Why Evangelism?
The most obvious answer is “because Jesus told us to.” Most famously in the Great Commission:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:18-20
Ready - but not willing - to share our faith.
A 2019 study published by Barna Reasearch summarized their findings in the statement that Christians today are “ready - but not willing - to share their faith.”
From the article:
Between 94 and 97% of practicing Christians in America believe that:
• Witnessing for Christ is an important part of their faith.
• The best thing that could ever happen to a person is for them to know Jesus.
47% of millennial Christians believe it is at least somewhat wrong to share ones religious beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.
Younger Christians tend to be more personally aware of the cultural temperature around spiritual conversations. Among practicing Christians, Millennials report an average (median) of four close friends or family members who practice a faith other than Christianity; most of their Boomer parents and grandparents, by comparison, have just one. Sharing the gospel today is made harder than at any time in recent memory by an overall cultural resistance to conversations that highlight people’s differences. Society today also casts a negative light on proselytization that many older Christians do not fully appreciate. —- “Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong,” Barna Research, 2019
Stifling Misconception:
Because God has given me the responsibility to save my friends and loved ones from hell by convincing them to accept Jesus.
Liberating Truth:
God accepts full responsibility for saving the world. Sometimes he shares with us the joy of witnessing and participating in it.
44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. —John 6:44
Born Again of the Spirit
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” —John 3:3-8
We are not able to save anyone because it requires a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
God the Father, draws people to God the Son, by the power of God the Holy Spirit. It’s all about God.
Jesus Instructions to His Disciples:
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. —Matthew 10:5-8
We invite people to change (repent means change), because “the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near.”
Sharing not only the gospel, but our “lives.”
5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. —1 Thessalonians 2:5-8
Pastor’s Challenge:
- What is God saying to you through today’s message?
- What needs to happen for God’s kingdom to come more fully in your world today?
- Who do you know who is suffering from the effects of sin and doesn’t know God?
- What fruit of the spirit could you bring to them from your time inside the kingdom that would give them a taste of that country?