Evangelism in a New World

Evangelism

Scary word to most followers of Christ.

Simply means to share the good news. The Gospel.

Formula- Romans Road, 4 Spiritual Laws, Tract

Church oriented- small group, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Pastor

Large Group Oriented- Billy Graham

All these have been effective tools for leading People to Christ, and Jesus used many of them, and many of us are here because we heard and accepted the gospel in one of these ways.

The number one reason for the church, the body of the Christ, is to share the good news and introduce people to Jesus. We as a church need to equip and challenge each other to share the gospel.

Isn’t that what Jesus did all times. He was always sharing the gospel. It did not always look or even sound the same but his main purpose on Earth was to lead people to reconciliation with God.

Everyone he healed, every sermon he preached, and every lesson he taught was to show people God’s plan for redemption so that they could be saved.

Matthew 9:35–38 NIV

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages...

Jesus went everywhere he could to share the gospel, but he did not go everywhere did he? That was left for the disciples and for us. Jesus went where he was called to go. We need to go where we are called to go. For some, it is your home, the grocery story, the gym, or the restaurants. Others it is business travel, or zoom meetings. But as the great commission reminds us in Matthew 28:18-20 As you go make disciples.

And Jesus went throughout… Teaching in the synagogues

Jesus taught in the synagogues, to lay a foundation for the gospel.

Luke 4:16–21 NIV

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus quoting Isaiah 61:1-2 which is a Messianic prophesy, teaches the promises of God, and then tells them the time is now. God is working and the scripture is fulfilled.

And Jesus went out throughout… Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.

The gospel of the kingdom is that God loves you, send his son, Jesus to conquer sin and death and restore a right relationship with God. Check out what Jesus did just a few verses earlier.

Matthew 9:1–6 NIV

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

He healed this man and so many others to point people to God. He showed the authority God had given him to forgive sin, by healing the man. This is just one example of Jesus proclaiming the gospel.

Jesus is the one who said John 3:16. He proclaimed the message as he went everywhere. It was his purpose.

And Jesus went throughout… healing and every disease and every affliction.

Leprosy, blindness, deaf and mute. Internal hemorrhaging, childhood death, cancer, you name it he healed it. The gospels are full of stories of Jesus’s healing.

Now we know that Jesus did not heal every person that was sick or affliction, but according to Matthew he did heal every disease and every affliction as an example to all that he was able to heal anything and overcome anything.

We have the ability to look back and see history and how God has moved and shared the gospel through countless nations and people, we have seen how his church has grown, spread and is still spreading all based on people coming to know Jesus. We have read stories, and some of us have seen and experienced healing miracles.

But all of the healing that Jesus did, the Holy Spirit is still doing. Sometimes he uses doctors, sometimes a more visible, miraculous miracle, but always to give people the opportunity to experience the gospel.

All because he loves them and he loves us. And we the church, the body of Christ are called to do the same.

To go everywhere we are called, to teach, to proclaim the gospel and offer healing. We are to show the world Jesus because we are his disciples.

This passage shows us why Jesus did all these things and why we should as well.

Matthew 9:36–38 NIV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus had compassion on them

When Jesus saw people, he had compassion on them. Notice which people in particular.

The harassed and the helpless.

Remember Isaiah 61:1-2

Isaiah 61:1–2 NIV

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

Jesus had compassion on them

Jesus’s calling. Proclaim the good news to the poor. To the oppressed, to the captive, to the harassed and helpless. To those that are lost.

Our job is the same. Have compassion on them. Compassion is more than an emotion, but it is emotional. True compassion always involves action to remedy. Sympathy is looking at someone and feeling bad for them, but compassion involves actively loving them.

This is our calling as well. To actively love those in need, harassed, helpless and lost.

Jesus came to take care of their needs. He fed thousands at least twice. He did not walk by those that were hurting and neither should we.

Who do you encounter that are harassed, helpless, lost or poor?

How can you show compassion on them?

But because Jesus did all these things he had credibility with them. He was able to proclaim the gospel to them and to teach them. Not all accepted, but all heard.

Jesus asked for help.

Matthew 9:37–38 NIV

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus asked for help

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

Jesus tells us there are many more people ready to trust and believe in him. The job is too big for one person or even the disciples. It is all of our job.

Jesus commands us to pray for more help. And God will answer our prayers as he answered Jesus.

Where do the workers come from? They come from those that have encountered the gospel and believed. We are the answer to Jesus’ prayer. But we have so much more work to do.

So much has changed, but the plentiful harvest has not. We have work to do. Right now the world needs the gospel as much if not more than ever.

Evangelism probably will not look like it has throughout the 20th and beginning of 21st century. But maybe we as a church should make evangelism look like it did in the 1st century. Like Jesus did.

Wherever we go, teach, proclaim and heal. Do compassion on the poor, the helpless, the harassed and the lost. It is not easy, it is hard work. But it is our true calling.

I challenge you to read Matthew chapter 10 this week. To see the instructions Jesus gave his disciples before sending them out. It is tough, but it is TRUTH.

How can you share the gospel?

To whom can you share the gospel?

Can we ask God to show us?

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