3-5 minute read. Audio also included for those who prefer to listen.

A weird concert, $7, and a scary idea.

Before Hozier began his set I found $7 in my pocket.

I can’t even remember where it came from. “I could get like half a hot dog,” I thought.

“Or…” an idea gripped me and wouldn’t let go. “I’ll be back soon,” I told the boys.

When we’d arrived to the concert, the opening act was singing a song called, “Demons” in which she did a call and response. She’d yell out, “demons!” and the crowd would reply, “demons!” Kyle, Chase, Roman, Jeremy and I yelled “Jesus!” instead (which is conveniently the same amount of syllables.)

But now there was a lull.

I had 7 bucks, 15 minutes until Hozier began, and an unconventional idea.

Risk number 1: dudes & their dates at the bar

I was nervous, but I approached two dudes and their accompanying dates by the bar.

“Hey guys! So you know those videos where people offer cash to strangers if they can answer certain questions?”

“Yeah!” they said.

“I only have seven bucks, but do you want to try?”

They agreed and were excited… until I asked the question:

“If you can recite one bible verse I’ll give you $1, if you recite two verses I’ll give you $3, and if you recite three verses you get the whole $7.”

The dudes looked uncomfortable and waved me off.

So I found a new audience.

Risk number 2: a weirdly interested younger audience

This time it was four young dudes, probably juniors in highschool. They were interested and full of energy. When I told them the catch - that I was looking for verses - they got even more excited. They tried desperately to come up with scriptures. They grabbed their phones to look them up. One kid asked if a prayer counted (he had been to catholic mass and knew a few). Another kid grew aggravated and said, “I should know this! I’m f***ing jewish!” Then he literally started reciting a scripture in Hebrew that he’d learned as a kid; he just had no clue what it meant in English.

“Halley would know!” one of them said, and they rushed to dial their nearby friend.

Halley showed up, and so did her posse. By now the four guys had turned into a dozen or so teens trying desperately to quote scriptures.

But Halley was embarrassed, because she couldn’t recite even one verse… and she was the Christian of the group.

Eventually they conjured up three verses, and I forked over the $7.

Before I handed it to them I took a moment:

“Hey guys, I want to tell you something. You’ve just spent 10 minutes trying to remember bible verses. And I know what that’s like. It wasn’t until I had a life-altering neck injury that I started taking God seriously. I hated God after that, and I wanted nothing to do with him. But slowly he taught me that he is love, and it says that, “the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” My soul felt dead, but the word of God helped give it life. I’m still in constant pain, but I think I’m more alive than anyone I know. This is what Jesus has done for me, and I know he can do it for you too. Can I give you guys a challenge?”

“Yes,” they nodded,

“Go home and memorize just one scripture. Read it, practice it, and tuck it away in your heart. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Seek him with all your heart, and you will find him.”

We all high-fived and I left their group abuzz. But there was still something I had to do.

Michael gets a special moment

“Hey, Michael,” I said, returning to talk with the kid who knew hebrew. “Two things. First, here’s a bracelet for you. It says Jesus Loves You. I hope you remember this moment and remember his love.”

He put it on gratefully.

“Second, I had a tug on my heart and I want to pray for you.”

He looked at me like dudes do. No emotion.

“Is there anything on your mind today that I can pray for?” I asked.

“I mean, I guess you could pray for my family or something,” he said.

I said, “what else?” And we just looked at each other.

Crickets.

“Well,” he began, “I just don’t want to be depressed anymore.”

Then he opened up his life to me. How his grandma had passed. How he was constantly bogged down with anxiety. And how he needed help.

We prayed (his friend Blake even wanted to join us), we hugged, and we went our separate ways to watch Hozier perform.

Why God gives us money (one reason I often forget)

$7 isn’t much. But it’s enough to change a life.

This is part of God’s plan for money, anyway:

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:9, NIV)

In other words, we make money to make friends to make disciples to make sure the house of God is full. I’m not sure what God’s up to in Michael’s life, but when we get to the new earth I wouldn’t be surprised if Michael was there, eager to welcome me into his eternal dwelling.

Not bad for a measly $7 investment.

Be fun. Be you.

And preach the gospel boldly as you should.

God might just do something awesome with it.

- Toby DeMoss

P.S. pray for me! I want to be bold and loving as I share the gospel. Like Paul says,

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Eph 6:19-20)

Click to give!

(Note: want to reach more folks in fun ways? Any gifts you give this week will be used to creatively reach more people with the gospel. Or better yet, go and try it yourself!)