Sermon Tone Analysis

Why Care about Sharing the Gospel with the Lost?

1.

Because Jesus Cares about 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

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?

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.

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

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.

They are transformed into a new creation

They are set free from slavery to sin

Rom.

6:6

They go from darkness to light.

Eph.

5:8

They will spend eternity with God rather than apart from him in Hell

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.

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

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

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?

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