Sharing faith series: Rationalle.-Jawaweg

Sharing faith series: Rationale.

I would like to start a series with our local CAMA Suriname churches about the need to share our faith through evangelism and to disciple others. About a month ago, we had the church game together. It was a fun time of fellowship, but it offered us an opportunity to think about where are church is currently and what needs to change to see a healthy church with growth. Gemente Jawaweg said that you want to go through the whole process of evangelism, discipleship, and training leaders similar to what was done in the Church Game. That is a big goal but a great goal! The Lord is pleased as you seek to serve Him and your community. I am here to encourage you and to help you with this process.

As we think about our roles in sharing the gospel and discipling others, let’s first look at some Bible passages that talk about it. Evangelism and discipleship is the role of every believer. This is clear from scripture. You may think that you are not adequate or that you do not have the same passion and skills as a pastor, but God will use you when you follow Him in obedience and when you are open for opportunities. You cannot do everything with evangelism and discipleship, but you can do something and God will use you in that role. First, we start with our calling with the Great Commission.

Matt 28:19,20

19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This is Jesus speaking to his disciples, but it is also a call for all the followers of Jesus to answer. Each believer has a role in sharing their faith story with others, telling others about Jesus, and training and discipling the next generation of believers. We also have the wonderful promise from Jesus that we are not alone in this process. Jesus is with us and we go with His power and wisdom as we seek to do His will. You are also not alone as you make the great commission the mission of the church as well. You have the support and prayers of your other fellowships and your brothers and sisters in the Lord.

So, where do we start? We have the model of where the disciples were sent to start from the challenge Jesus gave before His ascension into Heaven.

Acts 1:8

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.”

We start with what we know. Our Jerusalem might be here in this community of Jawaweg. This is in the culture and language that is familiar to you. Start there. That person might be a family member or a friend where you understand each other and have a shared heritage. Thinking about Judea and Samaria in your context might be easier for you especially here in Suriname. There are different ethnic cultures, languages, and religions all around us. Jesus gave us this example when he talked with the Samaritan woman at the well. He had a conversation with her that crossed cultural and religious boundaries. Then the church in general is commanded to go out into the all the rest of the world. That is happening, but maybe your church will also have a part in bringing the good news of Jesus to a people and culture very different from your own in another country or location. Maybe God has that as a plan for you individually as well. Offer yourself to be used by the Lord and He will use you whether that is close by or in a far away place.

As you think about what your first steps need to be, the next place to start is in your own home with your own family. Make your home a household of faith. You are the example of how to faithfully read God’s word the Bible and how to pray. Be willing to invest in your children to help them grow to become godly men and women of faith. Godly faith is not passed through the genes like good hair or pretty eyes. Faith is modeled and deepened through intentional teaching and following you as a role model. When we have godly households of faith, lives are changed. When others see our homes and families, they will also be faced with God’s truth and his love in the words and actions that come from your homes.

Next, love your neighbor. Be willing to help your neighbors and friends when they need you. Christians should be the friend that everyone wants to have and the people who others come to in times of trouble. We should not view people as projects for us to fix but individuals for us to show the love of Jesus to and to share God’s truth with. Serve your neighbors and friends. Your service will show your love and dedication to them. Love them enough that you will also tell them how your life has been changed by Jesus. Help them see how much God loved them that he gave his son Jesus as a sacrifice for sin and that if anybody believes upon the name of Jesus for forgiveness of sin, they will not be separated from God forever but will have eternal life. You have a role as an individual to help people have new spiritual life through Jesus.

-Tell story about someone you thought was a Christian, but then turned away (Swapon Nur nobi/Josh??) What was the problem? Was it an evangelism issue or was it a discipleship issue. Maybe both? Tell the story about Miton. Even through persecution, what made him stay? Jesus gives us an idea in one of his most famous parables.

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

Jesus’ explanation of the parable:

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Mark 4:20-

20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Lk 8:15-

15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

The Holy Spirit inspired the gospel writers uses three distinct but related words to describe the impact of the gospel in the lives of people who understand, accept, and keep the gospel. The Holy Spirit is certainly involved with preparing the hearts of people to be good soil for the gospel, but we have a role as humans as well. So, the process of evangelism is a human process and one where God is actively working. We have all wondered why some people say that they follow Jesus, only to reject him years later for different reasons. The Parable of the Sower gives some insight into this. Some seed is taken away right away, some spring up with little growth, some are choked out, and some are good soil. I want to encourage you all to pray for the hearts of those whom you hope to reach with the good news.

Even as we seek to share Jesus with the lost, we must remember that people are at different stages of their understanding of the truth of the Bible. There is tiling evangelism to prepare the soil for those very far from God. There is planting evangelism where we present truth patiently, and then there is reaping evangelism when the person’s heart is ready to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. We would all be excited to be a part of reaping the harvest but wherever you are in the process, it is no more important than the others. We are just grateful to the Lord that He uses broken people like us to accomplish His will.

No person is the same, and so we should not assume that one way to share the gospel will work for everyone. People have gaps in their Bible understanding and beliefs. Sometimes we may think that the reason that people do not believe in Jesus is that there is a knowledge gap. However, the bigger danger is the wrong things which they already believe. These wrong things can be the teachings of other religions, their own wrong thinking, their differing worldview, or their false understandings about Jesus or the Bible’s teaching. The false things that they believe can cause interference and noise over the true message of the gospel. You may be presenting all of the essential information and giving the gospel clearly, but their wrong understanding can cloud out the true message of the gospel. That is why we may not always need to be a Bible teacher as we seek to reach the lost but instead to simply be seen as a trusted and faithful friend. This is true especially for those who are a part of a religion that is very different than Christianity. Be the friend who loves and accepts them for who they are regardless of if they come to Christ or not. This will allow your friend or family member the freedom to ask questions and to work out what they believe without feeling like they will ruin their relationship with you if they reject Christianity. We as the Christian just need to be dedicated to knowing what the Bible says through personal Bible study and through training and then to patiently proclaim the gospel through redemptive relationships step by step until people are ready to listen and to talk about your faith. (explain redemptive relationships).

We have talked a lot about the reasons why evangelism and discipleship is the role of every believer. Suriname has many churches, but God is looking for believers and churches that are on mission for Him. Is this church ready to raise up the next generation of church leaders? Is this church ready to bring the truth of the gospel message to our neighbors and to our community? Do not wait any longer. Start today! Let’s work together to build up our churches and to reach the community with the gospel of Jesus Christ which brings hope and eternal life to all who will believe.