Story

Introduction:

Communicating Without Words

Eyes:

Touch: Hug, Hand on someones shoulder or wrist

Gestures: Thumbs up, Thumps down

Posture:

“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary use words.” -Unknown

People love not having to use words...

Most of us hope words are never necessary. But can we really help others know and love Jesus without words?

Recap: Final Message

Begin with prayer. (21 days of prayer)

Listen. Open eyes and ears to ways God is working.

Eat. Zaxby’s - Listened and encouraged me. MCD - I had breakfast with someone where I was able to listen and encourage them. WH - talked through a potential new ministry launch for our community.

Serve.

Story.

To bless the world and help people take next steps toward God, words are neccessary. To know and love Jesus, and HELP OTHERS do the SAME…words are necessary.

Transitional Idea:

Words are necessary. It took somebody explaining something for us to finally say yes. For us to finally get it. For us to grow in this way or that . Yeah they may have shown us with actions, but someone along the way had to speak. If words were not necessary for God’s purposes God would not have created language, tongues, mouths, and so on.

But we still hold back?

Why do we hold back from sharing out story?

“I don’t have what it takes.”

I am here to tell you that I’m a pastor who has been in full-time pastoral ministry for 17 years, bachelor and masters degree, success in growing churches and ministry teams everywhere God has called me. But I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS TO EVERY QUESTION OR CIRCUMSTANCE. I’ll tell right now if you ever run into a leader or pastor who tells you they know the answer to every question or the exact right thing to do everytime, then you better run because that is not a spirit of humility that is a spirit of arrogance. RUN!

For those of us who know we don’t have what it takes…you don’t have all the answers…you don’t have it all up here…(point to head) I want to encourage you with this…none of us have what it takes by ourselves…we have something better than all the answers to life’s challenging questions.

Matthew 10:19–20 ESV

19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

We aren’t speaking on our own. If you are a Christ-follower, you have the SPIRIT of God living inside of you.

“I don’t want to impose my beliefs on other people.”

Angry Christians with bullhorns trying to jam the Bible down people’s throats. If that’s what you’re afraid of… good! Don’t do that!

“Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.” -D.T. Niles

If we really believe what we’ve found in Jesus is good news, why wouldn’ we want to share it with others? To keep it to ourselves would be like hoarding bread when others are going hungry.

Paul in his letter to Romans writes,

Romans 10:13–14 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 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?

Words help point others in the direction of the bread of life. Words help point others to the LIVING WATER. Words help us move beyond hoping people find their way back to God to helping people find their way back to God.

They see your actions. They feel your concern. They recognize there is somethign different. But they won’t KNOW who you serve unless you tell them. Sometimes they will ask? Sometimes they wont? Sometimes you speak immediately. Sometimes there is a delay.

“It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

John 9:1 ESV

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

Jesus walking and encounters a blind man. We will learn more of his story a little later.

John 9:6–8 ESV

6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”

God seems to want to show up in the lives of people who are counted down and out. But could it be that God wants us to reach out to them even those we think don’t have what it takes so God can prove all the naysayers wrong.

John 9:9–11 ESV

9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.”

When he was asked about what happened. He didn’t have a theological training. He just told people what happened. I can’t tell you how many of you talk about how God has worked in your life to me and I am always amazed. He made mud. Rubbed it on my eyes. Go and wash. And I saw.

John 9:24–25 ESV

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

I love this. They are trying to find out from the guy to give God the credit and not the man. They are trying to get him to agree with them that Jesus is a sinner. They are asking him theological questions. And doctrinal statements. The man is like, I dont’ know about all that head knowledge stuff. What I do know is I was blind, but now I see.

Sharing Your Story (John 9:1-34)

Challenge #1: Let God Write Your Story

Challenge #2: Compose Your Story

My life before Jesus - How I met Jesus - My life since I met Jesus.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, 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,

Challenge #3: Pray and look for Opportunities to Share your Story