Things to Forget

Illusion is a wonderful tool available to help illustrate the message of the Jesus Christ. For those who have a talent to perform illusion, it is not incorrect to think of it as a gift from God, but don't confuse that with the more important Spiritual gifts. There are seven spiritual gifts laid out in Romans 12: prophesy, ministering, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy. Everyone has one of these seven as their primary spiritual gift. With one exception,

Gospel illusion can be used to aid in any of these but the effects and their routines would then be approached a little differently. The exception is when the gift is prophesy, which is truly the least common of all the gifts. It would not be the recommendation of the authors to mix illusion with this. That could be too easily tied what fortunetellers and psychics do and you do not want to mix with that crowd. However, if yours is one of the other six gifts, which can be better translated as serving, teaching, explaining, funding, leading or providing care, illusion shared correctly can be very useful.

Ministry - If one's gift is that of service, it can help break the ice allowing the ones you are reaching out to develop an interest in what they are doing.

Example: In the ministry of childcare, while the parents are sitting and listening to a sermon, it is a lot more exciting to see a person share a trick or two with a Gospel theme than to be plopped down in front of a television set watching a video.

Teaching - If one's gift is teaching, illusion is wonderful to help get attention and keep it as the lesson is being shared.

Example: When telling the story of Solomon and his experiences in the book of Ecclesiastes, a change bag can be used. While sharing the story, numerous things are placed in the bag. This could include a small plastic house representing his home, a small piece of fruit representing his orchards, or gold colored plastic coins representing his wealth. Once the items are placed in the bag, they are shown to have apparently vanished while saying Solomon realized it was all vanity. They were nothing eternal. These things were nothing that brought him continual happiness.

Exhortation - If one's gift is the ability to explain things, illusion can help aid in this.

Example: Using the effect “cut and restored rope” one could do the following. Explain that one end of the rope represents God and the other man, sin (cut rope) breaks that wonderful bond. "Man's efforts to restore this bond brings us back...NOT! (show "knot" in middle of rope...). Only what Jesus did on the cross will take our sin away. As far as the East is from the West…" (slide knot off the rope).

Giving - If one has the gift of giving because of being blessed with financial resources, even if they are not a performer, they can support ministries that use illusion to share.

Example: If an event is coming up, an individual, family or even a company can sponsor the hiring of a Gospel Illusionist. Or one can acquire a simple production box effect that produces Gospel related items that can be handed out to those watching.

Leadership - If one's gift is having the ability to get people organized to do a project of some sort, illusion is a great tool for motivating folks or just plain having a little fun at the end of a day of work, especially on a mission trip, when there is no television to plop down in front of to relax, but there is a desire to be entertained.

Example: A friend of our ministry was leading a group on a missionary tour in Asia. She had gotten a custom made effect which listed the names of her entire team. During a rather long train ride, she pulled out the effect and fired up her group with the very personalized effect.

Show Mercy - If one's gift is care giving, illusion can break the ice with a patient. However, beyond that it can also help in the healing process or physical recovery.

Example: David Copperfield for many years has worked with physical therapists and developed Project Magic, which taught simple effects to those with motor skill problems. Patients are taught a trick that helps them want to increase their motor skills. Add to that a message of the Gospel as part of the routine, a person who may be handicapped will feel they can still be a witness for the Lord.

If you have never thought much about what is your primary spiritual gift, perhaps this is something to contemplate. This book is not to help one discover that, but instead equip folks to put these precious gifts into action sharing the Gospel with illusion.


	FORWARD
	Illusion is a wonderful tool available to help illustrate the message of the Jesus Christ. For those who have a talent to perform illusion, it is not incorrect to think of it as a gift from God, but don't confuse that with the more important Spiritual gifts. There are seven spiritual gifts laid out in Romans 12: prophesy, ministering, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy. Everyone has one of these seven as their primary spiritual gift. With one exception, Gospel illusion can be used to aid in any of these but the effects and their routines would then be approached a little differently. The exception is when the gift is prophesy, which is truly the least common of all the gifts. It would not be the recommendation of the authors to mix illusion with this. That could be too easily tied what fortunetellers and psychics do and you do not want to mix with that crowd. However, if yours is one of the other six gifts, which can be better translated as serving, teaching, explaining, funding, leading or providing care, illusion shared correctly can be very useful. Ministry - If one's gift is that of service, it can help break the ice allowing the ones you are reaching out to develop an interest in what they are doing. *Example:* In the ministry of childcare, while the parents are sitting and listening to a sermon, it is a lot more exciting to see a person share a trick or two with a Gospel theme than to be plopped down in front of a television set watching a video. Teaching - If one's gift is teaching, illusion is wonderful to help get attention and keep it as the lesson is being shared. *Example:* When telling the story of Solomon and his experiences in the book of Ecclesiastes, a change bag can be used. While sharing the story, numerous things are placed in the bag. This could include a small plastic house representing his home, a small piece of fruit representing his orchards, or gold colored plastic coins representing his wealth. Once the items are placed in the bag, they are shown to have apparently vanished while saying Solomon realized it was all vanity. They were nothing eternal. These things were nothing that brought him continual happiness. Exhortation - If one's gift is the ability to explain things, illusion can help aid in this. *Example:* Using the effect “cut and restored rope” one could do the following. Explain that one end of the rope represents God and the other man, sin (cut rope) breaks that wonderful bond. "Man's efforts to restore this bond brings us back...NOT! (show "knot" in middle of rope...). Only what Jesus did on the cross will take our sin away. As far as the East is from the West…" (slide knot off the rope). Giving - If one has the gift of giving because of being blessed with financial resources, even if they are not a performer, they can support ministries that use illusion to share. *Example:* If an event is coming up, an individual, family or even a company can sponsor the hiring of a Gospel Illusionist. Or one can acquire a simple production box effect that produces Gospel related items that can be handed out to those watching. Leadership - If one's gift is having the ability to get people organized to do a project of some sort, illusion is a great tool for motivating folks or just plain having a little fun at the end of a day of work, especially on a mission trip, when there is no television to plop down in front of to relax, but there is a desire to be entertained. *Example:* A friend of our ministry was leading a group on a missionary tour in Asia. She had gotten a custom made effect which listed the names of her entire team. During a rather long train ride, she pulled out the effect and fired up her group with the very personalized effect. Show Mercy - If one's gift is care giving, illusion can break the ice with a patient. However, beyond that it can also help in the healing process or physical recovery. *Example:* David Copperfield for many years has worked with physical therapists and developed Project Magic, which taught simple effects to those with motor skill problems. Patients are taught a trick that helps them want to increase their motor skills. Add to that a message of the Gospel as part of the routine, a person who may be handicapped will feel they can still be a witness for the Lord. If you have never thought much about what is your primary spiritual gift, perhaps this is something to contemplate. This book is not to help one discover that, but instead equip folks to put these precious gifts into action sharing the Gospel with illusion. NEXT - MORE GOSPEL ILLUSION TIPS - RESOURCES - HOME