In the year 1858, there was a young Sunday School teacher named Edward Kimball. He had a heart for the children in his class.
He would personally visit the children and seek to win them to Christ. One of his students was a young man named D.L. Moody.
One day, Kimball decided to visit D.L. Moody at the shoe store where he worked. He found Moody in the back stocking shelves. He shared the Gospel with Moody and there, in the back of the shoe store, Moody accepted Jesus as His Lord and Savior.
Moody grew up and became an evangelist. He preached the Gospel to millions of people. One of his meetings was in a little chapel. The pastor was named Frederic Meyer. Moody inspired Meyer to become an evangelist as well.
In one of Meyer's services, a young man by the name of J. Wilbur Chapman, responded to God's call on his life. Chapman also went on to be come an evangelist. He invited a man named Billy Sunday to help him set up for his evangelism crusades. Billy Sunday learned how to preach by watching Chapman preach.
Billy Sunday's preaching brought thousands of people to Christ. Inspired by a Billy Sunday Crusade in Charlotte, NC, a group of men dedicated themselves to reaching their city for Christ. They invited an evangelist named Mordecai Ham to come and hold a series of evangelistic meetings.
One person who attended Ham's services was a 16-year-old boy named Billy Graham. On the last night of the revival, Billy went forward and gave his life to Christ.
Billy Graham has communicated the Gospel to more people than any other person in history. And it all started with a Sunday School teacher reaching one of his students. Only eternity will reveal the impact of the Gospel ripple effect that was started by Edward Kimball in the back of that shore store.
You see, when you faithfully share the Gospel with the next generation, it creates a Gospel ripple effect. You never know how many people will be reached through your ministry. You won't see the entire effect until you get to heaven.
I have a verse of encouragement for you today. It's found in I Corinthians 15:58.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Your labor is not in vain...that baby you are holding may one day be a pastor.
Your labor is not in vain...the little girl who is in your preschool class may grow up to be a great Christian leader.
Your labor is not in vain... the pre-teen boy that can't seem to sit still may grow up to be a missionary who climbs up a mountain to share the Gospel with an unreached people group.
Your labor is not in vain...the preschooler you are helping memorize a Bible verse will one day be an entrepreneur who donates millions of dollars to further the Gospel.
Your labor is not in vain...the 3rd grade girl on your children's praise team may one day be a great songwriter and worship leader.
Your labor is not in vain...the child you greet and welcome may one day be a godly senator who influences the country for God.
I don't know about you...but there are times when I wonder if I am getting through to the kids I am teaching. I wonder if they will remember anything I am sharing with them.
When that happens, I remind myself that the Gospel always has a ripple effect. I am making a difference even if I can't see it now. The same is true for you as well.
Don't give up! Keep sharing the Gospel! God can use you to create a ripple effect that can change the world!
