Keith Snider | Guest Sermon
Sermon Outline: The Power of God's Word and the Mission of Gideons International
I. Introduction: The Urgency of Sharing God’s Word
Speaker: Keith Snider | Gideons International
Key Passage: Psalm 119:97-103
Sermon Focus: The transformative power of Scripture and our responsibility to share God’s Word with the world.
A. The Mission of Gideons International
- Founded in 1899, Gideons has placed over 2 billion Bibles worldwide.
- The mission: "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void" (Isaiah 55:11).
B. The Need for the Bible in Today’s World
- Many take the Bible for granted, but believers in other countries walk for days to receive a copy.
- Question to the Congregation: How often do we engage with Scripture, compared to those who lack access?
II. The Bible’s Transformative Power: Three Real-Life Testimonies
A. Alexandra’s Story: From Hinduism to Christ
- A Hindu nurse from India, Alexandra, discovered the Gospel while searching for healing relics.
- She received a Gideons Bible and surrendered her life to Christ.
B. Mike McCoy’s Story: From Criminal Intent to Calling
- A teenager in Columbia, SC, planned to rob a liquor store but found a Bible instead.
- Reading Isaiah 40:31 transformed his heart, and he became a pastor.
C. The West Virginia Coal Miner: A Final Act of Faith
- A coal miner rejected a Bible, but later carried it to work.
- A mine collapse led to 20 men signing the Bible as they accepted Christ before death.
III. Our Responsibility: Engaging with and Distributing God’s Word
A. Scripture Must Change Our Hearts, Not Just Fill Our Minds
- Psalm 119:97-103 emphasizes meditating on God’s instruction.
- D.L. Moody: "The Bible was not given for information but for transformation."
B. The Danger of Taking the Bible for Granted
- Many pastors in the Philippines lack Bibles and walk for days to conferences.
- Question: Do we hunger for God’s Word as much as those who lack access?
C. How You Can Support Bible Distribution
1. Pray for the Gideons Ministry
2. Donate: $1.56 provides a New Testament; $5 places a Bible in a hotel room.
3. Join the Gideons: Young Christian men needed for global Bible distribution.
IV. Conclusion: A Call to Action
A. We Need the Bible as Much as Anyone Else
- It’s easy to think others need the Bible more than we do, but Matthew 4:4 reminds us:
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
B. Challenge: Develop a Daily Hunger for God’s Word
- Commit to daily Scripture reading.
- Ask God to make His Word come alive in your heart.
C. Closing Prayer
> Lord, we thank You for the gift of Your Word.
> May we never take it for granted.
> Stir within us a hunger for Your truth,
> And empower us to share it with the world. Amen.