Evangelism

Paul would write to the church in Romans 10:13-14 these words… and Paul ask some good questions…

HOW can they believe without HEARING?

HOW can they HEAR without someone TELLING or sharing with them?!

Paul would write to the Ephesian church that it is the Pastor’s job to:

“EQUIP the saints for the work of ministry…”

As saints, (believers and followers of Jesus Christ) there is ministry work to be done!

Go and tell people of Jesus Christ!

There is a song that I love listening to by the Booth Brothers… “He Saw It All” (first verse and chorus illustrate)

As we consider the CORE Church Concept of Evangelism this morning I want us to all turn in our bibles to John 9 and consider what we can learn from a blind man… John 9:1-7 shares with us the miracle work of Jesus…

What Jesus Does

Jesus here does a MIRACLE… !!!

God is going to use this man to SHOW… the POWER of God!

Our Testimony should SHOW / DECLARE God’s amazing powerful work!

Salvation is a MIRACLE… John 3:18 declares we are condemned (HELL) because of our sin and unbelief!

God comes in the flesh

God comes to save mankind

Jesus, (God in flesh) dies on the cross shedding His blood for our sin

Three days later He is raised from the dead CONQUERING sin and death

He gives salvation as a free gift to any who will receive what He has done

NOTICE: Jesus again refers to Himself as the Light of the world… this DARK world filled with sin! Light dispels the darkness allowing one to SEE!

If you are witness to a MIRACLE… what is a natural response? John 9:8-34 we see this man’s response…

Read and learn all he can about the how and who

prepared to be able to answer every possible question

Then he went to school, got a degree, became a religious leader

NOOOOO!!!! He immediately begins to share the miracle with others!

Sharing Christ

Sharing With Others… Verses 8-14

We will receive varying responses as we share with others

Questions… how, who, what happened

Doubts… is this real

Excitement… wonder, amazement

Scorn and betrayal… there is opposition out there to the truth

Sharing with Critics… Verses 15-17

There is going to be blindness to what God has done

Amazing it is the religious leaders here who are BLIND and the Blind Man who SEES!

Fears of Sharing… Verses 18-23

Fear is a tactic of the enemy to hinder the message of Christ

2 Timothy 1:7-8 is clear fear is not from God and should not hinder our testimony

2 Timothy 1:7–8 NLT

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.

Various things produce FEAR:

Attacks (physical, emotional, verbal)

Not knowing the answer

The outcome… alone, rejection, hurt

FEAR will silence TRUTH!

I love that as we read this narrative that this BLIND BEGGAR (uneducated, an outcast, alone) demonstrates the power of God in the face of FEAR…

Fear Confronted & Christ Shared! Verses 24-34

It is amazing to me that in the face of TRUTH the enemy throws LIES vs 24

They threaten him stating a lie and he is not intimidated…

He states what he does not know

He also states what HE DOES KNOW!

He states simple observation of who he WAS (blind) what Christ DID (gave sight)

Sharing Christ Jesus with those around us is that simple…

John 3:16-18… God’s decision to save mankind through Jesus

Romans 3:23… we are ALL sinners in need of a Savior

Romans 6:23… sin equals death, yet salvation is a gift

Ephesians 2:8-10… He did it all we cannot! Faith in His finished work

Verse 10… we are to now engage in what he has prepared for us to do!!!

He ask them two questions in return...

Do you want to be his disciple? (We need to ask people!)

Do you not know this stuff? (state things simple, the gospel is NOT COMPLEX!)

This is not of man, not of me, this is GOD!!!! Our testimony should ALWAYS POINT PEOPLE TO JESUS CHRIST!

Seeing Christ!

Following Jesus Christ does NOT mean life is better, easier, all a bed of roses… IN FACT Jesus says the opposite

if you want to follow me you must deny yourself , take up your cross

do not be surprised brothers if the world hates you

ALL… who desire to follow Christ Jesus will be persecuted

in this world you will have tribulation… but take courage… I have overcome the world

Jesus cares… John 9:35-38 we see the heart of our Savior coming for this man…

Jesus is the Messiah

The blind man believes

Our BELIEF creates in us BEHAVIOR

We se this man WORSHIP the Lord

The Blind Man SAW who Jesus Is!!!

Do you SEE Him for WHO He is and WHAT He has done?

IF… You see clearly who Jesus is and BELIEVE…

THEN… What does the world see in you?

Worship?

Testimony?

The Light of the World has come… it is high time that the Church share The Light with a lost dark world!

But… how will they know if someone does not tell them…

Don't believe me? Ask the Blind man… he saw it all!