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Presented April 6, 2008 pm

PERSONAL EVANGELISM:

CARRYING ON THE WORK OF OUR LORD

                Tonight I want to again address a subject that needs to continually bear on our minds.  Christianity involves many things.  It involves worshipping God, walking in the light (and rejecting the ways of darkness), acting properly toward our brethren, growing personally through study and prayer, and serving Him in every way that we can.  For many of us, we do fairly well in these things.  But there is another area we ALL need to pay more attention to – and that is personal evangelism.  We all know we need to do more of it and we need to remind ourselves of that continually.  We may get tired of hearing it and perhaps even upset because we seem to harp on it, but that doesn’t change the fact that if we are NOT doing what we ought to be doing – in this area or any other – we have problems.  Remember what James said, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)   He also said, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (2:10)

                Brethren, we need to remind ourselves that the future of the church depends upon our willingness to take evangelism seriously.  But do we?  I know for a fact that I can do more and I must take some of the responsibility, but true growth will only come if ALL OF US are willing to do our share so that growth will take place in the body. (Ephesians 4:16) 

                Tonight I want to talk about our mission of personal evangelism.  The word mission has many definitions.  As the term is used here it is, “an assigned or self-imposed duty or task.  A sending or being sent for some duty or purpose.” (Random House Dictionary, 2006, #16, #17).  As I speak of our mission in evangelism, I mean that we are called (by God through His word) to make efforts to reach others according to our abilities.

                To help impress us to the importance of this, I want us to notice the importance of this work in the life of Jesus and how He intended for it is to be carried on.  Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”   Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children.”

I.                     The Mission of Jesus

a.        Ultimately, Jesus came to this earth to die for our sins.  In a number of passages He bore this out.

                                                   i.       John 12:47 He said, “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”

                                                  ii.      Matthew 9:13, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

                                                iii.      Matthew 20:28, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

                                                iv.      Luke 19:10, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

b.       He appeared to great multitudes of people preaching and teaching this mission and urging them to follow Him.

                                                   i.      He declared Himself as their hope.  In a synagogue in Nazareth He said that scripture was being fulfilled in Him (Luke 4:21).

                                                  ii.      Matthew 5-7 – the Sermon on the Mount was preached to a great multitude, a sermon about superior righteousness.

                                                iii.      John 6:35 – “I am the bread of life” preached to people following Him.  In this message He also challenged them to follow Him not just for physical bread but because of who He is.

c.        But He often focused on a personal level with just one or two people

                                                   i.      Nicodemus – John 3:3, 5 – He told him he needed to born again of the water and the Spirit.

                                                  ii.      The Samaritan woman – John 4:1-26 as He engaged in a conversation with one whom many would have looked down upon and rejected.  He offered her living waters.  (NOTE: We speak of our inabilities to read hearts like Jesus which is true, but consider this – He COULD read hearts and KNEW the character of this woman, BUT he spoke to her anyways.)

                                                iii.      Zacchaeus – a tax collector, again another one despised by society – Yet Jesus found him and went to his house – Luke 19:5.  Jesus went to him even though it meant being criticized by others.

                                                iv.      Mary and Martha – Luke 10:38-42 – in the home of friends, Mary and Martha Jesus took time to keep teaching.

d.       Truly Jesus knew His mission and did not let ANYONE deter Him from that mission.

II.                  The Mission of the apostles

a.        He trained and taught His apostles.  Jesus knew that His time here was limited but the work had to continue after He left.  So He took steps to ensure that it would continue.  He chose twelve men to lead this work.  For three years He trained and taught them.  AND he took steps to ensure that after He was gone they would be able to continue to the work (promising the Helper – John 14:25, 26; 16:13. 

b.       He taught them about the importance of reaching the lost.

                                                   i.      Matthew 9:35-38 – with compassion He spoke to them about the harvest and that God would send out laborers

                                                  ii.      Matthew 10:5-15 He sent them out building up their confidence.  Their message was to preach the coming of the kingdom. He was training them for this great work.

                                                iii.      Open your eyes, the fields are white.  John 4:35-38,

                                                iv.      John 15:16 – they were to bear fruit

c.        As He was about to ascend to heaven, He gave them the great commission.  Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:46-49.

III.                Our Mission – to carry on their message and to teach the lost

a.        Does the great commission apply to us?  

While given first of all give to the apostles can we say that we are responsible for what it teaches?  Consider the following:

                                                   i.      Colossians 1:23 – tells us how the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven.  How was this done? Were the apostles the only ones who taught? NO!

                                                  ii.      Acts 8:4 gives an example of those who were scattered after persecution going everywhere to preach the word. 
We have the example of Aquila and Priscilla teaching Apollos (Acts 18:24-28).  They learned it from someone, but they were NOT apostles.  As a result many others were taught.
We have the example of the church at Thessalonica – 1 Thess. 1:7-8.

                                                iii.      2 Tim. 2:2 – the teachings Paul had received were to be carried on from one generation to the next.

                                                iv.      When we put the success of the spreading of the gospel as recorded in scripture all together, we can conclude that while the commission was originally given to the apostles it is fulfilled by us working together to complete that which they started.

b.       Passages that lend toward personal evangelism.  While there is not a specific passage that says, “You need to be converting the lost” it is implied throughout the New Testament.  Consider the following:

                                                   i.      We are salt and light – Matthew 5:13-16.  Example applies to all and God is glorified by our examples.

                                                  ii.      The parable of the talents – Matthew 25:14-30.  We ALL have abilities – the lesson was taught by Jesus and applies to ALL.   IF we have ability to share the word with others – we are accountable.

                                                iii.      Romans 1:14-17 – Paul was a debtor to teach the gospel.  Paul was a debtor?  Are we?

                                                iv.      Romans 9:1-3 – Paul’s personal grief over the lost. Should we not have the same attitude toward the lost?

                                                  v.      Romans 10:14-15 – how beautiful are your feet? 

                                                vi.      1 Cor. 3:6-7 – Paul planted and Apollos watered.  Note Apollos part in God giving the increase.  Are we not all ministers?
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – he speaks of “anyone’s foundation.”  Not just the apostles.

                                               vii.      2 Cor. 5:11 – knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.  While Paul was speaking of himself (and those with him – note the “we” in vs 9), does not the same principle apply today?  Should we not be equally concerned about the “terror of the Lord” that will befall those who do not obey the gospel (2 Thess. 1: 8-9).

                                             viii.      2 Corinthians 5:14 – the love of Christ compels us.  Does the love of Christ compel you?

                                                ix.      Hebrews 5:12 – by this time you ought to be teachers.  WHO was to be teachers? The mature – ALL OF THEM!  Not just the church leaders.

                                                  x.      James 5:20 – to turn a sinner from the error of his way is to save a soul from death.  DO WE LOVE OTHERS AS WE OUGHT TO?  Again this applies to all.

                                                xi.      1 Peter 1:9 – we are a royal priesthood that we may proclaim the praises of Him….  What was the job of a priest? To worship God, offer sacrifices AND to teach the people the law.

                                               xii.      1 Peter 3:15 - we should ALL give a defense of the hope within us.

It is my hope that in this lesson we can ALL see our need to share the gospel with others.  It is OUR MISSION.  We live in world that is much more advanced than the first century (technologically).  We have innumerable resources and conveniences as a way to introduce the gospel to a lost and dying world.  I fear that sometimes we think that we can throw a little money at the church treasury and let the preacher and elders set up programs to introduce the gospel to the world, and then let a handful of people do the work while we stand back and take credit.  Brethren, IT DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY!  Consider the words of Ruel Lemmons on this subject.  He said, “The Lord didn’t lay the task of evangelism upon machinery; he laid it upon men.  All the mass media, however helpful, cannot substitute for the saint communicating the one gospel to one sinner.  That’s the way the world will be saved…if it is ever saved.  God did not give his commission to angels, or even to a committed, but to men…to individual men (and women).  The church is shrinking because members of the church are shirking.  And Heaven isn’t prepared for shirkers.”  While I believe Ruel Lemmons to teach error on many subjects, on this point he hit then nail on the head!

Brethren, we may be doing many things right.  But are we doing everything we ought to be doing?  In this area are you and I willing to do our part?  Proverbs 11:30 tells us, “He who wins souls is wise.”  Are we wise?