The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18).
When I was a teenager, I remember my mother saying, “If life hands you a bowl of lemons,
make lemonade.” Life on earth can be difficult and at times even gut wrenching. There are people all around us who are hurting, and each person with a broken heart needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Evangelists sometimes experience this type of “gut wrenching” pain. In December 2012, James and Betty Robison lost their forty-year-old daughter after a terrible battle against cancer. In 2008, the singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman lost his five-year-old adopted Chinese daughter, Marie Sue, in a car accident just outside their home.
That same year, Evangelist Greg Laurie’s 33 year old son Christopher was suddenly killed in a car accident in July 2008, a day he describes as “the worst day of my life”.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for the brokenhearted. Some of the family, friends, and neighbors that we rub elbows with on a regular basis are suffering from loss—perhaps not the loss of a child, but the loss of a job or marriage, a rebellious child, or a family member caught in the clutches of some life threatening disease.
Greg Laurie and his
wife Cathe have filmed a documentary titled Hope for Hurting Hearts. The documentary, narrated by James Dobson, features Jeremy Camp and others who share what how their families dealt with pain and times of trial. Laurie says, “If you preach to the hurting, you will never lack an audience.”
Hope for Hurting Hearts includes a gospel presentation, allowing people in your congregation or group to reach out to those in your community who are hurting, by inviting them to this free screening inside your living room, or at your venue.
Synopsis of the new DVD, Hope for Hurting Hearts
Greg Laurie’s website says, “Everyone has to deal with crises in life, including Christians. And sometimes, the reality of life can seem unbearable. But we can rest in the knowledge that God loves us, He weeps in our times of pain, and He can be glorified through suffering. Narrated by Dr. James Dobson, Hope for Hurting Hearts tells the stories of how Greg and Cathe Laurie, Jeremy Camp, Nick Vujicic, and their families dealt with times of trial. Each of these individuals has stood at a “spiritual crossroads” marked by challenging and painful circumstances, and each has chosen the road of trusting, following, and glorifying God.
“You will be encouraged by these intimate accounts, which give a glimpse into God’s perspective on suffering, and declare that there truly is Hope for Hurting Hearts.”
Please take a moment and open this movie trailer. As you watch the movie trailer, did the Holy Spirit bring any faces before you? Did you immediately think
of friends or family who would benefit from this presentation? I want to encourage you that God IS SPEAKING to your heart right now. If we do not pray for our neighbors, friends, and family to come to Christ, then who will?
Be bold. Be courageous. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Obey Him now. You’ll be so glad you did!
