Introduction: Video Clip – Evangelism Linebacker (Sermon Spice). That is one way to evangelize, but it may not be the best way to evangelize in our culture today.
The Evangelism Linebacker had a simple message EVANGELIZE OF ELSE! Why is evangelism such a priority? SIMPLE lost people matter to God and therefore lost people matter to us as well. Just as the Evangelism Linebacker had a mission to reach people, so did Jesus and no where is that truth more powerfully illustrated than in the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 4:43, Jesus said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 19:10, For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
To illustrate the idea that lost people matter to God – Jesus told 2 series parables one about a lost sheep and the other about a lost coin in these parables Jesus shares with us the plan the problem and the priority regarding evangelism.
Let’s note first…
1. The plan for reaching the lost
Luke records for us the plan of Jesus for reaching lost people
Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. Luke 15:1
Did you see the plan? It is so obvious we almost missed it.
A. Jesus enjoyed being with people.
If we are going to reach people for Christ, we must make it a priority to be around lost people. Luke tells us the sinners and tax collectors were gathering around Jesus. The Thompson Chain Reference Bible says there was an eagerness about the people. They wanted to hear from Jesus.
B. Note the people
Luke not only tells us people were around Jesus, he tells us the type of people who were around Jesus.
Tax collectors
Sinners
In other words, the outcast of Jewish society; the unmentionables and the untouchables. The ones the society had given up on Jesus was spending time with.
C. Not only was he spending time with them they were spending time with him.
The language of the text implies they found it a joy to be with him. We falsely assume people are not interested in what we have to say today. But that is simply not true. There is a hunger today for spiritual truth today. People want to know…
Is there hope
Can I find Peace
What about Joy
Is there more to this life than 70+ years
And the answer is yes – you can find peace, hope, joy and life – in Jesus Christ. Jesus said I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest! John 10:10
D. People are searching but they do not know what they are search for
In the movie Forrest Gump, Forest and his Army buddy Lt. Dan are watching a Bob Hope Christmas Special on TV, as the special plays an obvious Christmas Carol Lt. Dan asks Forest “Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?” Forrest replies, “I did not know I am supposed to be looking for him sir!” Forest sums up our culture, people don’t know they are suppose to be looking for Jesus, that is why we must take Jesus to them. Remember Luke 19:10 the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost Jesus went to the people!
That leads us to
2. The problem with reaching the lost
Look at verse 2, But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
A. Their response was less than complimentary
“Muttered” literally they complained about what Jesus was doing. Have you ever noticed how many times people complain about something rather than helping out. Here are the broken outcast people of Israel coming to hear about God and the righteous – no the self righteous don’t see people all they see is problems.
This man welcomes sinners – Literally “makes a habit of being with sinners”
This man eats with them
Rather than be a part of the work of God they began to participate in the character assignation – they could not attack his teaching and they could not attack his miracles, so they chose to attack his character.
B. When it comes to reaching the lost I wonder if we are not like the Pharisees.
Do you find yourself sometimes complaining about church rather than seeking out how you can help? Do you say things in a hateful way that tears down the body of Christ rather than lifts it up? Have you ever said…?
If I was in charge I would have done it this way.
Why are they making all these changes?
I sure wish they would have done so and so…
Then you’re guilty of the sin of the Pharisees – complaining about the work of God rather then rolling up your sleeves and getting involved in the work of God. LISTEN God takes the sin of complaining very seriously; Philippians 2:14, do all things without grumbling or complaining.
Complaining to others is a dangerous thing. If you complain to a person who does not share you perspective you can diminish your witness or worse cause them to give up hope and walk away.
C. (This was the Pharisees problem) The Pharisees had a problem known as I-ities!
They were self focused, they were content to be in their “Holy Huddle” and to look for the right people to fit into their group, so when Jesus came along and did not fit – they began to complain against him and the sinners he was attracting. The very people who were supposed to teaching the people how to get right with God were rejecting those who needed God the most – their complaining made them ineffective to reach people.
D. We have to be cautious how we relate to one another
So we do not get caught up in the sin of the Pharisees. Therefore when we see people doing the work of God lets us be complimentary and willing to partner with them rather than tear them down. The stakes are too great to do anything less!
Understanding the plan of Jesus had for reaching was to be with the people
And seeing the problem the Pharisees had with reaching people – In 2 parables Jesus teaches us the…
3. Priority of evangelism
This is Jesus answer to the chronic complainers
Note verses 3-7 Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that 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.
A. The Lost Sheep
Jesus says a shepherd has 100 sheep and one day he discovers one of them is missing. In mathematical terms he has lost 1% of his stock. He still has 99%. But then he does an amazing thing – he leaves the 99 and begins a search for the 1! NOW REMEMBER HE IS TELLING THIS PARABLE IN LIGHT OF THE COMPLAINING OF THE PHARISEES – it is the Pharisees who are hearing this parable.
1. There is an all out search.
Jesus calls attention to the fact that the shepherd considers it no trouble, sacrifice or suffering too great to find the lost sheep. In spite of long search through forest cliffs and gorges the shepherd continues to seek and that which is lost is found! DO YOU GET A PICTURE OF WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU HE WAS WILLING TO SUFFERING TO RESCUE YOU FROM YOUR LOST CONDITION.
2. The search leads to a discovery
The shepherd finds the sheep and note how he handles the lost animal. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. There is nothing more helpless than a lost sheep except a lost sinner and here Jesus teaches us how to restore the lost sheep to the flock. He lifts the sheep up with both hands and symbol of caring, placing the sheep behind his neck and symbol of affection and resting it upon his shoulders a symbol of security. NOTE – there is no browbeating of the sheep not complaining about the trouble that the shepherd had to go through, no he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home
3. Once he returns he invites friends and neighbors to rejoice what was lost is now found.
The sheep is returned to the fold and note Jesus response I tell you that 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. Here is the point: the Pharisees looked at the lost and complained but heaven looked at the lost and rejoiced because they returned to the fold! Jesus HAS JUST PUT THE PHARISEES IN THEIR PLACE!
But he is not finished!
Vs. 8-10, "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
B. A lost coin
Here the woman looses 1 of her 10 coins – In mathematical terms each coin was worth approximately 18 cents. The lost coin represented 10% of her money. But unlike the sheep that had wondered off the coin was lost in the house, maybe she had dropped it while counting it one day, maybe she misplaced it. We are not told, all we are told is that it is lost in the house. QUICK LESSON – not everyone who is lost is lost “out there” Some people can be lost in the house yes you can be “lost in church” you can be a part of our service, sing the songs, carry a Bible, know the people, But if you have never made a decision to make Jesus lord of your life, you are just as lost as the sheep that is wandering in the wilderness. I believe Jesus told this parable so those who were listening (The Pharisees) would also know you were not right because you did the right things but you were right because of Christ Righteousness.
NOTE THE ACTIONS
A. Careful Search
Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
1. Lights a lamp – apparently she lost the coin in the evening, she does not wait till morning, but lights a lamp and begins her search immediately. Should we do any less in looking for lost people? We must have urgency about reaching the lost. LET YOU IN ON A SECRET – we don’t have it all together, we have a debt that scares us, we are under staffed in many areas and under funded in others. But we cannot wait until we have everything just right. In other words we cannot say when everything is perfect this will begin to reach lost people. Like the woman who lost the coin we must begin our search immediately. It does not take a perfect church to introduce people to the perfect Christ.
2. Sweeps the house and carefully searches for the coin.
It is important as a church we are very careful in our approach to reaching lost people. We have 1 hour a week to reach lost people. It for that reason we are diligent how we use our morning worship.
- Sermon Series are laid our 3 to six months in advance
- Worship songs are chosen to compliment the message often time Steve has the set ready 4 weeks in advance
- Our Elders have become very intentional about our communion and offering time, writing guidelines and suggestions so when the meditation is offered prior to communion it point all of us to Jesus.
- The behind the scenes ministries of sound and ppt practice to ensure the service has no distractions.
- Our greeter’s ministries do a great job of helping new people feel comfortable in a new environment.
- Our children’s ministries constantly look for ways to improve their ministry so that children will desire to come each week and learn about Jesus.
- DO WE ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT? NO but we are diligent and careful because we realize each week someone comes through those doors and they need Jesus.
B. Like the lost sheep when the coin is found there is a time of rejoicing.
The lost sheep and the lost coin teach us a profound lesson – no other religion in the world does one come to have a relationship because god seeks him. In every religious system known to man we see how man seeks and yearns for God, but in Christianity we see how God through Christ seeks and years for us. Because the savior paid the price of our salvation with his precious blood every person have value in God’s sight.
4. How do we make evangelism a priority in our life?
Jesus shows us how in this passage…
A. Make yourself available.
The last two weeks we have seen how Jesus is around sinners. George Barna tells us that within 2 years of a person becoming a Christian he is completely isolated from non Christians. The nature of people is to be around people of common likes and interest so once we become Christians it is natural for us to gravitate to other believers. I want to challenge you to be come available to non-believers.
3 months ago I joined a gym two goals to exercise but to come in contact with other believers (it is starting to pay off I am starting to have interaction with some of the people in the gym)
You do not have to join a gym, but you do need to break out of your comfort zone and build bridges with non believers. BE AVAILABLE
B. Be aware of life changes in your neighborhood.
This past Wednesday, Gayle Simmons passed away, while I was with the family someone knocked on the door. It was a family 2 doors down from the Simmons home they had noticed the family gathering and found that Gayle had passed away and they were simply bringing food to let them know they cared. They did not preach, they did not say anything profound they simply were there when there was a need.
Be aware of changes in your neighbors
If you see an ambulance pull up be a caring person and see if you can help
If a new baby is born offer to bring in food or volunteer to baby-sit when the child is a little older.
If the grass gets a little high don’t complain or call the city offer to mow the yard, there may be an opportunity to share Christ simply by building a relationship.
C. Take advantage of opportunities
Always look for an opportunity to share your faith in the words of NIKE – Just do it!
I’ll tell you my favorite story in this regard. This is from Jeffrey Cotter, who was a Presbyterian pastor. At this time he didn’t have a job. He’d been to a job interview, he was flying back home, dressed in blue jeans and a tee-shirt. He found himself sitting next to a guy in a pin-striped suit, attaché case, reading the Wall Street Journal. And Cotter said he decided that above all he did not want to get into a conversation with this guy, especially about a job, because obviously this guy had a good one and Jeff didn’t have one at all.
But the guy started talking with him about what he did, and he was very proud of what he did. He said he was in the figure salon business, and he talked about how they could change a woman’s self-concept by changing her body, and he said: We’ve got a plan that we’re going to go nationwide within several years, and I’m going to make a million dollars.
And Jeff said that he was struck by this man’s pride in his work and accomplishments.
How come we as Christians aren’t more like that? He said. How come we’re so often apologetic about our faith?
Then, he said, looking skeptically at his clothing, this business guy said to him: So, what do you do? And I’ll let Jeff tell it from there:
The spirit began to brood over the face of the deep. Order and power emerged from chaos. A voice and a whisper reminded me: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.
I said: It is interesting that we have similar business interests, You’re in the body-changing business. I’m in the personality-changing business. We apply basic theocratic principles to accomplish indigenous personality modification.
He was hooked, but I knew he would never admit it. Pride is powerful. He said hesitantly: You know, I’ve heard of that, but do you have an office here in the city?
Oh, we have many offices. We have offices up and down the state. In fact, we’re national. We have at least one office in every state of the union, including Alaska and Hawaii. He had this puzzled look on his face. He was searching his mind to identify this huge company. He must have read or heard about it, maybe in the Wall Street Journal.
As a matter of fact, we’ve gone international, and management has a plan to put at least one office in every country of the world by the end of this business era.
I paused: Do you have that in your business?
He said: Well, no, not yet. But you mentioned management. How do they make it work?
It’s a family concern. There’s a Father and a Son, and they run everything.
He asked skeptically: It must take a lot of capital.
I asked: You mean money?
Yeah, I suppose so. No one knows just how much it takes, but we never worry because there’s never a shortage. The boss always seems to have enough. He’s a very creative guy, and the money is, well, just there. In fact, those of us in the organization have a saying about our boss. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
Oh, he’s into ranching, too? Asked my captive friend
No, it’s just a saying we use to indicate his wealth.
My friend sat back into his seat. He asked: What about with you?
I said: The employees? They’re something to see. They have a spirit that
pervades the organization. It works like this. The Father and Son love each other so much that their love filters down through the organization, so we all find ourselves loving one another, too. I know this sounds old-fashioned in a world like ours, but I have people in the organization who are willing to die for me. Do you have that in your business?’
I was almost shouting now. People started to shift noticeably in their seats.
Not yet, He said, quickly changing strategies.
But do you have good benefits?’
They’re substantial, I touted with a grin. I have complete life insurance, fire insurance - all the basics. You might not believe this, but it’s true. I have holdings in a mansion that’s being built for me right now for my retirement. Do you have that in your business?
He answered wistfully: Not yet, The light was dawning.
You know, one thing bothers me. I’ve read journals, and if your business is all you say it is, why haven’t I heard about it before now?
That’s a good question, I said. After all, we have a 2,000-year-old tradition. You want to sign up? We became much more than casual strangers during the next five minutes. We became friends and partners in the greatest company in the world. What a story. And it was made possible because Jeffrey Cotter took advantage of the opportunity.
Conclusion: This is the question.
There are people in your world only you can reach. Will you reach them?
There are prayers for people who do not know God that only you can pray. Will you pray?
There is a story that you have with Jesus that no one else has ever had that only you can tell. Will you tell it?
Would you be willing to make a commitment starting today to pray for at least one person who doesn’t know God right now? God will bring a face to mind, a name to our mind. Will you make a commitment to pray for somebody who doesn’t know God at least once a day every day between now and the end of the series?
Will you pray for them to know God, and would you be willing to say: God, whatever you call me to do, however I can bless this person, if you want me to write them a note, I’ll write a note. If you want me to encourage them, I’ll encourage them. If you want me to invite them to something where they can take the next step in their spiritual journey, I will invite them, even though I’m a little scared and they might say no. If you want me to tell them my story of what Jesus has done for me, I will tell them my story of what Jesus has done for me, even though it’s kind of scary.
Would you be willing to make a decision now?
If so then you are like Jesus and are ready to answer his question about evangelism. PRAYER
