Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week we talked about the need for vision.

God says it’s important.

Jesus Christ exhorts us to have a vision for the lost as well.

We sing the song, “Rescue the Perishing,” and the message is good.

Lost sinners are perishing every day, and entering eternal judgment from which there is no escape.

Christ stated it this way.

I. World Statistics

The current world population is estimated at 7.96 billion.

Back in 2018 it was estimated that the world population is divided up as follows: 59.8% of the world lives in Asia, 16.7% in Africa, 9.8% in Europe, 7.6% in North America, 5.6% in South America, and 0.5% in Australia and surrounding island regions.

The top 10 most populous nations in the world are:

1 China — 1.4 B

2 India — 1.4 B

3 U.S.A. — 334 M

4 Indonesia — 279 M

5 Pakistan — 229 M

6 Brazil — 215 M

7 Nigeria — 217 M

8 Bangladesh — 168 M

9 Russia — 146 M

10 Mexico — 131 M

Why am I giving these statistics?

Because the Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded us to look on the fields, also commanded us to reach the lost.

Before we get into the Scripture truths we’ll be studying today, I want us believers to consider the need this morning for saturating our world with the Gospel.

That starts right where we live.

Several years ago, it was estimated that 31% of the world population identifies as Christian (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, etc.), 23% is Muslim, 16% is unaffiliated, 15% is Hindu, 7% Buddhist, 6% Folk Religions, 0.2% Jews, and 1% other religions.

Of the 31% who identify as Christian, 53% are Catholic, 36% Protestant, and 11% Eastern Orthodox.

Of course, just because a denomination is labeled “Christian” doesn’t mean it’s actually like Christ is!

The vast majority of denominations teach a gospel that is different from what Christ taught.

Therefore, they are not obedient to Christ, and are not “Christian”—Christ-like.

It was estimated that 9% of “Christian” denominations are Baptist, possibly totaling around 41 million worldwide.

Of the Baptists, approximately 33 million are in the USA, including around 14 million Southern Baptists, and including smaller Baptist conventions.

Of course, independent Baptists like us don’t keep a coordinated database, so it’s difficult to get accurate numbers.

But even if we include all Baptists of all kinds (not all Baptists are the same and preach the truth!), that still comes out to 1 Baptist for every 195 people on Earth.

Just over 0.5% of humanity identify with a denomination that might be faithful to what Jesus taught.

Of course, we know that many of those who claim to know Christ actually do not, we can be assured that the number of true Christians, true saints of God who know God and serve Him, is far smaller.

The ratio of true saints is much smaller than 1:195.

Are we starting to see how few true believers are in the world?

The need for preaching the Gospel and saturating our world with the truth is great, and it is urgent.

Of course, many folks do not want the Gospel.

But as we’ll see at the end of this message, that must not keep us from preaching it.

II.

Drawing the Diagram

Our goal in Gospel outreach—personal evangelism—is to find people who are open to seeing for themselves what the Bible has to say.

We ought to be willing and ready to tell them what it says (1 Peter 3:15), but it’s better if they are willing to see it for themselves.

True Christians have nothing to hide: what we believe is what is found in the Bible.

We don’t have church dogmas or church leader doctrines.

We follow the Bible, as best as we know how.

It’s God’s book, and others may read it…and must read it.

Anyone may understand it without a doctorate.

Some study is often needed, but what topic is worth knowing if it doesn’t take some work?

Work is required, but great intellect and a high IQ is not required.

Anyone can give effort.

Are we willing?

When meeting folks, we must be careful to present the truth, without pressuring them to accept the truth.

All must voluntarily accept God; we cannot coerce anyone to do it.

We may be bold, because preaching the Gospel is not shameful, but honorable.

We are telling them about deliverance!

However, we are not offering a sales pitch or persuading them to “take the plunge” on something they aren’t yet sure about.

Instead, we are living the Gospel—dying to everything for which Christ died, and living for everything He did—and we are speaking the Gospel—telling them about the good news of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection from tomb after three days and nights.

When we clearly present the Gospel (which is not the same as inviting someone to church!), we will encounter people who want to hear more.

When you find someone who is interested in sitting down to study the Bible, I recommend that you use the booklet “Salvation Bible Basics” that we have available in the bookstore.

It is a concise, 4-part study that teaches everything one needs to know in order to come to Christ and be saved.

We’ll be examining Lesson 1 this morning.

CLICK TO SHOW DIAGRAM STARTER

As you proceed through Lesson 1, you’ll be drawing a diagram for them, which will serve as a visual aid, and as a way for them to review in between meetings.

CLICK TO SHOW “FACING GOD”

III.

God’s Word

First, it’s important to know that eternity is God’s domain, and Heaven is God’s home.

If we’re going to arrive there, we need to go His way.

If we’re going to understand what is true and what is not, we need to see things from His perspective…and He does have a different perspective.

CLICK

We must understand and believe that God sees our heart!

CLICK

We will all be accountable to God, and since He can see our heart, nothing will go unnoticed or overlooked.

Are you prepared for this day?

If you’re not, you can look in Scripture to find the “answers” to this test.

You can be ready!

Many people today seem to want to try to figure it out on their own, but that is foolishness.

God knows we can’t possibly do that, and so He gave us the answers.

He wants us to be ready!

CLICK

When we are judged by God, we will be held accountable to a particular standard.

But what standard?

This verse says God judges according to truth.

What then is truth?

CLICK

God’s Word is the standard!

We will be judged according to how we measure up to what God’s Word says.

How do you measure up?

Many people say they are good, and do good things.

But what is God’s definition of “good?”

The Bible tells us.

CLICK TO SHOW “TRUTH = BIBLE”

Before someone is wiling to trust what the Bible says, they need to see that the Bible is trustworthy.

The study of the veracity of the Bible is a very rewarding study, but to explore it in depth would take many hours.

However, here are a few pieces of information that illustrate it.

CLICK

“Inspiration” here refers not to an outburst of creativity, but that the Word of God came from God’s own mouth, as it were.

The Bible is comprised of the words of God.