Lesson Notes

Introduction

• Brief Recap
  • Based on Don Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
  • Developing spiritual habits for the purpose of godliness – growing nearer to Christ and more like Christ
  • We’ve discussed: meditation, memorization, worship, prayer, journaling, silence & solitude, fasting, stewardship, and serving to help us grow in godliness
• Tonight we talk about sharing the gospel
  • For a handful of you, you’re excited, for many more, I’ve probably struck fear in your hearts
  • That’s why it must be a habit, because it’s difficult, a bit scary, and requires intentionality
    • So it must be an act of discipline
    • Otherwise it will mainly be something we ought to do without ever doing!

The Expectation of Evangelism

• Godliness requires that we discipline ourselves to share our hope
  • Christ expects each of us to evangelize – though not all with the same methods
  • Matthew 28 18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”
  • Luke 24: 46-47, “and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.'”
  • Acts 1: 8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
• While God clearly gifts some people specifically as evangelists, He expects EVERY Christian to be willing to share the Gospel
• 1 Peter 2: 9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.“
• 1 Peter 3: 15, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect“
• We’re here today because for 20 centuries, followers of Christ have taken this seriously.
• Now it’s our turn
  • Sharing absolutely means talking intentionally about Jesus, but it doesn’t have to mean rattling off a memorized spiel to a random stranger on the street
    • Everyone should know at least one way to share your faith – it could be by the testimony of your life before Christ, coming to know Christ, and your life now with Christ;
    • It could be via the Romans Road, Four Spiritual Laws, Three Circles, etc.
    • It could be walking through a Bible passage like Ephesians 2: 1-10.
    • Most of the time we’re focusing on sharing with someone we at least have a little bit of relationship with – that’s most successful in the US right now
  • Sharing can look like:
    • Inviting – inviting people to an online Bible studs, Thrive Group, online worship, or a gathering when that’s allowed again
    • Investing – really going deep in someone’s life to incarnate Jesus to them – loving and caring for their needs AND using that relational investment to create opportunity and credibility to share your hope in Christ
    • Conversing – genuinely listening and talking about spiritual matters, ultimately to share your hope in Christ
    • We should all be doing each of these, but I would say we’re each more gifted or drawn to one or another

Empowered for Evangelism

• It’s easy to think you need more preparation for evangelism – that’s clearly not the experience of the early church or the rapidly expanding church around the world today!
  • We’re often afraid of being stumped by a tough spiritual question. That’s always possible and it’s no excuse. If stumped, just offer to do some research and get back to them, or to study the issue together in the Bible. 
  • We’re often afraid people will reject us and think we’re weird.
    • We are weird, get over it! If your Christianity hasn’t made you weird you aren’t doing it right.
    • They aren’t rejecting you, they’re rejecting God. Unless you’re a jerk when you share in violation of 1 Peter 3: 15.
    • Remember – many people rejected Jesus to His face – you won’t be different
  • We’re often afraid we’ll mess it up and damn somebody to eternal separation from God. God is the one who stirs hearts to repentance. We want to do our best to share the Good News well, but God can use our best even when it isn’t the best.
  • We’re often intimidated by or repelled by the memorized spiels we’ve seen or been taught and it overwhelms us. So share differently!
• Success in evangelism = sharing your hope in Christ. Period. Faithful obedience, not winning a soul.
  • When we proclaim the necessity of Christ, inviting the person to repent of their sins and believe in Christ, we have succeeded in sharing.
  • We’re like the post office – we succeed if we deliver the mail quickly to the right address, we aren’t judged on whether the recipient opens or tosses the letters
• The real power for evangelism is the Holy Spirit (remember Acts 1:8)
  • He gives us the words to say in the moment when we ask
  • He transforms our lives to be an excellent example of what we share
  • He stirs the hearts of those who respond to what we share
  • You aren’t alone, ever – the Spirit is always with you
  • Fear is helpful – it will remind you that you need the Spirit’s help rather than just proceeding on your own powers of persuasion

Disciplined to Evangelize

• We must make it a habit, a discipline to get into situations where evangelism can occur
  
  • Don’t just wait for opportunities!
  • Create situations where you’re meeting and cultivating relationships with people who don’t know Christ
    • I’m looking for a new hobby for “after” so I can meet more people
    • During and after COVID-19, seek to build or deepen friendshipos with your immediate neighbors, spending time together, experiencing life together, learning about each other’s struggles, etc. With a goal of sharing.
  • Pray daily – not only for opportunities to share, but for the sensitivity to see the opportunities and the boldness to take them! Pray specifically before you meet with someone.
• You must be disciplined in your stewardship of time to create these opportunities – don’t let busyness keep you from sharing
  • Meeting new people or spending time with shallow acquaintances to build real relationships for sharing the gospel takes time, which used to be really precious around here
    • Getting to know your neighbors names and lives
    • Hanging out – in the drifveway now
  • The right time to share will ALWAYS be inconvenient  there will always be somewhere you need to be or something you need to do
  • This is heaven or hell for the person you’re sharing with – it has to take priority!
  • God will make us account for our time – and I don’t want that to be uncomfortable for either you or me!
• If sharing isn’t a priority and a disciplined habit, we’ll almost nefer share
  • I’m one of the worst for this – because of my job!
  • I’m surrounded by Christians and always have more to do than can be cone
  • Before things went crazy, I was working to get out more and interact with more people who weren’t believers and have more intentionality about steering conversations to the gospel – and you know what, it really isn’t scary!
• That doesn’t mean every conversation is all gospel, all the time
  • But use bridges to move conversations in a spiritual direction, particularly when you sense a good opportunity
  • One very easy bridge – especially right now – “How can I pray for you””
  • Or in asking how someone is doing, if they express loneliness ,fear, anxiety, or question the purpose of everything, ask if you can share what you’re finding helpful

Homework

• Start praying every single day for opportunities to share, the sensitivity to see those opportunities, and the boldness to take them. EVERY DAY pray this!
• Make an appointment with someone you know with the intent of sharing the gospel – put it on the calendar, pray, and do it!
• Read chapters 1 & 2 of Acts for next week to get more out of it!