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In the first part of this short series of posts, I discussed what a tract is, what to look for in a tract, and where to find tracts with sound gospel messages. I also explained why you should read every tract you plan to purchase or hand out.
This time, I will briefly cover the cost of tracts (and give a couple pointers on how to reduce your costs), describe how to distribute them, and answer the biggest question: Are they Biblical.
Let's begin with the biggest question: Are tracts Biblical?
Yes, you will be glad to know, they are.
Take a look at John 20:31. It's one of the verses that says that the gospel is written down so that others may believe. Another verse I often reference is Isaiah 55:11 says, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Tracts are based on these truths.
For most people, tracts are the easiest way to begin sharing the gospel with others.
You can begin in complete stealth. How? Simply carry tracts with you and always have them around at home.
Begin using tracts by stuffing them into bills or junk-mail return envelopes. When I receive junk mail, I open it, discard all the advertising, stuff a tract into the envelope, and return it. I will even use stamps for envelopes that are not "postage paid". When I send a bill, a tract goes along for the ride every single time. I recently started an on-line business, and every single package I mail includes a gospel tract.
You you travel for business or please and stay in hotels or other lodging, help future guests by bookmarking the restaurants section inside the Yellow Pages. Then, when you check out, leave the maid a tip and a million dollar bill tract in the Thank-You envelope you often find on the dresser or desk.
Next, start taking them with you everywhere you go. I like to keep a stack in the convenient ‘tract slot’ of the driver’s door that every auto manufacturer builds into cars. I’m sure your car has one too - though the engineers mistakenly call them "map pockets". Then, rather than park right next to the store, park beyond the other cars and as you walk slide tracts between the window and the weatherstripping right above the driver’s door handle.
When you pull into a gas station, look for those little “Please take one!” containers and put a tract inside.
My son and I recently went to the grocery store. I did not mind taking an extra minute or two as he walked down the beer aisle and slipped a tract into the convenient tract-deposit slots on the top of beer cases (some people use these slots as carrying handles too!).
Another favorite way to distribute tracts is to leave one with my tip every time we visit a restaurant.
You can also leave them in magazines as you browse the local bookstore (they already have several inserts anyway). Another favorite is to slip them into books that we browse at the local public library. Everyone needs a bookmark!
Once you start carrying them around, you’ll find that the number of places to leave them is limitless. So, start taking them with you everywhere.
Tracts are not very expensive. A typical pack of 100 will cost between $5 and $8 (plus shipping, and possibly tax). This means that it only costs about 5 to 8 cents to share the gospel. An eternity of meaning for less than a dime!
But, there are ways you can reduce your costs.
Shopping on the Internet usually means you don't have to pay sales tax. This can reduce your overall cost by 5 to 10%. The key is that you purchase your tracts from a company that does not have a brick and mortar store (or distribution center) within your state.
If you order in bulk, your shipping costs are nearly always lower. If your supplier does not automatically reduce shipping, send them an e-mail and ask for it. Most companies would prefer to reduce your shipping than see you walk away (or, click-away when shopping on-line).
If you volunteer to coordinate the evangelism effort, or tract distribution at your church, you might be able to arrange to split the shipping cost if you combine your personal orders with church orders. The larger order will probably have lower cost shipping, and you might be able to order larger quantities for greater discounts. You and the church benefit!
Finally, like everything else, tracts do go on sale. Watch your favorite sites, or subscribe to their e-mail alerts or newsletters. Tracts go on sale for a variety of reasons: introductions of new tracts, selling off of old tracts, and the promotion of seasonal tracts. In addition, some suppliers occasionally send out "Thank You" discount coupons to prior customers.
Now we come to the part where most people become uneasy: How to hand tracts to people.
I find that the vast majority of people (probably 80% or more) take a tract and say "Thank you!". How? I think the key is not in what you say, or how you approach them, it is in your heart.
If you have a true heart of concern and compassion for the lost, you will literally be filled with joy when someone approaches who might need to read the gospel. The smile on your face is enough to disarm nearly everyone who would normally walk coldly past.
So, pray that God would give you strength, boldness, and true joy for reaching the lost. Go to a public place (the more people the better). Get a tract into your right hand, and the next person who walks by (or who you walk by) do the following:
- Smile
- Make eye contact
- Reach the tract out to them
- Joyfully say, "Hi, did you get one of these?"
Most people will smile back, take the tract, and thank you.
If the person hesitates, just keep smiling, and holding the tract out.
If they don't take it, you might follow up with something like: "It's free!"
If they continue walking on their way, that's fine. It means that this tract is meant for the next person... praise God that you didn't give it to the wrong person!
It's that simple.
You probably now know more about gospel tracts than you need to, and certainly more than most Christians do. I hope you have enjoyed these posts.
Now go get some gospel tracts with a sound gospel message, carry them everywhere, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Today's topic is: Gospel Tracts.
Over the next few posts I will answer questions like: What are tracts? How expensive are they? What should you look for in a tract? Where can you get them? How can a Christian spread the gospel through tracts? Are they effective? Most importantly, are they Biblical?
The term "Tracts" is short for "Gospel Tracts." Most people use the two interchangeably.
I find that the best gospel tracts use an attention-grabbing image on one side, use bright complimentary colors around the text, or both. A glossy finish is preferred to minimize the effects of rain and to help draw they eye. The use of a material that is stiff, similar to most post cards, is better than thin paper. As you read about how to distribute tracts and you begin to use them, the importance of a stiff, glossy material quickly becomes evident.
If an image is used, it has one purpose: attract the eye and generate curiosity. Therefore, you should look for tracts that you find attractive or interesting. Chances are, the same image will be attractive and interesting to others.
Next, read the tract! I really can't stress this enough. You must read every tract you plan to purchase and distribute. A great image may draw the eye, but poor text is more likely to be immediately discarded. Even more importantly, you need to ensure that the gospel message is Biblical. For example, I like a number of tracts from the American Tract Society, but I don't use very many. The text is well researched and written, and the materials are top quality. However, the gospel message is weak, so although I read them for the information I rarely give them to non-believers. Tracts from the web sites listed in the left-hand column (see Recommended Evangelism Supplies) typically have very sound gospel presentations.
You should also read each tract so you can answer questions about it. While most people will take a tract that you offer, some will ask, "What is it?" That's not the time to suddenly realize that you have no idea what it says.
Not only do you educate yourself with the facts and points made in the text of a tract, they also include great examples of how to switch conversations from worldly topics, to spiritual topics (see an example of how Christ did this in John 4:7-26).
For example, the Mind Game tract from the Living Waters gospel tracts page shows a simple card trick, then includes this two sentence transition from the trick to a gospel presentation: "Most of us feel unintelligent when we find out how it's done. Of course, the most unintelligent thing any of us could ever do is ignore where we are going to spend eternity." Think of all the other ways you can change the topic of any conversation to things of eternity using this model!
Most importantly, tracts such as this one include a concise, but clear, gospel message: Repent, and put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your savior (Mark 1:14-15).
Next time, I will continue the discussion of gospel tracts. Until then, be bold and remember that Christ can only work through you if you put some effort into the work.
I recall witnessing to three young men on the Boardwalk at Ocean City, MD.
The Boardwalk is a great place to share the gospel for several reasons, mainly because it is crowded most of the summer.
One evangelist said, "Let others gather the lost, we'll witness to them."
The beach, the sun, the sand... God's creation helps gather so many people, but so do the bars, the prospect of meeting people of the opposite sex, late nights out, and other not-so wholesome activities.
This particular night was clear and warm. I began the conversation by handing these teenagers a tract and asking if I could ask them an interesting question. When they said, "Sure." I asked, "What do you think happens when you die?"
This is a great way to share the gospel, originally taught to me by Mark Cahill (markcahill.org). Mark's book, "One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven" is filled with stories and tips for sharing the gospel.
One of these teens, clearly a skeptic, replied sarcastically, "No one can know what happens when you die. No one has ever come back to tell us."
Really?
The Bible says that after placing Christ's body in a tomb and sealing it with a rock that could only be moved with significant effort, two Roman guards were placed at the entrance. This was a time when guards knew that any prisoner who escaped meant they would be punished in the same way the prisoner was scheduled to be punished. In this case, the guards would be put to death. These guys were motivated to do their best to ensure no one moved the stone and disturbed this grave site!
But what happened three days later? The tomb was empty. Christ was gone!
This was astounding enough. But the Bible also tells us that Jesus appeared several times after this, including once when Peter looked closely at His wounds, and once when Christ stood in front of more than 500 people.
These facts were written down and disseminated at a time when these witnesses were still alive, meaning they could be interviewed for verification, or they could dispute the reports. None ever did. No doubter at the time challenged these facts either.
So, the next time someone says to you, "No one can know what happens after death..." just give them the facts.
One did!
See Matthew 28:9-10; Mark 16:12; John 20:11-18, 20:24-29, 23:1-23; Luke 24:13-32, and especially Matthew 28:16-20 and I Corinthians 15:6
If you get out and talk to people about spiritual matters, you'll find that atheists and agnostics tend to want evidence.
Fact and figures, they say, are what they base their beliefs upon.
These same people, when asked about human nature, often state they believe that "people are basically good."
The Bible teaches the opposite. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;" (NKJV)
Which is right, the non-believer or the Bible? The one who wants "evidence" or the written record of the God of the Universe?
Let's look at some facts and figures, some hard evidence, to find out.
Note: all of the following are from government agencies in the USA, about the USA.
In the USA alone, there are about 16,000 murders annually. About 6000 of those murders go unsolved. That means 1/3 of all murderers are walking the streets with you and me.
About 93,000 times each year, someone commits the crime of rape. Some claim this number is artificially low since many rapes go unreported.
Robbery is defined as "taking something from a person against their will." This happens about 401,000 times each year.
Theft is the act of entering a property without permission and removing property. How many times does this happen in the USA? About 2,143,000.
The city of Boise, Idaho reported recently that 79% of all crime is unsolved.
It's not hard to see that every day each one of us probably walks past, stands next to, drives behind, or chats with a fugitive from the law.
So which is correct, the non-believer who says "people are basically good", or the Bible which claims "the heart is deceitful and wicked"?
You wanted proof? There's your proof. You wanted evidence? Done. You wanted hard facts and figures that can be tested and verified? You got them.
The fact is, the Bible is right and the non-believers are wrong.
If you are a non-believer, consider this: if you are wrong about this, what else are you wrong about?
Of course, the non-believer reading this may think, "well, others may not be so good, but I'm a good person."
Really?
Are you willing to test that too? If you are, then I challenge you to take the good person test now.
Just click: Take The Good Person Test or go to http://www.wayofthemaster.com/goodperson.shtml
The Book of Acts opens by describing an amazing scene.
Christ, the risen savior, has appeared to over 500 people on more than eleven separate occasions. He has walked with them, spoken to them, eaten with them, and shown them his scars.
Now, they stand on Mount Olivet and He gives them one final instruction: "you shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Then Christ rises into a cloud, to sit at the right hand of God the Father until He returns to earth.
What do His disciples do? They stand and watch.
Scripture tells us that two angels ask them "why do you stand looking into the sky?"
Today's Christians are too often like the disciples standing on Mount Olivet that night. We know Christ's commandments to "preach the gospel," to "be ready, in season and out," and to be Christ's witnesses in all the world, and yet, too often we stand around and watch.
We watch sports, we watch TV, we watch people walk by, we watch time tick away... when we should be sharing the truth with others.
Why do we stand watching?
Perhaps a better question is, how can we stand watching when we know the truth? How can we keep quiet when we know that the path to destruction is wide, but the road to righteousness is narrow? How can we watch people walk by when we know that without Christ those people are doomed on Judgment Day?
Today, stop gazing. Today, stop watching. Today, start sharing the gospel by handing out tracts or sharing the gospel with those around you.
For information on how to hand out tracts, or share the gospel, see the resources listed on the left-hand side of this blog.
Weekends can be beautiful here in the mid-Atlantic. The trees display magnificent colors, certainly better than any man-made fireworks display; the air is crisp and clean; the sky is sparkling blue. What better time for outdoor activities and festivals?
One local community held a typical fall festival a few weekends ago. They line the streets with vendors, community groups, businesses, or anyone else willing to fill out an application and pay a nominal fee. On some streets I found amusements for children, on others demonstrations by skateboarders and martial arts groups. Everywhere people were milling about to take in the sights.
Festivals such as this are perfect places to meet others and share the gospel. If you've never shared the gospel before, there are a number of reasons you should begin at the next festival near you.
For one thing, handing out tracts could never be easier. Chances are you will quickly run into someone who wants to hand you something: a sale flier, a map of the event, a list of activities, the latest offer from the neighborhood bank, even an invitation to a local church. This is the easiest time ever to hand someone a tract. I simply say, "I'll trade!" I have never had the person turn down a tract. Why would they, they want me to take their material, and I know they need mine.
Secondly, there a lots of people with time to spare. If they were in a hurry, they would not be at the festival, so they are more likely to stop and talk with you than, for example, people heading into a grocery store. Also, with so many people around you are sure to get into good conversations. Even if one does not go well, there are plenty of other people to chat with.
Next, you are likely to run into other believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable.
- Other believers encourage with their strength, their prayers, their words. Christ, when he sent his disciples out, sent them in two's. I think part of the reason was so they could lift each other up when they were confronted with resistance or intimidation.
- Fellow believers can also hold you accountable. You've probably spoken of your desire to share the gospel with others, well now is the time to show them that it's not just talk.
Finally, places like fairs, festivals, carnivals, and the beach all have one very important thing in common, it's what some might call a "target rich environment." No matter where you turn, there are people who need the gospel. This means if one person turns down your offer of a tract, there's someone else who will be along in a few seconds. It means that if you try to start a conversation with someone who is not interested in talking, there is someone else just a few feet away who will. You simply need to obey the commandment to "be ready" and to "share the gospel." God has already provided you with the field, and it is ready for the harvest.
Be bold! Head out to the next well attended event near you.
In the gospel of Mark, we read about the events leading up to the crucifixion of the Savior. One striking aspect of the night described in this passage is how Peter, who clearly loves Jesus, is told that before morning he would deny any association with Christ: not once, not twice, but three times. (Mark 14:27-31)
Later, we read that as Christ is being tried and tortured, Peter is asked if he was with Christ, if he was a friend or follower of Him.
What does Peter do when given an opportunity to acknowledge who Christ is, or to talk about who the Lord is? He denies any association with him. In fact, just as Christ foretold, Peter denies Him three times before daybreak. (Mark 14:66-72).
Sitting in your living room it may be hard for a believer to wonder how Peter could have done this. Peter is certain of who Christ is. Peter has a personal relationship with the Lord. Peter is warned what will happen. Still, he denies knowing Him.
What about believers today? We profess certain knowledge of our salvation at church or with fellow believers. We tell ourselves that we trust scripture, including the warnings to expect persecution from the world. We pray directly to the Lord as part of a personal relationship. Certainly we wouldn't deny Christ as Peter did. Would we?
I believe we not only would, but we do, probably every single day. I base this on my own life.
For example, I have made a commitment to distribute gospel tracts every time I go to the store. I always carry tracts in my car. I park far enough from the entrance to have plenty of cars to pass by. As I slip out of my car, I grab at least five tracts. But sometimes I see someone approaching the car I'm about to slip a tract onto, and I hesitate, stop, or move to a car where no one is around.
There are also times when I'm out running errands, and I'll see someone. "I should go talk to him," I think. But, I don't.
I think about numerous conversations I've had with people who are not saved, or who's salvation I don't know about, and how spiritual topics have either come up or could easily have come up. But rather than pursue the opportunity, I let it slip away.
Why? Why am I paralyzed into inaction?
I think it's because, just like Peter, too often I am fearful. By allowing the fear of man to control my actions, I am denying Christ just as Peter did.
What about you?
How often do believers deny the Lord by refusing to acknowledge their association with Him? How often do we deny Him by neglecting to obey His commandment to "preach the gospel, in season and out" or to "always be ready to give a defense" for the faith we have?
It's time to fully trust Christ. It's time to trust His promise to provide "strength upon strength" and not burden us beyond our ability. It's time to surrender our lives, our time, and our devotion to Him. It's time to stand tall and declare the truth of the gospel.
It's time to stop denying Christ.
