READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l We are all evangelists at heart because we tend to share things we like, be it the best hawker stall or good deals. If it’s good news, share it. The gospel or glad tidings is not just good news, it is the best news. What is the gospel?
We are created by God to be in relationship with Him. This relationship was broken because of our choice to sin, resulting in our separation from God. We are helpless in our sin and we need God to save us. In His love and mercy, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to pay the price and penalty of our sin through His death on the cross. Christ is risen from the dead to prove His victory over death. God gives us grace to believe by faith in what Christ has done. As we repent from our sin and put our faith in Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with God. Thus, we are no longer bound by the power of sin but are transformed and renewed to be like Christ. We have a living hope in Christ for an eternal future with Him when He returns again.
As disciples of Christ, we are to share this good news. To do so, we need:
Conviction: Who is Jesus to you? He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Truth is not some cognitive knowledge but a Person. And we can only know Christ through a relationship with Him.
Compulsion: How compelled are you to share the good news? We are all called to share the gospel, though some may be specially gifted to evangelise. May we be like Paul who declared: “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor.9:16). For the unsaved cannot believe until they hear the good news, and they cannot hear unless someone tells them (Rom. 10:14-15). The past two years of COVID-19 reminds us of the urgency of sharing the gospel as we approach the last days.
Compassion: Our Heavenly Father’s heart is that all will come to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. May our hearts be filled with compassion for those who have yet to believe in Him – our loved ones, our friends, our colleagues and yes, even those we think are undeserved.
Courage: Faced with sharing the gospel, many of us fear rejection, imposing our views on others, lack of knowledge to answer all questions, or bringing shame to the gospel by the way we live. But Jesus has given us His authority and His presence (Matt. 28:18, 20). Let us pray, as Paul did, to share the good news fearlessly (Eph. 6:19-20).
Four applications as we prepare to evangelise:
- Be ready for every opportunity. Prepare our stories for His glory. Have a short testimony ready for sharing. Turn a concern or need raised by a friend into a spiritual conversation, engaging with heartfelt concern and point to God who meets all our needs. Sign up for the “Engage in spiritual conversations” sessions (Wesley.sg/CERP). Introduce someone to Alpha, Christianity Explored and other resources available in church.
- Be the best testimony you can. Our lives can either be a stumbling block or an enabling bridge for someone to know God. Pray for grace that our light may shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt.5:16). As we show genuine love and care, those who receive it will then be open to know God.
- Be aware of the opposition. Spiritual warfare is real (Eph. 6:12). Keep in prayer and involve your small group and discipleship bands to pray for you as you step forward in evangelism.
- Be rested in His providence and purposes.Prevenient grace is the gift of God that prepares our hearts and minds to hear and receive the gospel and enables us to respond in faith. Whenever we share the gospel, God has prepared the way. As we play our part, trust God to do His. As Bill Bright puts it, “success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”
Let us take the next step in our discipleship to boldly share the good news!
(Sermon notes by Angela Goh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Why is evangelism a discipleship of our conviction?
- How does evangelism strengthen our courage to share the good news of Jesus Christ?
- Why is it so important to have compassion in our evangelism?
- Have you ever felt compelled to share the gospel with someone? How was that experience?
- Take some time to reflect on a recent situation when you have encountered God’s love and grace. Prepare a short testimony (no more than a minute) to be ready to share with others.
- What is the next step in your discipleship where evangelism is concerned? Is there someone you can intentionally reach out and share the gospel with? Share with each other and commit these persons in prayer.
