Value #4 - Passionate Evangelism
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On my desk I have sticky notes written to remind me about different things. One says “I am God’s son, and He’s pleased with me. Another says “JESUS IS FUNCTIONAL LORD” in all caps. Then there’s one that’s got about 6 things I need to put on the next council meeting agenda. Haha, see, they can’t all be spiritual. But I’ve got one that I heard from someone else, and it stuck with me, so I wrote it down. It’s a prayer:
“Lord, help me not to be careless about people’s eternity.”
That’s a heavy weight to bear - the thought of people’s eternities. Paul was thinking of people’s eternities too when he penned Romans 10:14-17 which I’m going to read from the Message version so that our brains don’t hop over it due to familiarity.
But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims,
A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God!
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?” The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to. (Romans 10:14-17, MSG)
Value #4 - Passionate Evangelism
Today we’re going to turn to the book of Romans 10:5-17 and understand why evangelism is a core part of faith in Jesus Christ, and the mission of the church.
Romans 10:14—15 We are the sent.
Romans 10:14—15 We are the sent.
The book of Romans could - in a sense - be called the gospel of Romans, because of how plainly it lays out the gospel message. Personally, this is one of my all-time favourite books because of the clarity and simplicity it presents the gospel with. Yet, this book is also a complex, rich book that challenges even the best scholars. Paul employs OT Scripture, logic, and academia in Romans. It is so simple that the most simple person could read and understand. Yet it leaves great scholars still wanting to mine its depths.
Our focus today is on Romans 10:14-17
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?
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
How can one call out to someone they haven’t believed in? How can they believe if they haven’t heard? How do they hear lest someone preach? How do they preach unless they are sent to do so? Paul uses this rhetorical framework here to point out the obvious: People must hear the gospel in order to believe. Someone therefore must be sent to tell them. That someone is us.
Let’s get some context for what Paul is saying. One of the themes in Romans is the Jews’ response to the gospel. Israel (or the Jews) are the people through whom God gave the law in the OT. This law - found particularly in the first 5 books of the Bible - showed us God’s righteousness and our need for a Saviour. That Saviour is Jesus Christ - who was born of Jewish decent! So, you would think that perhaps all Israel at least would believe in Christ as Saviour and Lord. They have both the law, and the Messiah coming from their people! Yet this is not the case. In Romans 9, Paul discusses God’s foreknowledge and plan of salvation. In terms of Israel, though they were His covenant people not all will see salvation, because they have not believed in Christ Jesus. Moreover, Paul asserts that not just the Jews, but not all of humanity will be saved, but only those who God calls.
Back to Israel, Paul’s heart in chapter 10 breaks over the fact that many in Israel - his fellow countrymen - will not believe! Why? Because though they have zeal for the law, they have stumbled over Christ. They missed the point: The law doesn’t save us, because no one keeps it perfectly! Except Christ, who is our salvation. Any who receive the message of salvation will be saved. As we approach our passage, Paul works primarily from Deut 30, and Isa 52-53, making note of the fact that salvation comes through hearing the word about Christ, believing in your heart and thereby confessing with your mouth that Jesus rose from the dead!
Paul makes it clear in the earlier part of chap 10, that salvation is not that hard to understand. This is the complexity of our faith: Even a simple child can get it, but it will also leave the best scholars still mining its depths! Paul says
But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down)
“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
This is a quote from Deut 30 14
But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
The Word of Christ is near you - even in your heart and mouth! You don’t need to be a hero - because Christ is the hero. Salvation comes simply
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Therefore, any who believe are not “put to shame” or another way to say this is “exposed to God’s judgement.” Revelation 6:17 reminds us of this:
for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Revelation 7 gives us the answer - Christians! Christians can stand, not exposed to God’s judgement because they are saved through believing and confessing Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Confessing “Jesus is Lord” echoes a term used for God throughout the Greek OT. Believing and confess is not just a simple statement: It comes from a heart that recognizes Jesus as God, and therefore have placed themselves totally under His authority (NAC, 209). Paul cites from Joel 2:32 in v 13, proclaiming that everyone who calls on this name - Paul says - will be saved.
Thus we get to our passage, and this set of questions that Paul works backwards:
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?
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Who do we call out to? Who is our hope in? Christ. Christ is our Saviour. All those who believe and confess call upon Jesus for the hope of salvation. It is a sure hope, because we have a risen Saviour! We cry “Jesus is risen, Jesus is Lord!” We have believed this, whole-heartedly. We believe, because we have heard.
Think about it, there has to have been at some point in your life someone who told you about the gospel. You must have heard it from somewhere. Perhaps a family member, friend, pastor. One of the major parts of anyone’s testimony is that “message” that someone told you about, that God worked in your heart to bring you to saving faith.
My mom was my primary witness. She taught us from an early age about Jesus, telling us why and how to be saved. I think I accepted Jesus at all of 5 years old. But even as I grew, and hit my teenage years, she never stopped praying for me and being a witness in both words and action. That’s true actually of both my parents. I have her to thank for hearing the gospel. She answered the call to evangelize, especially her children. God used that powerfully in my life.
What is yours? I’ve heard amazing stories of how the gospel got ahold of someone’s life. Usually, there’s someone on the other end of that message. Praying, hoping, loving, and proclaiming.
How can we believe if we have not heard? How can we hear if no one preaches? Who will preach if no one is sent?
Paul establishes then that in order for people to be saved, there must be those who will go to them with the gospel message, so that they might hear, believe, and call on the name of Christ. Who then, are the sent ones?
Us. We are the sent ones.
In Mark 16 15, Jesus tell the disciples:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
In Matthew 28 19 we read:
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,
Certainly these commands were first given to the apostles. But was it to them alone that Jesus gave this mission? No! Speaking to the church in Asia minor, the apostle Peter wrote:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Friends, we are part of this heritage of believers. A chosen race, a royal priesthood! We proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness - out of the evil of this world and the path of sin and hell. We proclaim and testify to the sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We tell this world that there is something better - that there is a better way: the way of Jesus.
Sometimes it is thought that it’s the pastor’s job exclusively to proclaim the gospel. The pastor is paid to preach! Not really. Pastor’s aren’t paid to be Christians, but rather are given the task of equipping the church for ministry! So, it’s both our jobs to witness about Jesus.
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
That’s why passionate evangelism is a value - one of those near and dear things - because all of us are the sent ones. This is part of our DNA because the church was never meant to stay in our four walls, enjoying whatever comfort we get in our pews and simply exist. It was meant to grow, and go! Peter says:
…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Passionate: This idea lends itself to the end of what Paul says in Romans 10 15
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
This comes from Isa 52 7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
This pictured a messenger, coming to proclaim the freeing of Judah from Babylonian siege. The word beautiful could also be translated “timely.” This is joyful news! Freedom to the captives! Release, hope, life! Is not this our testimony as well, on a cosmic scale? Freedom, hope, life in Jesus Christ! Salvation from the eternal damnation that awaits anyone who does not believe? Friends, if we really believe in the Lordship of Jesus, we should be sold out for Him. And how timely. In a world that ever proceeds towards depravity and hopelessness, enslaved to Satan and surely headed for an ultimate demise in hell, the church stands boldly proclaiming “There is salvation - there is hope! There is life full, free from sin, death, one day suffering, pain, torment.” We proclaim this message as the ones who are sent. We proclaim, and the Holy Spirit - empowering us to speak - works the miracle of salvation within the hearts of those who hear. Though Paul says not all will believe, some will, and it is for them that we continue to be a light and witness.
Our Lives Testify (Strategy)
Our Lives Testify (Strategy)
So, yes ok we know what we need to do… how do we do that?
I’ve actually struggled with this myself, because I hear the word witness or proclaim and think of people standing on street corners preaching on soap boxes. I’m not saying there isn’t a time or place for that, but that’s generally not how a lot of evangelism happens. But it is what we tend to think of.
In reality, evangelism is part of how we live our lives.
The Strategy: Making evangelism an “everyday thing.”
Evangelism describes action. It describes the action of telling other people about the gospel. I read this quote this week, that describes the action of evangelism well:
Evangelism is not a monologue, but a dialogue. It is listening to other people; understanding their objections, fears, and questions; and then seeking to give solid biblical answers. https://elizabethgeorge.com/blogs/devos/witnessing-to-others-during-trying-times?srsltid=AfmBOoqOExUJPa0LDYuz8LnnqCPX8wSqaux96QxHeHJlnOmdYVwlBrA8
Here’s the thing, I think a lot of “evangelism” happens as you build relationship with people, dialogue with them about faith, and live your life in a way that demonstrates the truth of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit stirs people’s hearts. They begin to ask questions, to want to know. It’s in these moment that we must be available to tell them about Christ.
Scripture shows us some examples of how evangelism works in our lives:
In Acts 8 26-40, we have the story of Philip and the Eunuch. Here’s a man who wants to know. He’s trying to figure out what he is reading in the book of Isaiah. Who is Isaiah the prophet talking about? God brought Philip to that time and place so that He could tell the Eunuch. Listen to what happens:
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Let’s skip down a few verses:
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Did you notice? Not only was Philip brought by God to the right time and place, God gave him an opportunity. As that opportunity arose, Philip took it and told the Eunuch about Christ. The text implies that the Eunuch believed and therefore was baptized!
How about in John 4, with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well?
Jesus challenges the woman with the reality of her sin and her need for a saviour. But He presents Himself as the One in whom her faith is rightly put. Jesus captivates her heart, and so while the disciples and Jesus talk about what just happened, the woman goes off back to her town, exclaiming:
“He told me all that I ever did.”
Many believed because of her testimony, and went to Jesus. They heard her testimony, and wanted to know more. Through her initial testimony, they were led to an encounter with Jesus. As Jesus stayed with them, even more believed, so that they said to the woman:
They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Wow! That’s God working right there to convince and transform hearts!
Friends, our witness counts. It’s not just empty words, but rather words and deed that testify to Jesus the Saviour. That requires boldness, but when we live our lives with evangelism in mind all of a sudden we’re poised for those opportunities. Philips was led by the Spirit, and got the help lead the Ethiopian to Christ. The woman wasn’t afraid to tell her neighbours, and many in that town got saved.
Keep going. In Acts, the apostles weren’t afraid to tell about Jesus! They spoke powerfully, and did signs and wonders. Guess what? People believed! Paul travelled everywhere sharing the gospel. He didn’t make it academic, but made it plain:
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
Even the great apostle Paul simply told the message, empowered by the Spirit and demonstrating signs and wonders, and let the Spirit be the One to work on our hearts,
Making evangelism an “everyday thing” is about being people who tell others about Jesus. This comes through how we live, but also by being not shy about our faith. When the opportunity comes, would you take it to share about Jesus with someone else?
Honestly, I struggle. Maybe that’s part of why this is on my heart, because I know it’s not easy to actually tell someone. “What if I’m rejected? What if I don’t know the answer to their question? What if…?” But we cannot let what if stop us - because people’s eternities are at stake. Making evangelism is about being a people who make it a way of life to take the opportunities to tell others about Jesus, to take the risk to answer their friends questions, to live as a mirror, pointing with their lives to the truth of Scripture.
Let me remind you of what Jesus said in Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Friends, God pours the Spirit out on believers so that they may have power to proclaim the good news! Are you full of the Holy Spirit? You are empowered!
Why is passionate evangelism one of our values? Because:
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?
How timely is the coming of one bearing good news, as we read in Romans 10:15. Friends, we are the sent ones! We must go and proclaim the gospel so that other too can know. So, as a church we hold near and dear the need to evangelize this world, even our corner of it, for God’s glory and people’s eternities. Remember: we’re invited into the mission. We get to be part of God’s plan for Leask, Marcelin, Blaine Lake, etc.
So, how do we live that out? By making evangelism an everyday thing. How?
Some suggestions for our lives:
Ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit on you, making you bold.
Rebuke fear in Jesus’ name.
Ask God to show you opportunities. Maybe it’s your neighbour, a friend, so on. TAKE THEM!
Don’t fear questions. If someone asks you a question you don’t know the answer to, be honest. People respect honesty.
Remember that the Holy Spirit helps us in these times to know what to say.
Be natural. Dialogue with people. Listen to what they have to say, even if it’s hard. If they are asking questions, that is awesome! Be a real person with them. Jesus was real with people, we can be too.
As a church we will:
Pray for God to make us bold, send us out, and give us opportunities.
Make space for evangelism opportunities. This might come through bridge events, men’s or women’s groups, Kid’s church, etc.
Do our very best to equip you:
Through Biblical teaching
Through modeling of how evangelism looks.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
