4 "E"ssentials: Evangelism

Why This Series?

One of the things I am supposed to do as a pastor and constantly be taking a look at what we can do to be more inviting so that we can spread the gospel better. Well I’ve been doing that for approximately 30 years and according to what I’ve learned, while there is something to be said about what you do, it’s more about who you are.

I Want To Be Very Careful

It is an honor to have the privilege to pastor some of the greatest Christians I’ve ever met. We all need a little tweaking from time to time but that’s true of everyone.So this series is not a reprimand, it is an encouragement. It’s an exploration where we get to look at what we are doing currently and what we are experiencing, and line it up with what God’s word tells us.

The 4 “e”s

Quickly, a good church...

EXALTS - that is we lift up and praise the Lord at all times.

ENCOURAGES - that is we lift up and give courage to one another “as long as it is called TODAY” so that none of us stumble and fall.

EQUIPS - that is we must get the tools necessary to do the ministry that God has called us to.

EVANGELIZES - that is we reach out to the world that He so wisely put us in so that we can be a part of His plan to rescue them.Let’s put that that together..A good church will emphasize the exalting of the Lord, encouraging of one another, the equipping of the saints, and the evangelizing of the community they are in and by extension the world around them.A member of that church will find opportunity to exalt the Lord, be free to encourage those around them, have opportunity to be equipped in the works of service for the Lord, and be given opportunities to evangelize the circles that God wisely placed them in.A member of that church will exalt the Lord, encourage the people around them, seek to be equip and help equip the other members so that we can be prepared for works of service, and evangelize the circles he wisely put us in.

Today I want to discuss the Fourth of the four “E”’s: Evangelize

We are going to watch a couple videos

Instead of me trying to guilt you into “witnessing more” I’m simply going to tell you 50 of the infinite benefits of being a Christian. Sometimes, especially if we have been saved a long time, we forget how blessed we are. Now my alterior motive isn’t just to encourage you and equip you with things to say, it’s so that when you look at those around you you remember that without Christ they lack these fifty things.

The last video is going to be a thing that I am going to put into practice in my own life, and I hope you will do it in yours as well.

Video: Golf Buddies

We are no longer under any condemnation (v. 1).

There is a condemnation

We are set free from the law of sin and death (v. 2).

there is a law of sin: you are human--- you sin

There is a death — dead in sin goes one way dead in Christ— another way.

Christ did something for us we could not do, condemning sin in His flesh on our behalf (v. 3).

the thing that kept us condemned and bound… he condemned and bound

We can fulfill the law as we walk according to the Spirit (we never had the ability to do this before) (v. 4).

Our minds are set/directed/focused to the things of the Spirit, and we have the capacity to think in a new realm (v. 5).

We now have life and peace instead of death (v. 6).

Our mind is no longer hostile toward God (v. 7).

We can please God (v. 8).

it was impossible for us to do so before Christ

We belong to Him (v. 9).

Whether we like to admit it or not, someone or something is on the throne of our lives…

Our spirit is alive because of righteousness (v. 10).

His Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies (v. 11)

We are under obligation to live by the Spirit, not according to the humanistic flesh (this is a wonderful pressure and can be fulfilled because the Spirit is in us!) (v. 12).

We live (v. 13)

We are led by the Spirit (v. 14).

We are sons of God (v. 14).

We have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear (v. 15).

We have received a spirit of adoptions as sons, by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (v. 15).

personal testimony

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (v. 16).

Because we are children, we are heirs with God and fellow heirs with Christ (v. 17).

The sufferings of this present time cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed to us (v. 18).

Our bodies will be soon be completely redeemed (v. 23).

We have hope (v. 24).

The Spirit helps our weakness by praying for us, and He does this perfectly because He intercedes for us according to the will of God (v. 27).

God causes all things to work together for good as we are loving Him and called according to His purpose (v. 28).

We have a glorious purpose—to become conformed to the image of His Son (v. 29)

He has foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified us (v. 30)

God is for us (so who can possibly stand against us?) (v. 31)

He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us (v. 32).

He will freely give us all things (v. 32).

We can have no charges brought against us, because we have already been justified by the ultimate Judge (v. 33).

We cannot be condemned, because Jesus died, was raised, and intercedes for us (v. 34).

We will NEVER be separated from the love of Christ (v. 35)

Tribulation will not separate us from Christ’s love (v. 35).

Distress will not separate us (v. 35).

Persecution will not separate us (v. 35).

Famine will not separate us (v. 35).

Nakedness will not separate us (v. 35).

Peril will not separate us (v. 35).

The sword will not separate us (v. 35).

We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us, even when persecuted all day long (v. 37).

Death will not separate us (v. 38).

Life will not separate us (v. 38).

Angels will not separate us (v. 38).

Principalities will not separate us (v. 38).

Things present will not separate us (v. 38).

Things to come will not separate us (v. 38).

Powers will not separate us (v. 38).

Height will not separate us (v. 39).

Depth will not separate us (v. 39).

No created thing will separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (v. 39).

Song by Jeremy Camp - Oh no! He never let’s go! Through the calm and trhough the storm! Oh NO He never lets go He never lets go of me!

I believe I am talking to the greatest Christians the Christ could have put in front of me. You see he stacked the deck. I don’t think I’m sitting in front of people who really don’t care about the people around them.... In fact, I believe God has given this church and this community the very people needed to do what He has already accomplished. Having said that I came across this little tool. That may seem a little awkward, but is simple enough that even the shyest among us can accomplish.

Tic Tac Doevangelism.