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Today's message didn't start with a fun story. It started by recognizing those lost to defending our country. I want to start the same way. With recognition and appreciation for those who wrote a blank check with their lives in payment for our freedom and the freedoms of others around the world. May your Memorial Day Weekend be blessed with your memories of them.
Some big questions bring answers that settle us into their truth, others challenge us with it. This week's question is among the latter. How Do I Share Jesus?? Like I said, it's among those questions that challenge us with their answers. I've become more bold over the last several years when it comes to sharing my faith online, most especially since joining MeWe and starting this blog. But the face-to-face thing is still a struggle for me. More personal transparency here, I'm mostly introverted. I grew up as an only child with very few friends. It's a struggle for me to connect with others at all, so as for sharing the Gospel, you can pretty much forget it!! Although, that being said, I have had someone notice my Cross and Iris tattoo and I was able to share that I'm a believer and where I attended Church at the time. In that way, my tattoo is a silent witness that may or may not lead to a verbal one. Still not sure how that might turn out, but if I just trust God, it will be okay... So on to our message --
We all have reasons that may hinder us from reaching out with the Gospel -- "barriers", if you will. I shared my struggle of introversion above, and that somewhat connects to the first item -
Fear -- plain and simple. Undeniably the number one reason. And there are two sides to this coin. "How will they react??" (job environment, unsaved friends) or "I don't know what to say." We may not feel competent in sharing the Gospel either due to awkwardness or lack of knowledge of scripture chapter and verses.
Politics -- Sadly, religion and politics have been intertwined in today's society. If you're Evangelical or Baptist, you're most likely Conservative; if you're Non-Dom and don't really attend Church, you're more likely to be Liberal. The unsaved may fall either direction. I'm personally Non-Dom, but walk the middle of the road.
Individualized -- Some people may feel that faith is strictly personal between them and God. They are very private about their faith.* They attend Church and pray over meals at home, but their public life is strictly "non-threatening". Not sure how else to phrase it, but you know what I mean.
Unsettled in your own faith -- Maybe you're still "kicking the tires" on Salvation and not sure what to think or how you exactly believe. Or maybe you're new to the faith and don't know the details of the theology or dogma yet.*
Some may feel that sharing the Gospel is obligatory and feel guilt-ridden if they don't at least try. That's just sad. That's Legalism rearing it's ugly head and forcing rules where there aren't any. As our scripture passage shows, sharing the Gospel should be nothing more than joyful participation in God's plan. Turn with me to Acts 8:26-40. Do you know where we're going here?? I had a thought come to mind, and I was right!!
The story of Philip and the Eunuch goes a long way toward answering our question today of how to share Jesus. This eunuch was a royal servant in Ethiopia, and he had such a hunger for a knowledge of God that he had gotten a scroll of the book of Isaiah and was travelling up to Jerusalem to find answers to better understand it. This is important to know because not just anyone was able to get those scrolls. They were sizeable and expensive. So let's look at the major points of the story to get the answers we're looking for today --
God was already at work -- the fact that the eunuch was already seeking answers means that God was already at work in this man's life before Philip came on the scene. God's plan was already in motion and His Word was coming true. This comes against our fear of how others may react. If we're available, they'll come to us!! Many times you'll hear of preachers or leadership giving the people a "pep talk" before going out to evangelize an area. They'll say things like, "we're bringing God into (insert city name) and it's gonna be great!!" The point they're missing is that God's already there preparing the people ahead of them.
Philip trusted God for the plan -- Some people might say, "Okay, Lord, give me your 5 yr. plan, and I'll take care of the details." or "Lord, show me every step, and I'll let you know if I can do it." Not Philip. He trusted God to lead him where he was going to be needed and showed patience in waiting for the eunuch to arrive. During the waiting, he was also listening to God so he was ready when the moment arrived.*
Philip fanned the flame of curiosity by asking a question -- vs. 30 of our passage has Philip asking if the eunuch understood what he was reading. This shows that we need to meet people where they're at. There is no "formula" for sharing the Gospel.* We can help people understand today's world better as well. By asking others or them asking us just in the course of everyday conversation over current events, we can share the Good News that God is in control and Jesus is the answer they need. Jesus brings humility, love, and sacrifice into a world of power, pride, and coercion. It's up to us to do the same as God and the Holy Spirit lead us, as Philip was led. Just remember that it's joyful participation, not grudging, guilt-ridden obligation.
Not everyone may realize this, but the story in Acts 8 is not Philip's first appearance in the Scriptures. John 1: 43-51 tells the story of Philip's and Nathanael's call to ministry by Jesus. Verse 45 has Philip inviting Nathanael to join him because they discovered who Jesus was. Verse 46 shows Nathanael's disbelief, "can anything good come from Nazareth??" (like us New Englanders saying, "can anything good come from New York??") LOL But we read on to verses 47+48 where Jesus speaks to Nathanael and reveals that he had seen him under a fig tree before Philip had even approached him!! He goes on to tell them essentially, "stick with me, and you'll see great things!!" Even before Jesus began His public ministry, He was working in the lives of those who would one day follow Him. Philip was practicing God's will in the rhythms of his every day life, just as we should be. He was receiving from God abundantly and sharing extravagantly with others.
Charles Spurgeon is quoted as saying, "If you're a Christian, you're either a missionary or an imposter." Very challenging words, indeed!! But ultimately true. As Jesus left His Disciples with the Great Commission, it is just as valid for us. We are God's plan for reaching the World with Salvation.
We simply need to remember that God is always present and at work. He is always there first!! We may have trouble sharing because we don't see the power or difference God makes in our every day lives, but only in our Eternity. If we want to see more of God in our lives, we need to share more of Him with others. We need to join God in His mission for the world. It's just as simple as making a connection and starting with Romans 10:8-13 - "But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming; That 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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture ay, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Verses 14 and 15 go on to explain that the world needs people to share God's Word in order for others to be saved.
-- God Bless!!
Footnotes --
1) My former in-laws were very individualized about their faith. I found this out specifically the day before my youngest was born and I was walking around our apartment complex loop with my MIL. I was asking her about my husband's upbringing in God and she said in the course of conversation that she and his dad felt it was a private issue. I didn't really say anything, but it always bothered me that she didn't know or necessarily care if her son was Saved. (I don't like to speak badly of the dead, as we lost her last year around this date, but it's important to the message today)
2) I'm very much a "What's the plan??" kind of person when it comes to social connections, but I trust God with all things. I don't like when a set plan changes either, but I just trust that it wasn't supposed to happen as expected and I move on.
3) I grew up, as I'm sure many of you did, with the plethora of Gospel Tracts sharing the "Romans Road" to Salvation and the encouragement for young adults towards street witnessing. My Senior Class actually had a Tract Club that went out either during free periods using Senior Privileges or after school. (idk, I wasn't in it) But can I just look back and say, "uuuuggggh!!" No, no, no, no, no!!! What were people thinking!!?? Jesus didn't do that when He got into His Ministry. He sat down and ate with people, He developed a relationship with them. He didn't just walk up and immediately tell them that He loved them and had a plan for their lives. As kids in my Christian school, we were told not to have any unsaved friends or hang out with unsaved people unless it was family. We were expected to be in Church every time the doors were opened. (if you attended the Church the school was housed in) Who exactly were we expected to witness to?? Romans 12:2 was drilled into us, "don't be like the world..." Just think about what Missionaries who go overseas actually do. They have to learn the language and customs of the area they're going to minister in. They make connections and develop relationships with the people before sharing the Gospel, right?? What's so unthinkable about doing that in our own neighborhoods or towns or cities?? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting anyone go out and get drunk or swear to make a sailor blush, or do drugs. What I'm saying is that we be social and relatable enough to make connections we may not otherwise make. Jesus drank wine and celebrated with friends, there's no reason for us not to follow His example.
4) No corresponding asterisk for this, but the "side-story" Pastor Matt did share today was actually a video of a celebrity story that speaks to todays message. Enjoy and be challenged -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8
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