For the entire month of January, we are going to focus on this thing called evangelism. Now to me that word is sometime scary and evokes many different emotions. For those of you with the spiritual gift of evangelism, you may get a little excited because this is right up your ally and you’re ready to start going door to door. But for others it’s a little scary. Because you don’t know what to say, you don’t know how to say it and what if you say it or do it wrong? So the first couple of weeks, we are going to talk about some things that will hopefully help calm your nerves and give you some tools that you can use. We’re going to do some things that will require your participation including some personal things you do on your own plus some things, like brainstorming, that we do in groups.
So let’s get started, first off, what is evangelism?
Evangelism is “the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others with the object of conversion.”
Ok, so to break that down, it means… what? Sharing about Christianity in order to convert people to Christianity. And a much simpler thing, idea or phase we use more often, especially at Lester Memorial is… To Make Disciples…
So who knows where we find in scripture the command to make disciples? Look it up. (Mathew 28:19; Mark 16:15)
So Jesus had finished everything He was sent here to do. He had been born in a manger, he had grown up as a common man, ministered, loved, healed, been beaten, died, raised back to life, then He is getting ready to go back to Heaven and He’s says, Oh yea. One more thing. And listen up good, this is the most important thing I have ever told you. Because if you don’t hear what I say and do it, then this whole thing doesn’t work right.
“Go into all the world making disciples.”
So the last thing He told us, wasn’t about how to have a great life, or about Heaven’s streets of gold or get a good education, which are important all in their own place. But the last thing He told us was, “Go into all the world making disciples…. Go into all the world evangelizing.
So this month we’re going to talk about evangelism. Our theme here on Sunday nights will be “Stories of Hope.” Now what does “Stories of Hope” have to do with evangelism. Well, It’s based on a scripture passage from 1 Peter 3:13-17
And who will harm[a] you if you are deeply committed to what is good?[b] 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed,[c] 15 but honor[d] the Messiah[e] as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason[f] for the hope that is in you. 16 However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear,[g][h] so that when you are accused,[i] those who denounce your Christian life[j] will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will,[k] than for doing evil.
Always, be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
The reason for the hope that is in you… So before we can give a defense. Before we can tell others about this hope within us, we have to 1.) have hope within us. 2.) know what this hope is.
God wants you so desperately and so passionately that He would die for you. And He did. And I want you to experience that love, that hope, again tonight.
Close your eyes for a moment. I want you to picture this, total blackness. The Earth is just a rock. There is no light. There is no life. There is nothing. Absolutely nothing exists except for God. And one more thing exists. His love for you.
You see, God chose you before the beginning of creation. Before the Genesis of the earth. Before He ever said, “Let there be light.” God loved you so desperately and so passionately that He would die for you.
Ephesians 1: 3-6
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.
Some of you may have been told that you were an accident. Or maybe some of you have heard, “things were great before you came along.”
Others of you may feel abandoned or given away by your birth parents because you were told that they didn’t want you or couldn’t care for you.
Let me say from the bottom of my heart, that I am sorry these things have been said to you. I am sorry that these things have been done to you. No one deserves to be told these things. No one deserves to feel that way.
For those of you that may have been told these things or feel abandoned by those that were supposed to be there for you no matter what. I want you to know tonight that God wants you so desperately and so passionately that He would die for you. And He did. And I want you to experience that love tonight.
In our lives we may feel abandoned or back stabbed or alone. We may feel like our life has no purpose, maybe no one has ever told us that we were a mistake, but we have allowed ourselves to feel that way.
I have allowed myself to feel this way before. There was a time in my life, just a couple of years ago, where I went through a time of pretty deep depression. I didn’t feel that God loved me, I didn’t feel that God even knew my name anymore. I felt like my life was just waiting away and there was nothing anyone could do for me. I felt that all my friends had abandoned me and questioned why I was even here.
But then one day, the Holy Spirit warmed my cold and bitter heart and reminded me of God’s unfailing love. I was reminded of what God told the prophet Jeremiah, “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.”
Before conception; before you were a twinkle in your father’s eye. Before your mother knew she was pregnant with you. God already knew you. He already knew your name. He already had plans for you. He already knew where you would be today. He already knew your sin, your struggles and your failures. He already knew your accomplishments, your awards and your successes. And despite your awesomeness. Despite your failures. God loved you. And this is how we know that God loves you.
Because before you were born. Before you even had a chance to sin. Before you had a chance to stab your friends in the back. Before you had a chance to give your virginity away. Before you had a chance to look at porn. Before you had a chance to look in the mirror and call yourself, God’s creation ugly. Before you had a chance to steal your parent’s money. God wanted you so desperately and so passionately that He would die for you. And He did.
And this is how we know that God loves us; that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. And this is our reason for hope.
This is our defense when asked what hope we have in Christ Jesus. This is our story of hope. That when we didn’t deserve it. When we were still living in sin. Christ died for us.
When we come face to face with our holy God, we become more aware of the sin in our lives. Earlier tonight, you were handed a piece of sandpaper. I’d like you to take a moment and feel the rough side of the sand paper. Feel its harshness and discomfort against your skin. I’d like for you to think of your sins as the bumps in the sandpaper. As you pass your fingers over the surface, ask God to make you aware of your sins and of your need for His holiness.
When we think about how wonderful and perfect God is, it makes our sin even more dark and shameful. But here’s the amazing thing: Even though we’ve messed up, God has provided a way for us to make our way back to Him. God sent his Son, Jesus, to die for us and cover our shame – to make us clean. Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. It is through that sacrificial death that we are able to draw near to God.
Jesus’ death means that your sins can be forgiven and the roughness of your life can be made smooth.
If you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive your sins, I’d like to invite you to take time to do it now. If you’d like, come and talk to myself or to one of the other adults.
Some of you in this room have asked God for forgiveness before. But you have gone back to living your life for you. This life that you once surrendered to God, you’ve now taken back into your own hands. You’re gossiping again. You’re looking at porn again. You’re going too far with your boyfriends or girls friends. You’ve stopped doing things God’s way and you’re doing them your way. If that’s you tonight, God wants you to know that He still loves you and there is nothing you could that would separate you from His love. If this is you, take the time to ask Jesus to forgive you right now. If you would like someone to talk to, I’m available or another adult is available.
If you have already asked Jesus for his forgiveness and are living in that freedom, then spend this time thanking God for this amazing gift.
