Share - Declaration of the Gospel

INTRO

WELCOME & RELEASE

Good Morning & Release the Kids

Adults, turn with me to …

CURRENT SERIES

We are currently in a series entitled, “Be the Church”

This is something we say at the end of every service here at CrossPointe

That’s because “church” is not:

A building

A Sunday gathering

A sermon and some songs

Church is...

The body of Jesus on earth to display the glory of God in a lost and dark world

The church exists to display the multi-faceted wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places ()

We do this through 4 practices for a faithful presence in our community

PRAYER - Dependence on God

The church is a spiritual work

Salvation is a spiritual work

Pick 2-3 people who you will pray for in 2020

CARE - Demonstration of the Gospel

Good Works -

Fuel of Good Works

Not: (1) Self-Promotion, (2) Earn God’s Love, (3) Repay God,

Is: Empowered by Grace (Gratefulness, not Guilt; Freedom, not bondage, Sonship, not a slave)

SERMON INTRO

SHARE - Declaration of the Gospel

PRAY

HOW WILL THEY HEAR?

“Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” Saint Francis of Assisi

This is INCORRECT & He never said this

IS IT NECESSARY TO SPEAK THE GOSPEL?

I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 100

If you guess right then you will live but if you are wrong then you will die… GOOD LUCK!

Write down your guess...

You know I’m thinking about a number

You heard me say that...

You can see it on the screen...

It is plainly evident… (What can be known in general…)

BUT… you do know the number I have in my mind… (What is known specifically… )

Write down your answer...

33.195

WHAT IS PLAINLY KNOWN

Romans 1:18–23 ESV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 1:18-

So what about the innocent guy in Africa or Asia who has never heard the gospel?

They is no innocent guy

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the only way

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

You want to hear something VERY UNPOPULAR?

Salvation is NOT through...

Islam and their teachings of the prophet Mohamed

Self-Actualization or Intelligence or mere denial of God

Good works through mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses,

Hinduism and their infinite manifestations of god

Our Response...

Yes, this is true - speak the truth even if it is unpopular

Does it also cause a deep brokenness?

WHAT IS TRUE

Romans 10:13-

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:

WEIGHT OF REALITY

THE WORLD

1.8 Billion Muslims

1.2 Billion Hindus

900 Million Non-Religious

728 Million Ethnic Religions

500 Million Buddists

OVER 5 BILLION PEOPLE

REPEAT QUOTE

“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary”

WE NEED TO USE WORDS!

The Gospel must be spoken

THE MESSAGE

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 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? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

How can they call on a name of Jesus if they have not believed?

How can they believe in a name they have never heard?

How will they hear unless someone speaks?

How will they speak to these people unless they are sent.

My take-away:

The gospel must be spokem

People must be sent out to speak the gospel

Neighborhoods to the nations

NEED VS OPPORTUNITY (Personal Soapbox)

Equal need for the gospel - across all nations and all people. Your neighbor needs Jesus just as much as the muslim in Iran

NOT Equal Opportunity - access to the gospel varies dramatically with some having no access.

EVANGELISM & GENERATION DIFFERENCES

THE GREAT COMMISSION & EVANGELISM

GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES

Thankful that we have multiple generations here at CrossPointe.

Specifically speak to our young people

Young People (Millenials)

Almost all Millenial Christians so evangelism is import and that trusting in Jesus is the best thing that could happen for someone

73% even say they feel equipped to share their faith though this number decreases with every older generation

YET, nearly half of Millenial Christians feel like it is somewhat wrong to actually share their faith with someone. This number is expect to increase among Gen Z.

1 in 4

1 in 5 Boomers or older

PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THE GOSPEL

WHAT DO I SAY?

OUR STORY - EVANGELISM GONE WRONG

Youthful Zeal - Let’s go and tell the world! Specifically focused on ministry among Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa.

Pastor Van - The Scenario and Failure

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3

DELIVERED WHAT I RECEIVED

We cannot proclaim what we have not received.

The gospel is for us before it is for others.

What does it mean to receive?

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS

JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD

News vs Commentary

We live in a culture where everything is commentary - news outlets try to convince us how they are fair, honest, true

We give opinions and personal thoughts - COMMENTARY

NEWS

Simple says what happened

The Gospel is GOOD NEWS

It is meant to be declared

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

This isn’t my opinion or my commentary and life or faith - this is God’s Word

This isn’t about making people look like us

This is about being transformed to look like Jesus

This isn’t about making people think like us

This is about all of us thinking like Jesus

This is about surrendering to God

This leads to a tremendous hope in God

HOPE IN GOD / CONCLUSION

Acts 4:29–30 ESV

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts 4:29-

Our Hope IS NOT:

In the power of our words

In how convincing or smooth we argue with people

It is not in the way we care for others or anything we do

Our Hope IS:

In the power of the Holy Spirit

In the power of His Word

In the power of God to stretch out his hand to save, to heal, to perform supernatural works in the lives of the people he is calling to himself.

We just have to open our mouths and speak

CONCLUSION

YOUR PEOPLE

How will you PRAY?

How will you CARE?

How will you SHARE?