Sermon Tone Analysis

*Reaching Out*

*/October 14, 2007/*

 

 

Last week I forgot to thank everyone who turned out to help with the work party: *Joe* & *Deanna*, *Katie*, *Art* & *Tami*, *Vicki*, the *Heidi’s*, *Marc* & Ly*n*da, *Laura*, *Marc* Thrall, *Eddie* & *Leeann*, *Marilyn*, and especially *Janna* & *Peter*, who put it together.

*Our mission*

 

*Last week* I read out Mission Statement and would like to return to it:

 

To exist as an *authentic* Christian *community* that *interprets*, *engages*, and *transforms* our *culture* in Skagit Valley through a genuine expression of the *gospel* of Christ.

We talked about what it means to be an authentic Christian community.

It means things like:

 

·         Fellowship – *Sharing* and enjoying life together.

·         Support – *Carrying* each others burdens.

·         Accountability – *Watching* out for each other.

·         Growth – *Pushing* each other to *grow*.

I *also* *talked* about how some churches can have the *attraction* of *crowd* and some have the *attraction* of *community*.

As I said, we have a *great* *community*, and that is a strength for us to build upon.

I believe that folks will come to TG because they want to be a *part* of *this* *community*.

·         BTW: There are *written* *copies* of that sermon on the *table* in the *narthex* if you want to read it.

Today’s the challenge is how to *offer* that *community* to those *around* *us*.

I believe that we are *going* to *grow*, but it is not by *magic*, it will be by us *reaching* *out*.

And this sermon is about how to reach out.

In the *theory*, reaching out and *bringing* *others* *into* our community is *simple*.

It has three basic parts:

 

1.

Invite them

2. Welcome them

3. Include them

 

 

*Invite them*

 

Without a doubt, this is can be the *hardest* one for *me*.

It’s not too bad when I invite *believers* to *church*, but inviting *non*-*Christians* is an entirely *different* *subject*.

And if we *don’t* *reach* out to the *non*-*churched*, we *can’t* grow.

We might be able to *shuffle* some folks from *one* *church* to *another*, but for us to *advance* the kingdom of God, we must be *inviting* *non*-*Christians* into the Body of Christ.

It is my *hope* and *desire* that we grow this church by *brining* in the *non*-*churched*, whether that is by bringing believer without a home, or bringing people into the kingdom.

This strikes at one of my *biggest* *fears* – “*witnessing*,” as I grew up calling it.

I suppose as your new pastor, I really shouldn’t be telling you stuff like that, I might get *fired*.

The first time I really began to “witness” was when I was 14 and on my first mission trip, six weeks in *Jamaica*.

That trip had all the essential components of a good mission trip: Working in *hot* *weather*, personality *conflicts*, living in a very *different* *culture*, and eating *bizarre* *foods*.

Our team was made of up kids from age 5 to 18.

We would *gather* a crowd, do *dance* *routines* to Christian songs, and then *mingle* and *talk* to people about *Jesus*.

My wife will tell you that I *can’t* *dance*.

Our engagement barely survived *dance* *lessons*.

I was a *clumsy* 14 year-old boy with a *mullet* trying to *dance* and tell people about *Jesus*.

·         Even worse, it was *videotaped*.

[Ship’s Kids video montage]

 

As bad as that was, it was the easy part.

I spent every performance dreading what came after the show: the witnessing.

I had to *talk*, to *people*, about *Jesus*.

That terrified me.

As we finished each song, I knew I was that much *closer* to “*witnessing*” time and I’d try to ignore the ball of *lead* growing in my *stomach*.

At the same time, I was *ashamed* of my *fear*.

·         What’s *wrong* with me?

I thought if I *loved* *Jesus* more, I would be able to witness *effortlessly*, like the rest of my team.

The fear usually beat out the shame and I did what ever I could to *avoid* *witnessing*.

I had some *stage* *skills*, so slid myself into a *stage* *hand* role.

·         I developed a reputation of having a real “*servant’s* *heart*”.

This was my defining experience with evangelism: *fear*, *dread*, *shame*.

And to this day, whenever someone talks about witnessing, I still feel a *twinge* of *dread*, mixed with *guilt*.

*Q:* Do any of you feel that way?

 

 

*Excited to share?*

We know that we should *want* to share the Good News.

We know Christ has given us the awesome *privilege* and *responsibility* of being His *WITNESSES*.

We know the “Great Commission”:

 

[Jesus said] Therefore go and make *disciples* of all nations, *baptizing* them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and *teaching* them to obey everything I have commanded you.

/Matthew 28:19-20 NIV/ 

 

These are our “marching orders.”

We are God’s *plan* “*A*” for sharing the Gospel and He doesn’t have a *plan* “*B*.”

*I’m not an evangelist!

*

 

If I really believe that this *world* is *dying* in its sin, and if I believe that only *Jesus* can *rescue* the lost, and if I *love* my *neighbors* as myself, shouldn’t I be *excited* to share the Gospel?

Well, yes, but I’ve learned that the reason I *dreaded* witnessing after those performances is because that method was so *contrary* to my *wiring*.

·         I would have been happier *teaching* new believers how to *read* their *Bible*.

It was [Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, *some* to be *evangelists*, and some to be pastors and teachers... /Ephesians 4:11 NIV/ 

 

It say *some*, not *all*.

I was trying to be something I am not.

Some are called to be evangelists.

Does this mean I don’t have to share the Gospel?

No, the Great Commission is pretty clear.

·         Some are called to be *evangelists*, but all are called to be *evangelistic*.

What’s the difference between being an *evangelist* and being *evangelistic*?

Both *look* for *opportunities* to share God’s love and share the Gospel.

And both share out of *who God made them*.

·         An evangelist is someone that God has *gifted* and *impassioned* specifically for sharing the Gospel.

It’s very *freeing* to know I’m not expected to be an evangelist.

But *Every* believer is still *expected* to be *evangelistic*.

Always be *prepared* to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the *reason* for the *hope* that you have.

/1 Peter 3:15 NIV/

 

 

*I’m not prepared!*

This command is for *every* *believer*, evangelist or not.

Everyone of us is expected to be able to *give* *reasons* for our *hope*.

This doesn’t mean you need to be an *Bible* *expert*.

If you are growing as a believer, spending time *praying* and *reading*, then you will have enough *information* to share about Jesus from your experience.

I suspect *most* of *us* in here *know* *enough* to help someone start a relationship with Jesus

 

But *more* *important* than *information*, is being a *shining* *example* of Jesus.

There is *no* *more* *powerful* witness than the *fruit* of the *Spirit* being lived out:

 

...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

/Galatians 5:22-23 NIV/ 

 

Our mission statement called us to “*engage* and *transform* our culture” and the most *effective* way of doing that is *bearing* this *kind* of *fruit*.

·         Non-Christians aren’t that impressed if you can quote John 1:1 in Greek.

I’ve tried, and they aren’t.

What *does* impress unbelievers is seeing the difference God has made in *your* life, and that is your *area* of *expertise*.

·         You are the *only* *expert* on what God has done in *your* life.

For most of us, this is the most *effective* form of witnessing.

Live such *good* *lives* among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your *good* *deeds* and *glorify* *God*.... /1 Peter 2:12 NIV/ 

 

If there is something in your life that they *want*, but don’t know how to get, then God will be *able* to *provide* multiple *opportunities* to share His love.