Impact Evangelism - The Normal Christian

Rough Draft, Impact Evangelism - The Normal Christian

Please turn to 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

As we continue with our series on Impact Evangelism our big idea for today is this.

It is normal for the Christ follower to share their faith.

Just like it is normal for humans to breath or a dolphin to swim in the sea.

It is a normal part of the Christ Followers life to share with others about Jesus.

The opposite is true.

It is not normal for a dolphin wash up on the beach or a human to choke and have his airway cut off.

This is abnormal and dangerous.

So it is abnormal and dangerous when a Christ follower doesn’t share his faith with others.

God desires your to share your faith with others.

Read 2 Cor 5:14-21

Pray

As we begin, I want to tell you a story of a man named Lamar Lagrone. About 50 years ago in New Mexico lived a Wild man, a cowboy, a man’s man and an outlaw type. He loved to gamble, spit tobacco, & steal horses. It was rumored that he had killed over 10 men in his lifetime. There was nothing that scared Lamar Lagrone.

Amazingly, One late morning in an old smoke filled diner someone shared Jesus with Lamar and he was radically saved.

When he got saved, he started witnessing to everybody. Anyone he could slow down just for a few moments he was sharing Jesus with. Lamar was seeing people saved. God was using him in amazing ways. It was awesome.

One Sunday morning while attending his new home church, one of the fine upstanding deacons pulled Lamar to the side.

In the midst of all of his witnessing and spiritual fire, he tells him, "you are doing a lot of witnessing and great things (and that’s good), but one day, you will calm down and be like the rest of us." Pause

What this well meaning deacon didn’t know is that Lamar Lagrone was the one who was normal.

In was other believers who had “Calmed down” that had a spiritual illness that held back the good news of Jesus being shared.

In that church the Normal Christian was one who came to church, served, enjoyed the fellowship, but kept their faith to themselves for the rest of the week.

Some of us need a challenge. The greatest thing that could ever happen to you has become common (boring).

There is nothing common or boring about being saved from selfishness, sin and hell to being transformed by the power of the Gospel and getting to have a relationship with Jesus.

God wants you today to reset the meaning of a normal Christian.

A normal Christian looks for opportunities to talk about Jesus and learns to take those opportunities.

?When you read the book of Acts and consider the early church. It is filled with many Lamar Lagrone’s. Why? Those who were transformed by the power of the Gospel and could not help but to share this Good News with any who would listen.

Transition - Question, How do we reset our definition of a Normal Christian?

Transition - How do I grow into someone who is looking for opportunities to share Jesus with others? How do I embrace being a normal Christ Follower?

2 Corinthians 5 answers that question for us.

What are the traits of a Normal Christian?

1. Christ's love consumes them. (v.14,15)

vs. 14 NLT - “Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.”

The normal Christian is driven by the overwhelming, undeserved, unconditional love of Christ.

It is Christ's love at work in us that empowers us and drives us to be fully His.

There is a saying that I have heard all of my adult life.

“preach the Gospel to yourself everyday” When I first heard this I didn’t like it because I didn’t consider myself much of a preacher.

“Preach the Gospel to yourself everyday”

simply means - take time everyday to remind yourself how great God’s love is, how He saved you, and how far He has brought you from sin to yourself.

When you do that, Christ love starts to consume you.

What does consume mean?

The word used for “consumes” has the idea of squeezing into a corner where everything is pressed out except Christ.

Illustration - Smores,

recently my family made s'mores over an open fire. My 6 year old nephew was so excited about the marsh-mellows and fire. His mom had to show him how to squeeze down that s’more. He wanted to squeeze that s’more so hard the marsh-mellow would fall out.

There is something that God wants pressed out of us.

Our wants, desires, plans, dreams pressed and reolaced with something better - Christ's plan and His work.

Verse 15,

15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

What are you longing for today? What gets you out of bed every morning?

Is it the love of Christ that is active and alive in you. Is it the and opportunity to walk with Him another day?

A Normal Christian is one consumed & controlled by Christ's love.

The second trait that we see today of the normal Christian is...

2. They see people the way Christ does. (v.16)

NLT - So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

The normal Christian does not see people based on their physical characteristics or their social standing. They see someone who has an eternal soul.

-When you see someone walking down the street is that person someone you have to “keep an eye on” or is that someone who may not know Jesus and someone we that we should go out and talk to?

-When you go to your kids ball game and look at the other stands. Are the other fans just parents of the other team - your competition - your temporary enemy. …Or are they someone who needs to hear about how much Jesus can change their life?

A normal Christian is called to view others through God’s lenses.

When you look at the rioter and looter, do you get enraged and hateful towards them and cast all your labels on him, or does your heart break for his lost condition. Do you consider that if that person died tonight - they might die without Jesus and be in hell for eternity? Do you long for opportunities for that person to be transformed by the love of Christ?

As Christ Followers, our greatest goal is to see people the way Christ sees them. To be concerned and broken about the condition of their heart.

The consuming love of Christ at work in me allows me to see people the way Jesus does. Without it, I judge people based on how they look or how they can help me get what I want.

How can I get better at seeing others through spiritual lenses like Jesus does?

Challenge - Praying every day and ask the Lord to help you see every person you come in contact with the way he sees them. And the hardest people - you will need to pray for by name. I promise you this. It will change your life.

The third trait of the Normal Christian is that they ...

3. They understand their calling (v.17-19)

New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

The Christ Follower is a New Creation.

When you celebrate the Gospel in your life - that you have become a new creation - we rejoice in this new identity. And you should rejoice in this new identity.

But what have you been given this new identity for?

What is your purpose in this new identity?

What new roles and new tasks as a new creation has Christ set before you?

Answer- The tasks of a Normal Christian.

God has given you the most beautiful task ever given.

Sharing “the message of reconciliation”.

God has given every Christian the task of sharing the message of reconciliation.

What is reconciliation - helping 2 parties who are at war with each other find peace.

-The bible teaches this very unpopular truth. That those who do not know God are enemies of God. That God’s wrath is pointed at the unbeliever because of their sin.

-God has invited you into a very beautiful process. God has chosen that you be a part of the process of someone far from God coming to God.

-God has called you to bring to others the message of reconciliation.

-To share with others that they can be saved and have peace with God by trusting in Jesus Christ. By believing that Jesus Christ paid for their sins on the cross.

-If you are in the sound of my voice and you have never trusted in Jesus as your Savior and surrendered your entire life to Him. The Great News is this. God is inviting you to trust Him today.

-Would you right now where you are say Yes to Jesus.

-Don’t make another lame excuse of why you want to continue to live your life for yourself and stay under the wrath of God.

-If you were to die today, you would perish forever.

-If you come to Christ right now - you will be at peace with God forever.

-You can be made new right now.

Christ follower, who is it in your life that God is calling you to share this message of reconciliation with?

What name or face has He placed in your mind and heart?

Transition - We see in our text today that the normal Christian not only:

-IS consumed by the love of God.

-Sees others the way Christ does

-and understands their calling, but also

4. They passionately share this great news (v 20-21)

English Standard Version Chapter 5

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Christ has made you one of His Ambassadors - you represent the King.

You speak on behalf of God.

Louie Holts may be the greatest Ambassador for College Football

Arnold Palmer may be the greatest Ambassador for Golf.

But you are called to be an Ambassador for The Kingdom of God.

Christ makes His appeal through us his children as you share Jesus with others.

An ambassador doesn’t just live a just and respectable life on behalf of his country.

An ambassador speaks. Speaks on behalf of the country.

You are called to speak on behalf of God.

-You say, I’m scared. I’ve never done that. I’ve never shared with others what God has done for me. I’ve never talked to anyone about Jesus.

Can I encourage you with this.

If you will pray every day. God would you give me the person to speak to and the courage to speak up for you … He will give it.

Will you commit with me to pray for the courage to be an ambassador for Him and speak up?

Will you commit to the life of a Normal Christian?

Pray - Bow your head. Will you pray this with me.

Lord Jesus, I am an ambassador for you. Let your love compel me in everything I do. Let me see everyone I come in contact with today the way you do. Let me live with the calling of reconciliation at the forefront of my mind and let me share this great news every opportunity I get. Amen.

I would like to share with you a video of a young boy who God used as a great Ambassador for Him.

NAMB video - Malachi’s Story.

**** If you are using this sermon for Identification Sunday, make sure you challenge everyone to fill out their identification card at the invitation.***