Bumper Stickers I have seen: Icthus, Honk if you love Jesus, In Case of Rapture this Car will be Unmanned, God is my Co-Pilot, Get Right or Get Left, Turn or Burn, My Pastor Deserves a Raise
o I have a problem with some of this. For starters I just don’t care for bumper stickers. But you didn’t come to church to hear my personal preferences preached from the pulpit did you?
o Don’t get me wrong, I think some bumper stickers are just fine, but here is my concern—for far too many Christians today, their bumper is the only outward sign that might indicate they belong to Christ.
I have a problem with bumper sticker Christianity. The attitude that says, I am not sure I am brave enough to tell my neighbors about what Jesus has done in me when they ask, but I am willing to paste a trite message on my bumper. Again, if you have a bumper sticker this morning, I am not singling you out as much as I am the attitude that some have toward evangelism.
What do I mean? Bumper Sticker Christianity has some problems:
1. Evangelical failure—some say it is a silent witness to my faith, and indeed it is. But let me ask you this morning, have you ever heard of anyone coming to Christ because they read a bumper sticker?
Earlier this summer, Melody and I visited my parents in Florida. And on the causeway, everyday there was a converted VW bus covered in Christian bumper stickers. It had a huge hand-painted sign that said “Prayer Station” with a few folding chairs. And I thought to myself: at least they are out there. But we drove by them at least 10-15 times at all different times of the day, and there was never anyone who took advantage of the opportunity. There were lots of people on the causeway, but no one was stopping.
Unless you and I step it up a notch, and begin to engage others around us, our church will be a nice homey place where no one ever gets saved because no one ever got invited because at least we pasted on our sticker. If putting a bumper sticker on our car is the only evangelical thing we do, our mission is not completed. Shame on us. But we can learn from that VW bus. As odd as it was, at least they were trying to engage people.
2. More concern with proclaiming how right we are than loving people. Don’t get me wrong, we have the truth, and we do need to share it. What are we trying to do? Paul met the intellectuals on Mars Hill and showed them the truth of the gospel. He didn’t take pot shots at them as he walked through town—he engaged them—had enough respect and concern for them to share the truth of God’s Word.
Are you more concerned with winning moral arguments with co-workers, or are you gently standing up for God’s positions, but not being drawn into useless squabbles? What is the point unless we are doing all we can to draw them to Christ right?
3. Bumper sticker Christianity does not prepare us to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ. Too many believers functionally live in this place that says I go to church; I am doing the best that I can with God. I know I am supposed to share what God has done in me—so what if it is only on my bumper? I guess that’s probably enough--all I can do. Really?
Our theme verse for this series is I Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts 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 this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
We have talked in this series that being ready to share the hope that we have in Christ means many things.
o It means that we have to be on our toes spiritually.
o It means we have to have ethics in the workplace, at school.
o That our word need to mean something
o That we have to not lean on the legalisms of the past
o That we watch our drift toward sin
o That we keep in step with the Spirit—when you and I do this, our lives remain on target
Today I want us to look at this passage in I Peter 3, particularly at the end of it. Peter says be prepared to give an answer about the hope you have in Christ, “with gentleness and respect”.
Jesus talked about this ethic of respect particularly when you are trying to show God’s love.
He said in Matthew 5:40-42, “You have heard it said, an eye for an eye, and tooth for tooth, but I tell you, do not resist and evil person. If someone strikes you on the right check, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
According to Jesus, gentleness and respect are more than politeness. It may mean going the extra mile—it may mean being wronged by someone else. It certainly does not mean that we are rude to those who don’t know Christ. It is our responsibility to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have—doing that with gentleness and respect.
So how do I do that? How do I get my neighbors, my co-workers, my unsaved loved ones to ask about the hope that I have in Christ? How do I do that with gentleness and respect?
1. Begin to Care
o Develop a heart for the lost—Pray for it, Pray for people, Ask God for a Heart of Compassion
o Matthew 28:19—our responsibility
o Paul reminds us of Christ’s love in Romans 5:6-8
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
o See them as God sees them—enough to die for them—while yet sinners
o Lost sheep—leaves the 99 to find the 1! Lost coin, lost sons
o Like the Lost Sons—the one who was really lost was the son who could not extend mercy and grace
o Recognize that you needed God’s grace too, and someone reached out to you
2. Live your Christianity Consistently
o Godliness with humility is attractive!
o People will ask about the hope we have in Christ, if our hope shows from time to time, if our joy is a real thing—even in the midst of trials
o When they are ready, they will ask—we don’t necessarily have to beat down doors or do street corner evangelism to do what Jesus is asking of us
o One of the biggest excuses those who have been turned off by Christianity is that those who wear the name don’t live up to what they believe
3. Plant seeds of Opportunity
o Take advantage of God-ordained moments—do it with gentleness and respect
o Pay attention to those around you—hard times? Seasons in life: marriage, kids in school, empty nesters, single and lonely
o “If you ever want to talk about spiritual things, I would love to do that”
o Invite them into your home, to church, to events that are sensitive to those who don’t know Christ yet
o ASK if they would like to talk about spiritual things
4. Be Ready
o Know what you believe
o Know God’s Word—
--John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
--Romans 3:23
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
--I John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Evangelism Explosion’s question “if you died tonight do you know for sure you would go to heaven? Why?”
o Prepare your testimony—
Let me share with you mine:
I grew up in Marysville in a normal suburban life. We went to church every time the doors were open, and I learned early on, that God loved me. But growing up I didn’t pay much attention to God—I just learned to act appropriately. In my teenage years, we moved and I was faced with a lot of change in my life. It was then that I began to see that my life did not match up with what the church taught. I was greedy, selfish, angry and full of unforgiveness. And I didn’t want to live that way. At first, I tried to improve myself, in my own power—and I failed miserably. It wasn’t until I turned by my life over to Christ that God began to change me from the inside out. Not everything was immediate, but slowly God began to help me see my failings and my self-centeredness. He gave me a hope and a future. He gave me a joy for living that I cannot explain. God has truly blessed my life. I probably will never earn as much money as my parents, or maybe even have all the things I did growing up, but that doesn’t really matter. God has given me a lovely wife—much more than I deserve, and two wonderful boys. I am blessed.
o Have you ever thought to rehearse just a little of what your testimony might be? Not being phony, but being ready to share the hope you have in Christ with gentleness and respect.
My goal this month, is for us to have a wake up call. For you and I to recognize that God expects us to be ready to share our faith, to answer for the hope that we have in Christ. We dare not sum up our personal evangelism efforts with a sticker on our bumper.
God is calling you and I to engage our coworkers, our neighbors, our unsaved loved ones for Christ. He is asking us to eat with them, to befriend them, to show them the difference Christ makes in our lives. I am truly excited. God has placed two new young couples on our street. I have been praying for them a lot. Melody and I have met them both and we plan to get to know them better. The reality of Christ in us, comes as you and I begin to make relationships with other people.
Did you know that for 90% of people who accept Christ, it is usually from someone they already know very well. From a parent, a friend, a trusted teacher or coach. Friends this morning, let’s engage our community, our neighbors, our co-workers for Jesus Christ.
I am going to ask you to do something radical this morning. If you feel the prod of God in your back, if He is asking you to step up to the plate, then I am going to ask you to join me at these altars this morning. I am here because I need God’s boldness and his help in my life. Will you stand for Christ? Will you engage those around you?
Join me if you want to make that commitment this morning. Let’s pray.
