Something Worth Sharing Series

Something Worth Sharing

Screamer water slide experience. You want to share the experience, That’s why I’m preaching this today, as an excuse to mention it.

Our text talks about sharing an even more important experience, the experience of a life changing encounter with Jesus.

Four Important Components of Sharing that experience.

1. Something To Share

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

In Order to have something to share you must have an undeniable experience with Jesus Christ. John said he had “heard”, “seen” and “touched” Jesus. Obviously, the first twelve disciples had such experiences. However, you and I in this life will never be able to hear, see and touch Jesus physically. Are we at a disadvantage? No it is possible for you to have a personal experience with Jesus that is as real as physically seeing, hearing or touching Him.

To have something to share we need to share out of our personal experience. All of us naturally share from our experiences both good and bad. They form who we are. For example about half of my adult life so far was spent in the military, those experiences in some ways define who I am. Now maybe some of you are tired of hearing about my Army experiences, but you’d never ask me to not share those experiences because that would be to say “I don’t like who you are.”

You can’t take it out of me any more than you can take out of some of you the experiences of growing up on a farm, they define you in some ways. Now being in the army or growing up on a farm, no one has to tell you to share those experiences, you just do share them especially with those you are close to, but your personal experience with Jesus should be just as much and even more a part of you that you just naturally share with others.

But you can’t share what you don’t have any more than you can come back from a place you’ve never been.

2. Willingness to Share

2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

John was intentional about sharing his experience with Jesus. We too need to be active in sharing. Peter said that we should “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).

7 tips for sharing the Gospel from David Jeremiah’s Turning Points magazine.

1. Ask God to give you an evangelistic burden for others. Ask Him to help you see the world as He sees it, and to lay upon your heart a handful of people for whom you can earnestly pray. Then pray over those names every day. Keep a little prayer list, and pray for an opportunity of reaching these souls for Christ.

2. Live a consistent Christian life before these people. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

3. Build bridges to others. When the Lord shows you those needing Christ, seek to build a relationship with them. Remember how Jesus went to the home of Zacchaeus where many sinners had gathered?

4. Learn the Gospel. Not just debating politics.

5. Watch for openings to share a word for Christ.

6. If the right opportunity doesn’t come naturally, create one.

7. Leave the results with God.

3. Motive to Share

3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

John’s motive for sharing was that others might have fellowship with him as he had fellowship with God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

Illustration: The famous evangelist Billy Sunday was looking for people to tell about Jesus. Since he was going to be in a particular city he wrote a letter to the mayor in which he asked for the name of individuals he knew who had a spiritual problem and needed help and prayer. How surprised the evangelist was when the mayor sent him a city telephone book. (EM Griffin, The Mindchangers, Tyndale House, 1976, p. 151. Contributed to Sermon Central by: Roy Fowler)

Everyone needs Jesus. As we watched End of the Spear again Friday I was struck by the incredible commitment of those Missionaries willing to give their lives because there were people who hadn’t heard the good news about Jesus. And I reflected how often we are not only niot willing to give our lives but even to give our time or our dignity.