Untitled Sermon (3)

Hartselle Wednesday Night Week: 1 Why Evangelise? The Rescue Mission

Slide 1: Introduction and Jesus’ Priorities

Good evening, everyone. I am so glad you’re here. Evangelism is something that we often talk about but don’t always do. In many ways, for the church, it has become a word that we use to describe a program we should have rather than a lifestyle we actually live. We have a tendency to measure our success as a church by the “ABCs”: Attendance, Buildings, and Contribution. While those things are important tools, the Lord isn’t coming back to look for a full parking lot or a paid-off mortgage; He is coming back looking for faithfulness for his blood.

This summer, our goal is to shift out of survival mode and into work mode. Many of you are sitting here today because someone else, a parent, a friend, or a neighbor, cared enough about your soul to share the gospel with you. You were the prospect that someone prayed for. I hope that this series equips and motivates you to move to the outreach side of that mission.

To do this, we have to look at our Pattern. As Christians, we are called to walk in Jesus’ steps. Let's look at 1 Peter 2:21–22. Who can read that for me? “21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;” Thanks! If we want to walk where He walked, our priorities must match His. When we analyze His ministry, I see three clear priorities emerge:

Relationship with the Father: Jesus didn't just fit in prayer; He rose early to go pray alone (Mark 1:35) and even prayed all night before making major decisions like choosing the apostles in Luke 6:12. He was consumed with being about His Father’s business.

Mentoring Disciples: Jesus didn't come to establish a preaching school; He came and made disciples. He took them with Him, let them see His life, and taught them that the flame of the gospel isn't just to be passed like a torch, but divided, starting fires of faith everywhere they went.

Saving Souls: Jesus’ third priority is His mission statement. We see it in action in His encounter with Zacchaeus.

Who wants to read Luke 19:1–10 for me?

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Slide 2: The Rescue Mission

The text we just read ends with some of the most powerful words in the New Testament: “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10). If we are walking in His steps, our lives must be defined by active soul-winning. We have made evangelism too complicated, too specialized, and too professional.

In our culture, we have often adopted a Professional Christian model. Think of it like the Green Bay Packers: originally, they were just guys who worked in a meat-packing house and loved football so much they played for fun. But eventually, people just wanted to sit in the stands and watch them play, so they started paying them. In the church, we sometimes do the same. We say, We pay the preacher and the elders to do the evangelism, and I’ll just watch from the pews.

But this is a rescue mission, and every member is a first responder. Consider this math: There are roughly 8.3 billion people in the world, and only about 2 million members of the church of Christ. That means every single Christian is responsible for reaching 4,150 people. If you don't reach your 4,150, who will?

Think about the word G-O-S-P-E-L.

“GO” is the command.

“E-L” stands for Everlasting Life—the benefit we are offering.

“S-P” stands for Some Person.

What stands between a sinner and eternal life? Some Person. That person is you. We cannot be like the flea riding on the back of an elephant across a rickety bridge, who, when the bridge collapses, shouts, Look what we did! while doing none of the work. We are losing as many as 18,000 Christians a year in this country; we are bleeding out. We don't need pew-warmers who sit on bolted-down seats that don't move; we need a body that is active and engaged in the rescue.

Slide 3: The Out Bridge Illustration

Okay, let’s look at this through a simple scenario. Imagine you are driving down the highway and you see a sign that says the bridge is out ahead. You see cars flying past you toward the drop-off. Would you try to warn them? What if you stayed silent and just watched them go by anyway? Scripture actually describes something very similar. In Proverbs 24:11, God says, “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” The point is simple: when you see danger, silence is not neutral. It’s a choice.

And God goes even further in Ezekiel 33:6. He says if a watchman sees danger coming and does not blow the trumpet, the people are destroyed. God says, “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.” So would silence make you innocent? No. Because love doesn’t stay quiet when people are in danger.

Warning people is not cruelty, it is love in action. It may not be what people want to hear, it might interrupt their plans, and it might even make them uncomfortable or defensive, but it is exactly what they need to hear. That’s why Scripture says in Ephesians 4:15 that we are to be “speaking the truth in love.” Truth without love is harsh, but love without truth is silent, and silence doesn’t rescue anyone.

And Paul in Romans 1:16 says that the gospel “is the power of God for salvation.” This is not just helpful advice. It is the only message that leads people from death to life. That is why evangelism carries urgency. Because sin is not just a moral issue, it is a deadly condition. And Scripture describes the human condition in sobering terms. Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” Not just sick, not just struggling. DEAD. And 2 Corinthians 4:4 says the enemy, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

That helps explain something we often overlook: most people are not actively searching for God. Jesus saw this when He looked at the crowds in Matthew 9:36, saying they were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Lost people often don’t realize how lost they are. That’s why the idea of “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t fit the Lord's church. Jesus never told us to wait for people to show up; He told us to go. In Matthew 28:19-20, He commands, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” The responsibility is movement, not waiting.

That also means we can’t stay inside our comfort zones while sin continues to destroy lives around us. The mission of God is outward. Romans 10:14-15 asks a series of questions that make it unavoidable: “How are they to hear without someone preaching?” and “How are they to preach unless they are sent?” Faith comes through hearing, and hearing requires someone willing to speak. So we are left with a serious responsibility.

We are not just people with opinions; we are stewards carrying a message that determines eternal outcomes. And that brings us back to Ezekiel’s image of the watchman. If we see danger and stay silent, we fail the people in front of us. But if we warn them, we have fulfilled what God asked of us.

Silence is not neutral. But warning is not judgment; it is love. And that is what Christ has called us to: love that speaks, truth that warns, and a message that saves.

Slide 4: The Reality of Judgment

The bridge illustration matters because it points to something every person will eventually face: judgment. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” That means death is not the end of our story; every person who has ever lived will stand before God.

This includes everyone without exception: the rich and the poor, the religious and the irreligious, the young and the old. Every life leads to the same appointment: death followed by judgment.

Jesus describes this in Matthew 25:31–33 and 46, where He speaks of a future separation, like a shepherd dividing sheep from goats. Humanity will be divided into two groups: those who enter eternal life and those who enter eternal punishment. Jesus is not describing something temporary, but something eternal. This is one of the reasons evangelism matters so much: because eternity is real. Every person you know is moving toward that reality: friends, teammates, coworkers, and family members alike are all heading toward a moment where their eternal destination is decided.

Why do people avoid thinking about judgment? (Let them answer) Often it’s because it forces us to face accountability before God. But ignoring it doesn’t remove it. Jesus spoke about judgment not to scare people, but because He loved them enough to warn them. If we love people, we should care enough to do the same.

Slide 5: The Universal Condition

So the next question is why people are in danger to begin with. Romans 3:23 answers clearly: can someone read that for me? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Paul doesn’t leave room for exceptions. He says to all, every person. Not most, not many, not just certain groups. Every person has sinned and falls short of God’s glory.

This is humanity’s universal condition. People often compare themselves to others and think, I’m not as bad as they are or I’ve never done anything terrible. But God’s standard isn’t other people, it’s His own holiness. And compared to that standard, everyone falls short. Because of that, every person has the same need. Not self-improvement, not better behavior, not more knowledge, but forgiveness.

Why do you think so many people believe they’re good enough without Jesus? Often, it comes down to misunderstanding their true condition. If someone doesn’t recognize the seriousness of their problem, they won’t see their need for a Savior. Before someone values the cure, they have to understand the disease.

Slide 6: The Great Separation

Sin doesn’t just make people imperfect; it separates us from God. Isaiah 59:1–2 makes this clear, showing that the problem is not God’s ability to save, but sin creating distance between humanity and Him. Who wants to read that for me? “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

That separation is exactly why Jesus came. In John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus doesn’t present Himself as one option among many, but as the only way to the Father. Because of that, nothing else can bridge the gap, not good works, not sincerity, not moral effort. Only Jesus can reconcile us to God.

Romans 6:23 explains the contrast: “The wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sin earns death, but God offers eternal life as a gift through Jesus. This is why evangelism matters. We are not offering opinions or preferences; we are pointing people to the only solution God has provided.

Slide 7: Why People Need to Hear

If Jesus is the only way to the Father, then people must hear about Him. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” People don’t become Christians by accident. They hear the message, someone teaches them, someone invites them, someone opens Scripture with them. God has chosen to spread the Gospel through people.

That makes evangelism a serious responsibility. Most of us are Christians today because someone took the time to speak to us. Imagine if no one had ever done that for you; no invitation, no study, no conversation. Now that responsibility shifts to us. Why is it easier to talk about sports, hobbies, movies, or school than spiritual things? Often, it’s because spiritual conversations feel more personal and carry more weight. But if the Gospel truly is good news, then it is worth sharing even when it feels difficult.

Slide 8: The Stakes of Eternity

Let’s bring everything together. We’ve seen that judgment is real, that all have sinned, that Jesus is the only way to God, and that people must hear the Gospel to respond. James 4:14 reminds us of something. Can someone read it for me? “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Life is short, and so are opportunities. The moments we have to influence others don’t last forever.

There are often seasons when people are especially open to spiritual things, times of crisis, loss, change, or uncertainty. Those moments can soften hearts and open doors that may not stay open for long. That doesn’t mean we pressure or manipulate people, but it does mean we recognize the value of the opportunities God gives us. Souls matter more than temporary comfort, and one day those opportunities will end. So the question becomes: if all of this is true, why do Christians still struggle to evangelize?

Slide 9: The Tragedy of Staying Inside

There is a tragic difference between a Comfortable Christian and one with a Rescue Mindset. The Comfortable Christian focuses on self. Their actions are safe. They stay inside the spiritual bubble of the church building, prioritizing their personal comfort, their reputation, and their traditions while the community outside is destroyed by sin. They practice parked automobile religion, thinking their only witness is the fact that their neighbors see their car gone on Sunday morning.

But the Rescue-Minded Christian focuses on souls. They are engaged. They are willing to risk the awkwardness, the reputation, and the comfort to enter the storm. They know that silence is never neutral when souls are at stake.

Think of a School Resource Officer. Imagine an officer who stays outside the building while a shooter is inside. He plays it safe. He doesn't get hurt. But because he stayed outside, lives were lost. In the church, we do the same when we stay inside our pews that are bolted down and don't move. We must be willing to get knee-deep in a septic tank if that's what it takes to have a real conversation with a soul.

We have to move from Survival Mode to Work Mode. Shifting from just trying to keep the doors open to being an army that goes out into the town to make a difference. If our congregation ceased to exist today, would the community even notice or care? I haven't been here long enough to know. But if the answer is no, it's because we've stayed inside.

Discussion Questions:

What fear stops Christians from evangelizing?

Is it the fear of fumbling the ball or the fear of being seen as the Bible thumper at the family reunion?

Slide 10: The Motive is Compassion

When we look at the why behind evangelism, we have to start with the heart of God, and the heart of God is defined by one word: Compassion. In 2 Peter 3:9, we are told a fundamental truth about our Creator: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” This reveals that God is not sitting on His throne looking for reasons to strike people down; He is leading a rescue operation, not a condemnation operation.

Think of God like a lover in a one-sided relationship. He loves deeply, He is committed, and He is fully engaged, yet the world constantly takes Him for granted, breaks His heart, and rebuffs His love. Yet, every time we turn around, God is there saying, 'I’ll have you back! This desire for revival and restoration fueled Jesus' mission. When He looked at the crowds, He didn't see enemies or political opponents; He had compassion on them because they were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” He came specifically “to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), a mission statement He proved by reaching out to the people nobody else would touch, tax collectors like Zacchaeus and outcasts like the Samaritan woman.

God’s love for the lost must actively shape our love for the lost. If we truly understand the unimaginable cost at which our own grace came, the blood of the Son of God, how can we not be moved to share it? We must remember what it was like to be in spiritual debt ourselves. Evangelism isn't about being right or winning an argument; it’s about saying, I know the One who has the answers, and I want to take you to Him. If our silence is the only response we have to a world in debt, then we have forgotten the mercy that saved us.

Slide 11: Lights Shine Brightest in Darkness

Sometimes we look at our world, at the secularism, the hostility, and the moral confusion, and we think the prospects for the Gospel are dim. But actually, there is a sense in which we have a greater advantage in this generation than in previous ones. Ask yourself: When does a light shine the brightest? It isn't when the sun is out; it’s when it has grown dark. In a dark, secular world, the light of a righteous life stands out in stark, beautiful contrast.

Think about salt. If you take a bite of something bland and then add salt, you notice the difference immediately. As a Christian, when you go into your workplace or your community and live righteously, you are that salt. But Jesus warns us in Matthew 5:13–16 that if salt loses its flavor, it is good for nothing but to be trampled underfoot. If we hide our light under a bushel basket, if we stay secluded in our church pews and never let our light shine before men, the world continues to rot in darkness because the preservative is missing.

How did Jesus treat sinners in the dark places of His culture? He didn't isolate himself. He insulated himself. He was in the world but not of it, eating with tax collectors and talking to the morally depraved because they were the ones who needed the physician. We must be willing to enter the dark places, the coffee shops, the break rooms, and the homes of our neighbors, to bring the only message that can truly illuminate a soul. Even if the light exposes faults and causes some to hate us, we must keep loving them, because we might be the only Jesus they ever see.

Slide 12: Bring Back Amateur Hour

There is a destructive myth in the modern church that evangelism is a highly specialized job. We’ve made it seem like you need a theological degree, a pulpit, or decades of expertise to talk to someone about their soul. But the reality is that the rescue mission drafts everyone. If someone walked in those doors and asked, Who does the evangelism here? Your answer shouldn't be to point to the elders or the preacher. Your answer should be: I’ll talk to you, that’s my job here.

Every Christian, regardless of age or biblical expertise, has a vital role to play. Think of the elephant and the flea illustration. An elephant and a flea cross a rickety bridge together; when it collapses, the flea boasts, Look what we did! while doing none of the work. We cannot be the flea in the church, just riding along on the efforts of a few active workers. We are hemorrhaging as a body, losing thousands of members every year, and we don't have time to leave the work to professionals.

Once again, consider the math of evangelism. With 8.3 billion people in the world and 2 million members of the church of Christ, each of us is responsible for reaching 4,150 people. If you don't reach your 4,150, who will? You don't have to be a master teacher to start. Evangelism happens at many levels

God doesn't ask us to be closers who sign everyone up on the dotted line; He asks us to be gardeners who are willing to get up to bat and engage in friendly conversation. If you can read a Bible and follow a simple tool like a bible study pamphlet, you are equipped to change a life. It's time to quit yapping about evangelism and actually get to work.

Slide 13: The Four Levels of Evangelism

As I said, we have often made evangelism far too complicated. We’ve turned it into a professional, elite activity reserved for those who have memorized fifty scriptures and can answer every theological objection. But there are four levels of evangelism, and there is not a single person in this room who cannot participate in at least one of them tonight.

Level 1: Reporting. This is the simplest level. It is just talking positively about God, the Bible, and the church in your daily life. The early church had favor with all the people because they spoke well of what God was doing. You don't have to be a teacher to report. You can go to the break room and say, I was reading Ezekiel this morning and saw this verse about a wheel within a wheel; I don’t fully understand it, but it was fascinating. You’ve just started a religious conversation without any pressure. If you report enough positive things, your friends will eventually see you as the person to ask when they have a real Bible question.

Level 2: Introducing. Many people out there feel they don't belong here because they think the church is only for people who grew up in Sunday School. We need to break that barrier through interaction with disciples. So far, all of your parents and elders have been awesome people. If someone ever needs to borrow something from you, take one of them with you. The more Christians they know, the more comfortable they will feel when the time comes to visit.

Level 3: Inviting. This is the Come and See approach from John 1. You don't need to explain baptism or the Greek language to say, Why don't you come sit with me on Sunday? There are people in your life who would say no to me as a stranger, but they will say yes to you because you are their friend.

Level 4: Teaching. This is the intentional level, sitting down with an open Bible to study the facts, commands, and promises of the Gospel. This is our ultimate goal, but remember: you don't have to do it alone. You can be the Andrew who brings a person to a study where your preacher or an elder helps teach. You are the bridge that helps them cross over from curiosity to conviction.

Slide 14: Your Personal Rescue Mission

You are now deputized for this rescue operation. We have talked enough; it is time to move into work mode. Every one of us has a personal responsibility to reach the lost. Remember the math: with 8.3 billion people in the world, if you don't reach your 4,150, who will?

Here is your Mission Briefing Checklist for this week:

The Prayer Target: Write down the names of three friends who don't know Jesus. Pray for them by name every night. Pray a bold prayer: Lord, lead me to some soul today, and teach me what to say. Watch for God's providence; He may be arranging a meeting between your willing heart and their seeking mind right now.

The Reporting Target: Casually mention something positive about your faith. Use the RAT/SAT method: Read A Tract, then Share A Tract. Tell someone, I just read this and found it interesting; I thought you might like it too. It is passive, non-threatening, and plants a seed.

The Invitation Target: Ask one person to join you for Wednesday night class or a youth event. Next week, I will be talking about what the Gospel is, so that would be a great class for a visitor to be at. Don't wait for a perfect time or the next big campaign. The harvest is now. People who are open to the Gospel today may have their window of opportunity closed in four months. Use a simple card with our church information to make the task easy and professional. Don't be a flea, just riding along on the work of others; get into the batter's box and take a swing.

Slide 15: The Bridge is Out: Will You Warn Them?

We conclude where we began. The bridge is out. We are not playing games here; this is a matter of eternal life and eternal death. People without Christ are spiritually hemorrhaging, and if we don't act now, they won't make it.

They are Lost. We must stop using soft language. Without the Gospel, people are fuel for a fire that will never go out. They are victims of a snare set by the devil, and they don't even know they are captured.

Judgment is Real. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. One day, you might look into the eyes of your neighbors and classmates. If they are lost, will they look at you with a look of betrayal, knowing you had the cure for their spiritual cancer but never spoke up? We cannot have the blood of all men on our hands because we played it safe.

God Loves Them. God is the one-sided lover who keeps saying, I’ll have you back! despite how many times the world breaks His heart. He is not willing that any should perish. If we have His heart, then we must have His mission.

It’s Your Turn to Speak. Silence is not an option for a disciple. As long as we have breath in our bodies, we cannot help but talk about what we have seen and heard. Don't worry about being a professional. God wants gardeners who are willing to get their hands dirty.

The world is not surprised by our message; they are surprised by our silence. Let it be said of us that we were bold, that we were compassionate, and that we were faithful.