I first want to apologize to Pastor Shante' for the title of this post, as I KNOW it is not the correct title of her sermon. For some reason I did not write down the title in my notes, and unfortunately I did not see the audio sermon on the website yet, so I had to go with a title that I felt went with my notes. This posting is from the message given on May 6, 2012. These notes are what I received in my heart and most of the writing is credited to Pastor Shante' Buckley who gave the message.
"Evangelism".... ok, don't run away. I know that term has somewhat of a bad reputation. One of the reasons why I did not put the word in the title of this post, however, it is something essential in an authentic faith walk. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is an evangelistic commandment. Jesus said to go and make disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to obey all the commands He had given us. The word go is a verb- it conveys "action". Jesus didn't give a stipulation in this commandment, it was matter of fact. That doesn't mean that we have to go across the continent, maybe it is just across the apartment complex, or over to your brother's house. It "should" be our mission to help someone get in to a relationship with Jesus: not just the Pastor's mission, the missionary's mission, or the Deacon's mission- it should be every believer's mission.
Romans 10:13-15 says this "for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe them? And how can they believe in Him if they have not heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'" Good news as opposed to the sensationalized "bad news" that we hear daily on television or on the radio- bad news "sells" and gets ratings.... or so we are told.
In Jesus' day, there were "messengers" that brought news to the towns and to the community on foot. Even to individuals. They were "sent out". People need to hear how Jesus has changed your life. Here are some things to think about concerning telling others your story:
1. How can others receive without us being sent?
2. If we are going to "talk the talk" we have to "walk the walk".
3. Our feet determines our direction.
4. We have to go where our feet go.
The Pastor told a story about a Preacher and a drug dealer. The drug dealer told this Preacher that Little Johnny trusts Him. He trusts him, and believes him because he is there when he gets out of school to walk him home. Because he loans him cash when he needs to eat. Because he listens to him when he is upset and needs someone to talk to..... Friends, Christ is calling us to make it personal. We need to be present with people who need Jesus. Jesus won over the prostitutes and the tax collectors. He took the good news to everyone who would listen.
Lord, God, give us the desire to be your messengers. To tell people "our" story, of just how You have made the difference in our lives. That we are changed because of Your saving grace. Set our feet upon a path to bring us opportunities to tell the good news- that You came and died to take all of the sins of the world to the grave, but that the grave could not hold You- and You removed the stone from the tomb and rose again to defeat death and sin forever. Help us to love people into a relationship with You by meeting their needs physically and emotionally first, so they may see the light in us that is You, in us. Thank you for continuing to remove the stones in our life.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment