He Walked A Mile Series

Text: Acts 2:43-47 Sean Smuts

Subject: Evangelism

Theme: Friendship Ministry Evangelism "He Walked A Mile"

Introduction: (Play He Walked A Mile by Clay Crosse)

It’s often said that you don’t know what someone is going through until you walk a mile in their shoes. Jesus set up an example for us to follow... He walked a mile in our shoes and hopes that we will do the same for others. This is a great way to help others reach Heaven.

Explanation:

1.Jesus has died, been resurrected, spent 40 days ministering

2.Jesus is now ascending into Heaven

1.The Believers Went Out To All People (Acts 11)

a. (illus.) "Peter was tired and dusty from his long journey. He would have liked a bath and bed and lunch. But there was no time. The kinsman and friends of Cornelius had kept a long vigil, waiting hopefully through a day and a night. Peter agreed to speak to them at once.

And immediately he made his social and religious position clear to them. Jews, seeing him in the house of a Gentile, would say that he had no right to be there. Now Peter announced:

’You know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God has shown me to call no man common or unclean.’

A thrill ran through all the listeners, and with good cause... all that has ever been needed is the spirit of brotherhood that Peter was now, in the House of Cornelius, trying to practice in obedience to God’s direction. - The Greatest Faith Ever Told, Fulton Oursler.

b. Application: (illus.) Guatemala Dump People

2. The Believers Did For Others (Acts 2:45)

a. Giving Possessions (2:45) Koinonia = generous spirit of sharing

b. Application: (illus.) Me at NY Rescue Mission playing chess

3.The Believers Celebrated Together (Acts 2:43, 46-47)

a. Koinonia (fellowship) – Fellowship here refers to the fact that the believers shared together, not only belongings but of successes and disappointments with evangelism.

b. The Christian is never an isolated unit; he is one of the believing company – Barclay, New Testament Words

c. The Christian koinonia is that bond which binds Christians to each other, to Christ and to God. - Barclay, New Testament Words

d. Application: (illus.) The Christian looks on all fellow-Christians as partners in a great work. For him to call a fellow man "partner" is the most natural thing in the world. It is used in the sense of a ’sharer in an experience.’ - Barclay, New Testament Words