3. Share Jesus With Others

Announcements

75 Minutes of Service

Garage & Bake Sale, Sep 29-30

Gospel Communities next week

Reading the Bible Together, coed Oct 11

Connect Card

Introduction

According to a recent Lifeway Research study, 96% of Christians believe that sharing the gospel is part of their Christian faith, but 95% have never shared the gospel with anyone, and 47% believe it is wrong to do so.

Have you ever shared your faith with someone?

We’re continuing our series on what it means to be a disciple, a Christian. The series is called Walk This Way because being a Christian is about following Jesus in life.

Three Steps

Come to Jesus: Leave my old way of living to follow Jesus.

Become like Jesus: Not just to act like Jesus but to react like Jesus—learn to think like Jesus and heed the Spirit.

Share Jesus with others

What do we mean by “share Jesus with others?” We mean make disciples. That includes but is not limited to evangelism.

Subject: How do we share Jesus with others? How do we make disciples?

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV).

Main command: make disciples. Three supporting verbs that show us how: going, baptizing, and teaching.

Big idea: We share Jesus with others (make disciples) by going, baptizing, and teaching.

Body

We share Jesus with others by going. We make disciples as we walk with Jesus.

Exposition: Matthew 28:18-20

“Go, therefore,” or “As you go,” or “As you are going, make disciples of all nations” or “all peoples.” People at work, at school, at home, at church, at your cabin, at the golf course, at the coffee shop, in your neighborhood, etc.

Two words the Bible uses to describe disciples of Jesus: witnesses (Acts 1:8) and ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). Ambassador = You are an official representative of God’s Kingdom in every place you go.

Illustration: A woman from our church was able to share Jesus with a hair stylist…

Application:

Live your faith in front of people. Don’t be embarrassed or apologetic to be a Christian. Don’t be arrogant, self-righteous, or pompous but humble, helpful, loving, and unashamed. I’ve never met a Jew, Hindu, or Muslim who was embarrassed of their faith.

Make it your goal to be the first Christian people around you like.

We share Jesus with others by baptizing. We make disciples through evangelism.

Exposition: Matthew 28:18-20

“baptizing them.” Who gets baptized? New believers. Discipleship begins with evangelism.

47% of Christians believe it’s wrong to share the gospel. Is it okay to evangelize?

We think evangelism is wrong because we confuse evangelism with proselytizing. To proselytize means to convert someone from one religion to another. But Jesus did not tell us to proselytize…

Christian evangelism is not about converting people to new religious beliefs because Christianity cannot be reduced to a set of religious beliefs. Christianity is a way of living life with Jesus, like Jesus, and for Jesus.

What is evangelism? To evangelize means to share good news.

Illustration: Jesus called us to be witnesses, not lawyers.

Application: How do we practice evangelism effectively?

Be who God made you to be.

Love (John 13:35). “Baptize” them in love… People aren’t projects; they’re people. Love them.

We share Jesus with others by teaching. We make disciples by showing others how we follow Jesus.

Exposition: Matthew 28:18-20

“teaching them...” What are we teaching? Not just to know but to obey. Discipleship isn’t just about knowing but doing.

How do we teach? By example. Here’s what discipleship is: You show someone else how you follow Jesus.

Illustration: A great way to practice is with kids.

Application: Don’t believe the lie that you’re not equipped to make disciples.

Conclusion

You can’t share what you don’t have.

Practice listening: God, as we think about sharing Jesus with others, what is Your heart for us in this?