Ambassadors for Christ: The Urgency of Evangelism
Summary
Sharing the gospel is both a privilege and a responsibility that God has entrusted to each believer. As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to represent Him and His message to the world. This calling is not just a duty but an honor, as it signifies our importance in God's plan to reach a lost and dying world. We are to be the light and salt, bringing the message of salvation to those who need it most. The analogy of rescuing someone from the brink of death highlights the urgency and significance of our mission. Just as a doctor or firefighter saves lives, we have the opportunity to bring spiritual life to those who are perishing.
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 commands us to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that Jesus has commanded. This task may seem daunting, but it is not done in our strength. The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness and share the gospel effectively. The assumption is that once we have experienced the transformative power of the gospel, we cannot help but share it with others. The message of Jesus is not just another topic of conversation; it is the most important message we can share.
The reality of heaven and hell underscores the urgency of evangelism. Jesus' words in John 14:6 remind us that He is the only way to the Father. This exclusivity challenges the notion that all roads lead to heaven. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 illustrates the eternal consequences of rejecting the gospel. The rich man's plea for his family to be warned about hell emphasizes the importance of sharing the gospel with our loved ones.
The indwelling Holy Spirit should produce in us a burden for souls, a boldness to proclaim the gospel, and a faith that trusts in God's power to save. We are called to be witnesses, not in a forceful or obnoxious way, but with love and compassion. Our days are numbered, and we have a limited time to share the good news. Let us seize every opportunity to tell others about Jesus, knowing that heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents.
Key Takeaways:
1. Ambassadors for Christ: As believers, we are called to be ambassadors, representing Christ and His message to the world. This role is both a privilege and a responsibility, highlighting our importance in God's plan to reach the lost. We are to be light and salt, bringing the message of salvation to those who need it most. [01:08]
2. The Great Commission: The command to make disciples, baptize, and teach is a daunting task, but it is not done in our strength. The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness and share the gospel effectively. Once we have experienced the transformative power of the gospel, we cannot help but share it with others. [05:10]
3. The Reality of Heaven and Hell: The urgency of evangelism is underscored by the reality of heaven and hell. Jesus is the only way to the Father, and rejecting the gospel has eternal consequences. The story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates the importance of sharing the gospel with our loved ones. [10:17]
4. The Indwelling Spirit's Work: The Holy Spirit within us should produce a burden for souls, a boldness to proclaim the gospel, and a faith that trusts in God's power to save. We are called to be witnesses with love and compassion, seizing every opportunity to tell others about Jesus. [17:38]
5. Seizing Opportunities: Our days are numbered, and we have a limited time to share the good news. Let us seize every opportunity to tell others about Jesus, knowing that heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents. Sharing the gospel is the most important message we can convey. [32:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:08] - Ambassadors for Christ
- [02:53] - The Bird Rescue Story
- [04:03] - The Great Commission
- [05:10] - Making Disciples
- [06:15] - Importance of Evangelism
- [07:35] - Communion and Evangelism
- [08:59] - Golf Trip Anecdote
- [10:17] - The Reality of Heaven and Hell
- [12:16] - The Rich Man and Lazarus
- [14:10] - Urgency of the Gospel
- [15:47] - Being a Loving Testimony
- [17:38] - The Indwelling Spirit's Work
- [18:58] - Paul's Witnessing Example
- [20:14] - Almost Persuaded
- [24:12] - Paul's Boldness
- [26:02] - True Story of Boldness
- [29:06] - The Value of One Soul
- [30:56] - Has Heaven Rejoiced Over You?
- [32:17] - Seizing Opportunities
- [33:26] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 5:20
2. Matthew 28:18-20
3. Luke 16:19-31
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ according to 2 Corinthians 5:20? How does this role relate to the responsibility of sharing the gospel? [01:08]
2. In Matthew 28:18-20, what are the specific commands given in the Great Commission? How does this passage emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism? [05:10]
3. How does the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 illustrate the reality of heaven and hell? What was the rich man's request after realizing his fate? [12:16]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the analogy comparing evangelism to rescuing someone from the brink of death? [02:53]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being an ambassador for Christ challenge the notion of keeping faith a private matter? What implications does this have for believers today? [01:08]
2. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is described as a daunting task. How does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit change the way believers approach this mission? [05:10]
3. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, what does the rich man's plea for his family reveal about the urgency of sharing the gospel with loved ones? [12:16]
4. The sermon mentions that the indwelling Holy Spirit should produce a burden for souls. How does this burden manifest in a believer's life, and what role does faith play in this process? [17:38]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your role as an ambassador for Christ. In what ways can you actively represent Christ and His message in your daily interactions? [01:08]
2. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples. Identify one person in your life who you can intentionally invest in spiritually. What steps can you take to disciple them? [05:10]
3. Considering the reality of heaven and hell, how can you prioritize sharing the gospel with your family and friends? What specific actions can you take to communicate the urgency of this message? [10:17]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities to share the gospel. Can you recall a recent opportunity you missed? How can you be more attentive to such opportunities in the future? [32:17]
5. The indwelling Holy Spirit should produce boldness in believers. What fears or obstacles do you face when sharing your faith, and how can you rely on the Holy Spirit to overcome them? [17:38]
6. Reflect on the analogy of rescuing someone from the brink of death. How does this perspective change the way you view evangelism, and what practical steps can you take to embody this urgency? [02:53]
7. The sermon mentions that heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents. How can this truth motivate you to share the gospel with joy and enthusiasm? [29:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Ambassadors of Christ: A Divine Appointment
As believers, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ, representing Him and His message to the world. This role is both a privilege and a responsibility, highlighting our importance in God's plan to reach the lost. Being an ambassador means embodying the values and teachings of Jesus, serving as a living testament to His love and grace. We are to be the light and salt, bringing the message of salvation to those who need it most. This calling is not just a duty but an honor, as it signifies our importance in God's plan to reach a lost and dying world. [01:08]
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the light of Christ through your actions and words today? How can you intentionally represent Jesus to them?
Day 2: Empowered by the Spirit for the Great Commission
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 commands us to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that Jesus has commanded. This task may seem daunting, but it is not done in our strength. The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness and share the gospel effectively. The assumption is that once we have experienced the transformative power of the gospel, we cannot help but share it with others. The message of Jesus is not just another topic of conversation; it is the most important message we can share. [05:10]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: In what ways can you rely more on the Holy Spirit to guide your conversations about faith this week? What steps can you take to be more open to His leading?
Day 3: The Urgency of Eternity
The reality of heaven and hell underscores the urgency of evangelism. Jesus' words in John 14:6 remind us that He is the only way to the Father. This exclusivity challenges the notion that all roads lead to heaven. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 illustrates the eternal consequences of rejecting the gospel. The rich man's plea for his family to be warned about hell emphasizes the importance of sharing the gospel with our loved ones. [10:17]
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (ESV): "In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel message? How can you lovingly and urgently share the truth of Jesus with them today?
Day 4: The Spirit's Burden for Souls
The indwelling Holy Spirit should produce in us a burden for souls, a boldness to proclaim the gospel, and a faith that trusts in God's power to save. We are called to be witnesses, not in a forceful or obnoxious way, but with love and compassion. Our days are numbered, and we have a limited time to share the good news. Let us seize every opportunity to tell others about Jesus, knowing that heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents. [17:38]
Romans 9:1-3 (ESV): "I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to cultivate a deeper burden for the lost in your community? How can you demonstrate love and compassion in your witness?
Day 5: Seizing Every Opportunity
Our days are numbered, and we have a limited time to share the good news. Let us seize every opportunity to tell others about Jesus, knowing that heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents. Sharing the gospel is the most important message we can convey. The urgency of our mission is akin to rescuing someone from the brink of death, highlighting the significance of our calling. Just as a doctor or firefighter saves lives, we have the opportunity to bring spiritual life to those who are perishing. [32:17]
Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
Reflection: What opportunities to share the gospel have you overlooked recently? How can you be more intentional about recognizing and acting on these opportunities in the future?
Quotes
"The Bible teaches us that when somebody trusts Christ as their Savior, inwardly, when they cry out to him, when they get on their knees and they call out to him, that then they are baptized as a public confession. And he's telling us to do these two things. And so how do we get to that? God the Father, Jesus Christ, were assuming that we would be witnessing and people would be being saved." [00:05:29] (31 seconds)
"There's not this way and that way in my religion and your religion. There's God's way, and that's through his son, Jesus Christ. And that's the message we are to be carrying out into a lost and dying world. It's important because there is a heaven and there is a hell. Do you hear that? Literal. There is a heaven and there is a hell." [00:10:10] (25 seconds)
"There's a lot of people that have different ideas about God, about salvation, about heaven, about hell, got different things. Every single person who has died apart from Christ has cried that very thing out. Go tell my family, go tell them. Now they'll have a choice too. We all have a choice and we have to respect that. God respects that. But I want to tell you something. The first thought, I've got to tell my family." [00:14:17] (34 seconds)
"Jesus' last words before he ascended into heaven was Acts 1, 8, and 9. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses to me. And you shall be in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth. Now when he had spoken these things while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight." [00:16:19] (21 seconds)
"2 Corinthians 4, 7 -10 says, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard -pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the world. And he kept on taking. He kept on taking. He just kept on going. The life of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifest in our body." [00:24:42] (32 seconds)
"There's only one thing I believe that's wonderful that I'll never get to do when I go to him. And that's witness for Christ. But while I'm here on earth I can tell people about Jesus. So look and listen for every opportunity. Let's pray. Lord Jesus, I thank you so much for this day. Lord, I thank you that you count us so important that you've chosen to use us to carry the gospel, to carry the good news." [00:32:58] (28 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?