INTRODUCTION

1. These verses are what are called the ‘Great Commission’

            a. It is the churches marching orders to evangelize the world

                        - To win the lost to Christ

                        - Next, baptize the new converts

                        - Then teach them the all things

            b. Probably best done by that generation of saved after Pentecost

                        - When they filled Jerusalem with The Way doctrine

                        - Estimated 30,000 were saved and baptized within 1 year of                                                 Pentecost

-          They went everywhere preaching Jesus

-          2000 years have passed

2. God still wants his churches to have a burden and passion to evangelize the world

            a. It is called Missions

(Luke 24:47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

                        - Means we start at home

                        - Then literally go around the world

3. Right after the resurrection, prior to His ascension, Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples and said

(John 20:21)  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

4. What then is the job of Westlawn Missionary Baptist Church?

            A. First win them to Christ - Evangelize

            B. Immerse them - Baptize them

            C. Then teach them

I. FIRST STEP - EVANGELIZE

A. It all starts with the Word of God

            1. Many preaching today, but not preaching the Gospel

            2. What is the Gospel?

A.    The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ

a.       Our Lord and Savior

                        B. It was this that Paul was not ashamed of

(Rom 1:16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

                                    - Paul is saying that I am NOT ashamed

                                                - Not embarrassed

                                                - Rather Paul says he embraces the Gospel

                                    - Why? It is the power of God unto salvation

                                                - We know what lies ahead if we reject Christ

                                                - And it scared us

                                                            - Noah was scared once,

(Heb 11:7)  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

                                                - Scared us so much that we repented of our sins

                                                            - Asking Christ to save us

                                                - We know what lies ahead when we accept Christ

                        C. Who saves us?  Jesus

                                    a. It is the proclamation of this event that is called the Gospel

b.      Its results?  Disciples

c.       That leads to being evangelists

II. WHO ARE THE EVANGELISTS?

A. All those that know Christ as their personal savior

            1. Yes the Holy Spirit leads

                        a. But whatever the Spirit does, it is done through consecrated people

                        b. We see this in many different ways

                                    - Seen in the Bible, Lord could have written it himself,

                                                - Rather He used consecrated people of God

                                    - God could have sent Jesus without human help

                                                - Rather God used a little Jewish maid

                        c. God uses people

                                    - God still uses people to carry His word

B. People God uses are those that know Jesus as their personal savior

1.      They are sent forth to evangelize

a.       To be bearers of the God news

b.      EVANGELIST

            2. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful name to be called?

(Acts 21:8)  And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

                        A. Notice the reference to Philips function, look what he did

                                    - Has no reference to an office

                                    - Rather to a function, to a job, .

- It describing what Philip did.

                        B. Timothy was also told by Paul to be an evangelist

(2 Tim 4:5)  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

                        C. Members of the early church considered themselves evangelists

(Acts 8:4)  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

III. WHY SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE

A. Because we love the lost, as Christ loves us

            1. May our Lord gives us the vision of that white harvest all around us

                        a. People dying and the harvest spoiling

            2. No way we can witness if we are not motivated by love for the lost

a.       It takes a deep love for Christ to love the lost and evangelize

b.      To love the unloved

c.       That is what Bro. Crane does in our Jail ministry

d.      Reaching out to the unloved with the message of love

B. Evangelism is a one on one event

            1. Remember the verse started out GO

                        a. Very personal address

                        b. We are to go

IV. THEN AFTER WE WIN THEM, WE ARE TO BAPTIZE THEM

(Acts 10:48)  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

A. What does it mean to be baptized?

            1. We need to look to the Greek dictionary for the word baptizo for its       meaning

                        a. Liddell & Scott - to dip

                        b. Bagster - to immerse

            2. Every Greek Lexicon (dictionary) will report either dip or immerse

            3. The word for sprinkle is rantizo

            4. The word for pour is echeo

B. River baptism was the means by which baptism was administered

      a. John the Baptist baptized in the river

(Mark 1:5)  And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

C. Jesus was baptized in the river

(Mark 1:9-10) And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

D. Philip baptized the Eunuch in the river

(Acts 8:38-39)  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

E. Why the river - there was much water

a.       It takes a lot of water to bury one

b.      We see in baptism a burial

(Rom 6:4-5)  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

V. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

A. Since baptism is not a saving ordnance

            1. Only believers are baptized

            2. It should never be administered to any except to those who are already saved

VI. WHO CAN ADMINISTER BAPTISM?

A. Only the local church has authority to baptize

            1. As we already read, the commission was given to the church

-          Not to individuals

            2. Baptism is by authority of the LOCAL church, in this case Westlawn MBC

(Eph 3:21)  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

B. Only the scriptural New Testament church has authority to Baptize

            1. Therefore we of WMBC do not accept baptism from any non-scriptural church

CONCLUSION

1. Are you an evangelist?

2. Remember the job of an evangelist

            a. It is our job to preach the Gospel

3. Then after we win the lost to the Lord

            a. We are to administer scriptural baptism

            b. Not for salvation - but because of salvation

4. What does baptism show?

            a. It shows the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ

5. Therefore out of obedience to the commandments of the Lord, we are baptized