Developing a Passion for Reaching People for Jesus.
Various Scriptures
February 20, 2005
Introduction
Today we wrap up our series on the five purposes of the church with a look at how we are to be involved in reaching our world for Jesus Christ.
This is the only one of the five purposes that we will not be doing in heaven. We will be worshiping, fellowshipping, becoming more like Christ, and even serving God and each other while in heaven. And in a sense, we are practicing here on earth for what we’ll be doing for eternity in heaven.
There are two things we can only do on earth that we will not do in heaven: sin and reach people for Jesus in evangelism.
This is one of the reasons this is such a heartbeat for me. I need to reach as many people as I can, because I won’t get another chance once I’m gone, and they won’t get a chance once they’re gone.
As Pastor Battey said a couple weeks ago, evangelism was the top ministry priority of Jesus himself.
And if we call ourselves followers of Christ, then we need to adopt his priorities, right?
The Biblical term for "good news" is the word evangelism. When someone hears about forgiveness and a home in heaven, evangelism has taken place.
When a person comes to Christ, three things have taken place: the message has been given, the Holy Spirit convinces the person of their need for Christ, and the person responds.
Evangelism is the first part - we simply give the message. We can’t do the convincing, ultimately. Only God can do that, and we can’t force people to respond to what Christ offers.
We should be ready to answer questions and objections, trying to see if we can help them see why faith in Christ is necessary for everybody, regardless of who they are, but ultimately, all we can do is tell them of their need.
So right off the bat I just want to tell you that your job is not to "save" anybody. You can’t do that - only Jesus can do that.
Today I just want to give you some things you need to give that message of hope and forgiveness effectively.
And if you don’t have any of these things, you need to ask God to give them to you, and you’d better believe he will - because he wants to see people in heaven, just as he’s going to see you in heaven, if you have Christ.
Four things we need to reach people for Jesus - are you ready? Here we go.
To reach people for Jesus we need...
* A knowledge of what the "good news" really is.
A father came home from a very rugged day at work and said to his wife, "I’ve had a bad day. Please! If you have any bad news tonight, keep it to yourself." To which she replied, "O.K. NO bad news. Now for the Good News. Remember our four children? Well, three of them didn’t break an arm today." (Autoillustrator.com, GOOD NEWS)
Just what is this thing we call the good news, or the gospel? Can you summarize it in a sentence or two? Let me give you a very quick summary:
Jesus came to pay the penalty we deserve for our sins, and by putting our trust in him and what he did, we have forgiveness for our sins, and a home in heaven.
That’s it! Nothing else!
The gospel is incredibly simple. But too often we complicate it by adding things like
becoming a church member, being baptized, reading the right Bible translation, wearing the right clothes, saying just the right words or saying just the right prayer to receive Christ, or whatever.
The problem is that none of that is in the Bible as being necessary to have forgiveness and a home in heaven.
I think some of these are important for maturing in your faith, but that’s another issue.
So often we clutter up the good news of Jesus, and we end up confusing people about what it takes to be
Three basic things you need in your discussion of Jesus:
Romans 6:23 -
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1. We are sinners who deserve hell.
2. God offers us eternal life.
3. This eternal life through Jesus.
Folks, that’s the gospel. If you communicate that to people, you are doing your job in evangelism.
Show them this verse. Memorize it. Have it ready to show them so they can see from God’s Word what it means to have eternal life in Jesus.
Using this one verse, you can lead just about anyone to Christ, because it tells the "good news" very simply.
So what’s the good news? We are sinners who deserve hell. God offers us eternal life. That eternal life is in Jesus.
Next, in order to reach people for Jesus, you need...
* Tools that fit your hand.
Any construction types here? How important is it that the tool properly fit your hand?
If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know that I’m not the most mechanically inclined person in the world. I’m dangerous with power tools, so if you’re looking for an excuse to remodel your home, just invite me over, put a power tool in my hand, and watch out.
Chances are I’ll break something and you’ll need to do some remodeling.
I don’t have a big hand, and so I need something that will fit properly so I can do the work properly.
Sharing the good news of Jesus is the same way. You need something that you can use effectively which fits who you are.
1 Peter 3:15 -
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Not everyone shares the good news of Jesus the same way.
I use a diagram called the Bridge Illustration most of the time.
Some just tell people of their need. Others open a Bible and have people see for themselves what the Bible says.
Others use all sorts of different ways to present the good news.
There is no one right way. The right way is whatever you find is most comfortable and fits your personality.
This Wednesday, we’re beginning our class called Becoming a Contagious Christian, and the idea of the class is to help you find out how to share the good news in a way that fits your personality style.
You can’t all do it like I do. I can’t do it like Billy Graham. I can’t do it just the same way you would. You are you and I am me. And some of you are thrilled that you’re not me!
Here’s the point - find a way to communicate the good news that works for you. I believe that our Wednesday night class will give that to you.
But let just suggest you don’t do it like Lucy, in the Peanuts cartoon strip -
Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "I would have made a great evangelist." Charlie Brown answers, "Is that so?" She says, "Yes, I convinced that boy in front of me in school that my religion is better than his religion." Charlie Brown asked, "Well, how did you do that?" And Lucy answers, "I hit him over the head with my lunch box."
(SermonCentral.com. Contributed by: Jeff Strite.)
You know what I’ve found? I’ve found that once you’re prepared, opportunities come your way. Just count it. If you want to be effective in reaching people for Christ, get the right tool, and you’ll get the chances to use it.
The third thing you need in reaching people for Christ is...
* A heart that breaks for the lost.
Matthew 9:36-38 -
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Jesus saw these people as being lost - not just without heaven but without direction in life.
When you see people who seem to have no hope, either in this life or the next, does your heart break?
Or is it your opinion that that’s just their tough luck? It’s not your fault they’re lost, so it’s not your fault they don’t have Christ.
Folks, listen up and listen closely. You may not be personally responsible for someone’s choices, but I’m of the conviction that if the church of Jesus would become more proactive in the lives of those around us, more people would find hope in Christ, which would affect the rest of their lives, giving them hope not only for heaven but for life on earth as well.
And people who have hope tend to make better choices all around.
Jesus is the hope for society. Healthy, authentic followers of Jesus have a healthy impact on societies.
When people make bad choices, it’s usually because they don’t have an authentic relationship with Jesus. It should break your heart. It breaks Jesus’ heart.
The last thing you need to be able to reach people for Jesus is closely related to the last one, and that is...
* A conviction that those without Christ face eternity in hell.
John 3:18 -
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
We’ve already discussed that gospel contains three main elements: we deserve hell for our sins, God wants to give us eternal life, and that eternal life is in Christ.
But let me ask you something: is this what you really believe? Do you really believe that unless a person comes to faith in Christ that they will suffer for eternity in hell?
Really? Down to the core of your very being, do you believe that?
Lots of Christians are of the opinion that people without Christ go to hell, but I’m not so sure that most Christians are really convinced of that fact.
How do I know? Because of the statistic Rev. Battey shared when he was here a couple weeks ago: that 95 percent of Christians will never lead another person to Christ.
On of my prayers for the people of this church is that God would break the hearts of individuals here and give them a sense of urgency in reaching their unsaved friends and family for Christ.
Jesus said that people are already condemned. But that he is the way out of that condemnation.
People don’t go to hell because of what they do, they go to hell because of who they are - sinners. They sin because they’re sinners, they’re not sinners because they sin.
And because they are sinners they’re condemned to hell.
Jesus said, "I’m here to take away that condemnation. Get the news out to as many as you can!"
Do you realize that without Christ, you would be facing eternity in hell? So what makes you so special that you feel you have the right to keep that to yourself?
You’re gettin’ mighty personal, ain’t ya, Brian? Too bad. You have no right to hoard the good news of forgiveness and eternal life for yourself. No right at all.
People are dying today and will spend eternity in hell, and we have the good news that they can avoid it, if we’ll just make the time and the effort to share it in a way that is comfortable for us.
Conclusion
Not everyone is called to be an evangelist like Billy Graham or me, but we are all called to be involved in evangelism in some form.
Maybe your way is to just invite people to church where they can hear it from the pastor. That’s fine.
Maybe your way is to hand out tracts or invitation cards.
One way we can all do it is to tell someone what Jesus has done for us.
I don’t know what your way is. But I cannot urge you strongly enough to get in the game of winning people to Christ.
The question you must ask God:
What part would You have me take in reaching people for Christ?
Folks, being involved is not an option for the disciple of Jesus. And we’re offering you a way to find out just how you can be involved by offering the class on Becoming a Contagious Christian.
We’re about to close, but before we do I want to tell you one last thing:
You cannot walk out of here ignorant of the fact that you first of all have a responsibility to help people find Christ, and second that you have tools available to you.
Ignorance is no longer an issue. And I’m of the belief that God will hold you accountable for what you know.
I don’t say that put a guilt trip on you. I say that because God loved you so much that he sent Jesus for you, and he expects you to pass it on to others.
Folks, evangelism isn’t a duty. It’s a huge privilege, and he’s given it to everyone who has already called on Jesus.
And it’s a tremendous joy to see someone place their faith in Christ. But until you see for yourself, you’ll never believe me.
Ask God for the tools and the opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. Ask Him to break your heart for those without Christ, and ask Him to give you a sense of urgency about those who are perishing into a Christless eternity.
Jesus saved you. He wants to save others. Get involved. For their sake, and for the love of Jesus, get involved.
Let’s pray.
