IT REALLY DOES MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE
October 22, 2006 AM
Sermon Outline
ABOUT EVANGELISM
MT 28:18-20
INTRO: One of the great joys of my life has been the privilege of teaching others about the wonderful love of God and sharing with them how they can be the recipients of the bounty of His love. There are few things more exciting than to take someone I have been teaching to the baptistry in the church building and to baptize them into Christ. Not all of those people have remained faithful to their calling, but I think that most have. Evangelism, telling the good news, is most assuredly as aspect of the Christian life needing emphasis. I have remembered for many years the words of a hymn which asks the question, "Must I go, and empty handed? Must I meet my Savior so? Not one soul with which to greet Him; must I empty handed go?" Sweet friends, it really does matter what you believe about evangelism!
I. IT MATTERS BECAUSE...
A. Lost souls are truly "lost"
1. I'm not convinced we understand how "lost" people out of Christ are
2. Eph 1:3 - there are no spiritual blessings out of Christ
3. Eph 2:1-3 - out of Christ one is a child of wrath ... dead to God
4. Rev 20:15 - out of Christ one is destined for "the lake of fire"
5. an eternity (which I understand is hard to conceive) in hell should be reason enough for us to want to win souls to the Lord
B. Jesus died to redeem the lost
1. should this be a secret we keep from others?
2. Titus 2:14 - "redeem" is one of the wonderful words of the N.T.
3. Eph 1:7 - and "redeemed" is only through His blood (shed, not spilled)
4. 1 Pet 1:18,19 - you and I have experienced and enjoy this redemption
5. would we want His death to be in vain?
C. Without your telling others, they may never know "what might have been"
1. at least, they will not know until it is too late
2. the "good news" has always been dependent on human messengers
3. 2 Cor 4:6,7 - could God have done this another way? perhaps
4. but He chose to place the message in human hands - my hands & yours
5. are we really willing to keep this message to ourselves at the expense of the souls of others? have we put a "stopper" in the top of the vessel?
II. I KNOW...
A. That many of us have a "natural" hesitation
1. "religion" is not a "safe subject" - we have heard that for many years
2. we may have some fear of unpleasantness or rejection ... a relationship which could be injured by our being openly concerned
3. we may also be concerned about our inadequacy with the word
4. we may have mentally "delegated" this to someone more qualified
5. I am reminded, though, of 2 Cor 4:13 - believing, should we not speak?
B. That most of us are very busy with the affairs of our lives
1. so, we may prefer to think in terms of "hiring it done"
2. and, yes, we do have responsibilities to our families to provide, etc.
3. but do we not find the time to do a host of other things?
4. are we simply using our "business" as our rational "excuse"?
5. Mt 6:33 - are we having a problem with this basic discipleship issue?
III. O.K., BUT HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT THIS?
A. I suggest that we preface our initiative with prayer
1. pray for wisdom; that the person's heart will be open
2. I remember how often in the apostle Paul's letters he mentions that he is praying for the recipients - I take a "page" from his book in this respect
B. I suggest that you think about the person you would like to approach
1. until we begin to be specific about this we will not get beyond the general feeling that we ought to be doing something
2. Jno 1:41-45 - Andrew and Philip give us a good example here
C.I suggest that you be watching for opportunities
1. part of our need is to have a mind set for evangelism
2. such a mind set, then, makes us aware that an opportunity has arisen, and we are quick to turn it to the spiritual need - Jno 4:7-10
D. I suggest there is no substitute for simply asking another to study with you
1. I have always been amazed at how willing most people are ... if asked
2. be prepared to set a specific time for your study - do not be vague about some time in the future
CLOSE:Rom 10:13,14 - The questions in the passage are so important. But think about the second question and put yourself into the answer: "how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" You are the answer for someone! It matters to that "someone" what you believe about evangelism!
Cecil A. Hutson
22 October 2006