Source: Sermon: Philip Samaan: 2007-06-17: The Fragrance of His Witness

From WhyNotWiki

[edit] The head and the feet

He told us all about how in [Middle Eastern] culture (where he's from) the feet represent the most base, unclean part of a person, and the head represents the most noble, good part of a person.

So when considered in that context... The story of Mary washing Jesus's feet with her hair takes on special significance.

[edit] Story of witnessing to banker

He went in to sign up for a bank account and met and talked with the manager. She was friendly, and they got to talking about each other's lives, families, etc.

She was interested in him because she didn't have any other customers were Bible teachers. She told him that if he signed up there, that she would answer his banking questions and he could answer her Bible questions. He agreed, of course, and over the next several years, she would often have a Bible question saved up for him when he would come in to do some business. She also got some of her other employees who brought their questions as well.

Eventually, this manager and two of her tellers ended up accepting Christ, because of his witness...

Funny story about how she was trying to get him the best rates he could, and not knowing his age, she took a risk and asked ~"You aren't by any chance faifty are you?" He didn't understand her at first because of her accent. She concluded, "You must be faifty; you're already hard of hearing." Two years later he did turn 50 and came back to tell her the news...

Moral of this story: You can witness to people even in mundane, business-related settings, like banking. And the most effective strategy (not that we should only do it because it's effective) is to befriend people first, take a genuine interest in them. Then they will be much more likely to be receptive of what you have to say.

[edit] Story of rebellious student

[See the notes in my prayer journal...]

[I'm not sure if this will be podcasted or not... I know it was broadcast on BMTV though...]

This message was part of [Upper Columbia Conference Camp Meeting 2007 (category)], presented at the 2007-06-17 19:00 meeting by [Philip Samaan (category)].