¡§How to communicate the good news effectively¡¨
Part II
Introduction:
There was a man who lived up in upstate New York and he was getting tired of the cold weather, so he decided to go to Florida. His wife was on a business trip at the time so he called her to let her know what he was doing and to tell her not to go back to New York but to meet him in Florida.
When he arrived he sent her an e-mail to let her know he was there, but he got a few letters wrong in the address and instead of going to his wife the e-mail went to a little old lady in Iowa, who was a pastors wife. And whose husband had died the day before.
The little old lady turned on her computer ¡V read the e-mail, screamed and fainted right on the spot. Her family and friends who were there came in saw her on the floor ¡V and when they read the screen they understood why she fainted..
„«Dearest darling just wanted you to know I arrived safely
„«Looking forward to you being with me, tomorrow
„«Signed, your husband ¡V PS, it sure is hot down here¡K
We chuckle at that story and it is humorous because of the miscommunication. Last week we began looking at the effective communication of the good news. We saw the example of Paul as an effective communicator of the good news.
Most of us know with our heads that we are called to communicate/share the gospel of Christ but the truth is that very few of us are.
Darrell W. Robinson, Total Church Life, (Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville; 1997), pp. 174-175
States:
¡P A few years ago it was estimated to require one thousand laypersons and six ministers one year to lead one person to Christ.
¡P It was also estimated that 95 percent of the Christians today never lead a soul to Christ.
¡P This is the reversal of Jesus¡¦ strategy of New Testament evangelism. These trends must change if our world is to be reached, and evidences are that they are changing.
Text:
Go with me this morning to:
1 Pet 3:15
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (NIV)
We will effectively communicate the good news when we like the early church:
I. Expect His Soon Coming
Note in the text¡V ¡§the reason for the hope you have¡¨
Titus refers to this hope as the blessed hope:
Titus 2:13
13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, (NIV)
A. One of the reasons the early church was so effective in communicating the gospel is the fully expected the return of Christ at ANY moment!
1. The church was ablaze with this expectation!
It was quite common for them to greet each other with the phrase Maran ¡Vatha ¡V ¡§The Lord Cometh!¡¨
They had a great expectance of his return
2. So much so that Paul had to write to the Thessalonians to dispel their fears that Christ had already returned!
II Th 2:1-2
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. (NIV)
B. Unfortunately the opposite, which is a fulfillment of scripture, is true in the church today
2 Pet 3:4
4 They will say, "Where is this ’coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (NIV)
1. Jesus parable of the 10 virgins illustrates that a great deal of the church would be slumbering, sleeping and caught totally unconcerned with the hour they lived in.
C. We must recapture the urgency of his coming. --- But How?
We can recapture this urgency by ¡K
1. Become students and watch the signs of the times. (Pt. Of Matt.24)
Matt 24:32-33
32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. (NIV)
2. Watch the Fig Tree ¡V Israel
U.N. ACTION
The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday approved the resolution calling for statehood and a cease-fire by a 14-0 vote. Syria abstained from the vote.
¡§Israel is among those trying to reach a cease-fire and calm,¡¨ said Arie Mekel. ¡§And to facilitate the immediate renewal of the peace process and a return to the negotiating table.¡¨
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Palestinians to halt all acts of terror. He urged Israelis to stop using excessive force and to end their illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
American envoy Anthony Zinni is on his way back to the region with plans of implementing a agreement to get both sides to lay down their arms.
NBC¡¦s Dana Lewis in Ramallah, Linda Fasulo at the United Nations; The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
You see Israel and specifically Jerusalem are the focal point of prophecy
Zech 12:2
"I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. (NIV)
To recapture the urgency of the hour and motivation to communicate the good news have the newspaper in one hand & your Bible in the other.
Even aside from this 176,000 people every single day go into eternity!
Eternity comes every single second for hundreds and the coming of the Lord is at hand.
We will communicate the good news as we like the early church ¡K
II. Expect His Providence ¡V (His direction and guidance)
A. The first generation of believers acted on a bedrock belief that God was in control of their lives and that his purpose would be worked out in every situation the good & bad.
Kind of reminds me of
Lost and Found ad - Lost dog, brown fur, some missing due to mange,
blind in one eye, three legs, slightly arthritic, goes by name of Lucky.
B. This purpose & belief was based on 3 facts:
1. God wants all people to be reconciled to him!
Col 1:19-20
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (NKJ)
Pt. - There is no one I meet that God doesn¡¦t love and desire to make himself known to through me!
This purpose and belief is based on the fact that:
2. God directs our steps (Obviously not when we are in rebellion & walking contrary to His Word.)
Acts 16:4-10
4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
(NIV)
Note view blockages & hindrances as the spirit¡¦s direction
Prov 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (NIV)
Pt. ¡V Interruptions and ¡¥chance¡¦ meetings are often divine appoints send by God.
This purpose and plan is based on the fact that:
3. God will give us what to say
Mark 13:11 ¡§¡K do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.¡¨ (NIV)
Prov 16:1 ¡§To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. (NIV)
Moses is our example here ¡V
Exod 4:10-12 ¡§Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."(NIV)
I can just hear our excuses ¡V ¡§Yes, he did say that to Moses but I¡¦m not Moses your right but God is still God!
Pt. ¡V When we act in faith and begin to speak of him he will give us the words.
Conclusion: Let me wrap this up this morning with the story of Wilt Durant.
In forty years of involvement in his church, Wilt Durant had led one person to Christ. You know what they say, if only one person comes to Christ its worth all the effort, right?
When he retired in 1992, he moved to Rogers, AR and joined Immanuel Baptist Church. One Sunday, his pastor preached on Soul Winning and Durant responded to the invitation and devoted the remainder of his life to winning souls. Since that time, he¡¦s prayed with over 600 people to receive Christ. He isn¡¦t casual about his witness, he averages visiting in over 60 homes a week.
Why ?
Because He senses the urgency of hour ¡V many will go into eternity & Jesus Coming is at Hand!
Because He expects God¡¦s Providence
Because He is living for God¡¦s Purpose
Altar Call:
Are your ready if you died today are you sure of ¡K
You can be today
Secondly, if you are sure will you make a commitment today to be a witness for Christ?
