Rediscovering The “Go” in Gospel

Mat. 28:18-20/  -  6-25-06 – P.M. Service  PPHC

I. Introduction                                                                         

A. “Go”: The First Two Letters of “Gospel”

  1. We are to go (poreuomai – to pursue; the word that is used for the march of an army.

• An army doesn’t march on its own accord; it must have marching orders…to GO!! It marches on a mandate handed down from its general. Its march is focused and goal-oriented. To do what is necessary to achieve the goal of the general.

  2. Go with the Gospel – euaggelion – “The Good News” – the glad tidings of salvation!

  3. Our text, “The Great Commission,” calls for us to go.

B. Most Christians Do Not Go to Others with the Gospel

  1. We have fallen into the “Corporate Christianity” trap. (We just gather into one large body)

  2. We are so busy with schedules that we have forgotten about soul winning.

  3. Keeping the church solvent (credible / in good shape) instead of keeping sinners out of hell.

   a. We’re too busy maintaining; just keeping up…instead of BUILDING the house.

II. Body

 A. Why Christians Do Not Go

  1. Wrong priorities.

   a. Socializing: parties, sports, dinners.

   b. Self-improvement: seminars, seminars, seminars...(SELF)

   c. Good things may crowd out the most important.

    1. The Invitation to the Great Supper (Lk. 14:17-20)

·          One had just purchased a piece of property.

·          Another had purchased 5 yoke of oxen and had to go prove them.

·          The last had married a wife and said he couldn’t come.

   d. The Great Commission rates low on our list.

  2. Apathy: no real interest in winning souls or in the needs of others.

  3. Fear

   a. What will I say if I go?

   b. What will others say? How will they react?

   c. Don’t feel qualified.

B. How to Overcome Obstacles to Going

  1. We Must Make It a Priority: If we don’t set it as a priority, we’ll never get around to it.

·          Paul – “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Phil. 4:13-14

  2. Our Lord Set the Example 

·          Prophesied before His birth – “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” – Matt. 1:21

·          The Mandate as Spoken by Christ Himself: “…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Lk. 19:10)

   a. The worth of a soul 

·          “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  NKJV  (Mat. 16:26)

·          “This mad quest would absorb so much of his time and energy that he would miss the central purpose of his life. What good would it do to make all that money, then die, leave it all behind, and spend eternity empty-handed?” Man is here for bigger business than to make money. He is called to represent the interests of his King. If he misses that, he misses everything.” [i]

Story: Johnny has faith — faith in God — but he cannot tell his story. His problem first showed up big time in college! It continues to this day.

John and his roommate, Ben, decided to attend their college's Christmas Concert. Beautiful staging, great music and a vivid depiction of the Nativity made the annual program a student favorite. They ran across campus and arrived just as Joy To The World began. Portions of Handel's Messiah followed. Following the festive finale, the boys returned to their dorm and settled down to study. About 1 a.m., following their second pizza break, Ben spoke up. "So, John, what does, 'Even so, in Christ, shall all be made alive,' mean?" He had heard the words sung earlier. John knew Ben pretty well and this was definitely not a standard question. It wasn't about basketball or girls. John had made no secret of his being saved, and now Ben was asking about the Savior.

So, what happened next? A long conversation about the significance of Christ's birth? An opportunity for sharing God's promises? No. They only talked a few minutes. John, to his own surprise, didn't have much to say. Ben heard something about "God is love" and some other Bible sounding phrases and a quick history of his friend's Sunday School attendance. The Bible sitting on John's shelf remained closed. Both boys soon returned to their studies. Ben kept thinking of questions he'd like to ask. John decided to call his parents later to ask them for help. Unfortunately, they couldn't help either. His Dad kept saying that John 3:16 was a "real good verse" and to call Pastor Bill — a call that was never made.

Finals passed. Everyone went home. Ben had an apartment that Spring, so he and John split up. One year later, they were in different schools. Eight years later, they had a chance meeting at O'Hare Int’l Airport. John was single, an attorney in Chicago, and in a big hurry. Ben was job-hunting in Cleveland, had just filed for divorce, and downed 3 martinis in 30 minutes. He was lost...lost big time! John encouraged his friend as best he knew how to help. He reminded Ben that God loved him...that "God is love." Then, running out of things to say, he excused himself. He never saw Ben again.

·          “Those that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Lk. 5:31, 32

·          Analogy: It’s in the middle of the night. Your house is on fire...I bang on your door to wake you up. “Fire!” I yell. You wake up, and you choose to believe me or not. I see the smoke, I see the flames. Maybe you don't. But I try to convince you that there is a fire, so you will run out of the house and be saved.

   b. Jesus calls us to be fishers of men  (Mat. 4:18-20)

·          “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

  2. Apathy: Soul-winning demands urgency

   a. The shortness of life.

   b. The imminence of Christ’s return.

   c. Obedience demands commitment . (1 Sam. 15:22)

  3. Fear: Christ promises to go with us  (vs. 20)

   a. He will give us words of encouragement.

   b. New converts often the best soul-winners

   c. Go and tell what Christ has done for you

 C. Where Shall We Go?

  1. There Are No Limits: “…into all the world…”  (Mk. 16:15)

  2. We can in organized visitation programs.

  3. We can to those who are hurting: hospitals, etc.

  4. We can go to those around us: adults, as well as children.

  5. We can go to those we meet every day.

III. Conclusion

 A. What Will Happen When We Start Going?

  1. We will find evangelism a great adventure

  2. Our fears will be replaced with faith

  3. We will experience the joy of serving

 B. Let’s Go!

Borrowed from Preach for a Year - Volume 2

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[i]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville