33) How Do We Share The Gospel? Series

33) HOW DO WE SHARE THE GOSPEL?

Let’s learn from the example of the Apostle Paul by: 1) Sharing the Word, 2) Any Way we Can!

Text: Romans 10:13-17 / 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

RECAP

As we again open the Scriptures today to continue our study of...

“Those things most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1),

Our focus remains firmly fixed right now - on the things we believe about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now as you may recall, last week - we looked not only towards...

How we are called as disciples to share the Gospel and to become “Fishers of Men”,

But we looked also at how we are spiritually prepared in Christ for this task,

As we surrender our hearts and our lives over to Him.

In fact, we looked at the spiritual journey one disciple in particular took with Christ last week.

And We saw the extent Jesus was willing to go to with Peter

To ensure he was sufficiently prepared to share the Gospel truth with others.

And the thing I want you to all to know and understand...

Is that as we look towards Peter’s life and at how Jesus prepared him,

We can also see a wonderful spiritual picture – of how Christ wants to prepare us.

And here’s what we learnt – going out and sharing the Gospel with others...

Often evolves naturally from a process whereby we grow in our walk and relationship with Christ

And what I mean by that is, most of us don’t get saved one day...

And then charge out to the save the world the next.

No – there is a process whereby Jesus prepares us to answer that calling.

Remember in the books of Matthew and Mark...

We found Jesus approaching some of His early disciples and saying:

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt 4:19 / Mark 1:17)

Notice that we need to first “Follow Jesus” before we can become a true “Fisher of Men” for Jesus.

What’s more is that Jesus declares that if we Follow me...I will make you a fisher of men.

In other words I will prepare you or make you ready.

Then later we find Jesus approaching Peter specifically

And in Luke 5:4 He says: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Now notice the goal Jesus had here – because He wanted Peter out in the deep with Him.

And do you know what – Jesus wants us out in the deep with Him too.

He wants as all to go deeper in our walk and relationship with Him...

Because out in the deep – is where the true blessings are.

Out in the deep - is where we become Fishers of Men.

However, before we can ever go deeper we have to first “launch out”.

First things first – you have to learn to walk before you can run...

And we must first learn to launch out with Jesus before we can go out into the deep with Jesus.

Now take note – because that Phrase Launch out in the Greek

Really speaks of the whole process by which a boat is taken off the shore and put our to sea.

You cannot be on the beach one minute - and just expect to be out in the deep the next.

No – you have to first “launch out”...and that involves a process of several steps.

1) Get in the Boat with Jesus

Remember the first step for Peter in this process - required Him getting in the boat.

On this day Peter was washing his nets – because he was a fishermen.

That was his job and his livelihood – but order to truly follow Jesus, he had to leave that behind.

And the problem some of us have is that we are firmly anchored on shore.

Be it money and material things... friends and relationships...

Or even our own fears and anxieties – there will always be excuses.

But you know, none of us will never make it out into the deep with Jesus...

If we are not first willing to get in the boat with Jesus.

This is the first step Jesus wants us to take as He prepares us for what comes next.

2) Get into the shallows with Jesus

Now after Peter got in the boat – Jesus then took Him a little further out into the shallows.

In fact Luke 5:3 says that Jesus ...prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Here we find the next stage in the process...

And it found Peter in the shallows - where Jesus began to teach.

And the thing I find interesting about this is that there were many people on the shore,