EVANGELISM 101         ŇThereŐs a time to talkÓ                                        Acts 8:26-40

 

WeŐre talking about evangelism

  -started out with the basics of evangelism –sharing your faith

  -said most important of all, you must have a real & personal experience/rel. with X

  -before you do anything else, pray!!! (all interaction/relationships)

  -then invest and invite (build relationship / allow Christ to shine through)

 

Last week we talked about the power of a changed lifeÉ

  -that if youŐre a Christian, there has to be visible change in your life

     -especially in the areas of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodnessÉ

     -but also in areas of morality (language, destructive habits, relationships)

  -and those changes are most times, the greatest opportunity you have to share your faith

  -that if youŐre becoming more like Christ, your life will amaze/baffle the people you know

  -that some people wonŐt like it and will outright react negatively

  -whether we like it or not, we are on display for Jesus Christ

  -and the most important thing we can be is the best visual aids of him we can be

 

But what about actually sharing our faith verbally – thatŐs what weŐre talking about todayÉ

PRAY        


Learn some things from Deacon Philip about sharing our faith

Read Acts 8:26-29

 

HereŐs 1st thing we learn from Philip, about EvangelismÉ

1. SENSITIVITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN STRATEGY!

 

HereŐs  the thing that strikes me about this passageÉ

  -nobody sitting back in Jerusalem thinking, "how can we have an outreach to Ethiopians."

  -hereŐs my point, sometimes churches get so lost making plans to do outreach

  -they forget that God is already working in the lives of people around us

  -and if weŐre willing to listen (be sensitive)/join H.S. – GodŐs will bring us into his plan

 

I am not saying that we shouldn't make plansÉ

  -although evangelism plans that arenŐt spirit led can be very destructive (lady in Essex)

  -first and foremost we need to be sensitive to H.S.

  -the most effective evangelism happens in unrehearsed conversations

  -it happens in spontaneous moments in which the Spirit of GodÉ

     -prompts us into an opportunity to be used by him

 

We donŐt know exactly how it happened, if Philip heard an audible voice

  -or if it was just a prompting in his heart

  -what we do know, is Philip was sensitive to the H.S. and he obeyed

 

Notice that the H.S. brings Philip to the opportunity, but Philip has to take a step of faith

  -H.S. didnŐt tell Philip to ask the Ethiopian a question, Philip just entered the situation

  -the same is true for us todayÉ

     -God will presents us with opportunities, but itŐs up to us to engage/enter into them

Let me ask this question, in terms of applicationÉ

  -How many conversations will you have in next week or two where you work/liveÉ

  -I would say most of us will have hundreds of conversations

  -so the first question is, how can you be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit? (response)

     -a few questions I try to ask God when I get up or go outÉ

       -God, what is going on with this person that IŐm going to talk to?

       -make myself available – God, if you want to use me in this personŐs life can you open

         a door.

 

If youŐre not trying to be sensitive/listen to God, you probably what? WonŐt hear

  -when you open up to God itŐs amazing how much more God stuff begins to happen

  -does that mean every conversation or even most turn to a sharing opportunity? – no

  -but some will, our job is to be sensitive to when God is asking us to join him

     -and be obedient when he does

 

Read Acts 8:29-40

Next thing we learn from Philip in regards to sharing our faithÉ

2. DONŐT BE A BULLDOZER!

 

Even though God clearly led Philip to the EthiopianÉ

  -the first thing out of his mouth wasn't "Eh, God has sent me to you, so listen!"

  -and it also wasnŐt ŇEh do you know where you would go if you died tonightÓ

  -and it also wasnŐt ŇEh do you know youŐre a sinner and if you donŐt believe in Jesus – hell

  -starting a conversation that way is like (tulip bulb)

 

What does Spirit tell Philip to do? go over and walk alongside of the chariot

  -thatŐs kind of like saying, Philip go over and wait

 

ThatŐs when Philip listens to Ethiopian reading familiar passage (reading out loud normal)

  -and Philip asks a very natural question, do you understand what youŐre reading

  -and thatŐs enough to start a conversation that eventually leads to Ethiopian following X

 

Notice Philip doesnŐt manipulate the conversationÉ

  -Philip doesnŐt try to throw in some pre-rehearsed speech

  -all Philip does is have a conversation with this man

 

Important part here, not everybody you will meet will be where this Ethiopian wasÉ

  -he was ready, all he needed was somebody to lead him through the door to new life

    

Evangelism isnŐt about trying to convert everyone your meet right there and thenÉ

  -evangelism is like we said two weeks ago, about you having pers. Rel. with Jesus

  -and because what Jesus has done for you is so amazing you want others to know him 2

  -so when it comes to sharing your faith verbally – evangelism

     -is about being sensitive enough to wait on H.S. to lead you/prompt you/opportunities

     -and it is about being sensitive and available to speak into peopleŐs lives where they are

     -means that if theyŐve never heard about Jesus you might only be planting a seed (bulb)

     -maybe a seed has been planted, your job might just be to water that seed (bulb)

     -and in some cases it might mean that you are there to help themÉ

     -in the moment they decide, ŇI want to follow JesusÓ

So, donŐt be a bulldozer in trying to point people to Jesus ChristÉ

  -be sensitive to where they are at

  -learn to recognize, is this a planting the seed time, or is this watering time

  -or is this person ready to follow Jesus

  -so how do you know which it is? You donŐt always know!

     -your job is just to be available and show Jesus – God will deal with the rest

     -and if you are sensitive and available, God will use you!

 

HereŐs the last thing we learn from Philip in regards to sharing our faithÉ

3. BE PREPARED!

 

1Peter 3:15,16 ŇBut in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.Ó

 

So, how do you get prepared?

  -We already saw that you have to be sensitive & obedient to H.S.

     -when you get up ask God to help you be a good example of him in everything that day

     -when you go out, ask God to prepare the opportunities & help you be obedient in them

 

How else was Philip ready?

  -Philip knew the scriptures – part of the reason we study/listen to sermons just our benefit

  -we donŐt learn just so we can be fat on knowledge (show off at church/living room)

  -we learn so we can follow better and so when the time comes we can share truth

 

But Ed, I donŐt know how to start a Spiritual ConversationÉ

  -the point isnŐt that youŐre trying to start a Spiritual Conversation

  -the point is that youŐre present,available,ready, & prepared if spiritual conversation starts

  -evangelism is a God thingÉ

     -if youŐre life shows Jesus, and youŐre not obnoxious and in your face

     -but if you are gentle & respectful as passage tells us to be

     -most (not all) but most people will listen as you speak/react from Xian perspective

     -especially when youŐve earned the right to speak into their lives by being a true friend

 

DonŐt miss this, if what youŐre hearing me say, is you donŐt have to share (mishearing me)

  -if you get up each day and say, God use me today / if you pray for people in your life

  -if you are taking in scripture and growing in it

  -if you are asking the H.S. to make you aware & sensitive to spiritual situations

  -guess what, God will open doors and God will use you, to plant seeds/water them/

       -and maybe even be there when people make the decision to follow Christ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something else thatŐs really, really importantÉ

  -every step along the way in the journey to Jesus Christ is just as important as others

  -if you find yourself doing a lot of planting or watering of seeds

  -your part is no less important than the person who gets to reap

  -the truth is, evangelism is GodŐs work, cool part, he lets us be a part of it

  -I have no idea who the person who was there when I decided to follow Christ was

  -he just happened to be a camp counselor at a camp I was at (not even my counselor)

  -the people who really made the difference in my  journey

     -were the people who spent hours and hours being examples of Jesus Christ in my life

     -the people who sat there for several years watering the seed that had been planted

     -& hereŐs the thing, not one of them was there the day I decided I was going to follow X

     -I say that, because there tends to be special attention placed on the people  who reap

     -and so people get asked questions like how many people have you personally led to X

     -let me clarify again, I donŐt, and you donŐt personally lead anyone to Christ

       -Christ leads people to himself through the Holy Spirit

       -and in any one conversion, thereŐs a whole bunch of people he uses to get them there

       -so plant, water, reap, and just be thankful for however God uses you

       -but be sensitive, donŐt be bulldozer, & be prepared to be used however God chooses

 

ItŐs possible that today for some of you

  -this is the first time youŐre hearing about this Jesus thing – seed has been planted

  -for some of you this is just another watering of the seed that has been planted before

     -you understand a little more, maybe youŐve got some more questions

 

But itŐs possible that for some of you, your journey has brought you to that place

  -where youŐre saying, I want to follow Jesus, I want to live my life for him

  -if thatŐs you, then I invite you to do what the Ethiopian did, believe in the Lord Jesus X

  -If you havenŐt been baptized, we will baptize you sometime soon

     -so you can show your obedience to Jesus Christ

 

For those of us who are already followers of Jesus ChristÉ

  -weŐve been given a message to carry beyond these walls

  -this week will  be full of evangelim opportunities

     -some seed planting, most will be watering opportunities

     -some will require you to speak, many will be opportunities shown in your life

 

As you go, trust GodÉ

  -trust that he is going ahead of you  and preparing the way

  -all you need to do is be sensitive to him, be prepared  and donŐt be a bulldozer

 

LetŐs stand and pray!

  -if today, youŐre deciding IŐm going to follow Jesus (let us know by filling out a Com. Card)

  -Pray