Empowered Evangelism: Trusting God in Our Weakness

It’s a joy to be with you and to share my heart for evangelism—a passion that was born out of my own radical encounter with Christ at age 25. For many of us, sharing our faith is intimidating, and fear is a common companion, whether we’re seasoned or just starting out. But God, in His wisdom, has chosen to place His treasure—the gospel—within us, these “clay pots,” so that His power, not ours, is what brings transformation. Our identity in Christ is foundational: we are new creations, reconciled to God, and entrusted with the ministry and message of reconciliation. This isn’t just a title; it’s a calling and a privilege. We are ambassadors for Christ, representing His kingdom in a world that desperately needs Him.

Evangelism isn’t about perfect technique or eloquence. As Jesus demonstrated in Luke 5, it’s God’s power that draws people to Himself. Our role is to be obedient, to cast the net, and to trust that He will bring the catch. I shared the story of Nick, a young man who felt inadequate but stepped out in faith and saw God use him powerfully. His humility and dependence on God are exactly what the Lord desires from all of us. When we recognize our weakness, we’re in the best position for God’s strength to shine.

Overcoming fear in evangelism comes down to two things: prayer and practice. Prayer is the real work—confessing our need, asking God to break our hearts for the lost, seeking the filling of the Holy Spirit, interceding for those we’ll meet, praying for open doors, asking God to draw people to us, and seeking to join Him where He’s already at work. Practice—actually sharing the gospel—makes it easier each time, even though fear never fully disappears. It’s in the doing that we see God’s faithfulness and our confidence grows.

We have a practical opportunity before us: to bring the gospel to every home in our zip code through the SaturateUSA outreach. Whether you’re bold enough to knock on doors, willing to hang gospel bags, or simply want to help pack materials, there’s a place for you. The love of Christ compels us—not guilt or obligation, but love. As we step out together, trusting God’s power and praying fervently, I believe we’ll see lives changed and doors opened for the gospel in Naperville.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Our identity in Christ is not just a theological concept but a lived reality. We are new creations, reconciled to God, and entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. This means our purpose is not self-fulfillment but representing Christ as His ambassadors in a world that is not our true home. [10:10]
• 2. The effectiveness of evangelism does not rest on our eloquence or expertise, but on the power of God. Like Peter in Luke 5, we may use the same “nets” and methods, but it is God who brings the catch. Recognizing this truth relieves us of the pressure to perform and frees us to step out in humble obedience. [21:59]
• 3. Humility is the posture God uses most powerfully in evangelism. When we acknowledge our weakness and inability, we are positioned to rely on God’s strength. The “aha moment” comes when we realize, like Nick, that only God can change hearts, and our role is simply to be available and faithful. [25:46]
• 4. Prayer is the essential labor of evangelism. Confession, brokenness for the lost, the filling of the Spirit, intercession, praying for open doors, asking God to draw people, and seeking to join Him where He’s working—these are not formulas but vital heart postures. Without prayer, our efforts are fruitless; with prayer, we align ourselves with God’s will and power. [31:19]
• 5. Practice is the means by which fear is diminished and faith is strengthened. Each act of sharing the gospel, no matter how small or imperfect, builds spiritual muscle and confidence. The more we step out, the more we see God at work, and the more natural it becomes to live as Christ’s ambassadors in everyday life. [41:53]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:50] - Introduction & Personal Testimony
• [04:21] - The Treasure in Clay Pots: Our Weakness, God’s Power
• [05:57] - Who Are We in Christ? (2 Corinthians 5)
• [08:54] - The Ministry and Message of Reconciliation
• [10:10] - Entrusted with the Gospel
• [14:22] - Ambassadors for Christ: Our Calling
• [15:45] - How Evangelism Really Works
• [16:21] - Evangelism 101 by Jesus (Luke 5)
• [19:48] - The Power of God in Evangelism
• [21:59] - The Aha Moment: It’s God Who Draws
• [23:12] - Nick’s Story: Humility and God’s Power
• [29:38] - Overcoming Fear: Prayer and Practice
• [31:19] - Seven Prayer Themes for Evangelism
• [41:53] - Practice Reduces Fear
• [44:40] - The SaturateUSA Outreach: Vision and Invitation
• [47:51] - Practical Ways to Get Involved
• [49:54] - Training, Bag Stuffing, and Outreach Details
• [52:23] - Compelled by Christ’s Love

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (ESV) — > 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
> 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
> 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
> 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
> 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Luke 5:1-11 (ESV) — > 1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,
> 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
> 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
> 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
> 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
> 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
> 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
> 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
> 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,
> 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
> 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Observation Questions

1. According to 2 Corinthians 5, what changes about a person when they are “in Christ”? (see v.17)
2. In Luke 5, what was Simon Peter’s initial response to Jesus’ instruction to let down the nets, and what happened as a result? [16:21]
3. What does Paul say is the ministry and message entrusted to believers in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19?
4. In the sermon, what was the “aha moment” for both Peter and Nick, and what did they realize about their own ability versus God’s power? [25:46]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize that believers are “ambassadors for Christ”? What does this mean for how Christians should view their purpose and identity? [10:10]
2. In the story from Luke 5, what does Peter’s reaction to the miraculous catch of fish reveal about humility and dependence on God? How does this relate to sharing our faith? [19:48]
3. The sermon says that “the effectiveness of evangelism does not rest on our eloquence or expertise, but on the power of God.” How does this truth affect the way we approach evangelism? [21:59]
4. The speaker described prayer as “the real work” of evangelism. Why is prayer so essential, and what are some specific things we should pray for before sharing our faith? [31:19]

Application Questions

1. The sermon described fear as a common barrier to sharing our faith, even for experienced evangelists. What specific fears do you experience when you think about evangelism? How have you seen fear hold you back in the past? [04:21]
2. The speaker shared seven prayer themes for evangelism, including confession, a broken heart for the lost, and asking God to draw people to us. Which of these prayer themes do you most need to focus on, and how could you incorporate it into your daily routine? [31:19]
3. Think about the story of Nick, who felt inadequate but stepped out in faith and saw God use him. Have you ever felt too weak or unqualified to share your faith? What would it look like for you to step out in humble obedience this week? [25:46]
4. The sermon emphasized that practice helps reduce fear and builds confidence in evangelism. What is one practical step you could take this month to “practice” sharing your faith, even if it feels uncomfortable? [41:53]
5. The speaker invited everyone to participate in the SaturateUSA outreach, whether by knocking on doors, hanging gospel bags, or packing materials. Which role do you feel most comfortable with, and is there a way you could stretch yourself to try something new? [47:51]
6. Paul says that “the love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). What motivates you to share your faith—love, guilt, obligation, or something else? How can you let Christ’s love be your main motivation? [52:23]
7. The sermon challenged us to see ourselves as ambassadors for Christ, representing His kingdom in a world that is not our true home. How does this perspective change the way you interact with your neighbors, coworkers, or family members who don’t know Jesus? [10:10]