Why Use Tracts

 

Personal examples and reasons I use tracts

• I got a letter from prisoner at Jamestown Ca prison. I was able to send some study material,

• Someone wrote to say they picked up one of my tracts in a gutter in downtown Los Angeles, and wanted more literature.

• Another letter I got was from someone who returning to his car and was angered to see something under his windshield wiper. When he was about to pull it off he saw it was a tract and wrote me a letter thanking me for making his day.

• I got a email from India who found my web site, requesting study material. By the way keep in mind One on sending study material is do not overload someone. Target what you send, pray then send what seems most appropriate.

• Matthew 9:37-38 KJV  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;  (38)  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

 

My inspiration is the Free Tract Society in Los Angles. When walking into the store you will see table after table of filled with unfolded tracts. My thought on the unfolded tracts is that while folding them whether by yourself or in a group you can think, talk and pray over the tracts.

However I do not have the overhead to launch a business like the FTS, so I am looking for those who can print at home or can afford to have them printed at a office supply store like Staples, or Office Max. Maybe someone can pay to have a offset printing service make plates and print the tracts at a lower cost than a office supply.

 

I once heard a sermon by a Dr. Willard Marks I believe was his name, at Calvary Baptist Church of Burbank Ca. on redeeming the time. The topic was taken from Eph. 5:16  (read the verse)

Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  (16)  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  (17)  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 

The fact is I remember noting of his sermon except the text he based that sermon on. But the text was the important thing. That sermon was given about 1985 or so.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee on Ephesians 5:15-17

 

My own translation is: "Look carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but be as wise men, buying up the time, because the days are evil. On this account become not senseless (foolish) but understanding (being prudent) what the will of the Lord is." This is another injunction regarding the walk of the believer. He is to walk wisely. His walk is to reveal the urgency of the hour and the importance of living for God. The entire objective in his walk is to stay in the will of God. He walks in the will of God as a train runs on the track. His walk in this world demonstrates that he belongs to Christ.

When you walk into a place of business, you will find the salesman in there on his toes: he is dynamic. If a man is a child of God, how does he act when he is not in his place of business trying to make a dollar? Is he on his toes? Is he dynamic? Is he living for God? The believer is to walk in this world as though he belonged to Christ.

There is a saying that you never ask a Texan if he is a Texan. If he is a Texan, he'll let you know it without your asking. If he is not a Texan, you wouldn't want to embarrass him! My friend, a Christian ought to walk in such a way that you know he is a child of God without asking him. We all need to look carefully how we walk.

The point of quoting Dr. McGee is be what you are a Christian. One of my examples is the car salesman. When you enter a car lot you do not have to look for the sales person, they will be looking for you.

You do not need tracts, you can talk to a person if that is you way, but let's do something now. Here are some Biblical reasons to use tracts or any form of witnessing.

A great urgency to sow seeds

These are the last days

2 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

• Things will not get better, we will not elect a president that will restore the United States to the Christian country it once was, nor will radio talk show hosts or politicians. The fact is evil men and seducers are getting worse. Therefore we have a great urgency to redeem the time because the day are evil and getting worse and worse by the day

 

2 Timothy 3:13-17 KJV  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

 

• Look at the world news, does it not sound like these verses

2 Timothy 3:1-6 KJV  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

 

• Or these verses

 

Jesus speaking to the Jews

Luke 21:5-20 NKJV  Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,  (6)  "These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."  (7)  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"  (8)  And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.  (9)  But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."  (10)  Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  (11)  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 

 

(12)  But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.

 

• Before what things might be the question, simple the end time things.

 

 (13)  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.  (14)  Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;  (15)  for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  (16)  You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  (17)  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  (18)  But not a hair of your head shall be lost.  (19)  By your patience possess your souls.  (20)  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

 

• Now my because this was said near 2000 years ago, I assume that we are that much closer to the events mentioned in the Book of Luke  chapter 21 verses 8 to 11.

 

• All this in mind we must redeem the time, first redeeming the time we must determine ourselves to walk circumspectly (with awareness, thoughtfully, carefully). Because the whole battle is in the mind and for our thoughts and way of thinking. Careful what you think, and think about.

 

 

Philippians 4:6-9 KJV  Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  (7)  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (8)  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  (9)  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

Another way to redeem the time is to use tracts. Tracks can be used in many ways you can when paying a bill my mail put a tract in with the check, BUT never send a tract without a payment also, the world will always use every occasion to say something negative about Christians. The same goes for leaving a tip at a restaurant, do not leaving a tract without tip. To waiters, waitress, cab drivers, or anyone who depends on tips it is a disappointment not to get a tip, their wages are usually minimum There is a difference between being wise with the LORDS money and being cheep. But I am not talking about those of low income, if you are struggling to make ends meet you probably should not go to restaurants.

 

"You Can Do It" Examples

 

Billy Sunday was the most known evangelist of the first half of the 20th century, most likely he led more people to Christ than any other evangelist in North America in his time period. However when he went before an ordination committee he was failing to give satisfactory answers to the questions ask of him. So one of the questioners made a statement to this effect that Billy Sunday had led more people to Christ than all of them put together, let's just ordain him. My point is you don't have to be a learned theologian to talk about Jesus Christ or hand out tracts.

 

Dennis Goldstein

I first met Dennis at a flea market in San Jose in the early 1990's. Dennis was wheel chair bound with cerebral palsy. He could barely speak an word yet he was there giving out tracts. Unable to speak yet handing out the Gospel.

 

The thing with Gospel Tracts is that they could be in a drawer for years before being read, or found in a gutter, or mailed to a prisoner, or one of my favorite is to put a few in the Gideon Bibles in Motel rooms.