Share Jesus Without Fear

Equation for Success in Witnessing:

God's Word | God's Power | Your Obedience

Mathew 13:3-9; 18-23

The New King James Version Chapter 13

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The first two are Ultimate and Complete; the third involves calling and response. You cannot live in the middle - the middle is a lie. Half-obedience is not obedience.

Ill: If you ask your child to clean their room and they only clean it half way.

Ill: If your boss asks you to manage money and you only manage half of it

A partial obedience is not obedience at all. You either obey or you don't.

Transition: Once you decide to obey - you must think about what kind of person you are…

There are two kinds of people in church: Those who talk about the lost and those who talk to the lost.

We must get away from the shock value mentality of certain sins and realize that every person in this world is a sinner. including you! This is not a self-righteous place for us to sit and be appalled at the terrible choices of others while we silently pat our own back for not falling into “that” sin. That is not an environment that encourages Sharing the Gospel.

Have you ever had the opportunity to share your faith but didn't?

Sin of silence - we can sin by what we don't say.

The New King James Version Chapter 4

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Motivated by ignorance

Motivated by indifference

Motivated by fear

Give examples of the sin of silence

Active obedience - passionately pursuing our God-given calling.

Motivated by grace

The New King James Version Chapter 2

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority.

What are some fears that prevent people from sharing their faith?

Fear of rejection - they might say no!

Fear of ignorance - I don't know enough!

Fear of offensive material - What if people get are offended?

Study showed that young adults are less likely to share the gospel for this reason - one of the highest forms of "evil" is to counter someone's "personal truth." Yet as Christians, we must do this. We don't have to be abrasive but sometimes the truth itself is abrasive.

Fear of insecurity - Work: I might get fired, I might not get the raise; Relationships: I might be shunned.

Fear of persecution - I might be mocked or harmed.

Up to this point these are all hypothetical situations in our context. Fear loves to take the "maybe" and use it to hinder your obedience. These are all categories that exalt the messenger above the message - this is selfish sin.

Fear of hypocrisy - My life isn't what it should be to share my faith.

If this is something you legitimately fear, then you don't understand the gospel and you may not be born again in the first place. The good news isn't given by stage performers living a life of morality to the "less than;" it is truth from the mouth of one sinner to another. This is the good news of grace.

Fear of Ineptitude - I'm not skilled enough

The New King James Version Chapter 4

So he answered and said to me:

“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

Says the LORD of hosts.

7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain?

Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!

And he shall bring forth the capstone

With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”

God has called every Christian to be a Witness

By our life

By our attitude towards others.

By our choices

By our commitment to live for Jesus at any cost.

Success in witnessing

Living the Christian life daily - Obedience

Sharing the Gospel - God's Word

Trusting God for the results - God's Power

Assignments:

Practical: Consider the reason(s) you have not shared the Gospel in the past - come next week prepared to be open and honest about your struggles in this area.

Spiritual: Commit daily to be obedient in this endeavor each day.

Contemplative: Begin thinking about the rhythms of your life. What needs to change?

There is no excuse for a lack of witnessing. If you don't have people in your life to witness to, then you are either blind or disobedient. What needs to change?