Sharing the Gospel

What is the Gospel?

Our sinfulness means that we deserve to go to hell, but Jesus died on the cross to take my place, and he rose again on the third day.

Why share the Gospel?

Jesus Commands us

Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

1. Many people have not heard

2. Many people have misunderstandings

It is YOUR job to share the truth with them

The issue of spiritual awareness.

One of the reasons we do not share the Gospel as often as we should is because we are not thinking about the spiritual condition of others.

- When you go to Publix, or to the beach, or out to eat with your family, or to the movies with your friends, does it cross your mind that most of the people around you are probably on their way to spending eternity in hell?

- The spiritual condition of the people around us is small in our minds.

- It has become “not a big deal,” when there is actually no bigger deal.

In work, school, sports, friends, family, we forget that the people we do all of those things with are going to hell if they do not know Christ.

The spiritual conditions of the people around us must occupy our minds. When it does, we will be motivated and driven to share the Gospel.

Matthew 9:36–38 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.””

Understanding the Gospel destroys the excuses

“Fear does not stop you from sharing the gospel, a misunderstanding of the Gospel and the need for the Gospel does.”

A. laziness holds me back because i misunderstand that a person will spend eternity in hell if they do not believe.

B. every excuse for not sharing the Gospel can be traced back to misunderstanding it and the need/urgency of it.

Misconception

Evangelism is not a box to check off, even though we try so hard to treat it as one.

it is a habit to be built

a muscle to be strengthened

a characteristic of followers of Christ.

and you can’t get better/more comfortable sharing the Gospel if you never do it, or if you only do it every few months.

The goal of us going out on Saturday is for you to get started making this a habit in your life. Friends, strangers, or enemies.

Challenges

As you go about your life, start thinking about the spiritual condition of people in your life (people you know and strangers).

2. Be bolder, public instead of private as you pursue Christ. Be outspoken and start spiritual conversations with unbelievers. Especially those of you that are going to collegiate this year have a great opportunity to start being more public in your faith.

3. Invitation to step out of your comfort zone and share your faith with others on Saturday.

HOWEVER - don’t think that this one event excuses you from sharing your faith for a time. It needs to be a consistent habit and this is just a step in getting there.

How To

Who do you think Jesus is?

Do you believe in heaven or hell?

Where do you think you will go when you die?

How do you know that you are going to heaven?