Disciple-Making: Evangelism
Gaining Traction in a Slippery World • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsIn this message you will learn why and how to have a Disciple-Making ministry
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Why Care about Sharing the Gospel with the Lost?
Why Care about Sharing the Gospel with the Lost?
1. Because Jesus Cares about the Lost.
1. Because Jesus Cares about the Lost.
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.”
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
If Jesus thinks it is important to reach those who do not yet know Him, then we better make sure it is important to us.
If we claim to love Jesus, we better seek to love what He loves. We better strive to care about what he cares for.
After all, He is our Savior and King. And if we claim to be his Disciples (his students) we must learn to follow His heart.
2. Because They Need Jesus
2. Because They Need Jesus
Every person you will ever meet desperately needs Jesus. Whether they look like they are thriving in life, or whether they look desperate and lonely. Do not be tricked into thinking that anyone is ok without Christ, just because it looks like they are doing fine.
People can achieve alot of what they want in life, without Christ; but their eternal destiny is still at stake.
Where will they Spend Eternity?
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
As we can see, beleiving in Jesus is a pretty important thing. What is at stake is where they will spend all eternity. Whether they are going to spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. But the good news, is only good news if it gets to them in time.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
The answer to Paul’s rhetorical question here is, “they can’t.” They can’t believe unless someone tells them the gospel. And they can’t be saved unless they believe the gospel.
I think the real question Paul is trying to ask here is, “Do you care enough to do something about it?”
There is an urgency here. This message of the gospel is life or death. Far be it from me that I loose sight of something so significant because I’m too busy pursuing my own goals and dreams. Christ has called me to follow Him. Has he called you too? Have you heard the call from Christ to come after Him? Be saved by Him? To live for Him?
3. Because of what Christ did for you
3. Because of what Christ did for you
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
4. Because its impact will last forever
4. Because its impact will last forever
When a person receives Christ, it’s like an orphan who has finally found a loving Father. They have been adopted into God’s family for all eternity.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
They are transformed into a new creation
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
They are set free from slavery to sin
Rom. 6:6
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
They go from darkness to light.
Eph. 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
They will spend eternity with God rather than apart from him in Hell
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. Because Jesus has commanded us to Make Disciples
5. Because Jesus has commanded us to Make Disciples
Ultimately, it just comes down to whether or not you are going to decide to obey Him or not.
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,
It doesn’t mean you are gonna be called to full time ministry; but it does mean that we need to orient our lives around the mission Jesus has given to us.
You only get one life to live for Jesus, so don’t waste it on anything else.
“If I could push the door of heaven and you could peak into it for five minutes, you would never backslide. You would change your lifestyle. You would change your conversation style.”
“It will not make much difference friend a hundred years from now... If the clothes you wear are taylor made or just pieced together somehow. It won’t matter, your bank account or the make of car you drive. For the grave will claim all your riches and fame, and the things for which you strive. There’s a deadline that we all must meet, and no ne will show up late. It won’t matter, all the places you’ve been, each one will keep that date. We will only have in eternity what we gave away on earth. When we go to the grave we can only save the things of eternal worth. What matters friend, the earthly gain for which some men will bow. For your destiny will be sealed, you see, a hundred years from now.”
What I would have loved to do tonight is come here and spend the whole time training you in how to share the gospel with the Lost, but I know none of that would have an impact on you if you don’t first understand why it is so important. And in the end, I would rather you have a passion for sharing the gospel and some training in how to do it; than a whole bunch of training, but no passion or internal drive to share the gospel.
But still, I must show you how to share the gospel.
Two Philosophies of Evangelism
Two Philosophies of Evangelism
1. Discovery Evangelism
1. Discovery Evangelism
Discovery Evangelism is when a person shares the gosple with a whole bunch of people indiscriminately, looking to discover those who will respond positively to the gospel. This would include sharing the gospel with a crowd of people or sharing the gospel with a bunch of people individually.
2. Cultivative Evangelism
2. Cultivative Evangelism
Cultivative Evangelism is when a person tries lead a person to Christ over time by cultivating a friendship with them, modeling a Christlike life and taking opportunities to share about Christ.
Now here is my question for you guys to discuss:
Which one is the Biblical Philosophy of Evangelism?
Which one is the Biblical Philosophy of Evangelism?
ask them to talk about it in groups of four, then share what conclusion they came to.
The truth is, they are both Biblical. And at Challenge, we want to equip, inspire and empower you to be able to do both.
Jesus and the apostles did a ton of Discovery Evangelism. Speaking to the crowds and going from village to village preaching the gospel.
But we also see in Acts 8 that when the Christians had to leave Jurusalem due to intense persecution, the Believers took the gospel with them to their new cities. We don’t know exactly how the gospel spread, but it was likely through natural relationships that were cultivated. People sharing the gospel with their neighbors and coworkers.
Some of you guys are going to find that Evangelism is a Spiritual Gift God has given to you, and you will gravitate towards spending more of your time doing Discovery Evangelism. While most of you will do some discovery evangelism, but find that Cultivative Evangelism will be the main way in which you lead people to Christ.
At Challenge, we do discovery evangelism every Thursday. We strike up conversations with students we have never met, get to know them a little, and share the gospel with them. Pretty much every one of you are here as a result of Discovery Evangelism.
Personal Ministry Target
But here is how you can do Discovery Evangelism by having a Personal Ministry Target. You can be intentional about building relationships with those you are around naturally. Maybe thats those in your dorm, other students in your major, or students in another club or team you are a part of. Make it a point to get a meet individually with each person to do three things:
The “3 Story” Approach
Hear their story
Share Your Story
Share Gods Story
This is called the 3 story method. It is relational and natural. It gives you an opportunity to really get to know the person on a deeper level. It gives you a chance to share your personal testimony of what Christ has done in your life. And most of all, they get an opportunity to hear the most important message in the world, the gospel. I don’t know if there is a greater honor in the world than getting to share the message of Jesus with someone and to lead them to the One who can change their life and save their soul.
But, in order to lead someone to Christ, you need to know how to clearly present the gospel and give them an opportunity to respond. Sharing the gospel can actually be really simple and natural. You don’t need to be a preacher or know tons of Bible verses. While there are many great ways to do this, I would like to show you one simple way to do this called “The Bridge” illustration. All you need for this is a pen and paper, and to remember one Bible reference.
Take time to draw out the Bridge Illustration for them
I encourage you to take time to practice drawing this out and even role play with a friend. Over the years this has been one of my go-to ways of sharing the gospel. And we have seen many people indicate decisions to follow Christ using this simple method.
Jesus Gives us Two Promises as we go about Making Disciples
Jesus Gives us Two Promises as we go about Making Disciples
1. All authority in Heaven and on earth is His.
1. All authority in Heaven and on earth is His.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
2. He is with us
2. He is with us
Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What more do we need than these two promises surrounding our marching orders? Our Boss has authority over every other person on earth and every spirt in the heavenly realms. Our Boss has given us a mission. And our Boss will be with us on that mission. Surely these promises are enough for us to do the work He has assigned us to.
Next Steps
Use a Prayer List: Begin praying each day for a specific friends to come to Christ.
Text a friend to set up a chance to talk about Spiritual things. Use the “3 Story” approach.
Reach a Personal Ministry Target.
Join on Thursday to try out Discovery Evangelism.
Pursue more training in how to share the gospel.
