BRIEF INTRODUCTION: Have you considered the number of civic and social organizations in operation today that are doing “good”. The American Red Cross, Fund for the Arts, Boys and Girl Scouts of America, health based organizations such as MS Society or American Cancer society, civic groups such as the Lions Club, Jaycees, and Kiwanas. But no matter how much good these groups do, they do not provide for one fundamental need that each and every person on the face of this earth has…a need to have a relationship with God. This is where the church steps in, this is our responsibility to reach out to a world in need.
LISTING OF PRIMARY POINTS:
1. You need to get out of your comfort zone, v 19
*We need to leave the confines of the church and go.
*A more literal translation is "as you are going", meaning when you are out and about living life, you should be sharing life with others.
*Acts 4:12, No other name under heaven for salvation.
*John 14:6, Jesus is the ONLY way, truth and life.
* People need to know this.
2. You need to know what you’re talking about, v 20
*We are told to "teach them to obey what we have been commanded.
*2 Timothy 2:2...4 generations of disciples mentioned here, sharing Jesus.
*Thom Rainer points out that evanglism is not complete at baptism, but continues as the new Christian becomes a fruit bearing disciple.
3. Know that you are not alone, v 20
*A promise that goes all the way back to the earliest of Scriptures, Deut. 31:6
*The Holy Spirit that fills us will equip us to do the work of Evangelism.
*Evangelism should be the by product of the Holy Spirit in us (Acts 1:8).
BRIEF CONCLUSION: Avery T. Willis in Biblical Basis of Missions tells the story of a meeting he had with a lady while he was a missionary in Indonesia. After he shared the Gospel with her, in amazement she asked when did this all happen, as if it were a recent event. In 2000 years the life changing Gospel had never made it to her village, and Dr. Willis was so overwhelmed all he could do was apologize for the delay. There are people like this across the street, across our towns, across our state, nation, and world…they are waiting to hear the Gospel.
