March 13, 2016
Reaching Out
Sharing Jesus
Easter is a huge day for any church…
Culturally, people feel like they “owe it” to God to be in church on Easter and during Christmas.
We need to celebrate the fact that lost people are coming into church! I don’t care why they’re coming into church, just THAT they are! The great thing about the Gospel is that God doesn’t really care why you came to Him, He cares that you came to Him wholeheartedly, and His sacrifice covered your sin in FULL.
He wants to bless your life:
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
That is the same thing when someone steps through the doors of Living Faith Church: We should be overjoyed, we count that as a win!
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
My job as the pastor of Living Faith is:
- to equip us for works of service
- build up the body of Christ
- achieve unity in the faith and knowledge of Jesus
- become mature - working to measure up to Jesus
So, my job is to equip you to reach people and to serve people. I’m going to do it too because I am part of this church, but if you’re not the one leading people to Jesus, I haven’t completely done my job.
Sharing Your Testimony: Your Story is Powerful
So many people think their testimony isn't powerful... Your testimony is telling the story of how the God of the universe saved you from your sins to give you eternal life. YOU ARE NOT THE POWERFUL PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY, God is what brings power to your story.
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.
Write 2 sentences behind each one of these statements:
Before I met Jesus, I…
I knew I needed Jesus when…
Since I gave my life to Christ, I…
Memorize what you just wrote, and you’ll have a powerful statement of who Jesus it to you.
Sharing the Gospel: The Gospel is Powerful
The Gospel, is simply the story of what Jesus did for us on Earth. We are basically just sharing the story of Jesus in a way that connects with our audience and pushes them to the person of Jesus.
I think the most powerful way to share the Gospel is knowing what scripture says about Jesus, and sharing that truth with people.
1. We were created to have relationship with God, but, we mess it up.
Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.”
2. Our sin costs us everything
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death”
3. God loves YOU so much, he paid the price in the only way possible
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
4. God offers salvation as a free gift. Accepting it is as easy as this:
Romans 10:9, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
5. After we give our lives to Jesus, we are free from sin!
Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
6. Do you want that right now?
Memorize those verses and you’ll be ready to share Jesus with anyone. I promise you, if you hear God and obey, and you do this enough, you will lead someone to Jesus yourself.
Communication Card
1. I will invite 10 people to the Easter Egg Hunt / Easter Service.
2. I will share my testimony with 1 person this week.
3. I will share the Gospel with 1 person this week.
4. I will be here next Sunday for the church-wide outreach.
