Why Outreach
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Vacation Illustration
Talk about vacation—shows
Rides—Attractions—Kennedi Picture
All of us enjoy to be entertained—we enjoy “attractions”
Why Did Jesus Do Miracles?
Why Did Jesus Do Miracles?
If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
There was an attractional part of Jesus’s time on Earth
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Now several different reason Jesus did miracles—show his power, his sovereignty (control), show that He was really the son of God—one reason though I believe was to get people’s attention—to attract them
John 6:1-15
Ask the question “What if Jesus never did any miracles”—I’ll tell you, he’d probably have very few folks that believed Him
Outreach
Outreach
I believe that Jesus practiced and believes in outreach
(Talk About Different Events)
Outreach Definition
1out•reach \ˌau̇t-ˈrēch\ verb transitive
circa 1568
1568
1 a: to surpass in reach
b: EXCEED 〈the demand outreaches the supply〉
2: to get the better of by trickery
1: to go too far
2: to reach out
2out•reach \ˈau̇t-ˌrēch\ noun
1870
3: the extending of services or assistance beyond current or usual limits
2: the extent or limit of reach 〈the outreach of the Ohio floods—Clifton Johnson〉
We do so much of that here! I think we are the best I’ve ever seen with the resources we have—and thats a credit to you guys!
3: the extending of services or assistance beyond current or usual limits 〈an outreach program〉 also: the extent of such services or assistance
(Talk About Different Events)
True or False-Whatever it takes to get them here is what it will take to keep them
True or False-Whatever it takes to get them here is what it will take to keep them
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves
John 6
For most the answer to that question is! True—Entertain me and I’ll show up—put a dog and pony show and I’m there
This is the culture we live in folks—we want to be catered too and we want to be entertained
And we can debate about whether or not that’s good or bad—but all I can tell you is—it is what it is—and it’s HARD for churches to exist in this world
BE WE HAVE, WE ARE, AND WE WILL
Some want—they refuse to relate to this culture citing some religious reasoning----
And please don’t misunderstand me---you can definitely take this stuff to far—and there are plenty of churches that do!
But I believe as long as when they show up, no matter why they show up, we give them Jesus—and we give them truth, where doing the work we need to be doing
I think Jesus had the same mentality—look....
43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
Here we see Jesus interacting with some of the crowd that was apart of the great feast we read earlier and probably some really religious Jewish folks at a synagogue in Capernaum
Jesus gives them TRUTH—He’s not evaluating success based off of who stays or who continues to follow—Jesus attracted a crowd and told them the Truth about himself
John 6:43
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
John
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
How Do We Measure Success?
How Do We Measure Success?
Jesus’ model—Create an opportunity to share the gospel—and share it
He did in many different ways and settings—with tens of thousands and with just a few
Success in outreach is not measured in how someone responds (although we so badly want them to come to Jesus)—that is not ultimately up to us!
How someone responds—is not ulitmately up to us!
There’s nothing wrong with having an approach to sharing the gospel with people that has some sort of attractional or entertainment value!
We as Humans are skeptical of everything. There’s so much false stuff, so much fake news out there—I think all of us are a little apprehensive to believe in really anything—I think that’s healthy on some levels—But for the most part, we want things to be proven to us.
So when it comes to sharing our faith and doing outreach as a church and as individuals, I believe creating credibility with people are is important!
Because people usually need to touch it, see it, before they believe it
So we put on events and programs that are appealing to our culture ---and when they come—because how can they not?—they get Jesus—they experience Jesus, his church…
We do QUALITY stuff--when do stuff that’s not quality, when we don’t put our best foot forward for the Lord—it often has a negative result
when do stuff that’s not quality, when we don’t put our best foot forward for the Lord—it often
They may not accept it---that’s ok, they may not come back, that’s okay too (why?)—They heard the message...
Attractive (family based/fun) programs and events develop credibility with a world that needs Jesus. Makes them think something is different about this church—about these people—maybe they will listen to us!
Don’t you think people were blown away by what happened here on Freedom Sunday? The fact that we have one of the real life swamp people coming to our Bible School???
We do QUALITY stuff--when do stuff that’s not quality, when we don’t put our best foot forward for the Lord (as a church
or as individuals)—it often has a negative result and hurts our credibilty
Credibility gives you a strong basis to share our Faith
That’s really what were after—in this culture, I believe we need to develop credibility and then get permission to share our faith
Now as I say that, some of are like—oh no—this is America and I can do what I want---and I would tell you, yes you are correct—however, if we want to be effective in sharing our faith—we need to have permission from the other person to do it.
The way the church does outreach has changed in my life time---(Talks about visitation, tracks, etc)
I want us to be able to recognize a person who’s open to at least hearing about our faith
Here are some signs that someone is giving you permission to share with them
Here are some signs that someone is giving you permission to share with them
They show up at church! (Why we do events and programs)
If they bring it up—especially—I grew up in Church—maybe they had a bad experience at church
When people have questions about life’s struggles (be careful here, timing is everything) and they ask you for help or advice
When you’re friends
When people ask about your faith—How can you be so happy???
Closing-Personal App
Closing-Personal App
I have a hard time imagining a Christian who is not someway, somehow sharing with others what Jesus has done for them…If you’ve really grabbed a hold of this faith—man, you want to share it
What are you doing?
Give a child an opportunity to hear about Jesus—get them signed up for Bible school
Get workers to stand up—pray for them—and then ask everyone to stand
Ask questions—who’s God given you an opportunity to share with!