Sharing the Good News (2)

19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

Evangelism is talking about what you are passionate about.

It’s easy to be passionate about great news. win PB? Cure for cancer? She said yes...

We have great news. We have the great news that men and women can be forgiven of their sins and saved from eternal separation from God by believing that Jesus Christ died for them and rose again.

Learning techniques won’t put passion in you… only Jesus can. Know “how to share” will build your confidence, but the passion comes from your relationship with Jesus.

Example of Great News -

A Group of Lepers

During Old Testament times, an enemy king named Ben- Hadad of Aram mobilized his army to attack and besiege Israel. Facing certain death outside the city gates or inside the city itself, four starving Israelite lepers decided to surrender to the invading army. They hopelessly entered the enemy camp only to discover that the Arameans had vanished. Food, clothing, and shelter were scattered everywhere. The lepers lunged on the spoils and ate and drank as much as they could. They grabbed as much silver, gold, and clothes and hid them.

2 Kings 7:9 NLT

9 Finally, they said to each other, “This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let’s go back and tell the people at the palace.”

Evangelism is sharing good news with those who desperately need it.

People are dying and headed to hell and we have the way… the cure to prevent that from happening.

Ephesians 2:1 NLT

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

We were totally helpless to do anything about our sins.

This is why it’s important for us to share what God has done for us. He paid a price we could not pay.

Sharing the Good News

Paul refers to the Gospel as the power of Salvation.

Romans 1:16 NLT

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

The Gospel has inherent power to transform lives and prepare them for eternity. The message is that Jesus died on our behalf and rose again.

Like the hungry lepers, Paul said,

Romans 10:14 NLT

14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

Evangelism is allowing others to share in what Christ has done in your life.

We simply share what he is doing in our lives with those we care about.

Jesus began his ministry proclaiming the good news and He finished it by assigning that proclamation to his followers.

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Paul

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NLT

14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

What should be our motivation for sharing the good news? Love

What did Jesus do in your life that can motivate you to share it with others?

Great news in light of Bad news

Illustration: On April 15, 1912, the “unsinkable” Titanic slowly slipped from sight, plunging 12,000 feet to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Only one lifeboat went back to save people. Jesus wants us to be that lifeboat. We have the answer that will rescue the perishing. We must go to them with the lifeboat of salvation.

John 3:36 NLT

36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

How does Jesus describe the condition of those who do not believe in him? in God’s angry judgement

Do you see people as Jesus sees them?

1 Corinthians 9:16 NLT

16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

Apart from Jesus Christ, men and women are eternally lost.

Romans 3:9–20 NLT

9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” 13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “They rush to commit murder. 16 Destruction and misery always follow them. 17 They don’t know where to find peace.” 18 “They have no fear of God at all.” 19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

People need to hear the Gospel because we cannot live a righteous life without Jesus

Jesus wants to save people and make their lives complete.

Matthew 11:28 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

How can we become powerful witnesses for Jesus Christ?

We become powerful witness the the power of the Holy Spirit.

ILL - disciples before and after Pentecost.

Jesus knew the disciples needed power to accomplish his purpose.

So do we...

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Luke 11:13 NLT

13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Acts 4:31 NLT

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Summary

The Gospel is the Good News about Jesus that needs to be shared.

People without Christ are lost in sin and without hope.

We need the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to share the good news.

Learn this passage

1 Corinthians 15:3–7 NLT

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.