Joyful Evangelism: Declaring God's Glory and Majesty
Summary
The sermon series focuses on Christ's Mission, aligning with the church's mission to reach, teach, and train people in the ways of Christ, as derived from the Great Commission. The speaker begins by emphasizing the importance of reaching out to others for Christ, drawing inspiration from Psalm 96, which calls for turning away from idols to worship the true and living God. The speaker then transitions to the desire for splendor and majesty, qualities found in God rather than in creation, and underscores the transformative power of evangelism, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10. The importance of sharing personal testimonies of God's transformative work in one's life is highlighted, with the speaker urging the congregation to share how God has changed their lives, marriages, and desires.
The speaker also discusses the significance of both the message and the messenger in evangelism. They delve into the Psalms, particularly Psalm 96, which calls for singing a new song to the Lord and points to the Theocratic monarchy established during David's time. The importance of public worship and the declaration of the Gospel is emphasized, with 2 Corinthians 2:15 serving as a reminder that believers are the aroma of Christ to the world. The speaker encourages the congregation to see themselves as active participants in worship, not just as an audience, and to understand the impact of their worship and Gospel declaration on the world.
The speaker expresses a desire for the congregation to joyfully celebrate the Gospel and to understand the significance of singing about King Jesus. They address misconceptions about evangelism, clarifying that it is not about success or failure but about reminding others of the coming judgment and the government of God in Christ. The sermon also touches on the importance of approaching God with reverence and awe, recognizing Him as a consuming fire and the King, as illustrated by C.S. Lewis' analogy of the lion.
The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for substance in our praise and exaltation, declaring the works of God among the nations, and understanding that God's eschatological fulfillment will include a perfect government with Christ at the helm. The sermon calls for evangelizing with the knowledge of the judgment and joy to come, and for recognizing God as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, separate from cultural attachments.
Key Takeaways:
- Evangelism is not merely a task for the extroverted; it is the joyful responsibility of every believer to share the satisfaction found in Christ. The speaker challenges the congregation to approach evangelism with the same excitement as sharing any good news, emphasizing that the message of Christ's transformative power should be delivered with enthusiasm and reverence for God's majesty. [03:31]
- Worship and evangelism are deeply intertwined, with the act of singing serving as both an expression of adoration to God and a proclamation of the Gospel to others. The speaker encourages the congregation to understand that their worship is a public declaration of God's reign and rule, impacting both the saved and the unsaved. [17:21]
- The fear of God is foundational to a proper understanding of His love. The speaker insists that trembling before God's holiness is a necessary response to truly knowing the God of the Bible. This reverent fear is a precursor to comprehending and sharing the love of God with lost souls. [42:38]
- The speaker clarifies that evangelism is not about the success rate of conversions but about being a faithful herald of God's coming judgment and kingdom. Whether received with acceptance or rejection, the act of sharing the Gospel serves as a reminder of the eternal government of Christ. [19:49]
- The ultimate goal of evangelism is to declare the glory of God and His works among the nations. The speaker emphasizes that our praise should be filled with the substance of God's redemptive history, culminating in the deliverance through Christ, and that this message should be shared with clarity and power. [25:44]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 96
2. 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10
3. 2 Corinthians 2:15
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 96, what are the key actions the psalmist encourages believers to take in their worship and proclamation of God?
2. In 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10, what evidence does Paul give of the Thessalonians' faith and evangelistic impact?
3. How does 2 Corinthians 2:15 describe the role of believers in spreading the knowledge of Christ? What metaphor is used to illustrate this role?
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "sing to the Lord a new song" as mentioned in Psalm 96, and how does this relate to the concept of evangelism? [06:56]
2. How does the idea of believers being the "aroma of Christ" in 2 Corinthians 2:15 impact our understanding of evangelism and its effects on both the saved and the unsaved? [18:06]
3. In what ways does the fear of God, as described in the sermon, serve as a foundation for understanding His love and sharing the Gospel? [43:45]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal testimony. How has God transformed your life, marriage, or desires? How can you share this transformation with others in a way that highlights God's work? [39:41]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of joyful and enthusiastic worship. How can you cultivate a more joyful and reverent attitude in your worship, both privately and publicly? [12:04]
3. Consider the concept of evangelism as a public declaration of God's reign. What are some practical ways you can publicly exalt Christ in your daily life? [16:49]
4. The speaker mentioned that evangelism is not about success or failure but about being a faithful herald of God's coming judgment and kingdom. How does this perspective change your approach to sharing the Gospel? [19:49]
5. How can you incorporate the fear of God into your understanding and sharing of His love, ensuring that you present a balanced view of God's character? [43:45]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of substance in our praise and evangelism. What specific works of God can you declare among your friends, family, and community to give weight to your evangelistic efforts? [25:44]
7. Reflect on the idea that the ultimate goal of evangelism is to declare the glory of God and His works among the nations. How can you make this a central focus in your evangelistic conversations? [50:01]
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This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of the sermon, encouraging both personal reflection and practical application.
Devotional
Day 1: Evangelism as Joyful Sharing
Evangelism is an expression of joy, akin to sharing any piece of good news with enthusiasm. Believers are encouraged to communicate the satisfaction found in Christ with the same fervor they would for any delightful news. This sharing is not limited to the extroverted but is a call for all to testify to the transformative power of God in their lives. [03:31]
1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere 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."
Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from hearing about the hope you have in Christ, and how can you share this with them today?
Day 2: Worship as Gospel Proclamation
Worship is not a solitary act but a public declaration of God's sovereignty and grace. It intertwines with evangelism, as the songs sung in adoration of God also serve to proclaim the Gospel to others. Believers are called to understand their role in worship as active participants, impacting both the church and the world with their declaration of faith. [17:21]
Colossians 3:16 - "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."
Reflection: How does your worship reflect the truth of the Gospel, and how can you use it to proclaim God's reign in your community?
Day 3: Reverent Fear Before God's Holiness
Understanding God's love begins with a foundational fear of His holiness. Approaching God with reverence and awe is a necessary response to truly knowing Him. This fear is not one of terror but of respect, acknowledging God as the consuming fire and sovereign King over all creation. [42:38]
Hebrews 12:28-29 - "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence for God's holiness in your daily spiritual practices?
Day 4: Faithfulness in Evangelism
Evangelism is about faithfulness in sharing the message of God's coming judgment and kingdom, not about the success rate of conversions. Believers are called to be faithful heralds, reminding others of the eternal government of Christ, regardless of the immediate outcome. [19:49]
Ezekiel 33:8-9 - "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself."
Reflection: How can you remain steadfast in sharing the Gospel, even when faced with indifference or rejection?
Day 5: Declaring God's Glory Among Nations
The ultimate aim of evangelism is to declare the glory of God and His redemptive works to the nations. Praise should be rich with the substance of God's actions throughout history, culminating in the salvation offered through Christ. This message is to be shared with clarity and power, as a testament to God's sovereign rule. [25:44]
Psalm 96:3 - "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can declare God's glory and works in your sphere of influence this week?
Quotes
1) "A misnomer about evangelism is this idea that if I share the gospel with somebody and they reject it and don't respond it failed and it just that's just nowhere in scripture." [19:49]
2) "When we share the gospel with those who reject it we're just a reminder for them of the judgment to come which is a really really really good tool of God to continually remind people." [20:22]
3) "The good news of Jesus Christ is a public affair...we just want to sing about the truth of the good news of the Gospel." #!!17:21!!#
4) "We are the aroma of Christ to God Among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." #!!19:14!!#
5) "Tell me about the works of God in your life and there are stories in this room that will knock your socks off." #!!39:41!!#
6) "If your evangelism misses out on talking about the works of God your evangelism has missed the mark because evangelism is meant to declare the good news of God in Christ and that means it demands that we talk about the works of God." #!!30:33!!#
7) "I need the imputation of the Holiness of Christ in me to approach God properly. I need to respond to the gospel, I need to understand Christ his personhood his work on my behalf and I need to turn from my sins, I need to place my trust in the Christ." #!!43:13!!#
8) "Your exaltation ought to have a particular message attached to it. There's got to be something of substance attached to that Jubilation if it's going to have any meaning." #!!25:44!!#
9) "Our God is a consuming fire." #!!45:36!!#
10) "If you hate government you aren't going to like eternity because eternity is full of government; it's just full of the perfect government. God is going to govern, Christ is going to govern as God hands over all authority to Christ, he's going to govern perfectly and Psalm 96 is foretelling of this coming government and our job is to say the Lord Reigns; this is his world, he's coming to redeem it, he's going to rule over it and you need to get on the bus because there's judgment coming, there is the government is going to come judge and it's going to make all the bad things good, it's going to make all the wrong things right, he's going to judge the evil and he's going to take those who have been placed into Christ's righteousness and he's going to come and he's going to enlist them in his government and they're going to reign with him. You see, that's the gospel there, you understand that's the result of the response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ." #!!09:55!!#
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