Tonight I would like to continue the “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire” theme. I don’t know if you have noticed when you watch the show, but on the first five questions Regis rarely asks the contestant if that is their final answer. Typically, this is because these first five questions are meant to be easy enough for anyone to answer so they will walk away with at least $1,000. I have noticed that the only time Regis asks his now famous question is when the contestant gives a wrong answer. The moral of the story is, if you ever get on the show and Regis asks you if it is your final answer during the first 5 questions, rethink your answer its probably wrong.
I would like us to focus on a passage of Scripture from Acts 26:24-32. In this passage, King Agrippa deserves to be asked, “Is that your final answer?” I want us to look at how we, just as the apostle Paul, should take advantage of every opportunity to share the message of the Gospel, how sometimes our evangelistic efforts go unheeded, and finally some common excuses people give and some Scriptural responses.
Preliminary notes.
Take note that Paul is not on trial. This is not a court trial. Paul is not laying out a defense. He is preaching the gospel. Because Paul had, as a Roman citizen, appealed to Caesar, not even King Agrippa could condemn him. Even the Governor Festus had no authority over him. Look at verse 32. They no longer had the authority to condemn him. Neither could they set him free. His sole purpose for appearing before Agrippa is to try to win these men to Christ.
I. Take advantage of every opportunity to share the gospel.
Paul’s presentation starts with a courteous introduction, telling Agrippa how much he rejoices in this opportunity. He then proceeds to give King Agrippa a brief sketch of his youth and background. Then he tells of his conversion. Finally, he makes his attempt to reach the man for Christ. (Verses 2-23)
Paul’s approach gives us a great example of how we should share our testimony. First, be courteous to the person we a talking to. Don’t brow beat them and don’t talk down to them. This puts up unnecessary barriers. Paul shows us the three essential parts of a good Christian testimony (our life before Christ, our conversion, and our life after Christ). A good testimony need not be any longer than 3 minutes. Everyone should have their testimony memorized so that they can give it at any time.
Any evangelistic presentation should begin by helping the person see his need for Christ. This can be done by asking two simple questions.
QUESTION #1: If you were to die today, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? Most people will say, "Yes" or "I think so" or "I hope so." Only a few will say "No" or "I doubt it." Emphasize the words "for certain."
QUESTION #2: If you were to die tonight and were standing before God and He asked you, "Why should I let you into My heaven," what would you say? Many people will say, "Because I believe in God" or "Because I try to be a good person." Show them that they can’t be that good.
Some other evangelistic ideas.
1. Use tracts. There are some wonderful tracts available to help in your witnessing. “Steps to Peace with God” from the BGEA, “The Four Spiritual Laws” from Campus Crusade for Christ, even a tract from NAMB that you can use when you go out to eat that you can leave your tip in.
2. The Roman Road. These six verses will work together like links in a chain so after each verse write the next one in your Bible’s margins.
Rom.3:10 says, "There is none righteous, no, not one." This verse directly relates to Rom.3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." These verses teach us the first truth of the gospel that everyone is a sinner.
Rom.6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This teaches us that we cannot earn salvation, that our sin earns us eternal death and that Jesus gives us eternal life.
Rom.10:9 says "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Here are two necessary ingredients for salvation: confession and trust.
Rom.10:13 says, "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." This verse gives us the assurance that the gospel is available to all.
3. See You at the Pole. Back-to-school time is a great time to think about getting involved in a youth related evangelistic event like See You at the Pole. While you can’t take an active role at the actual event, you can be a mentor to help support and encourage students to stand up for their faith.
4. Halloween evangelism. If you like to carve pumpkins, try carving crosses into them and then light a candle inside as a simple witness to your trick-or-treaters. There are also so good tracts geared toward children that can be handed out with candy to the trick-or-treaters. Check out what Lifeway has to offer.
These are just a few ideas on a couple of things to do. If you want some other ideas, look at NAMB’s website at www.onmission.com.
II. Some times our evangelistic efforts go unheeded. (v 28-29)
Paul shared in great detail his amazing testimony from being a Pharisee to becoming an Apostle to the Gentiles. Afterward, Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” How sad that this man was almost persuaded but came up with an excuse. He is like many people we know today.
Here are 4 principles to remember even when someone says no.
1. Be persistent, not pushy. Sometimes you have to allow someone some time to digest what you have shared with them.
2. Model the message. People will be watching you to see if your faith makes a difference in your life.
3. Don’t fixate on formulas and depend on them alone. Tell your story of how God changed your life. This goes back to what I said earlier about your 3-minute testimony.
4. Find support in the church. Try as we might, sometimes we don’t click with certain personality types. Don’t give up on them. Try finding someone else in the church that they might click with.
III. Common Excuses and Scriptural Responses
1. Excuse #1: I Want to Enjoy My Life.
A. Some people have the idea that there is no joy in the Christian life. Unfortunately, many Christians help underscore this dry, boring image.
B. This person needs to understand that life in Christ is a joy beyond anything this world can offer. Write down these passages.
1. Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
2. Phil.3:7-8 says, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ."
3. Mark 8:36 says, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
2. Excuse #2: What Will My Friends Think?
A. Some people are "approval addicts." They change by the whim of the crowd. They always want to be on the bandwagon.
B. This person needs to understand that what God thinks is so much more important that what any man thinks. 100 years from now, it will make little difference what people thought but what God thinks will matter for eternity. Write down these passages.
1. Paul said in Gal.1:10, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."
2. 1 Pet.4:14 says, "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."
3. Excuse #3: I’ve Always Tried to Be Good.
A. Some people believe that their good deeds will outweigh their evil actions and God will accept them in the end. They compare themselves to the most evil people and feel that they are doing pretty well.
B. This person needs to understand that he cannot be good enough for God.
1. Isa.64:6 says, "All our righteousness are like filthy rags."
2. Eph.2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
3. James 2:10 says, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."
4. Excuse #4: I’m as Good or Better then Most Christians.
A. We all know that we are hypocrites, just on different subjects. We know many who claim to be believers that live like unbelievers. This can become a tremendous excuse for the proud, self-righteous non-Christian.
B. This person needs to understand that he will be judged by God’s standards, not the standards of men.
Note these passages:
1. Prov.21:2 says, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts."
2. 1 Sam.16:7 says, "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
5. Excuse #5: I’ve Tried Church and It’s not for Me.
A. It’s hard for me to understand why, but many, many people have become involved with churches but never met Christ. Before they could personally encounter the risen Lord, someone said something or did something that hurt them and they left in disgust.
B. This person needs to understand that they need a relationship with Jesus Christ, which changes them on the inside, not religion that only cleans up the outside.
1. Heb.2:1 says, "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away."
2. Verse 3 says, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"
3. Rom.10:9-10 says, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
6. Excuse #6: I’ll Never Make It as a Christian.
A. Some people may think that their addiction, their lifestyle is so ingrained that they can never change even if they want to.
B. This person needs to understand that they don’t have to change themselves, God will change them when they put their trust in Christ.
1. Isa.41:10 says, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
2. 2 Cor.3:5 says, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God."
3. Phil.4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
7. Excuse #7: God Could Never Forgive Me.
A. Some people feel that they have done so many things wrong or done something so evil that God can never forgive them.
B. This person needs to know that "whoever" comes to the Lord will be saved.
1. Isa.1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."
2. Psa.103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us."
8. Excuse #8: A Loving God Will Not Send Us to Hell.
A. Some people want to think that since God is love He will just wink at our sins and accept us like some white-haired old grandpa.
B. This person needs to realize that God never sends anyone to hell. People go to hell because they reject His gift of salvation.
1. Rom.6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
2. Mat.25:41 is specific, "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ’Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
9. Excuse #9: I Worship God in My Own Way.
A. Some say "All roads lead to heaven." They point to Moslems and Hindus, etc... and say that we are too narrow-minded. If there had been any other way for men to go to heaven do you think Jesus would have come to die for us?
B. This person needs to understand that Jesus is the only way.
1. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
2. Acts 4:12 says, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
10. Excuse #10: I Will Become a Christian Some Day.
This is the worst excuse. There may not ever be a later day. 2 Cor.6:2 says: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Prov.27:1 says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth."
Sometimes we must be willing to take chances when it comes to sharing the gospel with others. I want to encourage you today to take every opportunity to share “the hope that is within you” to those you come into contact with.
