May 9, 2006

Welcome

We're so glad that you could join us today. The spring yard work is making it hard to stay on my publishing schedule, so I appreciate your patience. Today we continue with thoughts on evangelism:

Jesus was always building his ministry for the time when his disciples would have to take over his work, and go out into the world with the redeeming gospel. He was never too early in his insistence on action. He got the disciples involved in a vital experience with God, to show them how he worked, before he ever told them that they had to do it. He never discouraged them in their spontaneous attempts to share their faith. He was delighted. In fact on several occasions Jesus asked those who were helped by his ministry to say something about it to others.

 

Jesus used his disciples to help along his work by having them arrange for food and housing for the group as they followed him. He also let them baptize people who were aroused by his message. But even after they were formally ordained to the ministry, they showed no evidence of doing any evangelism on their own. Maybe this would mean that we need to be more patient with our new converts.

 

Jesus gave his disciples briefing instructions before letting them go. He outlined for them exactly what he had been teaching all of the time. He told them to go and preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He emphasized the immediacy of the task with the phrase-the kingdom is at hand. He also spelled out the depth of their authority by telling them to heal, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils, and raise the dead.

 

Jesus told them to go to the lost sheep of Israel, not the Gentiles. They were to trust in God to supply their needs. They were told to render their services freely, remembering that they had received freely from the Lord. As they were faithful to God, he would see to it that their needs would be supplied.

 

His instructions were even more specific in his command to find a friendly person in each town they visited, and to live there as long as they continued their evangelistic work in the area. The disciples were told to concentrate their efforts on the most promising individuals in each town, someone who would be able to follow up on their work after they had gone.

 

The principle of establishing a beachhead in a new town by connecting with potentially key followers is exactly how Jesus had lived with his own disciples and he expected them to do the same. The places that refused the disciples the opportunity to do this actually brought down on themselves the judgment of utter darkness. The leaders had called Jesus Beelzebub. His disciples should not expect any less abuse. Jesus told them that the Holy Spirit would enable them to meet any emergencies.

 

Jesus never let his followers underestimate the strength of the enemy, nor the natural resistance of self-serving people to his redeeming gospel. He reminded them of the decisive nature of the gospel invitation. There could be no compromise with sin. They were not going forth to maintain the status quo. They were going forth with a revolutionary gospel, and when it was obeyed, it effected a revolutionary change in people and their society.

 

Jesus sent them out in pairs. This no doubt provided them with needed companionship along the way. Together they could help each other. The disciples were to go into every city and place where Christ himself was about to come. The disciples were forerunners for their Lord. They were all to practice what they had learned from the Master’s method of evangelism. Jesus assured them again of the promise and authority of the Holy Spirit to do the work.

 

On a mountain in Galilee Jesus gave his Great Commission to the whole church. “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you; and I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world. To his disciples it was a definite command. Christian disciples are sent men and women-sent out in the same work of world evangelism that the Lord was sent, and for which he gave his life.

 

Evangelism is not an option for our lives. It is the commission of the church which gives meaning to all else that is undertaken in the name of Christ. When the church gets down to business with evangelism, then those in the pews will start moving out for God.

The rough plan for tommorow's podcast is:

 

Welcome

Introduction

Continuing overview of evangelism

Some special thoughts on expectancy

Wrap up

Special links

 

We thank you for joining us today. A special thanks to our sponsor:

www.thegreatcommissionchurch.org  Be sure to send your comments and suggestions to me at: [e-mail] .

 

That's all for today. Thanks and God Bless.

 

Pastor Bob Emery