Empowering Ordinary People to Share Extraordinary Grace

The sermon begins with the speaker reflecting on the common experience of feeling enthusiastic about God's grace and redemption after a worship conference, but also acknowledging the fear and hesitation that often arises when it comes to sharing their faith with others. The speaker, an introverted pastor, shares their own struggles with evangelism and aims to teach the audience how they can overcome their fears and actively participate in spreading the name of Jesus. The sermon is introduced as the "ordinary person's guide to changing the world" or the "introvert's guide to evangelism." The speaker emphasizes the importance of prayer and explains that it is a way for believers to let others know about Jesus. They encourage both believers and non-believers to engage in prayer and assure the non-believers that this message will provide insight into the heart of the friend who invited them.

The speaker shares a personal story about a moment when they were hurting and praying for help. They then connect this story to the idea that ordinary people can be used to do extraordinary things if they are willing. The speaker mentions that God is on a mission to rescue people from darkness and bring them into the kingdom of the beloved Son, Jesus Christ. They emphasize that every human being is broken because of sin, but Jesus Christ gave his life to save us and transfer us to safety, life, and eternity with God. The speaker highlights the book of Acts, where God tells his people that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth. They emphasize that God delights in using ordinary people to do his extraordinary work, and being in Christ gives our lives meaning and purpose as we share the message of Jesus Christ with the world.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of living out one's faith through actions and words. They mention the popular quote from Saint Francis, "Preach the gospel and when necessary use words," but argue that words are indeed necessary in order to effectively communicate the message of the gospel. The speaker encourages believers to walk wisely and set an example through their actions, so that others may be drawn to the message. They also emphasize the importance of speaking graciously and with gentleness, always being ready to give an answer but doing so in a kind and attractive manner. The speaker references G.K. Chesterton, a writer known for his profound apologetics, as an example of someone who spoke with wisdom and attracted others to Christianity.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's sinfulness and the need for repentance. They explain that although this message may be offensive to some, it can be presented in a gracious way that allows people to see the grace of Jesus and desire it for themselves. The speaker also highlights the concept of being winsome in sharing the gospel, meaning to approach each person individually and understand their specific struggles and brokenness caused by sin. They mention an anecdote about Billy Graham meeting Winston Churchill, where Graham humbly recognized his role as a minister of the basic message of Jesus, rather than trying to act as an equal or impose his own opinions.

The sermon concludes with the speaker discussing the story of a man who was convicted by the fact that he was wasting his time on trivial matters while others were passionately pursuing their faith. This conviction led him to seek out the preaching of Ambrose, not initially for spiritual reasons, but to study oratory. However, as he listened to Ambrose, he kept hearing about the beauty and grace of Jesus and how even someone like him could be forgiven. This recognition of the power of the gospel in the life of another person named Anthony, along with the prayers of his mother, eventually led him to release his sin and shame to Jesus and come to faith in him. The speaker expresses excitement about what God will do in Washington DC as his timid and trembling people walk this ancient path with him.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Reading

Colossians 4:2-6 (ESV) — > "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

2. 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."

3. Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)
> "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."' And the Lord said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?'"

Observation Questions

1. What does Colossians 4:2-6 instruct believers to do in their prayer life and interactions with others?
2. According to Acts 1:8, what is the mission given to the followers of Jesus?
3. In the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8, what lesson does Jesus teach about prayer?
4. How does the speaker describe their personal struggle with evangelism and what steps do they suggest to overcome it? [06:14]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize the need for steadfast and watchful prayer in Colossians 4:2-6? How does this relate to the speaker's message about the importance of prayer in evangelism? [07:10]
2. How does the concept of being witnesses "to the ends of the earth" in Acts 1:8 apply to ordinary believers today? What does this imply about the role of every Christian in spreading the gospel? [03:26]
3. What does the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 reveal about the nature of God and the importance of persistence in prayer? How can this parable encourage believers who feel hesitant about sharing their faith? [08:29]
4. The speaker mentions the importance of speaking graciously and with gentleness. How does this align with the instructions in Colossians 4:6? Why is this approach significant in evangelism? [31:43]

Application Questions

1. Reflect on your own prayer life. How can you incorporate more steadfast and watchful prayer as described in Colossians 4:2-6? What specific steps will you take this week to pray more earnestly for opportunities to share the gospel? [07:10]
2. Think about a time when you felt hesitant to share your faith. What fears or concerns held you back? How can the example of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 inspire you to be more persistent and bold in your prayers and actions? [08:29]
3. Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. How can you walk wisely and set an example through your actions and words, as instructed in Colossians 4:5-6? What specific actions will you take to build a relationship with them and share the gospel? [21:24]
4. The speaker emphasizes the importance of speaking graciously and with gentleness. Think of a recent conversation where you could have been more gracious. How can you improve your communication to be more attractive and kind, especially when discussing your faith? [31:43]
5. The speaker shared a story about a man convicted by his trivial pursuits who was drawn to the preaching of Ambrose. Reflect on your own life. Are there any trivial pursuits that are distracting you from your faith? What changes can you make to focus more on your relationship with Jesus and sharing the gospel? [43:04]
6. How can you be more intentional about creating opportunities for spiritual conversations in your daily life? Think of a specific place or context (e.g., workplace, neighborhood, social group) where you can start building relationships and sharing your faith. [13:03]
7. The speaker mentioned the importance of being winsome in sharing the gospel. How can you better understand the specific struggles and brokenness of those around you to effectively share the message of Jesus? What practical steps will you take to approach each person individually and with empathy? [36:03]