Evangelism Reflects Courage In Our Christian Walk Series

Sermon Series: Living a Life of Evangelism

Sermon Title: Evangelism Reflects Courage in our

Christian Walk (Consistency, Communication)

Sermon Text:: Acts 5:19-21, 2 Tim 1:6-9; 2:14-17a; 4:1-5

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Acts 5:19-21 (NASB)

Introduction:

Last week I introduced you to our God given-call, as believers, to become evangelists for Christ in this world! I did that by speaking to you about the consistency we must have in our words, in our walk with Christ and in our witness for Christ! If we evangelize, it reflects the consistency in our walk that Christ desires!

In our Scripture this morning I want to go to v.20 and let’s read that again…

20 "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." Acts 5:20

Last week we looked at the GO part of this verse when we looked at the consistency in our Christian walk. We are called to Go therefore into all the world preaching, teaching and baptizing… and we cannot do this with an inconsistent walk in Christ, so we must be consistent.

But today I want us to look at the word STAND in this verse. It is a bold command by the Spirit to tell the Apostles to not only continue preaching in Jesus Name but also to go to the Temple and STAND there… and NOT back down!

In other words, the Spirit was calling the Apostles and all disciples to be courageous in their walk with Christ, by being willing to share Christ even in the most hostile of environments!

Now we may NEVER face what we consider an openly hostile environment here in this country, but we never know what is around the corner in our lives.

April 20, 1999 two young men went to school with the intention of killing as many students and faculty at Columbine High School as they possibly could.

One of their victims was a young lady by the name of Cassie Bernall. When they came up to her table in the Library they pointed a shotgun in her face and asked if she believed in God. She said yes without hesitation, and she was killed!

This did NOT happen in some foreign country where Christians are routinely persecuted, but in our own backyard… So we never know when persecution is going to come our way.

But the point of this entire illustration is that when we share Christ in our word, walk and witness, we reveal courage! To be willing to stand for Christ and share the love of Christ in the face of hatred and danger reveals courage on the part of the believer.

I could give you 1000 stories about people who have been willing to share Christ in hostile environments and some of them paid with their life, but this morning I want to focus on 3 points that I believe will help us to understand our role as evangelists in a more clear manner.

This morning I want to continue with our series on Evangelism by speaking to you about how evangelism reflects the COURAGE in our Christian walk. This morning I want to share with you how we must…

• Reveal our courage in our APPROACH to sharing the Gospel message to the lost…

• Reveal our courage in our ATTITUDE toward sharing the Gospel message to the lost…

• Reveal our courage in our ACTIONS for sharing the Gospel message to the lost…

1. We must learn to reveal courage in our APPROACH to sharing the Gospel (2 Tim 1:8-9a)

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling… 2 Tim 1:8-9 (NASB)

Now in reading these verses I want us to concentrate here on what we can see is Paul’s APPROACH to sharing the Gospel! His APPROACH was one of…

• No shame, Paul was NOT ashamed (read Rom 1:16) “…For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (NASB) and we can see that Paul also taught his students and those he discipled to NOT be ashamed (read 2 Tim 1:8a) “…Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner…” Paul instructed them to NOT be ashamed or shy away from sharing this Christ they knew or sharing the good news of the Gospel to the world around them!