Sermon by Pastor Bob Brown on 10-12-03 Sunday AM
Entitled: BLESSING TO ALL - Scripture Text: Phil. 2: 12-18
This morning I want to help us to better understand one of
the purposes of the church that we have a hard time grasping,
and many of us actually fear. It is the purpose of evangelism.
We began this series on the purpose of the church looking at worship,
then ministry, now we have this topic of evangelism.
Evangelism comes from the Greek word "euaggelion"
and means "gospel" or "good news." It is the
proclamation of the message of the good news, or telling others
what Jesus, who is the good news, means to us. It is the calling
of people to respond to the message of grace and commitment to
Jesus Christ.
The problem is that even when we begin to understand what
evangelism is, we are still afraid of it. We are afraid that we
can't do it, or don't know how to do it, or we will be asked to
do it!
Let's look at how to do it, or rather how to tell others what
we already know to be true in our hearts. We know its true because
we have a number of Scriptures that tell say we are to tell others:
Mt. 28: 19-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24: 47-49; John 20: 21; Acts 1:9.
Ways people tell others.
1. This can be done in a very sterile or academic way, but that
comes across dull and boring to all but the intellectually stimulated.
2. It can be done in a very authoritative way, which tends
to make people feel isolated from the truth (and the truth is
supposed to set us free). When the gospel is presented as if it
is a take it or leave it proposition, it makes people feel inferior
and unable to meet its expectations.
Keep in mind that we cannot compromise the message of the "good
news" of Jesus Christ, but we must remember that it is "good
news" and not to be presented to people as if it is our way
or no way. This is about Jesus, who died on the cross for all
of our sins, who shed His blood for us, and who rose from the
dead, so that we could all have eternal life. It's not our message-it's
His.
3. Evangelism can be done casually, where we hope that others
will be able to see that there is something different about us,
and maybe ask about it. If that should happen, we always know
who to direct them to that can explain what we feel.
Think about a silent witness who is driving down the road with
a traveling companion; the radio is on but the mute button is
pushed. You can show them the call numbers, and they can even
see them, but they know nothing of what it is really like until
you turn on the sound!
4. Evangelism can be done in a verbal and even a non-verbal,
intentional, lifestyle, that exposes those we come into contact
with, to the life-changing, King of kings and Lord of lords.
I want to suggest to you that evangelism should be a combination
of all of the above. Why? Because that was the way Jesus lived.
This is the way He taught his disciples, and the lesson that they
eventually understood.
Academically we need to be able to communicate what Jesus
has done in our lives as believers. In other words, we have to
be able to tell others what happened when Jesus transformed our
hearts and minds.
It is where we begin to put into words, why we desire to be
more like Him. As Rom. 8: 28, 29 puts it; "We have been called
to a purpose; to be like Jesus. We now want others to be able
to join us in that purpose.
We also understand that we really do have "authority"
when we are living as Jesus commanded. At the end of the Sermon
on the Mount, that beautiful teaching of Jesus, here's what we
read:
"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowd was
amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority,
and not as their teachers of the law."
Keep in mind that as we become like Him, as we allow Jesus
to live in us and through us, that authority, by the power of
the Holy Spirit takes over in us and we become the living, authority
of Christ in the world. If that sounds too spiritual for you to
attain, then just do what we read in Mt. 28:19-20, at the command
of Christ.
Evangelism can also be casual, if the above elements are in
place. As Jesus, and then his disciples lived out everyday life,
people often asked questions about them: "Who is this"?
"By what power"? "In whose name"? If you understand
whose you are, and you have the power of the Holy Spirit living
in you, then you can get by with a casual witness. But, people
who see a difference in us, deserve to be told what that difference
really is, they need to hear it from our mouths. Don't be afraid,
there will always be questions that we can't answer, and we will
need to refer them elsewhere, but we also have the command in
Scripture, found in 1 Peter 3:15:
"In your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared
to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have. But do it with gentleness and respect…"
This encompasses both the verbal and non-verbal way of sharing
your faith. It is verbal because you are telling them of your
hope in Jesus. It is non-verbal in that our actions speak very
loud as to whom we are really following.
Are you noticeable as a Christian? Do you share the good news
of Jesus Christ with others? Have you made living and telling
others about Jesus a major purpose in your life? Will you?
Prayer: Father, Your Word is very definite about your will
for our lives, your plan for our lives, and your purpose for our
lives. I confess that I have been fearful of what others might
think if I tried to tell them what I feel. I now ask you to give
me the words, the power and the desire to tell others of your
"good news" in my life, to the glory of the Father.
Amen