Lausanne World Pulse – Perspectives Articles – Just10–Transform Your World
By Chris Moffat
December 2006
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J. John presents the Ten Commandments as the best |
The realization that contemporary society shows many alarming signs of having turned its back on God gave J. John the vision to connect with people in a new and engaging way. In January 2000 J. John commenced a new series of areawide, interchurch missions and evangelism in towns and cities across the United Kingdom that was based on the Ten Commandments. However, unlike the do’s and don’ts most people think about when they consider the Ten Commandments, J. John presents them in a positive light and as the best parameters for life. For example, “You shall not steal” is entitled “How to prosper with a clear conscience” and “You shall not commit adultery” is unpacked as “How to affair-proof your relationships.” J. John is often asked why he began this series. Following is his response:
“I can honestly say it was a ‘God idea.’ In 1999 there was much discussion on how to mark the new millennium. I sensed God saying that we should go back to the basics—back to his ten principles of how to live life well. There have been signs of a spiritual awakening wherever we have taken ‘Just10.’ During the twenty-five full-time years I have spent in evangelism I can honestly say that this is the most fruitful, transforming programme I have ever been involved in.”
J. John has now run twenty-four series across the UK; the venues have included ten-thousand seater marquees, cathedrals and county showgrounds. Countless others have seen the series on DVD around the world.
Just10—The Ten Commandments
The live talks are held over a ten-week period, one Commandment per week. The Commandments are presented in reverse order, starting at number ten and finishing with number one. Each evening includes a warm welcome, sung worship, a video clip and a personal testimony and teaching from J. John. Each session concludes with an opportunity to respond to the gospel presentation. Each of these components is tailored to be jargon-free and to engage with the unchurched.
The evenings run with the following titles:
- How to find true contentment
- How to hold to the truth
- How to prosper with a clear conscience
- How to affair-proof your relationships
- How to manage your anger
- How to keep the peace with your parents
- How to stop driving yourself crazy
- How to take God seriously
- How to know the real God
- How to live by priorities
While all of the talks are evangelistic, the topics get progressively more God-focused as the weeks go on. Experience has shown that having the series spread across ten weeks allows momentum to build; the number of people attending has risen in nearly every series and the effect that God has in a community can be cumulative. Christians have multiple opportunities to invite their friends, and people can fit the weekly programme into their busy schedules. It allows people to be taken on a journey from week to week. There is not just one crisis point where individuals are called to make a decision; instead, there are ten opportunities for attendees to warm to the gospel and respond to its message.
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Chris Moffat has been involved in organizing five Just10 missions and numerous other engagements around the world. |