Show & Tell | Showing people the love of Jesus through actions and words

Devotional

Day 1: Demonstrating and Declaring the Gospel

The call to follow Jesus is a call to both show and tell the good news—demonstrating God’s love through tangible acts of compassion and declaring the hope found in Christ with our words. Jesus modeled this in His ministry, meeting real needs and proclaiming the arrival of God’s kingdom, and He invites us to do the same in our communities. The world is hungry for something real, and it is through our lives—both our actions and our testimony—that people encounter the foundation they’ve been searching for. [05:20]

Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Reflection: Who in your life is in need of both the compassion of Jesus and the hope of His message? How can you intentionally demonstrate and declare the gospel to them this week?

Day 2: Letting Your Light Shine Through Good Deeds

Jesus calls His followers to be the light of the world, shining in the darkness through acts of love, mercy, and compassion that point others to God. Even a single act of kindness can be seen from far away, especially in a world filled with brokenness and need. When we serve our neighbors selflessly, we not only meet practical needs but awaken something within ourselves and our church, shifting our focus outward and making God’s love visible to those around us. [11:07]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: What is one specific act of kindness or service you can do this week to let the light of Jesus shine in your workplace, neighborhood, or community?

Day 3: Always Be Ready to Share the Reason for Your Hope

Loving actions open doors, but it is our words that point people to Jesus as the source of our hope. We are called to be ready to share, with gentleness and respect, the reason for the hope we have in Christ. When people notice something different in us, we must not shrink back but boldly and lovingly declare that it is Jesus who anchors our lives, so that others may come to know Him too. [18:10]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

Reflection: When was the last time someone asked you about your faith or hope? How can you prepare yourself to share your story of Jesus with someone who is searching?

Day 4: The Power of Compassionate Listening

True compassion begins with seeing people, listening to their stories, and understanding the hurts and disappointments that have shaped their lives. When we take the time to listen intently, we not only make others feel deeply loved, but we also discover real opportunities to meet needs and demonstrate the gospel in practical ways. Compassionate listening transforms our hearts and opens doors for God’s love to flow through us. [15:36]

James 1:19 (ESV)
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can intentionally listen to this week—setting aside your own agenda to truly hear their story and show them the love of Christ?

Day 5: Responding to the Spirit’s Nudge

God often places people in our path who are hurting, searching, or in need of hope, and He calls us to be available—to stop, listen, love, and speak when the Holy Spirit nudges us. We don’t have to have all the answers or be perfect; we simply need to be willing to act when God prompts us, trusting that our obedience can make an eternal difference in someone’s life. [28:21]

Romans 10:14 (ESV)
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Reflection: Can you recall a recent moment when you sensed God prompting you to reach out to someone? What would it look like to respond to the Spirit’s nudge today, even if it feels inconvenient or uncomfortable?

Sermon Summary

In a world hungry for authenticity and desperate for hope, the call is to live out the gospel in both word and deed. The love of the church is not just a sentimental attachment, but a lived reality—because when brokenness met the love of Christ through His people, lives were changed, including my own. Many here can testify that it was the tangible, persistent love of believers that drew them to Jesus, not just eloquent words or theological arguments. Our world is starving for something real, and the church is uniquely positioned to offer it—not through performance, but by carrying the presence of Jesus into everyday life.

The gospel is not merely a ticket to heaven after death; it is the announcement that the kingdom of God is available now, through Jesus. This is the good news that must be both demonstrated and declared. Jesus Himself modeled this: He proclaimed the kingdom and healed the sick, meeting real needs out of deep compassion. He didn’t just give us sermons to repeat, but a life to imitate. The call is to be workers in the harvest—people who both show and tell the reality of God’s kingdom.

Demonstrating the gospel means letting the light of Christ shine through acts of compassion, mercy, and selfless love. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Listening deeply, serving sacrificially, and seeing people as God sees them opens doors for transformation—not just in others, but in ourselves. Yet, love alone is not enough. At some point, we must declare the hope we have in Jesus. Our actions may point to God’s love, but only our words can explain the cross and the reason for our hope.

There is a tension: some have become silent, fearing to offend or to be associated with bad examples of evangelism. But silence is not kindness when eternity is at stake. The answer is not less evangelism, but better evangelism—rooted in real relationships, compassion, and conviction. Every encounter is an opportunity; every nudge of the Spirit is a call to action. Whether you feel equipped or not, God simply asks for availability and willingness to love, listen, and speak when prompted. The gospel was never meant to stay within church walls, but to move through us into the world, bringing hope, healing, and the invitation to new life in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The gospel is both a message to declare and a life to demonstrate. Jesus modeled a faith that was never just about words or just about deeds, but a seamless union of both. To follow Him means to embody His compassion and to boldly speak of His saving grace, refusing to separate love from truth. [05:05]
2. True compassion begins with seeing and listening. Often, the people we find hardest to love are those whose stories we’ve never heard. When we take time to listen deeply, our hearts are softened, and we begin to love as Christ loves—meeting needs we would have otherwise missed. [15:07]
3. Love opens doors, but truth leads people through them. Acts of kindness and service create opportunities for gospel conversations, but we must be willing to speak of Jesus when the moment comes. The hope we keep hidden is hope the world may never hear; silence, when eternity is at stake, is not mercy but neglect. [17:38]
4. Evangelism is not about winning arguments or performing religious duties, but about authentic relationships and Spirit-led boldness. The world has seen enough of both harsh, loveless proclamation and silent, ambiguous kindness. What is needed is a people who love deeply and speak courageously, trusting that God uses both to draw hearts to Himself. [21:22]
5. Every encounter is sacred, and every nudge of the Spirit is significant. The story of Chuck reminds us that we may be the only person standing between someone and eternity. Availability, not expertise, is what God asks for—willingness to stop, listen, love, and speak when prompted, trusting that God will use our obedience for His glory. [26:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Opening Scripture: Matthew 9
[01:12] - Why I Love the Church
[02:47] - The World’s Need for Real Love
[03:58] - Show and Tell: Living the Gospel
[05:20] - What Is the Gospel?
[06:20] - Jesus’ Model: Declaration and Demonstration
[08:09] - The Real Problem: Discipleship, Not Lostness
[09:25] - When Heaven Collides with Earth
[10:15] - Gospel Demonstration: Letting Your Light Shine
[12:34] - A Church Transformed by Compassion
[15:07] - The Power of Listening and Compassion
[17:21] - Love Opens the Door, Truth Leads Through
[18:57] - The Urgency of Gospel Declaration
[21:22] - Better Evangelism: Love and Truth
[22:16] - A Divine Appointment: The Story of Chuck
[26:42] - The Weight of Eternity
[28:38] - Responding to God’s Nudge
[29:49] - Living on Mission Every Day
[31:01] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV) — > And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Observation Questions

According to Matthew 9:35-38, what two main activities did Jesus do as he traveled from town to town?
What was Jesus’ emotional response when he saw the crowds, and how did that affect his actions?
In the sermon, what examples were given of how the church has shown real, tangible love to people in need? [[02:05]]
What does Jesus mean when he says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus combined both proclaiming the good news and meeting physical needs, instead of just doing one or the other? [[06:32]]
The sermon says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” How does this idea challenge the way Christians sometimes approach sharing their faith? [[10:15]]
The pastor shared that many people are drawn to Jesus not by arguments, but by the persistent love of believers. Why might this be more effective in our world today? [[02:47]]
What does it look like for a church to “carry the presence of Jesus” into everyday life, rather than just talking about Him? [[03:25]]

Application Questions

The sermon described how listening deeply to people’s stories can soften our hearts and help us love them better. Is there someone in your life you find hard to love? What would it look like to take time to really listen to their story this week? [[15:07]]
The pastor told a story about being nudged by the Holy Spirit to help someone, even when it was inconvenient. Can you recall a time when you felt a nudge to help or speak to someone? Did you respond? What happened? [[22:42]]
“Love opens doors, but truth leads people through them.” Have you ever had an opportunity to talk about Jesus with someone after showing them kindness? What held you back, or what helped you take that step? [[17:38]]
The message said, “Silence is not kindness when eternity is at stake.” Are there people in your life who know you care, but don’t know why you have hope in Jesus? What’s one way you could share your story with them? [[21:22]]
The pastor emphasized that God asks for availability, not expertise. What is one area of your life where you could make yourself more available to God’s nudges this week? [[28:21]]
The story of Chuck showed how a simple act of obedience can have eternal impact. Who is someone in your life who might be waiting for you to reach out? What’s a practical step you can take this week to show or tell them about Jesus? [[26:42]]
The sermon challenged us to “live on mission every day.” What would it look like for you to live on mission in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this week? [[30:44]]

Sermon Clips

You see, when Jesus went from town to town teaching, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every kind of sickness, he wasn't just handing out tracts. He wasn't just giving them information. He was bringing transformation to their lives. Bringing transformation to their communities. He touched lepers. He fed the hungry. He lifted the broken. And he loved the forgotten. And then he told them that the kingdom of God has come near. [00:08:54] (33 seconds) #TransformationNotInformation

So the question is, how do we show the people that are right around us that God cares about them? And the answer is quite simple. To show people that God cares about them, we must care about them. [00:14:44] (21 seconds) #CareToShowGodsLove

But the truth is, this is where a lot of us stop. We think if we just love people enough, they'll somehow magically connect the dots to Jesus. But listen to me, love might open the door, but you have to walk them through it. Let me say that one more time. Love might open the door, but you have to walk them through it. Gospel demonstration is how we show them God's heart, but gospel declaration is how we actually point them to God's Son. [00:17:21] (29 seconds) #HopeMustBeShared

You see? That's what happens when you've really encountered Jesus. You can't keep quiet about him. You can't help but tell it. It spills out of you. Because when you've been rescued like that, when you've been forgiven like that, when you've been loved like that, you can't help but open your mouth and say, you've got to know the one who changed everything for me. [00:19:27] (29 seconds) #FromQuietToBold

And church, this is what the world needs. Not silent saints. Not polite faith. But a people so full of Jesus that both their hands, and their mouth tell the story of his love. You show it. You tell it. You live it. You speak it. Because the gospel was never meant to stop with you. It's meant to flow through you. [00:19:57] (29 seconds) #BetterEvangelismNow

And so the answer to bad evangelism isn't no evangelism. The answer is better evangelism. The kind that flows out of real relationship, real compassion, and real conviction that Jesus still saves. Because if we truly believe that heaven and hell are real, if we really believe that Jesus is the only way, then silence isn't kindness, it's cruelty. We've got to get our voice back. We've got to be the kind of people who show God's love and speak God's truth. [00:21:23] (42 seconds) #BeAvailableAndCaring

And here's the thing, you don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to be a theologian or a pastor. You just have to be available. You just have to care enough to stop, to listen, to love, and when the Spirit nudges, to speak. [00:28:10] (21 seconds) #MissionEveryDay

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