Introduction

Good morning, church family! We're here today to talk about something that's at the heart of our faith. It's something that's as essential as prayer, as vital as worship, and as foundational as the Word of God itself. I'm talking about evangelism.

Philip Yancey once said, "I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse." Isn't that the truth? Sometimes, we don't fully understand why we're called to do certain things until we look back and see how God was working. And that's often the case with evangelism.

But before we get into all that, let's look at the Scripture that's going to guide our conversation today.

[Read passages]

These passages remind us that evangelism isn't just something we do; it's a part of who we are. It's not just about preaching from a pulpit or going on a mission trip. It's about living out our faith every single day, in every interaction we have.

Let's pray.

Father God, we thank You for this day. We thank You for Your Word, which guides us and shapes us. As we talk about evangelism today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds. Help us to understand what it really means to share our faith. Give us the courage to live out our faith every day, and the wisdom to do it with gentleness and respect. We pray all this in Jesus' name, amen.

So, today, we're going to look at three main points: Understanding Our Role in Evangelism, The Daily Practice of Evangelism, and The Power of Evangelism in Everyday Life. But don't worry, we're not going to just talk about them. We're going to get real practical, real personal, and hopefully, by the end of this, we'll all have a better understanding of what it means to live out our faith in everyday life. So, let's get started, shall we?

Understanding Our Role in Evangelism

As we consider the words of the apostles, we're reminded that evangelism isn't just an activity; it's a way of life. It's not something we do once and then check off our list. It's a continual process, a constant part of who we are as followers of Christ. This is a truth that we see clearly in the book of Acts.

Acts 8:4: We read about the early Christians who were scattered because of persecution. But even in the midst of their suffering, they didn't stop sharing the good news of Jesus. They didn't see their circumstances as a reason to be silent. Instead, they saw it as an opportunity to spread the gospel even further. They understood that their role in evangelism wasn't dependent on their situation. It was a part of their identity as followers of Christ. This is a powerful reminder for us today. No matter what we're going through, no matter where we are, we're called to share the good news of Jesus. It's not just something we do when it's convenient or comfortable. It's something we do because it's who we are.

But what does this look like in practice? How do we live out this calling in our everyday lives? This is where the words of Peter and Paul come in.

1 Peter 3:15: Peter tells us to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have. This doesn't mean we need to have all the answers. It doesn't mean we need to be theologians or Bible scholars. It simply means we need to be ready to share our faith, to tell others about the hope we have in Jesus.

This might look different for each of us: For some, it might mean sharing our testimony, telling others about how Jesus has changed our lives. For others, it might mean explaining the basics of the gospel, telling others about Jesus' death and resurrection. But no matter how we do it, the important thing is that we're ready and willing to share our faith.

Paul gives us further insight into this in Colossians 4:5-6: He tells us to be wise in the way we act toward outsiders, to make the most of every opportunity. This means we need to be intentional in our interactions with non-believers. We need to look for opportunities to share our faith, to show others the love of Jesus through our words and actions. But Paul doesn't stop there. He also tells us to let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt. This means our words should be kind and respectful, not harsh or judgmental. We should speak the truth in love, showing others the grace that we've received from Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:2-4: Paul reminds us in our evangelism should be marked by a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, not by wise and persuasive words. This means we're not relying on our own abilities or eloquence. We're relying on the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. We're trusting that God will use our simple words to reveal His truth and love.

The Daily Practice of Evangelism

As we continue to reflect on the words of Acts 8:4, we see a picture of believers who took the message of Christ with them wherever they went ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO