---ILL>On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a little life-saving station. The building was primitive, and there was just one boat, but the members of the life-saving station were committed and kept a constant watch over the sea. When a ship went down, they unselfishly went out day or night to save the lost. Because so many lives were saved by that station, it became famous. Consequently, many people wanted to be associated with the station to give their time, talent, and money to support its important work. New boats were bought, new crews were recruited, a formal training session was offered. As the membership in the life-giving station grew, some of the members became unhappy that the building was so primitive and the equipment was so outdated. They wanted a better place to welcome the survivors pulled from the sea. So they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged and newly-decorated building. Now the life-saving station became a popular gathering place for its members. They met regularly, and when they did, it was apparent how they loved one another. They greeted one another, hugged each other, and shared with one another the events that had been going on in their lives. But fewer members were now interested in going to sea on life-saving missions; so they hired lifeboat crews to do this for them. About this time, a large ship wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought into the life-giving station boatloads of cold, wet, dirty, sick, and half-drowned people. Some of them had black skin, and some had yellow skin. Some could speak English well, and some could hardly speak it at all. Some were first-class passengers from the ship, and some were the deck hands or servants aboard. The beautiful meeting place became a place of chaos. The plush carpets got dirty. Some of the exquisite furniture got scratched. So the property committee immediately had a shower built outside the house where the victims of shipwrecks could clean up before coming inside their beautiful new building. At the next meeting there was a rift in the membership. Most of the members insisted that life-saving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a life-saving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the lives of all those various kinds of people who would be shipwrecked, they could begin their own life-saving down the coast. And you know what? That’s what they did. As the years passed, however, the new station experienced the same troubled that had occurred with the old. It evolved into a place to meet regularly for fellowship, for committee meetings, and for special training sessions about their mission, but few went out to the drowning people. The drowning people were no longer put into that life-saving station. So another life-saving was founded further down the coast. History continued to repeat itself. And if you visit that seacoast today, you’ll find a number of adequate meeting places with ample parking and plush carpeting. But shipwrecks are still as frequent as ever in those waters. Now, however, most of the people drown.
It’s easy to get distracted from our purpose, and get comfortable with great fellowship, but people still need to be saved, and God has given us, as His church, the purpose of saving lives.
I invite you to open a Bible and turn to Romans 10:13-15.
Last week we launched a new series and a new focus: "Pursuing Purpose," focusing our attention on the 5 Purposes of the Church.
--We started with the purpose of Reaching Up and Connecting with God.
--In the weeks to come, we’ll look at Growing Up, Maturing in Faith; Reaching Across and Helping People; and Lifting Up and Supporting One Another.
--But today we’re looking at "Going Out, and Touching the World."
--The Purpose of Evangelism.
--Quote: Someone anonymously has said, "Any fire that does not ignite other materials will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction of terms, just as a fire that doesn’t burn is a contradiction of terms."
<>There are numerous misunderstandings about what evangelism is, who is to be involved, and how it should be and can be done.
--It is perhaps the biggest fear of many Christians...to talk to someone one on one...because we have a wrong idea of what it’s about.
<>Today, let’s look at the Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How of Evangelism...
1) Who? -- The Who of Evangelism.
<>By whom?
--Acts 1:8 -- "but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses..."
-->Every believer! -- Every believer is to be involved.
--This was not a command to “professional clergy.”
---This was a mandate given to every follower of Jesus.
---Evangelism is not only for the “hired guns,” the evangelists with white shoes and slick hair-do’s and Evangelistic Associations supporting them, pastors, church staff members, or ordained ministers.
---Evangelism is not only for those with the spiritual gift of evangelism.
---And evangelism is not only to be engaged in by people who have completed an evangelistic training course.
<>To whom?
--Matthew 28:19 -- "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations..."
--Acts 1:8 -- "...both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
-->Every age group, every culture, every language group, every people group.
---Red and yellow, black and white...they are precious to God...created by Him...loved by Him...and Jesus died for them.
---There is no one “so far gone” or who is beyond the power of God to reach them and change them.
---ILL>The Albanian Palace of Congresses, in the capital city of Tirana, was once a virtual shrine to atheistic Communism. But a few years ago the featured attraction there was not Communist ideology, but the Jesus Film, a Campus Crusade for Christ evangelistic project. An estimated two thousand people turned out for the first Albanian showing of the film, including the country’s top government officials. More than seven hundred indicated that they made decisions for Christ. The head of the government-controlled Albanian film industry said, ”What once was a temple of Communism is now being used as a temple of the holy God.”
-->We are the missionaries in our own geographical area.
---It is no coincidence that God has placed us where we are, and He intends for us to be His witnesses, His ambassadors, His missionaries first of all where we live.
----We already know the language.
----We already know the culture.
----We already know people in the community.
-->We’re also to support missionaries around the world.
---We can’t be physically everywhere, but our prayers and dollars can be all over the world...we need to support the missionaries God has called and placed in other areas around the globe.
2) WHY? -- Why we should individually be involved, and why it is such a vital purpose of the Church.
<>It is eternally important that people know.**
--Romans 6:23 -- "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
--Salvation is literally a matter of life and death...eternal life or separation from the Giver of Life forever.
<>Only those who know the truth can tell of the solution.
--Romans 10:14 -- "And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"
---ILL>One Sunday evening, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, was walking in London with his son, Bramwell, who was only twelve years old at the time. The father surprised his son by taking him into a saloon! The place was crowded with men and women, many of them bearing on their faces the marks of vice and crime; some were drunk. The fumes of alcohol and tobacco poisoned the air. Booth turned to his son and said, ”Bramwell, these are our people; these are the people I want you to live for and bring to Christ.” Years later, Bramwell Booth wrote, ”That impression never left me and continued to be the Salvation Army’s mission.”
--William Booth led the Salvation Army to operate under the most effective and powerful mission statement I’ve ever heard of for an organization: ”Others.”
--That says it all. -- If we don’t go, they won’t know.
<>It’s a mandate, a command.
--Matthew 28:19 -- "Go, therefore..."
--Acts 1:8 -- "...you shall be My witnesses..."
--It’s not “the great suggestion,” but the Great Commission.
--Jesus didn’t say, ”Well, maybe, if you feel comfortable with it, if you can muster up the courage, you might tell someone about Me.”
--No, He said, ”you SHALL be My witnesses.” He said, ”Go! Go out and make disciples...of every nation.”
<>Love compels us to go.
--2 Corinthians 5:14-15 -- "For the love of Christ controls (compels) us, having concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."
---Poem: "For God so loved the world, not just a few, the wise and great, the noble and true, or those of favored class or rank or hue. God loved the world, do you?"
-->Because we’ve accepted Christ, been the beneficiary of His grace and love...our love for Him compels us to tell others how they can experience His love, accept His free gift of grace.**
---We know that since Jesus died for all, it means that every person without Christ is spiritually dead...and needs Jesus.
-->When you love someone you’re willing to out of your way to help them.
---You’re willing to be “uncomfortable,” if necessary, for their well-being.
---Parents are willing to change dirty diapers, not because it’s fun, but because they love their children, and children can’t change their own diapers.
-->When you love someone you’re going to help them if you have the answer, the solution to their problem.
---ILL>If you knew the solution, the cure for cancer, would you be considered a moral person if you didn’t tell others what you know?
-----Would you be considered a good Christian if you withheld that knowledge from the world, knowledge that could save millions of people’s lives?
-----Well, since we know the cure for hell...why should we not be responsible for telling as many as we can?
-->We love people too much to stay quiet, worrying what they might think about us right now...on earth.
---ILL>I’ve talked about it before, but my brain is forever seared with the image of the young man on the Bay Bridge that fateful day years ago, when an earthquake hit their during the World Series. The man was frantically waving his arms and trying to get the attention of oncoming traffic, so they would be warned that the upper level of the bridge up ahead had collapsed to the lower level below, and cars who went past him were headed for disaster and most probably the loss of life of everyone in their car. Many of the cars went on by, gesturing at him, yelling at him, considering him to be a nut case...but he didn’t care. They could hate him if they wanted to, his focus was not on what they thought about him, but saving them.
---That’s how we’re to be, because we love people enough to let them throw insults at us if they want...to think we’re crazy...we just want to see their lives saved.
3) What? -- What is our message?
-If you’ve hesitated to be involved in evangelism because you’re afraid you won’t get the message right, here’s the Gospel in a nutshell...
<>God is holy and pure.
--Isaiah 6:3 -- "And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”
--We can’t appreciate forgiveness, sin, redemption, or grace until we understand that God is completely, utterly, and totally holy...pure, no shadow or taint of impurity at all.
<>We’ve sinned, and stand separated from a relationship with God.
--Romans 3:23 -- "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
--A holy God cannot be around sin...so as a result of our sin, we became separated from any intimacy with Him.
<>We can’t save ourselves.
--Ephesians 2:8-9 -- "For by grace you have been saved through faith; that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one should boast."
---ILL>Can you imagine anyone being on a sinking ship a thousand miles from shore, but when a rescue ship arrives, refusing any help from the rescue ship, insisting that he/she can swim the thousand miles and save himself/herself?
-----Well, as silly as that would be, that’s exactly what people who think they can save themselves by being a good person or somehow “earning” salvation are doing.
--We can’t save ourselves.
<>God loves us, and Jesus came to earth and paid our penalty, and offers us forgiveness and pardon as a free gift.
--John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
--Romans 5:8 -- "For God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
--Because God is holy, our sin must be paid for.
--We, as unholy sinners, can never satisfy God’s requirement for holiness.
--But God also loves us, so He did for us what we can’t do for ourselves.
---He sent His only Son to come and live a holy life, qualifying Him to be our holy substitute, our holy sacrifice, once for all.
<>Receiving Jesus by faith satisfies the Father’s “holiness requirement.”
--Romans 10:9 -- "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."
--Romans 10:13 -- "for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
--God gives us the freedom to choose, and everyone who chooses to believe Jesus is who He says He is, that He did what the Bible tells us He did, and that He is the One Way to the Father, can be saved.
-->Receiving Him is a matter of A-B-C...
---We must A-dmit that we have sinned and need forgiveness.
---We must B-elieve that Jesus came to seek and save us, that He came to live a holy life and die a substitutionary and sacrificial death to pay our penalty for us.
---We must C-hoose to receive Him as Lord of our lives, yielding the leadership of our lives into His hands.
4) HOW?
--There is nothing wrong with evangelism training courses...we’ll be offering opportunities in the near future.
--However, evangelism should be and can be engaged in by every believer in three simple ways...
<>As eye-witnesses.
---Acts 1:8 -- "you shall be My witnesses."
---The Christian-ese phrase, “witnessing,” is difficult for some people to understand.
----The reason is because “witnessing” is an abbreviated word.
----The real word is “eye-witnessing.”
---We can only give a “testimony” in court if we’re an eye-witness.
----No second-hand information, no hear-say stuff.
---However, our “testimony” as eye-witnesses is also the most powerful testimony and evidence that can be used in court.
---There are three three-word phrases we need to remember, phrases that can help us understand how we can be involved in evangelism right now, and effectively.
---The first of those is associated with this area of being an eye-witness....
---->"Telling Our Story."
---Earlier in the service you turned and told someone else your favorite meal. You didn’t have any trouble doing that, did you?
----You didn’t need a twelve-week course to help you know how to tell someone that, did you?
----No, because it was simple: you were simply “telling your story,” telling what’s important to you.
---We’re to be witnesses, not experts on everything theological, just eye-witnesses of what Jesus has done in our lives.
---Not as “professional pitch men,” but as satisfied customers.
---ILL>Leighton Ford, an associate of Billy Graham, was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized him. Directly in front of him was an elderly gentleman who was intently listening to Ford’s message. When the invitation was given for people to come forward as an open sign of commitment, Billy Graham decided to do a little personal evangelism. He tapped the man on the shoulder and asked, ”Would you like to accept Christ? I’ll be glad to walk down with you if you want to.” The old man looked Billy up and down, thought it over a moment, then said, ”Naw, I think I’ll just wait till the big gun comes tomorrow night.”
---Leighton and Billy used to laugh about the incident over the years, but Leighton explained: "Many people hold the same view...evangelism, they think, is the task of the ’big guns,’ not the ’little shots.’”
---Witnessing is actually eye-witnessing...telling our story...as individuals.
---Yes, training can help us be more confident, more efficient, but not an excuse for not telling our story.
---Yes, tracts and marked Bibles, and other tools can help guide the discussion, but they’re not required in telling our story.
<>As everyday ambassadors.
---Matthew 28:19 -- "(As you) go therefore..."
---Mathew 28:19, part of the Great Commission, is usually translated, “Go therefore, and make disciples...” -- and that is an accurate translation.
---However, in the Greek, it actually would be better to translate it, “As you go, make disciples of every nation.”
----The focus is on being an ambassador, a messenger, an evangelist every day of our lives, and everywhere we go.
---->The three-word phrase this time: "As you go."
---This answers the “when” and “where” parts of evangelism -- everyday and everywhere we go.
--->We should be His witnesses not merely on special occasions or during evangelistic “programs” or “events,” but as a lifestyle.
----There’s nothing wrong with an organized effort or project to focus our attention on evangelism. In fact, we’ll be promoting several upcoming times such as that.
----However, our focus is never to be on ONLY those occasions, but every day.
--->We should keep our eyes open to the needs of the people around us.
---ILL>I’m reminded of the story reported by the Times Reporter newspaper of New Philadelphia, Ohio. In September of 1985, there was a celebration held at a New Philadelphia municipal pool. The party was held to celebrate the first summer without a drowning at the city pool. In honor of the occasion, two hundred people gathered, including one hundred certified lifeguards. As they party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully-dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, 31, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.
----Desert Springs, there are people dying all around us. We need to be about life-saving more than celebrating other things.
--->We need to keep our connection open with God, so we utilize the opportunities He leads us into.
----Being available for God to speak through is IS worship, just as much as gathering together on Sunday mornings.
<>As “connectors” to Jesus.
---John 1:46-47 -- "And Nathaniel said to him (Philip), ’Can any good thing come from Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ’Come and see.’”
--->Our job is to point people to Jesus, and leave the changes to Him.
----And He can change the hardest heart.
---ILL>Many years ago in St. Louis, a lawyer was visited by a Christian to transact some business. Before the two parted, his client said to him, ”I’ve often wanted to ask you a question, but I’ve been afraid to do so.” The lawyer responded, ”What do you want to know?" The Christian client then told him, ”I’ve wondered why you’re not a Christian.” The lawyer hung his head, then said, ”I know enough about the Bible to realize it says no drunkard can enter the kingdom of God; and you know my weakness.” The Christian told him, ”You’re avoiding my question.” The lawyer then admitted, ”Well, truthfully, I can’t recall anyone every explaining HOW to become a Christian.” So, the Christian picked up his Bible, and let the lawyer read some passages showing that all are under condemnation, but that Christ came to save the lost by dying on the cross for their sins. He then explained, ”By receiving Him as your Substitute and Redeemer, you can be forgiven. If you’re willing to receive Jesus, let’s pray together.” The lawyer agreed, and when it was his turn he prayed, ”O Jesus, I am a slave to drink. One of Your servants, though, has shown me how to be saved. O God, forgive my sins and help me overcome the power of this terrible habit in my life.” Right then and there he was converted. That lawyer’s name was C. I. Scofield, who later edited the reference Bible that bears his name...the Scofield Bible.
--->Our job is not to argue people into the kingdom, but to point people to Jesus, thereby planting seeds.
----Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, later brought the boy with the happy meal of fish to Jesus.
----In fact, every time we see Andrew in the Bible he is bringing someone or something to Jesus.
---We need more Andrews.
---In John 1, as Jesus was calling His first disciples, Nathaniel questioned Philip’s bold statement about having found the Messiah. But Philip’s response to Nathaniel was simple, and is our final three-word phrase to remember:
---->"Come and see."
---Our job is simply to be “connectors,” helping people connect to Jesus.
---And sometimes, when the time is right, when the fruit is ripe from seeds planted earlier, we are afforded the opportunity to reap, to “close the deal” and be used by God to assist people in praying to receive Jesus by faith.
<>Bringing it home...
-Have you received Jesus?
--If not, I invite you today...Come and see. Check Him out for yourself.
-If you have received Jesus, then I encourage you to join me...
--Let’s "go out and tell."
