Connecting to community part three
Selected Verses
Introduction-
For the past several weeks we have looked at connecting to community.
Part one was the relationship with the Lord (priority one)
Part two was our connection with each other. We need each other. The church was created by God so that we would not have to journey alone and we would be a support for each other.
The church is:
A place of redemption
A place of discipleship
A place of Commitment
A place of Service
We must as the body of Christ look at the church the way God intended and not as the world looks at it.
The world sees it as a place to get married, buried, and a place to visit when it is convenient
I told you last week if this (relationship with God) is not right, we will not love others. If we don’t love others, we will not reach out to those that need Christ. Each part touches the other.
God touches us and we touch others.
Luke 19:10-
“For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.”
It was intentional-
He didn’t only live a sinless life, He told people how they could get to heaven and have a relationship with God the Father.
Matthew 5:16-
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” That is intentional and personal!
I realize this morning as we celebrate Girl Scout Sunday that we have different denominations gathered today, but the message is the same for each of us- show the love of Christ to those we come in contact with.
Live it like we mean it.
Intentional!
(holding three fingers up and together. 3 parts of the promise. )
Motto- “Be prepared”
Slogan- “Do a good deed daily”
Promise of friendship
Girl Scout Promise-
“On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country, to help others at all times.”
Girl Scout Law- (paraphrased)
Be compassionate people and make the world a better place because we are in it.
I think with those principals, you can evangelize the world for Christ.
You turn that into sharing the love of Christ and people would see God’s love in action.
You start talking evangelism, witnessing, bringing people to God and you have people that tighten up like a drum and get fearful.
Then the excuses begin to fly.
I don’t have time for that.
People will get mad.
I’ll lose my friends.
Everyone has heard it already.
People have a right to choose what they believe.
The gospel is the good news of Christ. It’s not about excuses. It is sharing the good news with others.
I will give you several reasons this morning to share the Gospel
I. God said so
Matthew 28:19-
“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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
The day of Pentecost
Acts 2:8-
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
He tells us to Go!
He promises to empower us!
He promises to be with us!
Matthew, Mark, Luke- Gospels, all have the same message. Go and share the message of Christ. Give others a chance to come to Christ.
(2) Christ Commands us to Love our neighbors (our enemies also)
Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this-love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love God, Love others.
Over 10 years ago I preached a sermon entitled “Who’s your neighbor?” How far are we to reach out?
Next door?
Mile away?
Town?
State?
Country?
It is wherever we connect with people. We may not go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ours may be Highspire, Middletown, Harrisburg.
(3) God rejoices when people come to Christ
The Bible tells us heaven rejoices when people come to Christ
Luke 15:7
“I tell you in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
I want to please God, I want to make Him happy.
Can I get a witness? That is what an old evangelist would say while preaching his heart out. Can I get a witness?
Witness defined:
“Someone who by explanation and demonstration give audible and visible evidence of what he has seen and heard without being deterred by the consequences of his actions.
There are three solid reasons to share God’s Word
God said so.
God said love your neighbors.
Pleasing God by sinners coming to Christ.
Now for a moment, go back to the excuses
I’m too busy.
People may be mad.
I don’t know what to say.
They don’t measure up do they? It is God’s commandment, not an option.
So how do we do it? Break the fear barrier.
Let me give you some suggestions.
The thing needed most to reach the lost is compassion.
compassion has to be fueled by the urgency of knowing Christ, and the consequences of not knowing Him. If we are truly going to live out the gospel, this is what will drive us.
3 ways to do that
This involves everyone of us. Not just preachers, leaders, but members of the body of Christ together.
(1) Be-Friend them
Most people will not open up about spiritual things and will not let you get into their air space without a friendship.
The world is full of “How are you” people.
Not really interested in hearing how you are doing.
You can only talk about the weather so long- you have to want to be-friend them.
Make an effort to get into their world.
The longer I pastor, I see that you have to earn your right to touch someone’s heart, because most have been burnt by the world and by church people.
Big reason people stop coming to church is because of a fallout with a fellow believer that never gets resolved and they blame God for it.
Notice we have not yet opened up our bible yet.
We are befriending them and letting them know that they mean something to us. Be persistent- not creepy, stalking persistent, but don’t give up the first time they shut you down.
The first time you meet someone at home or as a visitor at church is not the time to tell them all the things that they do wrong. Immoral living, habits, additions, they way they dress. Voice whether you agree with tattoos or not. Let God have a chance to deal with some issues and you befriend them.
Let them feel comfortable asking you some questions.
(2) Tell your Story (We can all do this)
We feel like we have to show them how smart we are in Bible.
We are scared to say the wrong thing.
The Bible is the story of God. It is God telling His story of what He did for us and what He expects out of us.
Tell your story! Tell them what God has done for you and what He is doing in your life. Make it personal and make it the truth.
God gets glory and honor from both delivering someone of drugs as He does keeping someone from ever starting.
Tell them your testimony. It is from the heart and it will be believable.
Proverbs 24:11
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
(3) Invite Them to Church
Illustration
Years ago, Becky and I were in a store with Austin, our second oldest Grandson. We were looking at things and within what we thought was minutes, we could not see him. We begun looking casually, but when we could not find him, we began calling out his name, looking at people to make sure he was not dragged away, we looked intensely! He was hiding in the clothes of a rack on the floor. It was urgency.
(point) We didn’t say, oh well, we have other grandchildren, it mattered and we were going to find that lost child. It takes effort and compassion.
People are waiting to be asked to church. They will not ask you, but they will come if you ask them.
Let them know what is happening in your church.
Offer to take them along with you when you come.
Let them know they can sit with you to break that fear they have of not knowing anyone.
See a visitor, make them feel welcome.
They will never come until you ask them.
Know what is happening in your church so that you can give them a reason to come along.
Reasons to witness
God said so
God said to love our neighbors
It pleases God when people come to Christ
Suggestions to witnessing
Befriend them
Tell story-Testimony
Invite them to church
Amen.
