. In the midst of many blessings, we see this new challenge as another opportunity to be pruned in the Savior’s Vineyard and to bear even more fruit. Deb and I have had to slow down over the past two months and realize that significant changes need to be made in our personal ministries. We are taking some time off to prayerfully consider what our contributions will look like in the future. Although this is a little scary, we look forward to seeing how God uses us in the next season of life. Please pray with us.

We do want to thank each of you for your loving support in prayer and finances. It is very humbling to be loved so deeply. Our prayer is that God the Father will richly return these blessings to you 100 fold.

Chuck and Deb Wood

Chuck’s latest Sunday School Lesson on the book of Job:
http://www.benningnavs.com/Job%20-%20Lessons%20for%20Suffering.mp3

To support us financially go online to www.navigators.org/us/support or call the Navigators at (866) 568-7827 (toll-free). Our Account number is 6435473.

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

LOST - They are not on an Island!

Living and Discipling among the Lost -Who are the lost?

"I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. (Ezekiel 34:16)

Deb and I had fished this young man out of the congregation and were extracting his testimony as we drove to dinner. He told us about his wonderful church back home, the youth group and the camps. It was a glowing report of spiritual life. Then I asked him, “Gary, how does Jesus fit into what you have experienced?” There was silence in the back seat. It was more than a pregnant pause, it was an eternity. Finally, he broke the silence, “I really don’t know.” The only thing he had missed was the boat!
The lost can be closer to us than we think. I remember the bumper sticker, “Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace." Essentially it boils down to following Jesus Christ (1 Jn 2.6). When I say 'following' I’m not talking about a grasp of the data. I’m talking about an intimate understanding of who Jesus is and a living faith that is evident in one’s life. Our churches are full of people who acknowledge Jesus as an historical figure, but do they embrace Him as their way of life (1 Jn 2.3)?
Then there are the lost that wouldn’t set foot in a church if you paid them. They are hostile to the Gospel of God. Jesus is simply another word of profanity. We see these people as the 'far lost' (Rom 1.28-32). So from the religious person who doesn’t know Christ to the one who is hostile to His Name and everyone in between, these are the lost. As I said earlier, unless you are a monk you probably associate with them all.
If two men were trying to jump a ravine and one missed by 10 feet and the other by 2 inches, both plummet to their death. It is the same result no matter how close they were to the other side. The objective was not to see how close you can get but to get safely on other side!
The distinction between the near and far lost will definitely have an impact on our approach. But the fact that they are lost still remains. The point is that most of us are living among the lost already (Lk 10.2). Now the question is how will we labor among them?

Please leave me your feedback by clicking on "comments" below.

A Love Hate Relationship with Evangelism
LOST - They are not on an Island!
Evangelism: Methods or Majesty
Reaching the Far Lost, How would Jesus do it?
The Near Lost - Low Hanging Fruit
A Strategy for the Near Lost
Inside Out Witnessing
The Shocking Reality - Cold Contacts
Do Not Feed the Lost?
Leaders: Do the Math
A Summary of the Living and Discipling Among the Lost

© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Testimony 17: Life Time Mentor

Chapter 17

“You have a pride problem” announced our new acquaintance. I had only met our dinner guest a few days before this sobering rebuke. This was the beginning of another significant relationship that would have a deep impact in my life. Cecil Bean was the Navigator Representative for Ft. Campbell.

The Navigators are a Christian Organization dedicated to helping men and women know Christ and make Him known through one on one relationships. They train new believers in the basics of the Christian life and then help them pass them on to others.

Cec (as hundreds of men and women lovingly refer to him) was listening to me snivel about an Army Commendation Medal I had received that day. Turns out that the medal was borrowed from someone else and his name had actually been scratched out on the back. I was mad and mentioned how unprofessional the presentation was handled. Cec asked me what the medal was. I replied “an ARCOM.” He responded with his clarification, “No, what is it made of?” Looking at the medal I identified cloth and brass. He said, “you’re right and one day it will burn. You have a pride problem.”

I would spend years appreciating Cecil’s frank and unswerving commitment to biblical principles. Soon after our meeting my brother Mike and I moved into the basement of his home. For the next two and half years my brother and I lived in Cecil’s home learning about the faith, family, life, and ministry. He would become my life-long mentor.

Testimony 1: In the Beginning
Testimony 2: Jesus is Watching You
Testimony 3: Paratrooper Religion
Testimony 4: Afraid of being Left Behind
Testimony 5: The Geographical Solution
Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails
Testimony 7: The Seed is Planted
Testimony 8: Spiritual Melee
Testimony 9: Seeing the Light
Testimony 10: Receiving God's Plan for My Life
Testimony 11: A New Creature
Testimony 12: What about You?
Testimony 13: A Little Miracle
Testimony 14: An Apostle to the Soldier
Testimony 15: First Steps toward Growth
Testimony 16: Being Discipled
Testimony 17: Life Time Mentor
Testimony 18: Key Lessons from Cecil

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Recent All Army Navigators Conference in Albany, New York

(Click on picture for a bigger image)

We had another great annual conference where over 170 men and women from 19 separate Army instillations came together to exalt Jesus Christ and advance His Kingdom. Our speakers did a fantastic job of bringing the Word of God and giving us practical ways to reach the generations for Christ. There were also 9 workshops given on topics ranging from the Basics of Growing in Christ to World Missions.

Most would agree though, that the time spent in discussion groups and fellowship was the most beneficial part of the conference. It was great to reunite with old friends, see the broader work, and capture a few good ideas for ministry from our fellow laborers.

Another highlight was the commissioning of Doug Cote, John Snyder and Joseph Peer as Navigator Representatives by Ron Holechek and Phil Partin.

We are living in exciting times and it is incredible to see the work the Father has done among us in these recent years. Thank you for your participation and prayers! Keep pressing the fight as we build an Army for Christ!

Andrew Stroud

Army Branch Captain

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

A Love Hate Relationship with Evangelism

Living and Discipling among the Lost


"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
(Luke 19:10)

And He *said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
(Matthew 4:19)

Why do Navigators train laborer’s to live and disciple among the lost? Quite simply, to bring the lost to Christ. Whether it’s a neighbor, co-worker, or an acquaintance on an airplane, living and discipling among the lost should ultimately produce the fruit of more followers of Jesus Christ. And unless you are a monk, you probably are associating with those who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ on a daily basis. The objective is not to learn how to get around lost people. The objective is to learn how to win them to Christ.

So why would you listen to me? You are probably like me and want to witness to others but have experienced much fear and pain in the process. And like me, you probably have a love hate relationship with evangelism. I’ve done cold turkey evangelism, door to door, church visitation, crusades, friendship evangelism. You name it, I’ve tried it. You and I don’t need to be convinced that we should share our faith. The guilt that we live with after the “Holy Spirit Promptings” provides ample proof of that. We want to be fishers of men but when we try, it comes off all wrong and our would be converts look at us like we’re some kind of religious nut job. Been there, done that, got the bloody t-shirt.

But, quite frankly, in the past few years, I’ve been more fruitful than ever and I’d like to pass some the things I’ve learned on to you. I hope this series brings a little relief but more importantly much more effectiveness to your evangelistic efforts. I’m not sure sharing Christ will ever be easy but it would be more encouraging to see a little more yield for our labor. So let’s get started with this new series on “Living and Discipling among the Lost.”

By the way, my editors are out of town. So if this is painful, you really need to thank my wife, Deb and mother-in-law, Bonnie and pray for their safe and speedy return!

A Love Hate Relationship with Evangelism
LOST - They are not on an Island!
Evangelism: Methods or Majesty
Reaching the Far Lost, How would Jesus do it?
The Near Lost - Low Hanging Fruit
A Strategy for the Near Lost
Inside Out Witnessing
The Shocking Reality - Cold Contacts
Do Not Feed the Lost?
Leaders: Do the Math
A Summary of the Living and Discipling Among the Lost


Please leave me your feedback by clicking on "comments" below.

© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Illustration - Levels of Development

I use this illustration to help people see the levels of development for different people in their ministry.

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Testimony 16: Being Discipled

Chapter 16

Randy took the time to teach my brother and me about the Bible and the fundamentals of the faith so that I could become more like Jesus. The Bible calls this process discipleship. We met for Bible study, played soccer, and talked about life and the Savior. It wasn't just a block of instruction. It was mentoring. My brother and I knew Randy had our best interest at heart. He was there when we had questions, when we were struggling, and when we were having a good time. It wasn't just some haphazard process either. Randy had a plan. He knew how to help a person grow closer to Christ and he executed that plan well. I owe much of the credit for my direction in life and spiritual maturity to him. In fact, I have dedicated my life to doing exactly what Randy did with me. To help men to get beyond a passive, anemic, wimpy faith and help them live as bold, dedicated Kingdom builders for Christ. And in doing so we are simply following Christ's Great Commission;

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Testimony 1: In the Beginning

Testimony 2: Jesus is Watching You

Testimony 3: Paratrooper Religion

Testimony 4: Afraid of being Left Behind

Testimony 5: The Geographical Solution

Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails

Testimony 7: The Seed is Planted

Testimony 8: Spiritual Melee

Testimony 9: Seeing the Light

Testimony 10: Receiving God's Plan for My Life

Testimony 11: A New Creature

Testimony 12: What about You?

Testimony 13: A Little Miracle

Testimony 14: An Apostle to the Soldier

Testimony 15: First Steps toward Growth

Testimony 16: Being Discipled

Testimony 17: Life Time Mentor

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

To Judge or not to Judge, that is the Question

Read Mt 7.1-6, 15-20

"Do not judge so that you will not be judged." (Matthew 7:1)


It's a popular defense; "Who are you to judge me?" That's a good question that deserves a good answer. You could be the judge who condemns to Hell, the loving protector of a friend, or the guardian of the flock.

Jesus gives His admonition not to judge others in Matthew 7.1 and we would do well to understand thoroughly what He was talking about. In the same chapter, He also says that we'll know a tree by its fruit (Mt 7.18) and recognize a wolf in sheep's clothing (Mt 7.15). It would be hard to do either without the powers of discernment and evaluation. So when Jesus says don't judge, is He saying make no evaluation? We can recognize at least three points in His teaching.

First, there's a big difference between judgment that is condemning and that which is discerning. Condemning judgment carries with it an attitude of superiority and arrogance. It assumes a position to which we have no authority. On the other hand, discernment is appropriate not only to determine truth and falsehood, but it is the beginning of correction and healing (2 Ti 4.2). This type of judgment is also important to protect oneself and the flock (Ac 20.28).

Secondly, Jesus was getting at the heart of how judgment or evaluation should be made. Notice He told us to recognize the log in our own eye, meaning a self awareness of our own shortcomings. I will approach someone about their sin in a much gentler manner when I recognize the sin in my own life (Gal 6.1). When correcting others, our attitude is everything.

And third, I cannot act like the 3 monkeys who do not acknowledge evil. Jesus says, "You will know a tree by its fruit." One must make a judgment in order to evaluate the type of fruit. One must make a judgment in order to keep from casting what is holy before dogs or pearls before swine (Mt 7.6). But at the same time, I can withhold condemnation and an attitude of pride by reminding myself, "Except by the grace of God, there go I." FJ87

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Testimony 15: First Steps toward Growth

Chapter 15


My brother Mike was also going through his spiritual renewal as a high school student and he decided to make the move to Ft. Campbell with me. We wanted to get off on the right foot so we decided to do two things: read the Bible together and go to chapel. We wrote down all the books of the Bible on little pieces of paper and put them in a cup and drew to see which books we would read first (not a recommended technique). As far as chapel went, an odd thing happened on our first Sunday morning while searching for a chapel to attend. It was 10:30 and all the Protestant services started at 10:00 or 11:00 except one. This one chapel started at the curious time of 10:45. Taking our cue, we decided to attend and we found a divine appointment waiting for us there. A man named Randy Beaudin approached us after the service and asked us if we wanted to participate in a Bible study on Thursday nights. He was pretty shocked at our enthusiastic response. (I would discover later that you can ask a hundred men to Bible study and one may be serious enough to take you up on your offer.) This was the beginning of a concerted effort to grow in Christ and it would be a foundation for the years to come.



Testimony 1: In the Beginning
Testimony 2: Jesus is Watching You
Testimony 3: Paratrooper Religion
Testimony 4: Afraid of being Left Behind
Testimony 5: The Geographical Solution
Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails
Testimony 7: The Seed is Planted
Testimony 8: Spiritual Melee
Testimony 9: Seeing the Light
Testimony 10: Receiving God's Plan for My Life
Testimony 11: A New Creature
Testimony 12: What about You?
Testimony 13: A Little Miracle
Testimony 14: An Apostle to the Soldier
Testimony 15: First Steps toward Growth
Testimony 16: Being Discipled


Please leave me your feedback by clicking on "comments" below.

© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved