ON FIRE!
I Corinthians 9.15-18
S: Evangelism
C: Using the spoken Word
Th: Plan to Win!
Pr: SAY IT!
?: Why? Why should we say it?
KW: Reasons
TS: We will find in I Corinthians 9.16 three reasons why we should speak the good news about Jesus.
Type: Propositional
The ____ reason is…
I. IT HUMBLES US.
II. IT BURDENS US.
III. IT DISTRESSES US.
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• Be excited about how great this message is – speak up!
• Let go of the burden – speak out!
• Pass it on – speak on!
Version: ESV
RMBC 20 January 08 AM
INTRODUCTION:
ILL Film Clip
“Amazing Grace,” scene 11, John Newton confesses his sins as a slave trader.
In the film clip we saw earlier, a blind John Newton is speaking to William Wilberforce, the man credited for ending the slave trade in England. John had felt the weight of his sin. And the words of his own song were coming all the more true for him:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.
I wonder, today…
1. What has profoundly changed you?
What has happened in your life that has made you switch direction?
Has there been a circumstance?
Has there been an accomplishment?
Has there been a person?
One thing, for sure, is that…
2. We don’t stay quiet when change has come.
When something really good has happened to us, it is very natural for us to tell someone else about it.
We don’t stay quiet.
We speak about it.
We tell others.
And if it really has profoundly hanged us and we are excited about, it could be said that we are “on fire”…
It reminds us of the words of Jesus that were brought to us last September, when He said…
"I have come to bring fire on the earth...”
Luke 12.49 (NIV)
It could be said that Jesus set His followers on fire.
And from generation to generation, they have been passing that fire along.
They have not allowed it to die.
It is a fire that has spread all across the world.
It is a fire that is good news.
But how does each generation keep this good news alive?
Well, it is very simple.
They…
3. SAY IT!
They say it!
And that is our instruction as well today.
We are to “say it”!
You see, people need to hear the good news about Jesus.
We are to tell them because people are God’s passion.
He absolutely loves His creation.
And so, we are to tell them the good news, the truth about God and us.
It is a necessity.
Note how the apostle Paul describes it in I Corinthians 9.15-18:
(15) But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. (16) For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (17) For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. (18) What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
The verse we want to focus on is verse 16.
It shows Paul’s heart.
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting.
For necessity is laid upon me.
Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
OUR STUDY:
I. The first reason we speak the good news is IT HUMBLES US.
The good news, the gospel, is about Jesus.
1. This is not about me.
We are mistaken if somehow we think that we are deserving of the grace that has come to us.
The fact is we are unworthy to receive it.
We are incompetent in terms of earning it.
It is out of our reach.
But there is good news…
2. The good news is about the determination of Jesus.
Jesus was determined.
He had a plan.
He had a plan to win!
He was not going to settle for anything less.
Failure was not an option.
He successfully came to earth.
He showed us how to live.
And then He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
But His death was not the end.
He defeated the power of death and, thus, the power of sin by raising from the dead.
So, now we follow Him.
We belong to Him.
And it is not because of anything that we could do that is worth talking about.
Instead, we are humble witnesses.
We testify of the good news that Jesus gives us the gift of grace, if we will receive it.
II. The second reason we speak the good news is IT BURDENS US.
This good news, this grace, is Paul’s priority.
Paul is all about the gospel.
This is what drives Paul.
He knows that it is the gospel that has radically changed is life for the good.
This is why he writes to the Romans:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
Paul understands that it is the good news about Jesus that makes a difference in a person’s life.
And, now, we have been entrusted with this good news.
1. We are stewards of the Word.
It is a trust.
And while not all of us are gifted to be “preachers” so to speak, we are all given the responsibility to proclaim the Word of God.
No one gets away with not doing this.
No one…
We are all stewards.
We have been given God’s words, not to keep to ourselves, but to share with others, both in how we live and what we say.
Not only that…
2. We are compelled to communicate the truth.
Paul notes how important it is for him.
He understands that he has a much higher call than to just give good advice.
He is to communicate the good news – the truth.
In fact, this was much more than just a good idea to him.
It was an irresistible call.
He felt both constrained and compelled, so much so, that if he did not do so, it would be a matter of anguish.
It would pain him to be quiet.
That brings us to…
III. The third reason we speak the good news is IT DISTRESSES US.
ILL Preaching Commanded 12/92.8
Because of the intense competition in the automobile industry, carmakers like to keep their design breakthroughs secret. A company that can offer a new desirable feature in its cars gains a coveted selling edge in a tough market.
This is why it was a surprise in the early 90s when Mercedes Benz aired a certain commercial. It showed one of their cars being crashed into a brick wall during a safety test. The way it withstood the impact revealed why its energy-absorbing construction has saved lives. Even though Mercedes Benz held the patent on the safety design, competitors were free to use it because the company did not enforce its claim.
When asked why, the Mercedes Benz spokesman replied, “Because some things in life are too important not to share.”
If there was ever an application to the good news about Jesus, there it is.
“…some things in life are too important not to share.”
Let us understand this…
1. The good news demands a response.
When Jesus says,
“I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me…,”
…it must be understood as an absolute statement.
He did not say, “Maybe I am the way…”
He did not say, “I am one of many ways…”
He said, “I am the way…”
Each person has the choice, to accept His claim as true or reject it.
God has given us the responsibility to give others the opportunity to say “yes” just as we have.
As we saw in the earlier clip, this responsibility is what John Newton felt to his dying days.
It distressed him.
The weight of immortal souls condemned to death because of the slave trade, in which he had participated, weighed heavy on him.
ILL Evangelism (S)
The Yangtze River Bridge, a national landmark in China, is always crowded with traffic, while the great river 100 yards below is filled with barges. The bridge also has thousands of pedestrians, so it is not easy to spot those determined to jump. Over 1,000 people have jumped since the bridge opened in 1968. A man who works on the bridge observed, "It’s a place that has a 100 percent success rate."
In 2003, Chen, a man in his mid-30s, became a self-appointed guardian angel, coming to the bridge every weekend to try to stop people from jumping. He counts 42 people whom he has stopped from committing suicide, talking some down and wrestling with others. He has also had five people slip from his grasp to their deaths.
What an extraordinary picture for Christians to consider. For this man, whether he knows it or not, has the heart of an evangelist. "If I save one person," he says, "one is a lot."
Asked how he can identify potential jumpers from the sea of people, Chen answers, "It is very easy to recognize. A person who walks without spirit."
Chen has gained some attention in the press and now several college students help him patrol the bridge, as do a few people whom he has saved from jumping. "We have to teach people to love life and treasure life," Chen says.
Citation: Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; source: Jim Yardley, "’Guardian Angel’ Patrols Suicide Bridge," Chicago Tribune (9-21-04)
Christian, this is the very thing we are doing.
We are teaching people to love and treasure the life God offers us through Jesus.
We are telling them to not jump, because that is what they are doing if they do not receive Jesus.
You see…
2. There is eternal consequence involved.
Eternal destiny is at stake.
Heaven and hell weigh in the balance.
It is in this life that we choose.
No other.
This is the only chance, the only opportunity…
Randall believers…
Plan to win!
Share in God’s passion.
Possess a passion for people.
CHALLENGE:
Be on fire!
ILL Fire clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOiSp0VXHNQ
Are you on fire?
Note this about the fire you have seen.
The fire is always the same, but the vehicle that carries it is different.
The same is true for us.
The message is always the same, but each one of us is different.
And the assignment is the same…
Each one of us has a message to spread.
It is important.
It is essential.
It must be said.
So say it…
1. Speak up! Get excited!
What Jesus has done for you should excite you!
It should lift you off your feet, jumping for joy.
It has turned your mourning into dancing.
It is news that cannot keep us still.
ILL Witness (H)
I don’t know about you, but I know that I am like a lot of other people. When a Jehovah Witness or a Mormon comes knocking on my door, I tend to want to get rid of them.
But I am changing my tactic. When they come to my door now and ask if they can talk to me about God...
I say, "Sure, what would you like to know?"
Say it, and…
2. Speak out! It is meant to be shared.
As we noted before, it is too important not to share.
God did not intend for us to enjoy the good news and then keep it to ourselves.
But when we don’t share it, we are in effect telling God, “I rather not.”
ILL Evangelism (S)
As Howard Hendricks has said...
"In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering."
So say it, and…
3. Speak on! Keep passing on the good news.
Pass it on.
Pass it on to your friends.
Pass it on to your relatives.
Pass it on to fellow students.
Pass it on to the people you meet in stores.
Pass it on to your neighbors.
Just keep passing it on, and never…
Never doubt the power of God’s Word!
The message changed you.
It can change them too.
ILL Drama: Scripture…
This reading will demonstrate the power of scripture and also how once one person is excited about the good news of Jesus Christ the fire quickly spreads.
Person 1 will grow excited and spread the news to Person 2 who quickly becomes excited too. Then together they move to Person 3, who is a little more hesitant but is won over to the Glory of God. All text in the reading is from scripture.
______________________________
The reading opens with all 3 people standing facing the audience, equal distant apart, with heads down.
Person 1 – (lifts face and reads as if from the Bible. Starting off normal and excitement grows.) “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
“And he will be called, Wonderful Counsel, Mighty God the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever, with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.”
Person 1 – (walks over to stand next to Person 2) “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!”
“Our Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Person 2 – “How can this be?”
Person 1 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth.”
“I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Person 2 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” Says the Lord God, “who is, and who was and who is to come.”
Person 1 – “Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.”
Person 2 – “God will fill your mouth with laughter and lips with joy!”
Person 1 and 2 look toward Person 3
Person 1 – “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men.”
Person 1 and 2 move to either side of Person 3.
Person 2 - “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God.”
Person 3 – “I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
Person 1 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Person 3 – “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
Person 2 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“For you did not receive a spirit of fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. And by him we cry Abba, Father!”
Person 1 – “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and door will be opened to you. “
Person 2 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Person 3 – “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one shall come to the Father except through me.”
“I am convinced that neither death not life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.”
Person 1- (gesturing to the audience) “Freely you have received, freely give.”
Person 3 – (talking to the audience) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name for the Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.
All – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
For Further Study: Psalm 89.1; Jeremiah 20.9; Matthew 5.14-16, 28.19-20; John 14.6; Acts 1.8; Romans 1.16, 5.8
BENEDICTION:
After the postlude is concluded, please know that I will be available to you. I will be returning to the platform. If you have any prayer concern or question, please come and see me.
Say it and speak up…you have good news to share – it is too important to not tell.
Say it and speak out…let the fire that is burning inside of you be seen by all – spread that fire – do not keep it to yourself.
Say it and speak on…pass it on – there are so many that are yet to hear.
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to the good news and message of Jesus, to the only wise God, be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ. Amen.
RESOURCES:
Sermoncentral:
Decker, Paul Do What You Have to Do
Sauer, Kenneth Meeting People Where They Are
Books:
Exell, Joseph S. The Biblical Illustrator. London, 1887.
