Bold - Excuses for the Gospel

Intro

Recap previous sermon.

Emphasis on the importance of the Gospel.

Romans 1:16 (ESV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Talk about Mark and the opportunity he had to go out with Paul and Barnabas to share the gospel.

Talk about how we are told that he decided to leave them dry and go back to where he was comfortable.

Talk about how this was a reason why Paul and Barnabas separated.

Talk about how like Mark, we often miss opportunities to share the gospel primarily because of our own made excuses.

Excuses

These are some of the most common excuses that people use for not sharing the gospel.

Chances are that they have used it themselves at some point or another.

“I don’t know enough”

“I don’t know what to say”

“I am awkward”

“I don’t have time”

“What will my friends think of me?”

“Someone else can do it”

“I don’t know how to turn the conversation”

“I am scared”

“What if they asked me a question that I don’t know the answer two?”

Talk about how just like Mark, we would find ourselves missing out on opportunities where we would share the Gospel.

Me at the Center

Talk about how when there is a problem, if we want it to be fix, we need to go to the heart of it.

The problem of these excuses is not whether they are valid or not; the problem is that they show the reality of our hearts.

Talk about how we all have something at the center of our lives.

Talk about how the reality of our heart is that we have placed ourselves in the middle of it.

In doing so, we then become self-centered.

Meaning, we are so focus on ourselves, our interest, our comfort, our benefits, our ego that we have no room to care for someone else.

Romans 8:8 (ESV)

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul clearly states that those that are concern with themselves (their fleshy desires) are not capable of pleasing God.

It is impossible to boldly share Christ in all areas of your lives if you are your biggest concern.

Talk about how people wont be able to share about Christ when all they are thinking is about themselves.

When you are only thinking about yourself you allow excuses dictate they way you behave.

Talk about how there are those that may think that they are boldly sharing Christ, but they are so focus on themselves that they do the opposite. They push people further from Him.

Ex. Social Media. Yes you will have to give account for everything you say and do on social media. But that is not how you can tell if are faithfully following Jesus. In fact, it may just prove that you are more focus on yourself than anything.

Jesus at the Center

In contrast, we are supposed to have Jesus at the center of our lives.

Thankfully, Jesus explains us how to do this in Matthew 16:24

Matthew 16:24 (ESV)

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

In order to boldly share Christ in all areas of our lives, we must get rid of ourselves and surrender to Jesus.

Talk about how the disciples needed to understand this reality as they were to go out and become ambassadors to all nations.

Talk about when Jesus is at the center of your life, your focus and concern are on the right place, which will lead you to put everything aside and do what you must to follow him.

Talk about how Jesus did not die, so that you would remain in the center of your life.

Application

Talk about the responsibility that we have to proclaim the message of the gospel to anyone we encounter,.

The gospel message is the only message that has the power for salvation to anyone who believes.

Share illustration about Pizza table

Your life will always be a mess when you are at the center of it.

You will never be able to boldly share Christ when you are only concern about yourself.

You must get rid of yourself and surrender to the one that gives you freedom at the cost of his own life.

You must surrender yourself to the one that provides you with the grace that you need to freely stop up to the calling.

You must surrender to the one that will help you and give you everything you need to boldly share Christ in all areas of your life.