A closer walk through sharing
Just a closer walk with thee • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsAim: To look at how we, personally, can engage in sharing Christ.
Notes
Transcript
Did you know?
Did you know?
Jesus wants all creatures to hear the good news (Mk16:15-16)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
The good news is the power of God unto salvation (Rom1:16-17)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
Did you know, do you know the most effective way to reach people with the gospel?
What was responsible for your coming to Christ and His church (slide inserted here)
This survey was asked of over 10,000 people, these figures show the responses.
If the church is to grow it will happen through the efforts of the members, by the hands, mouths of the members.
A preacher, a teacher, a class, a program are great for the body, but they do not grow the body.
Programs are great and they are useful, when the body is engaged together as the body for programs can reach people that we may not otherwise reach.
Contacts: We all have people that we have contact with, family, friends, co-workers, many of which by words, actions we may believe they need the Good News, the gospel message.
Programs and media (support groups, social media, etc) are helps, but they need to be coupled with the engagement of members on a personal level.
Question:
Are you concerned about the very souls of the lost? Jesus was as were the apostles (Mt9:36-38; Rom9:1-3, 10:1)
36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
That was a rhetorical question, of course you are, we do not want to see anyone go to hell do we?
Jesus saw the people and had compassion. He told the disciples the harvest is ready, ask the Lord of Harvest for workers.
1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Jesus had compassion, Paul had great sorrow and unceasing grief!
Paul prayed for their very salvation (re: Rom10:1)
(Transition) This morning we are going to look at ways we, as ordinary Christians can be God’s tool to share the good news by increasing our opportunities to share. Just two points this morning
Let our actions demonstrate our love
Let our actions demonstrate our love
Our demonstrated love will prove the claim of who we are, Christians (Jn13:35)
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We know the truth shall make you free (ref: Jn8:32)
It is not the doctrine, the worship, the organization, all of which are important, it is the love for one another that will prove the claim that you are a Christian
It is our love that makes us useful (Rev3:7-8)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
He knows the hearts of the people and opens doors, closes doors so to reach others.
Sometimes we are not personally in a place where we believe we can share, or in a position to share, equipped to share, there are some things we can do to help
Make a conscience effort to take action (1Pt4:8-9)
In our church it is easy to know each person by name, so, when someone new comes in get to know them, look at what Peter says:
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Be hospitable (invite, visit)
Sit, fellowship (etc.,)
(Transition) more action steps on a personal level
Make a list picture inserted here
Make a list of souls you would like to see saved
Helps us to focus, to bring to mind those whom we should pray for in specific.
We all have a circle of influence, some of those are not saved or need to return to Christ
Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, relatives, even some casual acquaintances
Do not make it exhaustive, limit it to a few people (As for me it is about 10) or it could be overwhelming or not specific
Give priority to the unsaved, the unchurched.
Denominational people are great to pray for the truth to come alive to them and set them free, but many are set, content with what they have and are oftentimes not open to the pure and simple gospel.
Pray for those on your list picture inserted here
Pray God use you to work together with you, that there be an open, receptive heart to hear the truth.
Paul asked for prayer to speak to others, you can too (ref: Col4:3; 2The3:1) and wisdom to know when, how to do it (Eph6:19-20)
You pray, you speak, and the Lord adds (1Cor3:5-7)
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
Demonstrate your love by your actions
Old addage “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Your love can make others more receptive to the gospel. Remember it is a gospel of love (1Pt2:12)
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
See a need, meet a need
Invite, visit, include
Invite to the assembly of the body
This is an open door for others to see the love, compassion of the body as we gather together.
Great opportunity for the gospel to be preached
So, be prayerful about it, asking for wisdom and for boldness to do this.
Love those you have invited and those who come
Greet them, welcome them, invite them out
You don’t have to be a part of pastoral team to do visits (ref: Heb13:2; Rom12:13) practice hospitality to them and with them.
Opportunities to share the gospel
This morning is about a closer walk by sharing.
Sharing by our love, our hospitality, by our prayers, and our invitation.
Sharing by our actions personally and as a body of believers too.
Don’t feel confident in you teaching, sharing the gospel? Share your testimony and invite them to hear the gospel from someone who is. (best way to grow is to do a study with someone)
Don’t feel comfortable there are some great videos that can be shared that do that, but if/when you do, watch with them so can answer questions
Don’t feel comfortable, ask someone to join you in sharing the gospel. Lead the people to others that are ‘apt’ to teach
(conclusion)
Opportunities are fulfilled when we are committed.
Opportunities may not always lead to saving souls, but remember the Lord add’s to the numbers, we are to plant seeds.
Opportunities happen when we look, when we are willing to demonstrate our love for others.
Opportunities taken are fulfilling the great commission a command that is given.
Opportunities can be Seized when we have a heart for the lost, start with your circle of influence.
(invitation slide) repent and believe the gospel
(Prayer) (Exit)