Grassroots Gospel

Evangelical Churches have been doing things basically the same way for over 100 years. We compel folks to come to big gatherings at church where they can hear the Gospel and be saved. We go door to door, and invite folks to church and give them the Gospel. We have special Dinners, and gatherings, and social events to bring people in so we can give them the Gospel and they can get saved. We send out cards to new move ins inviting them to church. We then visit those new move ins. We visit those who visit us. These things that we do to reach out have been done by Evangelically minded churches for decades.

But then COVID hit and what we have done for years suddenly had to be rethought. Did this take God by surprise? NO! I believe that part of COVID’s purpose is to get churches to think outside our routine. Many of us who were technically reluctant were dragged into the 21st century and are now streaming our services. We have learned to use Google Meet and ZOOM. But what about soul winning? How do we get the Gospel to folks without having big out reaches?

Even when we meet in person we have a capacity cap that will prevent us from trying to stuff our building to the gills with folks so they can hear the Gospel. We can’t visit very much. Facebook is only so effective in communicating the plan of salvation.

Jesus healed the demoniac of the Gadarenes. This guy had it bad.

Luke 8:26–27 KJV

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Luke 8:29 KJV

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

We know the story. This man had thousands of demons in him. Jesus cast them all out into a herd of pigs… they all ran off a cliff and drowned. Folks were so freaked out they wanted Jesus to leave the area.

The man who was delivered had now become an avid believer. He wanted to go on tour with Jesus and the Disciples. Our passage this morning shows that Jesus had another plan.

Luke 8:38–39 KJV

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Jesus not only gave the new believer direction, but also articulated the plan that would reach the world. It is a plan that has worked for thousands of years and perhaps a plan that we have strayed from. The good news of salvation spreads like wild fire when saved folks go personally to lost folks and tell them how they got saved in the first place. This former demoniac did not need to go on tour, he needed to go home. He needed to be a part of the Grassroots Gospel Revolution.

God has stopped our door knocking, our big Sunday School campaigns, our Van ministry, and other outreach. But the Gospel has not stopped! The mandate to spread the news has not stopped! During these days of COVID madness, now more than ever, we must go back into our circles of influence and be a part of the Grassroots Gospel Revolution.

It is Possible to Know You Are Heaven Bound

1 John 5:13 KJV

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

I Realized I Was A Sinner

Romans 3:10 KJV

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 KJV

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

I Realized There Was a Price For That Sin

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ezekiel 18:20 KJV

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Revelation 21:8 KJV

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

I realized I cannot Pay the Price By Good Works

Galatians 2:21 KJV

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

James 2:10–11 KJV

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I Realized That Jesus Did Pay the Price for my Sin.

Romans 5:8 KJV

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

John 3:16 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So I Transferred My Trust From My Works To What Jesus Did on the Cross.

Romans 10:13–14 KJV

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

We Need To Get Back To Grassroots Gospel.

Go back to your people.

There are people in your circle that will only be reached by you.

There will be people that cross your path today that God has put there because you have a message for them.

Will you commit to praying every day for that one person who needs to hear the Gospel from you today?

Will you commit to giving the gospel to at least one person this week?