Who Should Share It?

INTRO

Tonight we are starting a new series, “Sharing the Good News”

The goal of this series is simple:

1. Help you know the gospel

2. Teach you how to share the gospel

But before that we must answer 2 important questions:

Who is called to share the gospel?

Who is the gospel supposed to be shared with?

Our answers to these questions determine whether or not we are sharing the gospel and who is hearing it

TENSION

As I thought about these questions I began to realize that there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to sharing the gospel

As a pastor I’ve hear many people say things like:

Sharing the gospel is only for pastors and missionaries because it’s their job

Sharing the gospel is only for adults/mature christian because they can answer hard questions

The gospel is only for people that I like

The gospel is only for those who look and talk like me

The gospel is only for those we are “good” people

These misconceptions cause us to misunderstand who is supposed to share the gospel and who is supposed to hear it

The good news for us is that tonight, Jesus is going to correct our understanding and answer our 2 questions for us

TRUTH

Before we dive into the text let me give you some context to the conversation we are going to be eavesdropping into…

Context:

At this point in history Jesus has

Died on the cross

Resurrected from the grave

Has been appearing to multitudes for 40 days

Now has told his disciples to meet him on a mountain

On this mountain Jesus is going to have share his last words with them before he ascends into heaven

Matthew 28:16–17 CSB

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted.

They travel to the mountain and Jesus arrives and there is two responses to the resurrected Jesus

Worship

Doubt/Deny

May i just pause here and say

These are still the only 2 responses to Jesus

1) you recognized that Jesus is who He says He is and has done all He said He would do so you worship Him

2) you doubt or deny those things are true so you reject him

Now, back to the account

everyone is there and Jesus begins his last speech to his disciples

Matthew 28:18 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

The first thing Jesus tells them is the results of the resurrections

Because Jesus has been obedient to the Father’s plan (cross)

The Father has resurrected Him

And now given him all authority

aka the Father is now crowing Jesus as King and ruler over all

But this means Jesus has to leave…

His mission is accomplished

And his thrown is awaiting him in heaven

So what are the disciples supposed to do now??

Matthew 28:19–20 CSB

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.

Jesus give them 4 commands:

Go —> go back into the world/your community

Disciple —> tell people about me (what I have done)

Baptize —> baptize those who believe

Teach —> teach them the things I have taught you

We read that and go, “Great, go for it disciple, do what Jesus told you”

and in fact, we read the NT and see they did just that

But here’s what we have to understand when we read these commands

The great commission is for ALL of Jesus’ disciples

not just the 11 disciples

Anyone who is a disciple (believe in and follow Jesus) are called to make disciples

If you are a follower/disciple of Jesus you are called to GO

you are commanded by Jesus Himself to share the gospel, the good news

Which means we now know the answer to our 1st question:

who is called to share the gospel?

But what about our 2nd question:

Who is supposed to hear the gospel?

who are we called to share it with?

That is where Luke’s account of this conversation is going to help us

See Luke in his letter, Acts

Writes about this converstation too

But he adds something that Matthew leaves out… the Who

Acts 1:8 CSB

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In Luke’s account Jesus tells them exactly where they are to share the gospel

Jerusalem

Judea

Samaria

Ends of the Earth

What is important to understand is that yes, these are geographical places but they represent different groups of people

Jerusalem for the disciples:

where they are from

where they grew up

where their family is

Jerusalem represents their home and family

and it represents the same thing for us

We are called to share the gospel with our family

mom + dad

siblings

aunt + uncle

cousin

Judea for the disciples:

where they hung out with friends

where they went to school

where they would work

Judea represents their community

and it represents the same thing for us

We are called to share the gospel with our community

classmates

teammates

coworkers

friend groups

Samaria for the disciples:

where the bad people live

where the outcast were

It’s the people who didn’t look like them

where their enemies live

Samaria represents the outcast of community

and it represents the same thing for us

We are called to share the gospel with the outcast

overlooked

loaner

the bullied

the kid that is just different

End of the Earth for the disciples:

other countries

speak different languages

have different cultures

have no clue who you are

Ends of the Earth represents the nations

and it represents the same thing for us

We are called to share the gospel with the nations

Brazil

France

Tanzania

North Korea

Luke’s account of this converstation answers our 2nd question:

Who is supposed to hear the gospel?

BOTTOM LINE: All Christians are called to share the gospel with all people

APPLICATION

But can we be honest for a second…

when we think about that can’t it get pretty overwhelming

If you were to begin writing a list of all these people

family members who need to hear the gospel

classmates, teammates, coworkers, who need to hear the gospel

outcast at your school or community who need to hear the gospel

all the people from other nations who need to hear the gospel

That would be one heck of a list and we haven’t even started on our excuses…

but what is my family going to say

but what if my friends start treating me different

but what if i’m view as an outcast because i’m talking to the outcast

but what if i don’t know how to speak another language

Before we know it we’ve overwhelmed ourselves so much that we end up doing nothing

our fears and anxiousness cause us to be christians who don’t share the gospel with anyone

So here is my challenge…

Just pick one

one family member

one classmate

one teammate

one coworker

one person who’s overlooked or bullied

and pursue them this school year for the sake of the gospel this school year

Imagine what God could do if you

intentionally prayed for this personal salvation daily

intentionally tried to have gospel conversations with this person

intentionally invited them to church even though they keep rejecting you

intentionally care for them and serve them to show the love of Christ

Instead of being overwhelmed by the multitude you lived on mission for the one

Then Lord willing eventually we will celebrate

that you went

that you discipled

that they believed and were baptized

that they are being taught the things of Jesus

And then you both go and live on mission for the one

this is how we reach A.L Brown, Carson, South, China Grove Middle, Chorrier Lipe, KMS

by sharing the gospel with the one

then you both sharing the gospel with the one

then again and again and again

CONCLUSION

Now, you maybe thinking…

Fisher that is still scary

That doesn’t make sharing the gospel easy

Let me end with Jesus’ final words with to the disciples

Matthew 28:20 CSB

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Just like us the disciples need to be reminded that as we live out these commands we do not do them alone

Jesus

the conquer over death

the king of kings

whom has all authority

Is with us

He is going before us

preparing situation for gospel conversations

softening hearts and opening ears to the gospel

He is with us in the moment

giving us the words to say

the strength to say them

He is with us after

reminding us it isn’t how good our gospel presentation was that matters

he is the one growing the seeds we plant

With that reminder may we as Christians remember the good news

we were sinners in need of a savior

Jesus through his sinless life, death on the cross for our sins, and resurrection is that savior

through him we have been forgiven of our sin and made right with the Father

so now we live now live for him because he died for us

not on our own but through him in us

And if you are not a christian in the room tonight

what if you are the one?

What if you are hear tonight because someone has been pursing you with the gospel

intentionally praying for you

intentionally sharing the gospel to you

intentionally inviting your to church

intentionally serving you to show you Jesus

Then tonight you don’t need to remember but you need to know that

you are a sinner in need of a savior

Jesus through his sinless life, death on the cross for our sins, and resurrection is that savior

and through him you can have forgiveness of your sins and be made right with the Father

All you have to do is confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that is true