Urgency of Evangelism: Compassion and Action in Faith
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of understanding the "why" behind our actions, particularly in the context of evangelism. He reflects on a recent outreach event where the church made a positive impact on the community, urging the congregation to recognize the urgency of sharing God's love. He cites a sobering statistic that over 30 million people are estimated to die without Christ this year. The pastor then highlights the importance of living a godly life outside of the church and being a personal witness to others, reminding the congregation of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
The pastor continues by emphasizing the importance of evangelism and reaching out to unbelievers. He encourages the congregation to be bold in their faith and to lead people to Jesus by sharing their own testimonies. He prays for God to open doors and establish conversations for people to come to know Him. The pastor then highlights the urgency of reaching out to those who do not know Christ, emphasizing that personal evangelism is the primary way that people come to know Christ. He challenges the congregation to see unbelievers with compassion and to pray for more workers to be sent into the harvest.
The pastor shares a personal experience of giving money to someone in need, explaining that it wasn't their money to begin with and that they understand their purpose in serving God. He warns against apathy towards the reality of hell and urges the congregation to consider how much they truly care about their family, neighbors, and community. The pastor then reflects on an event called I Give Help that took place years ago, where a woman named Ms. Dina's life was transformed by God after attending the event. He emphasizes the importance of seeing unbelievers as opportunities rather than obstacles.
The pastor then focuses on the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who calls out to Jesus for healing. He challenges the congregation to not self-righteously keep certain people away from Jesus based on their appearance, smell, or beliefs. Instead, they should embrace the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love and compassion to unbelievers. The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of showing compassion and care for others, particularly those who are in need. He references a passage from the Bible where Jesus speaks about the significance of helping the least fortunate, stating that when we do so, we are actually doing it for Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the urgency of sharing God's love, citing the sobering statistic that over 30 million people are estimated to die without Christ this year. He urges the congregation to recognize the urgency of the situation and take action now ([12:45]).
- The pastor highlights the importance of living a godly life outside of the church and being a personal witness to others. He reminds the congregation of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations and challenges them to consider what it will take for them to fulfill this commission ([22:30]).
- The pastor shares a personal experience of giving money to someone in need, explaining that it wasn't their money to begin with and that they understand their purpose in serving God. He challenges the congregation not to worry about others taking their money, as it is more important to prioritize people and eternity ([35:15]).
- The pastor reflects on an event called I Give Help that took place years ago, where a woman named Ms. Dina's life was transformed by God after attending the event. He emphasizes the importance of seeing unbelievers as opportunities rather than obstacles and encourages the congregation not to be afraid ([45:20]).
- The pastor focuses on the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who calls out to Jesus for healing. He challenges the congregation to not self-righteously keep certain people away from Jesus based on their appearance, smell, or beliefs. Instead, they should embrace the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love and compassion to unbelievers ([55:10]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 4:35: "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
2. Matthew 9:36-38: "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"
3. Matthew 25:34-40: "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What does John 4:35 reveal about the urgency of the harvest?
2. In Matthew 9:36-38, what is the condition of the crowds and what is the response of Jesus to this situation?
3. What actions are highlighted in Matthew 25:34-40 as being done for the King?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the harvest in John 4:35 relate to the task of evangelism?
2. What does Matthew 9:36-38 suggest about the role of compassion in reaching out to others?
3. How does Matthew 25:34-40 define the relationship between acts of kindness and service to God?
Application Questions:
1. How can you demonstrate the urgency of the harvest in your interactions with non-believers this week?
2. Can you identify a group or individual in your community who is 'harassed and helpless' like the crowds in Matthew 9:36-38? What is one specific action you can take to show them compassion?
3. Reflect on Matthew 25:34-40. Who is someone in your life that you can serve in a practical way this week, as if you were serving Christ Himself?
4. What is one way you can be a personal witness to others about the love of Christ in your daily life?
5. Can you think of a person or a group of people you encounter regularly who you find difficult to see as opportunities rather than obstacles? How can you change your perspective towards them?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Urgency of Evangelism
The urgency of sharing God's love cannot be overstated. With millions of people estimated to die without knowing Christ each year, the call to action is immediate and pressing. As believers, we are tasked with the responsibility of spreading the good news of salvation to all corners of the earth. [12:45]
2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of Christ's love? How can you take steps to share the Gospel with them today?
Day 2: Living a Godly Life Beyond the Church Walls
Our faith is not confined to the four walls of the church. We are called to live a godly life in all areas, being a personal witness to others. This is a crucial part of fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. [22:30]
Matthew 5:16 - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Reflection: How can you better live out your faith in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to be a witness to others?
Day 3: Prioritizing People and Eternity
Our earthly possessions are not truly ours, but God's. We are merely stewards of what He has given us. When we understand this, we can freely give to those in need, prioritizing people and eternity over material wealth. [35:15]
1 Timothy 6:18-19 - "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
Reflection: How can you use your resources to bless others? What is one way you can be generous today?
Day 4: Seeing Unbelievers as Opportunities
Unbelievers are not obstacles, but opportunities for God's love to be shown and His power to transform lives. We should not fear, but embrace these opportunities to share the Gospel and witness the transformative power of God. [45:20]
Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Reflection: How can you change your perspective to see unbelievers as opportunities rather than obstacles? Who can you reach out to this week with the love of Christ?
Day 5: Embracing the Role of Jesus' Hands and Feet
We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love and compassion to all, regardless of their appearance, smell, or beliefs. This is a call to action, to embrace the opportunity to serve others in love. [55:10]
Matthew 25:40 - "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
Reflection: Who in your community is in need of love and compassion? How can you be the hands and feet of Jesus to them today?
Quotes
"God has positioned this church with its unique people in this unique place at this unique time. And he's called us to make a difference in this city. And he's called us to do it now." [48:34]
"Jesus is saying the harvest is great. He's saying that there are so many more people who have never heard the name of Jesus. He's saying that there are so many people that need to hear about the love of God." [51:39]
"And Ms. Dina stands here today, five years later, a totally different person, because God has changed her life, her family's life, her kids' life. Because we cared enough to look at unbelievers differently. We cared enough to change the way that we saw unbelievers and looked at them. Instead of obstacles, we saw them as opportunities." #!!01:23:36!!#
"Here's how much God loves you. He will set up the situation for you to have the conversation and then tell you what to say while you're in the conversation... Lord, speak through my vocal cords and think through my mind. And he will every single time. Why? Because he cares about them more than you do. All you have to do is be available." #!!01:19:45!!#
"Just ask him, Lord, can you open a door for me to minister to somebody? Can you open a door for me? Can you present an opportunity? And he will gladly do it. But you ought to change the way you see unbelievers. They have to go from opposition to opportunity. Got to change the way you see it... And now you have this confidence in you that God can use you just like he would use anyone else. And you go from one to two, from two to ten. And now we're walking out the Great Commission. We're walking out what he's called us to do. He's called us." #!!01:21:23!!#
"All the teaching on evangelism, we could talk all day about apologetics and how to answer difficult questions, but it will be of no effect if we first don't care about lost people. Me helping you answer questions and have all of these deep conversations about the faith, it doesn't matter. It will just be head knowledge if you first don't care for people." #!!01:05:49!!#
"We are not called to respond like the world. We have to get to this place where we're placing a priority on people and an urgency on eternity." #!!01:08:44!!#
"Scripture says the harvest is indeed plentiful, but the workers are few. People often mistake and they think that it's the pastor's job to get people saved. Yeah, that's what the pastor's supposed to do. And while that is a part of my job description, it's mainly your job." #!!01:11:03!!#
"Now is harvest time. Hell is a real place. Please don't forget that people who don't know him will spend eternity there. What is our attitude when we see, when we encounter unbelievers?" #!!01:03:24!!#
"When we see people who don't know Jesus, are we moved or do we just wish they'd move? Are we so focused on the outward that we've forgotten that God begins, God looks, and God does his best work on the inward? That's where he starts. We got to get our eyes off of this and have compassion for the heart." #!!59:40!!#
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