Free Resources
Introduction:
I am a bit of a Theological “pack rat.” Whenever I find something useful, or uplifting, or helpful, I try to hang on to it and share it with others as well.
I also create some of my own documents, essays, presentations, et cetera.
The purpose of this page is to share with others files that may be helpful in their walk with Christ.
Please feel free to download anything here and pass it along to others as long as you don’t charge for it or alter it.
My prayer is that Christians will be edified, encouraged, grow in grace and truth, and love Jesus and others more.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18
May God bless you!
Mark Sohmer
Please feel free to contact me anytime if I can be of help in any way!
Subject List
This website is divided into the following categories:
- Bible/Theology
- Evangelism
- Errant Theology
- Other Religions
- Cults
- Inspiration
- Marriage/Family
- Miscellaneous
Bible/Theology:
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Why It Matters that Our God is Triune: I was asked to teach a class on “The Trinity.” I mistakenly thought I was prepared because I have taught on and witnessed to Jehovah’s Witnesses before and have written an essay and a short “cheat sheet” showing how to defend the doctrine of “The Trinity” from the Bible.
But instead of teaching on “how to defend the Trinity,” I was asked to teach on “why it matters” that our God is Triune. What difference does it make to the single mom, or the young man struggling with his future, or the teen considering suicide?
I had never considered “why it matters” that our God is Triune. God taught me so much while I was preparing to teach that class! And I think it was the most important teaching I have ever done. (And it wasn’t even about evangelism!)
Please feel free to watch a video of the teaching, or download an MP3 audio, as well as download the notes from the class by clicking here.
- A Tale of Two Kings: A Sermon on Courage: Everyone has heard the account of “David and Goliath.” In this sermon, I demonstrate that there were actually two kings of Israel on the battlefield that day, and the true hero wasn’t David.
Also, I don’t believe that this passage teaches us to be courageous and face our giants. In fact, the message is much more profound than that, and the key is reading the chapter in the Bible right before where “David vs. Goliath” is found.
Please feel free to watch the video of the sermon, or download the audio as an MP3 file below:
To download the audio as an MP3 file, right-click on the “speaker” or the words “A Tale of Two Kings: A Sermon on Courage” below and choose “save link as…” or a similar option.
A Tale of Two Kings: A Sermon on Courage
(50 min’s, 05 sec’s) - From Jerusalem to Haiti: Why God Allows Suffering: On Tuesday, January 12, an earthquake measuring a terrifying 7.0 on the richter scale struck Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. To call that a catastrophe is certainly an understatement. Suffering happens in this world. The question everyone is wrestling with is “Why?” Why suffering? The Bible tells us why.
A few weeks later I was invited to speak at the University of New Hampshire on this topic. I was invited by the student organization “Campus Crusade for Christ” and over 100 students attended the meeting. My talk was entitled “From Jerusalem to Haiti: Why God Allows Suffering” and it was recorded. The Word of God tells us why there is suffering, and I welcome you to listen to the mp3 file to find out.
From Jerusalem to Haiti: Why God Allows Suffering
(32 min’s, 38 sec’s) - God’s Extraordinary Grace, Pastor Juan Saa: Wow! I took THREE pages of notes when I heard this sermon on Ephesians 2:1-10. So often we love jumping to Ephesians 2:8-9, while glossing over the 7 verses before. Pastor Saa exhorted us that grace will become ordinary and familiar if we do not understand our guilt. The more we realize how horribly offensive we are to God because of our sin, the more grace will be extraordinary, and that will fill us with gratitude. And not only does grace save us from Hell, but it gives us power to live victoriously today, and that is so kind of God because sin hurts us. I could go on and on, but I won’t. Just please listen to the sermon! This sermon was preached at LifeWay Church on Sunday, April 11, 2010.
God’s Extraordinary Grace, Pastor Juan Saa
(44 min’s, 58 sec’s) - “Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System: I don’t know how you read your Bible in your daily devotions. Over the years I’ve tried different ways. There are “Read the Bible Through in a Year” charts you can try. Sometimes I read slowly (1 chapter per day), sometimes I read fast (a whole book in a day.) Sometimes I go in order, sometimes I jump around. I’m convinced of this… There is no “the only right way to pick what you’re going to read today” method, as long as you read every day and obey what you read.
Well, Professor Grant Horner came up with a very worthwhile system to read the Bible. Please download the doc that explains how it works and give it a try for 30 days. You can download the Adobe Acrobat document that explains how it works by clicking here.
- How Do You Know You’re Not a Counterfeit Christian?: Please listen to this powerful sermon by missionary Paul Washer. The topic was: what the Bible says about knowing if you’re a counterfeit Christian, or a genuinely-saved disciple of Christ. Washer was addressing a convention of youth, but the Biblical truth he expressed easily applied to adults as well. One could truly substitute the words “youth group” with “church” and it would be just as appropriate. We all know someone who claims to be a Christian, but isn’t. What if that person is us? We must obey the scripture that says “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). It’s better to find out now that we’re not really saved then to find out on Judgment Day!
How Do You Know You’re Not a Counterfeit Christian?, Paul Washer’s 2002 address to the Southern Baptist Youth Evangelism Conference, Montgomery, AL
(47 min’s, 15 sec’s) - Synopsis of Missionary Paul Washer’s sermon, How Do You Know You’re Not a Counterfeit Christian?: Because I was so moved by Paul Washer’s vital sermon, I compiled my notes into this synopsis. It’s better to listen to the sermon, but if you don’t have the time, then please read this synopsis. You can download this document as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Paul Washer “Sermon Beat” Video: This is a 4 minute and 13 second video of quotes by Missionary Paul Washer set to background music and with relevant supporting images. This is a very powerful video and I highly encourage all Christians to listen and consider its contents. I found this video at His Holy Space, and it was made by a user named “Steve aka Xtian.” You can download this video here.
- Paul Washer “Sermon Beat” (Audio Only): If you have technical trouble watching the video above, or if you want an audio-only version, then please download this MP3 version.
Paul Washer Sermon Beat (Audio Only), This is an MP3 of the audio only of the above video
(4 min’s, 5 sec’s) - Synopsis of Todd Friel’s sermon, The Invigorated Christian Life: I love this sermon by evangelist and talk show host Todd Friel, so I compiled my notes into this synopsis. It’s better to listen to the sermon, but if you don’t have the time, then please read this synopsis. You can download this document as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Power Point Slides to Todd Friel’s sermon, The Invigorated Christian Life: I used Todd Friel’s sermon, The Invigorated Christian Life, as the text for a Sunday School lesson at church, and these are the Power Point slides. You can download this document as a Microsoft Power Point file by clicking here.
- “Christ is the End of the Law” by Charles Spurgeon: This sermon was preached by Charles Spurgeon on November 19th, 1876. It’s an amazing exposition of God’s Word and has vital truths contained. Oh I wish more sermons were like this today! Please feel free to read this powerful sermon by clicking here.
- “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards: This sermon was preached by Jonathan Edwards in Enfield, Connecticut in July 1741. There’s good reason why this sermon is considered one of the most influential sermons ever preached. This sermon contains a wealth of good Biblical Theology! Please feel free to read this powerful sermon by clicking here.
- Reformed Confessions: This zip file contains a Windows “help” file containing historic Reformed Creeds, including: The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism, The Children’s Catechism, and more. You can download this zip file by right-clicking here and selecting “save target as” or “save link as.”
- Phil Johnson Answers a Bunch of Theological Questions, Part 1: Smart guy Phil Johnson (from Grace to You) was in studio with Todd Friel to answer all kinds of questions. And they had a lot of fun in the process. This is hour 1 of the November 20, 2008 show of The Way of the Master Radio (Now Wretched Radio.)
Phil Johnson Answers a Bunch of Theological Questions, Part 1
(44 min’s, 01 sec’s) - Phil Johnson Answers a Bunch of Theological Questions, Part 2: This is hour 2 of smarty-pants Phil Johnson’s chat with Todd Friel, answering tough Theological questions.
Phil Johnson Answers a Bunch of Theological Questions, Part 2
(43 min’s, 54 sec’s) - Book of Job Overview: The Book of Job is a wonderful book of the Bible to study, yet it can be confusing to follow along because there are so many people speaking. For this reason I wrote this pictorial overview so that it is easier to follow the teachings of this wonderful gem of a book! You can download this as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Overview of Israel’s Kingdom Period: When I was reading through 1 Samuel/2 Samuel/1 Kings/2 Kings/1 Chronicles/2 Chronicles, I wrote down the names of all of the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, as well as Judah. I also noted how long they reigned, and whether or not they were godly rulers. Then I created this pictorial overview so that it would be easier to follow. I hope it’s helpful to you! You can download this as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
Evangelism
- Hell’s Best Kept Secret: Listen to Bible teacher Ray Comfort make the case for using the “Law of God” (The Ten Commandments) as part of Biblical evangelism. I believe this is the most Biblical (and thus, the best) teaching on evangelism I have ever heard and I can not recommend it highly enough. You simply MUST listen to this vital sermon. It’s funny, provocative, and true.
Hell’s Best Kept Secret, Ray Comfort
(1 hr, 19 min’s, 20 sec’s) - How To Witness to 4 Types of People: Listen to Bible teacher Ray Comfort teach you how to witness to 4 different types of people. In his characteristic wit and humor, Comfort will make the case that you don’t need to memorize facts about each cult or religion, but Biblically use the Law of God to bring about conviction of sin. I HIGHLY recommend listening to this audio! This is a clip from the excellent sermon “True and False Conversions” which you can download at http://www.livingwaters.com/audio/way-of-the-master/true-and-false-conversion.
How To Witness to 4 Types of People, Ray Comfort
(6 min’s, 4 sec’s)Read the transcript by clicking here.
- “How To Witness To Four Types of People” Video: I took the audio from “How to Witness to Four Types of People” and made a video of it. My thanks to Living Waters Publications for giving me permission to do that and distribute it! You can watch the video here, or below.
- Evangelism Cheat Sheet: This is a half-sheet document that I give out whenever I teach an evangelism course. I hope it will be encouraging and helpful for you! Please feel free to download the Adobe Acrobat document for free by clicking here.
- Sharing Jesus With Kids: This is a three-page fill-in-the-blank set of notes that are helpful for training Christians on the “dos” and “don’ts” of sharing Jesus with Kids! I use this when teaching on the topic. Please feel free to download the Adobe Acrobat document for free by clicking here.
- Tips for Writing Your Personal Testimony: Your personal testimony can be a VERY POWERFUL and easy way to share Jesus. I wrote up a document giving tips on how to write up your personal testimony. I pray it will be a blessing to you! Please see this article by clicking here.
- Free 14-Part Apologetics Class (How To Defend The Faith): Is Christianity something that can be defended? Is this something you can learn to do? Will God use this to help bring people to Jesus? The answer to each of these is YES! I pray this class will be a blessing to you! Please see all the free videos in this class by clicking here.
- How to Witness to a Close-minded Person by Ray Comfort: This is a helpful and succinct article. I hope it will be a blessing to you! You can read this excellent article by clicking here.
- Why Christianity? by Ray Comfort: This is an excellent and short booklet that very clearly shows that man’s biggest problem is sin and that only God in Christ provides a solution. The description at the Living Waters website says: “What happens after we die? Is there a Heaven? If there is, how good do we have to be to go there? Or are we reincarnated? Which religion should we choose, if any? This booklet will help you to make the right choice.” You can download the entire booklet as an Adobe Acrobat File by clicking here.
- Looking in the Mirror, by Kirk Cameron: In this short message, Cameron uses the “mirror of God’s Law” to show from the Bible that we are all in need of a Savior on the Day of Judgment. This is a fantastic evangelistic message to burn onto a CD and give out to non-Christians. It’s also good for Christians to listen to to make sure we truly entered God’s kingdom via the door of repentance.
Looking in the Mirror, Kirk Cameron
(24 min’s, 31 sec’s) -
Scanned Messages: For anyone who uses an OAC-style sketch board for Evangelism, I have scanned in a number of messages full-size and made them available for you to. If you have access to a wide-format 34-inch or 36-inch printer (maybe a friend who is an Architect or Land Surveyor, etc.), then please use these scans to the glory of Christ!
There are adult messages, kids’ messages, three different 5-day Bible Series, and a few special holiday messages. Also, I’ll be adding more as I can.
I hope this helps! God bless you as you share Jesus with the unsaved around you!!! You can view and download the scanned messages by clicking here.
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Creating a New Paint Message: Sometimes people ask me how I prepare a new paint message. So if you’re curious, or if you also use the Paint Board in evangelism, please check out this helpful and informative blog post.
And it includes “The Very Cool and Easy Ladder Lettering Trick!!!”
I hope this helps! God bless you as you share Jesus with the unsaved around you!!! You can view and download this post by clicking here.
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Proving God’s Existence with Sandcastles: Want an answer for when people ask you for “proof” of God’s existence? This is a powerful apologetic using sandcastles. There are free downloads in the post so you can use this yourself!
You can view and download this post by clicking here.
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3 Door Evangelism Display (And How To Make Your Own): One effective way my team and I have found to “attract fish to our nets” is to use a “Three Door” Evangelism Display. This wooden “3 doors” has been a great way to get people to stop and talk about Jesus!
You can see photos of the display as well as instructions for building your own by clicking here.
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How to Make Your Own “What Does God Treasure?” Treasure Box: Physical object lessons can be an effective way to communicate the gospel message and have your listener understand and remember the truths. This shiny, golden treasure box can help.
You can see photos and instructions for making your own by clicking here.
- A Jew and His God: I am a Jew who believes in Jesus. And I realize that many people consider that odd. This short article is my story of how I came to believe that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah! You can read this article by clicking here.
- A Jew and His God - Paper Version: A lot of people ask me for a paper version of the above testimony so I made a version suitible for printing. This is a PDF that you can print on legal-sized paper (8.5 x 14"). You can download this by clicking here.
- A Jew and His God - How a Jewish man came to believe that Jesus is the Messiah: In May of 2010, I was invited to speak before a group of Christian businessmen. They wanted me to share my testimony of how I came to believe that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. They also asked me to give a biblical gospel presentation. This is the audio from that presentation.
A Jew and His God - How a Jewish man came to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, Mark Edward Sohmer
(47 min's, 37 sec's) - A Jew and His God - Video Version: If you want to watch the video of Mark sharing his story, it is available via YouTube below:
A Jew and His God:
- The Mirror: How Do You Look on the Inside?: When I gave my testimony above, they asked me to also present a clear gospel message. This audio is the same as the one above, but I cut out the beginning with my testimony and this just the plain gospel message part, suitable to give to anyone. It’s like an audio gospel tract. Please feel free to share this mp3 or make a CD out of it.
The Mirror: How Do You Look on the Inside?
(26 min’s, 35 sec’s) - Encouragement to Use Gospel Tracts: A while back I wrote an email to a bunch of Christian friends of mine on the topic of “gospel tracts.” Perhaps it’s because I’m so long-winded, but it ended up being quite a long email! I thought it might be helpful to provide a copy of that email here.
- George Street: I used to think that giving out Gospel tracts was an old-fashioned way of doing evangelism. That was until I heard this short, but inspiring and convicting testimony on the use of tracts. This is a short testimony and WELL WORTH your time, in my opinion!
George Street
(6 min’s, 31 sec’s)And here is a YouTube video of the amazing “George Street” Testimony:
- Is “The Way of the Master” the Only Right Way to Share the Gospel?: From time to time people ask me if I think that “The Way of the Master” is the only legitimate way to share the gospel. So I wrote up an answer and explanation. If you are a supporter or a skeptic about “The Way of the Master” then please read my response by clicking here.
- The Purpose of the Holy Spirit, by Aaron Wentz: This sermon was delivered by Aaron Wentz, Director of the Boston office of Open Air Campaigners. In this sermon, Aaron passionately and effectively opens the Scriptures and gives us an EXCELLENT reminder of all that God has given Christians. We have His Holy Spirit living in us! And we can feast on the Holy Spirit, but we ought to be sharing with the lost so they can have the treasure of God as well. This sermon is a loving reminder for us that we ought to be filled with compassion and love and want to reach out to the lost. I believe this sermon is well worth the time to listen.
The Purpose of the Holy Spirit, by Aaron Wentz
(35 min’s, 31 sec’s) - Fisherman: This is a short and pithy document reminding us Christians that we were called for the purpose of reaching out as ambassadors for the King of Kings. Evangelism is not an option, but a mandate. Please read this document by clicking here.
- 8 Reasons I Don’t Share My Faith: This is a hilarious short video that explores 8 reasons why NOT to share your faith, and shows that those reasons are really just poor excuses for not obeying Jesus’ Great Commission. This video will make you think as well as laugh. It’s only 6 minutes and 23 seconds long, and well worth your viewing. You can download it here.
By the way, want to learn how to Biblically share your faith? Then I HIGHLY recommend “The Way of the Master” Basic Training Course, which you can read about by clicking here.
- The Good Person Test: This two-sided piece of paper is designed to be a help for witnessing one-to-one or even to a small group of people. I write the name of the person I’m talking with at the top, and go through it with them, and then mark off the sins he or she has committed. Then I give it to him or her to keep and hopefully read and ponder later. It makes the case that none of us are good enough to go to Heaven and the only way we could possibly get their is by repenting of our sins and trusting in Christ and Him alone. Please feel free to download this so you can use it for your own personal evangelism. Please note that I give my thanks to Living Waters Publications, as this is an edit of the “Good Person Test” that they offer. Please feel free to download “The Good Person Test” as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- “Are You a Good Person” Banner Artwork: Want a super-easy way to attract people to give “The Good Person Test“? Have this artwork printed as an 8-foot by 4-foot banner and hang it at a booth at a fair or event. People will come to you. My thanks to Brad Snow for making the original design and Walter Johnson for making some edits. I had this printed on high-quality vinyl at http://www.sgcprinthouse.com and they did a super job! Please feel free to download the banner artwork as a JPG file by clicking here. (NOTE: This file is 40+ MB and so most browsers might give an error if you try to display the file in them. Right-click over the link and “save as” to save it to your hard disk.)
- Easy Christmas Evangelism Tips: Christmas is a GREAT time to get your feet wet sharing Christ with those around you. Please see these easy tips to get you started in being an Ambassador for Christ this Christmas season!!! You can view these tips at: http://luke-15.org/easy-christmas-evangelism-tips/.
- Christmas Family Fun Page: Witnessing to family members and friends can be hard. Well, here’s a helpful way. When you send your Christmas cards this year, slip in the double-sided “Family Christmas Fun Page” that contains a Santa to color, a couple of games, a Christmas hymn to sing, and a VERY THOROUGH gospel message. Then when you speak with your friend or loved one, ask them what they thought of the message and you’re off! Getting started is often the hardest part in evangelism, so this is a helpful tool to get started! My thanks to Living Waters for this excellent and free resource! Please feel free to download the “Christian Family Fun Page” as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Easy Chanukah-Related Jewish Evangelism Tip: Looking for a natural way to share Jesus the Messiah with a Jewish friend at Chanukah-time? Here’s an easy Chanukah-related tip for sharing the Messiah with His people! Please check this out at: http://luke-15.org/easy-chanukah-related-jewish-evangelism-tip/.
- Easy Halloween Evangelism Tips: There is probably no more controversial day for Christians than Halloween. This post contains three tips to use this day as a means to share Christ with those who desperately need to hear the message of the gospel. Please see them at: http://luke-15.org/easy-halloween-evangelism-tips/.
- You Can Do This: Does open-air preaching terrify you? How about 1-on-1 witnessing? (It scares me!) So I was so encouraged by a caller on the Way of the Master Radio Program on July 14, 2006. This is a short sound clip of Todd (the host of the show) taking a call from “Scott from Austin, Texas.” Indeed, we can do this!
You Can Do This
(1 min’s, 34 sec’s) - Stuart Scott at the Courthouse: Living Water Ministries regularly goes to the local courthouse to do open-air evangelism. This is a recording of Stuart Scott at his first try doing this scary, but faith-building exercise. This should be an encouragement to all of us who think we’re not professional evangelists. Any one of us could do this.
Stuart Scott at the Courthouse
(8 min’s, 33 sec’s) - The Love Test: Do you have fear sharing your faith with others? That’s normal. But it’s also something that the Holy Spirit can overcome in you. “The Love Test” is a helpful tool used to help us have a greater love and compassion for The Lost, and less focus on ourselves. Please feel free to download it as an Adobe Acrobat File by clicking here.
- Evangelism Boot Camp Presentation: In May of 2006, I was privileged to be a part of an “Evangelism Boot Camp” to New York City with The Great News Network. What an amazing experience! In October of 2006, I got to share slides from that experience with my church. You can view these slides and read my comments as an Adobe Acrobat File by clicking here.
- “Key Legal Cases Regarding Public Preaching/Handing out Literature” cheat sheet: This Adobe Acrobat File is a “cheat sheet” that you can print and laminate and bring with you when you open air preach. Open air preaching in public places is absolutely protected, though sometimes local Police may not know this or even care. Carry this to show the officer if you are harassed to stop speaking the truth. You can view this as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Taking the Gospel to the Streets, by the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ): Is it legal to hand out gospel tracts and open-air preach in public places? Of course it is! This article yb the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) explains the case law that proves it is. You can read this article by clicking here.
- Revival’s Golden Key: This Adobe Acrobat File is the complete book Revival’s Golden Key by Ray Comfort. This is an excellent book to read for those who are interested in learning Biblical Evangelism. You can read the whole book as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- John MacArthur – Thoughts on Calvinism and Evangelism: Bible teacher John MacArthur recorded an interview called, Answering the Key Questions About the Doctrine of Election. During the interview, he was asked about why some people say that if one believes in the doctrine that God is sovereign in saving people, then why do evangelism? I get this question a lot when people find out that I am a Calvinist. I believe MacArthur answered the question well, and furthermore showed the dangers of not believing in God’s sovereign hand in the salvation of souls. You can order the entire interview by clicking here.
John MacArthur – Thoughts on Calvinism and Evangelism
(6 min’s, 14 sec’s) - Todd Friel Witnesses to Two Lesbians: This is a clip from Terrified! How to Overcome the Fear of Sharing Your Faith, by the Way of the Master Radio. I love this clip because Todd speaks with such sensitivity to these women, and carefully and patiently shares the gospel, making it clear that it is not because they’re gay that they’re destined for hell, but because they have transgressed God’s Law, whether straight or gay. Definitely worth a listen.
Todd Friel Witnesses to Two Lesbians
(23 min’s, 01 sec’s) - Todd Friel Gets Witnessed To BIBLICALLY!!!: This is a clip from Way of the Master Radio. Todd Friel is in Daytona Beach to share the gospel, and he runs into a couple of guys who witness to him. And here’s the best part… they do it BIBLICALLY! Definitely listen to this to hear an example of how to Biblically share the gospel. It’s also worth a good laugh at the end when Todd asks them how they learned to share their faith. God has a sense of humor in His providence!
Todd Friel Gets Witnessed To BIBLICALLY!!!
(6 min’s, 43 sec’s) - Mark Cahill Interview: Todd Friel interviews Mark Cahill. Cahill is the author of the books One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven and One Heartbeat Away: Your Journey Into Eternity. Cahill is an evangelist who God has used mightily, and he shares practical tips in this interview that will help all of us be more faithful and effective at obeying Christ’s Great Commission. Cahill shares from his heart how he goes about witnessing, and shares experiences of what he has done when things have gone wrong. This interview is worth listening to just for the exhortation Cahill delivers at the end. This is taken from the July 30, 2008, hour 2 episode of The Way of the Master Radio. (Trivia: the song played at the end is Billy and Cindy Foote’s Rescue the Perishing. Powerful song!)
Mark Cahill Interview
(43 min’s, 54 sec’s) - Mark Cahill Exhorts Christians on the Great Commission: This clip is from the Mark Cahill Interview posted above. If you don’t have time to listen to the whole 43-minute interview, at least listen to this clip. At the end of the interview, Todd Friel puts Mark Cahill on the spot and asks him to preach, unscripted. Cahill exhorts Christians to obey the Great Commission. This is definitely worth listening to and considering.
Mark Cahill Exhorts Christians on the Great Commission
(11 min’s, 04 sec’s) - Kirk Cameron’s Testimony of How He Came to be Involved with Way of the Master: This is from a banquet I attended in Jersey City in May of 2006. Kirk shares how he came to realize that the modern methods he was using to share his faith are unbiblical. Kirk shares his heart for the lsot and his commitment to help the church reach out to the lost using biblical methods. This is also a humorous talk and well worth listening to, especially if you are confused as to why some of Kirk’s older Christian movies are theologically unsound as far as the gospel presentation is concerned. This was recorded by somebody in the crowd, so the sound quality is not superb.
Kirk Cameron’s Testimony of How He Came to be Involved with Way of the Master
(25 min’s, 05 sec’s) - Vacation Bible School: Do’s and Don’ts, by Steve Burchett: This is an EXCELLENT article about Vacation Bible School. It is short and concise and I recommend you check it out because it has practical application for how we do evangelism everywhere, not just with VBS. You can read this article by clicking here.
- Way of the Master Basic Training Course: In 2006, I was given the privilege to lead the Way of the Master “Basic Training Course” at my church. I believe this 8-week evangelism course is the finest evangelism training I have ever studied and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I made all my notes and handouts available and you can download them all for free here.
Errant Theology
- Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show: a review of Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis: Have you heard of Pastor and Bible teacher Rob Bell? If you haven’t, then chances are good that you will soon. In 2007, The Church Report rated Rob Bell the tenth most influential Christian in America. In addition to being a Pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church, and writing books, Rob also stars in a series of short teaching movies called “Nooma.” Velvet Elvis is Rob’s first book, and it has already had a profound influence on many in the church, especially youth. When I read it, I was greatly troubled by the astounding amount of heretical doctrine, aberrant theology, and bizarre interpretations in this book. So I wrote this review as a warning to those who might consider Rob to be a faithful Bible teacher. Rob shows that he has an unbiblical view of the Trinity, the exclusivity of Christianity, and the gospel itself. If you want to know more about this dangerous false teacher, or about the “Emergent” movement, then please feel free to read this review for free by clicking here.
- Way of the Master on Todd Bentley and “Healing Revivals”: This is a clip from Way of the Master Radio. Todd Friel interviews Mark Havill, who formerly was involved in so-called “Healing Revivals.” The guest talks about how the services are setup in order to put those in attendance into a hynotic state of consciousness. This is well worth listening to if you’re wondering about Todd Bentley, Rodney Howard Brown, or others like them. Definitely worth listening to.
Way of the Master on Todd Bentley and “Healing Revivals”
(14 min’s, 29 sec’s)
Other Religions
- A Jew and His God: I am a Jew who believes in Jesus. And I realize that many people consider that odd. This short article is my story of how I came to believe that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah! You can read this article by clicking here.
- A Jew and His God - Paper Version: A lot of people ask me for a paper version of the above testimony so I made a version suitible for printing. This is a PDF that you can print on legal-sized paper (8.5 x 14"). You can download this by clicking here.
- A Jew and His God - How a Jewish man came to believe that Jesus is the Messiah: In May of 2010, I was invited to speak before a group of Christian businessmen. They wanted me to share my testimony of how I came to believe that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. They also asked me to give a biblical gospel presentation. This is the audio from that presentation.
A Jew and His God - How a Jewish man came to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, Mark Edward Sohmer
(47 min's, 37 sec's) - A Jew and His God - Video Version: If you want to watch the video of Mark sharing his story, it is available via YouTube below:
A Jew and His God:
- Resources to Help Reach Jewish People with the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Christians often ask me for tips for witnessing to Jewish people. So to help out I made a list of resources helpful for sharing your faith with either a Jew or a Gentile. You can read this list as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Are Christian Doctrines Anti-Jewish?: This essay analyzes many Christian doctrines to show that they all have their origin in Jewish teaching. It is not un-Jewish to believe in the Trinity, baptism, the New Testamanet, et cetera. You can read this essay as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Tips for Sharing the Gospel with Jewish People (or… The Gospel According to Fiddler on the Roof): I am a Jewish Christian, and I am always trying to help Christians (whether Jew or Gentile) reach out to unsaved Jewish people. I read a question on an evangelism message board about how to reach out to unsaved Jewish people, and I posted a lengthy response. I am posting the original question, and my response here as well, in case it will be a help and a blessing to others. Please feel free to read the original question and my response by clicking here.
- Easy Chanukah-Related Jewish Evangelism Tip: Looking for a natural way to share Jesus the Messiah with a Jewish friend at Chanukah-time? Here’s an easy Chanukah-related tip for sharing the Messiah with His people! Please check this out at: http://luke-15.org/easy-chanukah-related-jewish-evangelism-tip/.
- Jewish Christianity: Biblical Norm to Modern Contradiction: In Jesus’ day, just about everyone who believed in Jesus at first were Jewish and remained Jewish, but today many people believe it’s a contradiction to be Jewish and Christian. In 1995, as a Senior at the University of New Hampshire, I wrote my Honor’s Thesis analyzing historically how it came to be that mainstream Jews began to ostracize Jews who believe in Jesus. In the first century it was odd for a Gentile to believe in Jesus, whereas today it’s the other way around. My Thesis explores the history of just what happened over the past 2,000 years to make that so, including the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the revolt against the Romans led by Bar Cochba, and the proclamation made by Rabbi Akiba at the time. I discuss the pertinent writings in the Talmud and Mishna, the alleged conversion by Roman Emperor Constantine, as well as anti-Semitic creeds of the church. I found this study fascinating. You can read this thesis as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- World Religions in a Nutshell: Judaism: World Religions in a Nutshell is a handy, practical reference book with helpful tips for reaching lost people in a number of false religions. Living Waters Publications gave the first chapter away for free, and it was the chapter on Judaism! I read it and loved it! In my opinion, this short chapter provides an excellent background on the three major branches of Judaism today, gives an overview of what each branch teaches about God, the Scriptures, sin, Heaven, Hell, the Messiah, and more. It also gives helpful “do’s” and “don’ts” when witnessing to an unsaved Jewish person, and even gives a sample role play. Finally, there is a testimony of a Jewish man who turned to Christ for salvation. As a Jewish Christian myself, I highly recommend this chapter as one of the most helpful resources I have come across for reaching unsaved Jewish people for Christ! This book also has chapters on Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Islam, Roman Catholicism, and others. You can read more about the book and purchase it by clicking here. Or for free, you can read this excellent chapter on Judaism as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- The Gospel According to Moses: This is a recording of a speech I made on why and how we celebrate the Jewish holiday “Passover.” I show how the message of our need for a sacrifice to atone for our sins is clearly foreshadowed in the story of the Passover. This message is called “The Gospel According to Moses.”
The Gospel According to Moses
(41 min’s, 05 sec’s) - Passover Seder: This is a recording of a Passover Seder I had the privilege of leading in April of 2006. What’s a “Seder?” Great question! A Seder (pronounced “say-der”) is the meal and ceremony that Jewish pepole attend to commemorate God’s redemption of our ancestors from slavery in Egypt. But the Seder is not just for Jews. It has clear prophetic significance to the coming Messiah. The story of Jesus is found all throughout the Seder, and that makes Passover an exciting and relevant holiday for both Jews and Gentiles who know Jesus the Messiah.
Passover Seder
(1 hour, 3 min’s, 1 sec’s) - Highlights From a Passover Seder: This video has clips from the above Passover Seder. If you want to see my wife recite Hebrew, or sing a solo, or hear my daughter recite “The Four Questions,” then tihs video is for you! You can view this video by clicking here.
- A Passover Haggadah: This file is the “Haggadah” for the above Passover Seder. What’s a Haggadah? A Haggadah is the book that you go through during a Seder. It contains the litergy. I wrote this Haggadah specifically for the above Seder, and it’s useful to have if you want to follow along with the Seder or run your own! You can download this Haggadah as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file by clicking here.
Cults
Introduction:
In 2005, I was given the privilege and honor to lead an Adult Sunday School series on the topic of "The Cults."
I am making available my notes and other files that may be valuable here, so that anyone can download them.
My prayer is that Christians will be edified and that those involved in cults will be challenged to seek and know the truth.
May God bless you!
Mark Edward Sohmer
2005
Please feel free to contact me anytime if I can be a help at all!
Class Notes:
During the Sunday School class, I made extensive use of Microsoft Powerpoint to project notes on an overhead screen. I have broken down the notes into sections to make it easier to download, and easier to distribute.
I am making these notes available in 2 formats:
- Microsoft Powerpoint Files
- Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files
The Microsoft Powerpoint files are in full color and include all the transitions. You will need Powerpoint 2003 to view the files, or the free Powerpoint reader which you can download for free by clicking here.
The Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files are most likely the ones you'll want. They are much smaller in size and have been converted to black and white for easy printing. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat viewer which you can download for free by clicking here.
 Microsoft PowerPoint |
 Adobe Acrobat |
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| Cult Class Introduction (weeks 1-2) |
cults-intro.ppt | cults-intro.pdf |
| The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) (weeks 2-7) supplemental files |
cults-JW.ppt | cults-JW.pdf |
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (weeks 7-13) supplemental files |
cults-LDS.ppt | cults-LDS.pdf |
| The International Church of Christ (Boston Church of Christ) (weeks 13-15) supplemental files |
cults-ICOC.ppt | cults-ICOC.pdf |
| The Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science) (week 15) supplemental files |
cults-CS.ppt | cults-CS.pdf |
| The Roman Catholic Church (weeks 16-25) supplemental files |
cults-RCC.ppt | cults-RCC.pdf |
| The Church of Scientology (Scientology) (week 26) supplemental files |
cults-CoS.ppt | cults-CoS.pdf |
| Conclusion (week 27) supplemental files |
cults-conclusion.ppt | cults-conclusion.pdf |
Note: right-click on filename and choose "Save Link As..." to save the file to your computer's hard drive.
Other Files:
| The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses):
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons):
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The International Church of Christ (Boston Church of Christ):
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| The Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science):
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The Roman Catholic Church:
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The Church of Scientology (Scientology):
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Conclusion:
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Inspiration
- Prayer of Repentence: This prayer was given by Pastor Joe Wright to start the Kansas Senate on January 23, 1996. This is a powerful and true statement for our need for repentence! You can download this as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- My Commitment as a Christian: A short letter that can be printed and hung up reminding us of our commitment as a Christian. I hope you find it inspiring. You can download this as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- John 3:16 Animation: A short animation showing the meaning of John 3:16. Very well-done. It is a Windows executable file. You can download this file by right-clicking here and selecting “save target as” or “save link as.”
- Creation Animation: A short animation illustrating the 7 days of Creation. This animation is beautifully made. It is a Windows executable file. You can download this file by right-clicking here and selecting “save target as” or “save link as.”
Marriage/Family
- Synopsis of Douglas Wilson’s Reforming Marriage: I believe that the book Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson is one of the best books I have ever read on the topic of Biblical Marraige. So while I was reading it I took detailed notes and write this synopsis. I hope it will be a help to married couples, and also to those considering marriage. I highly recommend the book, but this synopsis is the next-best thing! You can read this synopsis by clicking here.
- What Is Covenant Marriage?: This is a quotation from R. Paul Stevens’ book, Married for Good. I liked this quotation so much that I formatted it in a way that can be printed and hung up. You can read this as an Adobe Acrobat file by clicking here.
- Six Reasons Why the Movie Fireproof is IMPORTANT: My wife and I saw the movie Fireproof on the night it came out. A few days later I wrote a review that I emailed out to a bunch of friends, urging them to see this movie. I believe this movie is important for at least six reasons. You can read my review and see my reasons by clicking here.
- Todd Friel and Kirk Cameron on Parenting: This is a clip from Way of the Master Radio. Todd Friel and Kirk Cameron discuss “15 Ways to Turn Your Kid into a Monster.” Well worth a listen.
Todd Friel and Kirk Cameron on Parenting
(28 min’s, 29 sec’s) - Ted Tripp on Spanking: This is a clip from Way of the Master Radio. Todd Friel interviews Ted Tripp, author of Shepherding a Child’s Heart, and discusses the topic of Biblical child discipline. There is a huge difference between loving and controlled discipline and child abuse. We should never ever abuse our children that God has entursted to our care, but controlled and loving spanking done properly is not abuse. Definitely worth listening to.
Ted Tripp on Spanking
(13 min’s, 57 sec’s)
Miscellaneous
- The Sufficiency of Christ: Steve Camp came to my church on Sunday September 23, 2001. He gave one of the best sermons I have ever heard. He preached on the sufficiency of Christ, and how our society has lost sight of Jesus’ transcendence. He interwove fantastic hymns into his excellent exposition of the scriptures. You just HAVE TO listen to this sermon. Or download it and listen to it later.
The Sufficiency of Christ, Steve Camp
(58 min’s, 47 sec’s) - “America’s Foundation” Cartoon: I think this cartoon is insightful. You can view it by clicking here.
- Freedom Documents: This zip file contains a Windows “help” file containing classic American historical documents, including: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of The United States of America, The Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and more. You can download this zip file by right-clicking here and selecting “save target as” or “save link as.”
Thanks — I came to this site from your camp Heaven illusion of getting a quarter into a jar. I am involved in children’s ministry — as a large and small group teacher in my church and in children’s summer camps. I am preparing a lesson on Rev. 21 for next Sunday (my interest in your object lesson). Will you tell me how it was done, please?
Also, I’m interested in the large visual behind you and wondered if there was a site to watch you teach it — during the week at camp, perhaps?
I plan to return to this site for my own growth. So many good things to read! Again, thanks!