Annie Armstrong Sermon
Annie Armstrong Sermon
On behalf of the North American Mission Board I want to thank you for your support and prayers.
I have worked for the Mission Board for 19 years. For six years I ministered as a National Missionary in the Anti-cults Department until I made the mistake of letting them promote me. For 13 years I served as part of the board’s administrative staff.
The North American Mission Board:
- Focuses on evangelism, church starting and sending missionaries
- 248 million unbelievers in the United States and Canada
- More than 5,300 missionaries
- 2,500 endorsed chaplains
- 450,000 mission volunteers compliment the work.
- Goal of more than 2,000 church starts each year.
- Funded primarily by Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® and Cooperative Program
This morning I would like to share some of my experiences as a National Missionary with the Mission Board.
1 Peter 3:15b Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
"The reason for the hope that you have."
- More than Any Other Religions in the World, Christianity Offers Hope and Good News.
o The Christian message of salvation is called the Gospel.
o The word Gospel literally means "the Good News."
- Christianity Is Radically Different From All Of The Other Religions In The World.
o I have studied the religions of the world for over 20 years and there is nothing with a message of salvation like the Christian Gospel.
o In the first century the Christian message of salvation was so radically different that when people first heard it they said, "Now that is Good News!"
- False Religions Always Have Some Form Of Works Salvation.
o They may disagree about:
§ The nature of God
§ The goal that they seek
§ What one needs to do
o But the all claim that there is something that you have to do in order to reach spiritual bliss.
o [JW Lady in PA]
o [New Age Movement]
§ 1000's if not millions of reincarnations are need in order to reach oneness with the One.
§ And when you finally arrive they teach that your reward is that you get to cease to exist as a separate entity.
§ That doesn't excite me at all!
o [Joke: Streets of Gold]
- But the message of the bible is a word of grace!
o There is nothing that you can do!
o Because Jesus has already done it all!
o Just trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and He will give you eternal life and a home in heaven that is so wonderful that the Bible describes the pavement as being made of Gold!
"But do this with gentleness and respect."
- You Don't Have To Be Rude, Crude, Or Obnoxious To Share You Faith!
o [New Age Fair Booth]
§ Be nice
§ Don't provide an excuse for them to kick us out.
o [Man Wearing A Red Pyramid]
§ Norm "lost it"
§ Shouted
o [Rest of the Story]
§ Woman at a New Age show in Ashville, NC.
§ I thought it was the wife of the man that had worn the pyramid.
§ Rick told me I was mistaken.
§ I asked, "Are you from Tampa?"
§ She replied, "Are you psychic?"
Invitation:
John 3:16-18
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Salvation
Has there every been a time in your life when you believed in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
If you have never asked Jesus to save you from your sins in there is any reason why you would not be willing to do so this morning?
o [Sinner's Prayer]
o If you meant it then by the authority of the word of God…
Rededication
- Maybe you are like the man wearing the pyramid.
o You're saved but you have "backslidden into sin."
§ You're miserable
§ You know it's wrong
o Why not recommit yourself and your life to the Lord Jesus?
Other Needs
- Maybe you just need to come down to the front and pray with the pastor.
- Whatever the reason you need to do what the Lord convicts you to do right now while the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart!