Successful Evangelism Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: April 16, 2010

Date Preached: April 18, 2010

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Sermon Series: Evangelism 101 – A Series on Obedience

Sermon Title: Successful Evangelism – Make it Personal!

Sermon Text: 1 Cor 9:19-23 [NLT]

Introduction:

Now last week I showed you 2 Scriptures that without a doubt give us our marching orders as believers… Those passages are Matt 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8. Jesus has called ALL believers to share their faith and be a witness.

Show Matt 28:18-20 here… follow me as I read it

18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Show Acts 1:8 here…

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Now the thing about this is… WE can be a witness in many ways, but the Bible is clear that a special part about being a witness for Jesus is that you are willing to share your faith with those around you.

So we must understand that we are ALL are called to share Christ, this much is biblical FACT! So if that is a mandate… if that is a commission on our lives from God, then why don’t we do it?

Well one reason why, is that when a pastor shares that there will be an evangelism event or an evangelism training, so many believers react like the picture on the front of our bulletin… NO! Not evangelism… I can’t do evangelism! I am just not cut out for evangelism!

I once read a story about a Christian who would pray every morning: "Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please give me a sign to show me who it is." One day this man found himself on an empty bus, when on stepped a HUGE, and scary man. This guy got on the bus and came right over to this man and sat next him.

The believer was terrified and scared and was anxiously waiting for his stop so he could get off this bus and away from this very scary man! However, before he could get very nervous about the man next to him, the big guy burst into tears and began to weep.

He then cried out with a loud voice, "I need to be saved. I’m a lost sinner and I need the Lord. Won’t somebody tell me how to be saved?" He grabbed the small Christian man and begged him, "Can you show me how to be saved?"

This believer, who prayed every morning for an open door from God, immediately bowed his head and prayed, "Lord, is this a sign?"

Are you looking for a "sign" to start witnessing? Why is it that believers are so terrified to share their joy in Christ? Why do many believers avoid evangelism? There are many reasons…

They don’t want to memorize a long and complicated system of presenting arguments for Christianity.

They don’t want to learn a system or a lot of Bible verses…

But for the most part, the reason believers today DO NOT practice evangelism in their lives is that they are AFRAID! … they fear failure, rejection, embarrassment… FEAR is the driving factor for their avoidance of evangelism… Fear prevents them from doing what God has called them to do!

This morning we are going to look back over a few verses from Paul and we are going to see what it means to be a great witness for Christ and how we can emulate Paul and become more and more like Jesus!

[show v.19-23 now…follow me as I read]

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.