The Gospel IRL - Evangelism

Be Ready

I have a confession to make, I am not a plumber. I can do some plumbing but I am not a plumber. There is a difference.

This past week we ran into a little plumbing issue at the house. The water in the bathroom tub was not draining well. We are trying to take a shower and the tub was filling up with water.

If this has ever happened to you then you know, that’s gross and you cannot enjoy your shower.

I am not a plumber but I have some experience in fixing these types of issues. I took the knowledge I have and put it into practice. Thankfully that as enough to fix the problem.

There are people are who plumbers though and they make good money because while I can some things they know the intricacies of how plumbing works. They know about drain lines, main lines, vent pipes, and so on to a degree I do not.

We are continuing our look at the Gospel IRL and today we are talking about evangelism. For some people that is a scary word. The Big E. It is a word that strikes fear in even the most seasoned of Christians but it does not have to. To look at Evangelism I think there are two places we need to start.

The first is Jesus,

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are going to dissect this a little more in a minute but for now, all we need to see is that we share our faith because Jesus said to.

Second is,

1 Peter 3:15 KJV 1900

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The Apostle Peter tells us that we should always be ready to give an answer, a defence, a reason for the hope within us. We could say Peter is saying that we should be ready to explain why we trust Christ.

For Peter it starts with sanctifying the Lord in our hearts. We give honor, reverence, or high priority to Jesus in us.

We started this journey of the Gospel IRL with understanding what the gospel is. Then Pastor Howie talked about keeping the main thing the main thing. We looked at Communion and how Christ continually sets a table before us. We look at sanctification and how we are new in Christ and how we walk that out. These are primarily one to one things. Us and Jesus, now we are talking about sharing that relationship with others.

Peter is in part saying understanding what has happen within you and then be ready to let that out.

Evangelism

To start with let’s understand the word evangelism or evangelist. It is someone who brings good news. If you were here on week one we said the word Gospel is euangelion and means good news.

euangelion = good news, i.e. Gospel

euangelistēs = good news bringer i.e. evangelist

An evangelist is just one who talks about the good news. It is someone who shares good news. That is all. It is not the messengers job to make anyone believe the good news. It is not there job to force it on anyone. It is their job to share the news.

If we look at Jesus as our example, He did not force Himself on anyone. He shared the good news of the Kingdom and He invited people in. We just do what He did.

The call of Evangelism is a call to invite people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What they do with that call is up to them but we are simply inviting people to the table.

We are saying, I have this great thing going do you want in?

We are also saying you are not able to be who you want to be on your own. The sacrifice of Jesus was a real sacrifice for a real problem. The problem was our brokenness and sinfulness. Jesus fixed that. Jesus made a way.

As You Go

Let’s touch back on what Jesus says,

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus says He has all authority in heaven and on earth so as we go we are to make disciples. We will talk more about discipleship next week but for now Jesus says, He’s the boss, He’s the Lord, He’s the one with all authority so we should make disciples.

We often read this as a command to go but it is also as we go. There is both a command to go because Jesus wants His disciples to make disciples of all nations AND it is a command to share and invite as you go.

Whether we are missionaries, janitors, or anything in between we are called to share the Gospel in what we do and where we are.

Some are called to go somewhere and but we are all called to share as we go about our day to day lives.

We can think of it like a spectrum. There are plumbers and there are people who can do some plumbing. There are evangelists and missionaries on one side and on the other side is everyone else who is still called to share.

Evangelists

There is a call a calling or Spiritual gift of evangelism. Remember some people are plumbers. They understand and want to work in the muck of it all.

Ephesians 4:11 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

There is a gifting from the Holy Spirit to be an evangelists. That God has called some men and women to the work of sharing the faith. Billy Graham, Hudson Taylor, Doug Lucas, and others.

Then we have people we support like XXX

These are people who burn with passion to share the good news with people. They hear about a group or a person who does not know Jesus and they cannot sit still.

How do you know if you have the spiritual gift of evangelism?

Usually other people see it in you and call it out.

You are not content with the status quo.

Do you have a desire to see people come to Christ that feels unnatural or not normal.

You continually feel like the church should be doing more to reach the not yet Cristian.

But you have to keep in mind that you are the church.

As I talk about evangelism your heart is burning within you. You are so excited. While others are afraid you are ready to pounce.

How do you do it? First and foremost get in line with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God the evangelist.

J. I. Packer

The Holy Spirit is an evangelist. He is always seeking those who are not in Christ.

Acts 13:2 CSB

As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

The Holy Spirit says, set apart for Me.

Jesus says of the Holy Spirit,

John 16:8–11 CSB

When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

The Holy Spirit is the greatest evangelist ever. He is the one calling and drawing people to Jesus. No one confesses the Lord without Him. So get in line with Him.

We talk about the gifts and that is all fine and well but He has a mission too and that mission is to save souls.

First, get in line with the Spirit.

Second, get some training. Yes there is a gift and you may well have it, but that does not mean there is not training to be done.

Learn about people, learn about the things of God. Learn to communicate. Learn how to share.

A good book will help. I have a few I can recommend. Find others who communicate the Gospel in a way that resonates with you and learn.

If that is you then I encourage you to do something about it. Do not quench the Holy Spirit. If He is calling you to be an evangelist or missionary then take steps to be that. Do what He has called you to do. Do not wait, tomorrow is not promised. If God is saying to you in this moment go, then GO!

Not gifted is still called

Now, what if you are not called or gifted to be an evangelist? Well you are still called to do the work of evangelism.

Remember if even you are not a plumber you can do plumbing.

2 Timothy 4:5 CSB

But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

No one gets a get out sharing you faith free card here. You might not be called to be an evangelist but we are all called to share our faith.

Remember some are called to go but all are called to share as we go.

Every single believer is a God-ordained agent of evangelism.

Rienk Bouke Kuiper

A story helps.

Matthew 13:1–8 CSB

On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.

Our job is not to determine the results of the sowing but to sow. What happens with the seed is not our business.

1 Corinthians 3:6–8 CSB

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

We just sow the seed. We throw it out everywhere. We are like Oprah, you get some seed, and you get some seed, and you get some seed. Everyone gets some. God does the rest.

Practical Sharing

Here are some practical ways to share the Gospel.

Before, after, and in the midst pray!

Be a good neighbor.

Just be a good neighbor. Watch your neighbors house for them. Say hi to them. Be friendly. Mow their lawn where it touches yours if you can. Just be nice. One of the greatest ways to share your faith is to let it change you and then be a good neighbor.

Tell your story.

Just tell your story. What has God done in your life. Your story is the greatest tool in your evangelist tool belt. When someone is going through something share how God helped you. When someone asks why you don’t freak out like everyone else, tell them about how God has given you peace.

Invite them to church.

82% of our friends and family that don't attend church are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited - According to Thom Rainer's book, The Unchurched Next Door, 

We are often terrified to invite people to church but the majority of people are willing to come if invited.

I was 41 years old before I ever received my first church invite. Even at that it has only happened once or twice since then. I had a guy come to the house the other day to invite us to church. It made me feel good to be invited.

Understand what is on the line.

People are struggling out there. People are dying. People are addicted. People are feeling lost and alone and we have the answer. How can we not share with them the hope we have?

This past week I woke up with my face swollen real bad. Sunday I woke up and my tooth hurt. Monday it was horrible. Tuesday morning I woke up and my whole right side from my lip to my eye was swollen. It was painful, uncomfortable, and a bit gross. I will be honest I was worried. I went to the Urgent Care and you know what I wanted? Answers, I wanted real answer as to my problem. Not fluff, not your perfect just like you are, but real answers so I could fix the real problem. We have the answer,

Respond to Jesus