Empowered Outreach: Sharing Jesus with Love and Humility

Devotional

Day 1: God Rejoices Over Every Lost Soul Found

Every single person who comes to faith in Jesus is precious to God, and heaven itself celebrates when even one soul turns to Him. Jesus teaches that it is not the will of the Father that any should perish, and He pursues each lost one with relentless love. Our focus in sharing the gospel should not be about growing our own church, but about bringing people into the family of God, knowing that each “plus one” is a cause for heavenly joy. Let us remember that our mission is to lead people to Jesus, trusting that what matters most to God should matter most to us. [44:18]

Matthew 18:10-14 (ESV)
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who seems far from God? How can you intentionally pray for and reach out to them this week, trusting that heaven rejoices over every single soul?

Day 2: Salvation Is God’s Work, Not Ours

No matter how persuasive or passionate we are, it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who draws people to Jesus and brings about salvation. Our role is to pray, to be available, and to step out in faith, but we must remember that we cannot convince anyone into the kingdom—only God can change hearts. This truth frees us from pressure and pride, reminding us to rely on God’s power and timing as we share the good news. [48:19]

Luke 19:9-10 (ESV)
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

Reflection: Think of someone you’ve tried to share Jesus with but haven’t seen results. Can you release them to God in prayer today, trusting the Holy Spirit to do what you cannot?

Day 3: God Gives Us Words and Boldness When We Ask

When we feel inadequate or unsure of what to say, God promises to give us the words and the courage we need to share about Jesus. As we pray and depend on Him, He fills our mouths and hearts, equipping us to speak with wisdom and love—even in unexpected or challenging situations. We are not alone in this mission; God is with us, empowering us to step out of our comfort zones and be His witnesses. [49:29]

Psalm 81:10 (ESV)
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”

Reflection: What is one situation or conversation where you feel nervous to speak about your faith? Will you ask God today for boldness and trust Him to give you the right words?

Day 4: Speak Truth in Love and Listen Well

Effective evangelism is not about winning arguments or telling people what to do, but about listening deeply, showing compassion, and speaking truth with gentleness. Many people carry wounds or misconceptions about God and the church, so our approach should be non-confrontational and non-judgmental, seeking to understand their story and to offer encouragement and hope. By listening to both the person and the Holy Spirit, we can respond with words that comfort, strengthen, and point to Jesus. [58:24]

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

Reflection: When was the last time you truly listened to someone’s story without judgment? How can you practice listening and speaking truth in love with someone you encounter this week?

Day 5: Leave the Results to God—He Alone Saves

Our responsibility is to faithfully share, pray, and love, but the outcome belongs to God. Whether we see immediate fruit or not, we can trust that God is at work in every seed sown, every prayer offered, and every act of kindness. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and He is able to reach even the hardest of hearts. Let us be expectant, knowing that God can do far more than we ask or imagine, and let us rest in His power and timing. [01:01:02]

Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV)
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

Reflection: Is there a conversation or relationship where you’ve been discouraged by a lack of visible results? How can you surrender the outcome to God today and continue to trust Him with the process?

Sermon Summary

This morning is an invitation to join in the celebration of God’s presence and power, not just through our songs, but through our lives as we prepare for the upcoming outreach event. The heart behind everything we do—whether singing, serving, or sharing—is to see people come to know Jesus, to experience His love, and to be added to the kingdom of God. Our focus is not on growing our own church, but on seeing even one person say “yes” to Jesus, knowing that all of heaven rejoices over each soul that turns to Him.

Evangelism can take many forms, from large crusades to simple acts of kindness, but at its core, it’s about sharing Jesus with others. The “plus one” approach is about reaching out to strangers, not to bring them to our church, but to bring them to faith in Christ. This is the heart of God: that none should perish, but all should come to know Him. As we prepare for the outreach, we are called to pray first—praying for boldness, for the Holy Spirit to work, for wisdom, and for God to highlight those He wants us to engage.

When we step out, we do so not in our own strength, but relying on the Holy Spirit to guide our words and actions. Sometimes, God may give us specific words or insights for someone—a word of knowledge—that can open their heart to Him. We are to approach people with humility, listening well, being non-confrontational, and speaking truth in love. Our role is not to argue or judge, but to bless, encourage, and offer prayer. Most people are open to receiving prayer or a blessing, and God often uses these moments to bring healing and hope.

Ultimately, we leave the results to God. Whether we see immediate fruit or not, we trust that God is at work, sowing seeds that may bear fruit in His time. Our responsibility is to be faithful, to say, “Here I am, Lord, use me,” and to trust that salvation belongs to God alone. We are simply His ambassadors, called to love, serve, and share the good news, believing that God will do what only He can do.

Key Takeaways

1. Evangelism is about adding to the kingdom, not just the church. The focus is not on recruiting people to our congregation, but on leading them to Jesus. Every soul matters deeply to God, and even one person coming to faith is cause for great celebration in heaven. Our motivation must be aligned with God’s heart for the lost, not our own agendas. [41:16]
2. Prayer is the foundation for effective outreach. Before stepping out, we must pray for boldness, for the Holy Spirit’s leading, and for wisdom in our words. Prayer shifts the work from our own efforts to God’s power, reminding us that salvation is His work, not ours. When we pray, we invite God to prepare hearts and orchestrate divine appointments. [45:24]
3. The Holy Spirit empowers and guides us in sharing Jesus. We are not responsible for convincing or saving anyone; that is the work of the Spirit. Our role is to be available, to listen for God’s promptings, and to speak as He leads—even when we feel inadequate or unsure. Sometimes, God gives us specific words or insights that can touch someone’s heart in a way we never could on our own. [49:29]
4. Approach every person with humility, love, and a listening ear. Avoid arguments, judgment, or trying to “fix” people. Instead, listen to their stories, ask good questions, and speak truth with compassion. People are often carrying deep wounds or misconceptions about God and the church, and our kindness and willingness to listen can open doors for healing and faith. [56:33]
5. Leave the results to God and trust His timing. We may not always see immediate decisions for Christ, but every encounter is an opportunity to sow seeds of grace. Sometimes we plant, sometimes we water, and sometimes we harvest—but it is God who brings the growth. Our faithfulness in showing up, loving well, and sharing the gospel is what God asks of us; the outcome belongs to Him. [01:01:02]
** [61:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:06] - Songs as Invitation to Celebration
[14:06] - Expecting God’s Power and Presence
[35:55] - Change of Focus: Plus One Evangelism
[36:42] - Rethinking Evangelism: Beyond the Platform
[39:04] - Different Forms of Evangelism
[40:33] - Plus One: Adding to the Kingdom
[41:16] - The Heart of God for the Lost
[42:35] - Practical Guide: Plus One Evangelism
[44:18] - The Role of Choice and God’s Pursuit
[45:24] - The Importance of Prayer
[46:37] - Boldness and the Work of the Holy Spirit
[49:29] - Godly Wisdom and Words to Speak
[51:21] - Engaging with Strangers: Practical Steps
[52:47] - Listening to the Holy Spirit and Taking Risks
[55:13] - Being Non-Confrontational and Non-Judgmental
[56:33] - Listening Well and Speaking Truth in Love
[59:51] - Offering Prayer and Blessing
[61:02] - Leaving the Results to God
[64:00] - Final Prayer and Sending Out

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. Matthew 18:10-14 (ESV) — > “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

2. Luke 19:9-10 (ESV) — > “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

3. Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV) — > “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 18:10-14, what does Jesus say happens in heaven when even one person who was lost is found?
According to Luke 19:10, what does Jesus say is His main purpose for coming?
In the sermon, what is the difference between “plus one to the church” and “plus one to the kingdom of God”? [[41:16]]
What are some different forms of evangelism mentioned in the sermon? [[39:04]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the value of one lost person so strongly in Matthew 18? How does this shape our priorities as a church?
The sermon says our focus should be on leading people to Jesus, not just to our church. Why is this distinction important? [[41:16]]
The pastor shared that salvation is the work of God, not us. How does this truth affect the way we approach sharing our faith? [[48:19]]
The sermon talks about approaching people with humility and listening well. Why might this be more effective than arguing or trying to “fix” someone? [[56:33]]

Application Questions

The sermon encourages us to pray for boldness and for God to highlight people He wants us to engage. What would it look like for you to pray this way before an outreach or in your daily life? Is there someone God is already putting on your heart? [[45:24]]
Think about a time when you felt nervous or inadequate to share your faith. How might relying on the Holy Spirit change your approach next time? [[49:29]]
The “plus one” approach is about reaching out to strangers, not just inviting friends to church. What is one practical step you could take this week to connect with someone you don’t know well, with the intention of blessing or encouraging them? [[40:33]]
The pastor shared stories about offering prayer and blessing to people, even if they didn’t want to talk about faith. How comfortable are you with offering prayer to someone outside of church? What might help you take that step? [[59:51]]
The sermon says to leave the results to God and not to pressure people for immediate decisions. How does this perspective free you or challenge you in your approach to evangelism? [[01:01:02]]
The message emphasized listening well and speaking truth in love, especially to those who have been hurt by the church. Is there someone in your life who needs you to listen more and judge less? What would it look like to do that this week? [[56:33]]
The pastor’s prayer was, “Here I am, Lord, use me.” What would it mean for you to pray this honestly? Are there fears or hesitations you need to bring to God? [[49:29]]

Sermon Clips

Now, you have to understand, as a pastor, I want people to come to our church. So this isn't easy for me to say, hey, you know, lead them to Jesus, not lead them to church. That's secondary. That'll happen. But let's focus on leading them to Jesus first. And so this isn't an easy message to bring because I want to tell you, like, just invite everybody to our church. No. What's most important is to bring them to faith in Jesus. [00:42:01] (34 seconds) #LeadToJesusFirst

Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. We don't save anyone. The work of salvation is always God. And remember we talked about how Holy Spirit rules the lost, right? We choose out to the lost. And so we have to understand, salvation is not our work. It's not our response, but it's the work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot convince anyone. [00:47:09] (23 seconds) #HolySpiritSaves

Not everyone has the gift of evangelism, which is a spiritual gift, but we are all, every one of us, we're called to share Jesus, okay? So, instead of thinking about evangelism, think about how can I share Jesus with someone? How can I bless someone today? And if you take that approach, I think it would be much easier. [00:51:04] (20 seconds) #CalledToBless

Be courageous and speak what the Holy Spirit puts in your heart. Now, some of you had opportunities where, you know, God wants you to speak, to go up to someone, but God has a specific thing to say. Right? Something that no one else might know. So, when you say it, the person is like, how did you know? And that's an opportunity for you to say, well, it's not me. It's Jesus. God told me to share this with you, to bless you, and to speak with you. [00:53:18] (36 seconds) #SpeakSpiritLed

Speak truth in love. Now, there are people who speak only truth. And it can sound really harsh. And there are people who only speak love. Say, God loves you. You know, you could do whatever you want. You know, you don't have to stop sinning. You know, God loves you no matter what. No, we need to speak truth in love, okay? And for that, someone who's struggling with addiction, it might sound like this. Hey, I know you're struggling. I know it's not easy. We all go through these moments in life where we depend on something else. But you know what? God loves you. And I'm here for you. And there's a church family who can help you and support you, pray over you, administer to you. So you can speak truth, but do it in love, okay? [00:58:58] (48 seconds) #ComfortAndEncourage

Last thing but very important leave the results to god leave the results to god okay sometimes we're eager right and I'm sure some of us will be eager saturday come saturday to get that person to pray the prayer and say yes to jesus right there and then okay don't do that you might be sowing a seed you might be watering the seed that was already sown someone else might get the harvest don't don't worry about you know like I have to get this person to say yes to jesus right now okay like I said you know we can't convince anyone we're just there to minister so leave the results to god whatever happens at that moment right the person might just listen to you and say that's fine and and walk away that's that's okay you know don't follow around like hey come on you gotta believe in jesus for half an hour you know like that's we don't want to be a stalking christian. [01:05:34] (65 seconds) #LeaveResultsToGod

Salvation belongs to our god not me not you we don't convince anyone it's the work of the holy spirit it's work of god who's drawing people the lost to himself so this is clear right salvation is the lord's it's the lord's that's why we don't worry about the result because god will take care of the person sooner or later. [01:09:55] (23 seconds) #SalvationIsGods

There is no one which means that god is able he can do it he can change the hardest of hearts okay to turn them around nothing is impossible so that's why i'm i'm i'm telling you guys let's be expectant of things that god would do that god will do on this day. [01:10:52] (24 seconds) #ExpectGodsMiracles

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