EVANGELISM IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
SERMON STARTER
I spent the first three decades of life in the traditional, board-run church. I was taught to. . .
1) Attend church weekly;
2) Accept Jesus as my personal savior;
2) Tithe;
3) Pray and Read my Bible daily;
4) Witness to my family and friends;
5) Attend all the church functions, including Wednesday night Bible Study, Thursday night visitation, Committees, etc.
6) Memorize the Roman Road of Salvation. Romans 3:23, 6;23, 10:8-10; and Rev. 3:20.
I performed the church's required rituals and was immersion baptized July of my 12th year. My name was entered on the church's roles in Friona, Texas. My adolescent years were filled with church attendance, activities and programs.
At 26 I was ordained a So. Baptist Deacon. It was the equivalent of being a, elder, deacon and trustee all rolled into one.
I witnessed at work, went door to door in my neighborhood asking this question, "Do you know what the key to the Bible is? Have you discovered it?
If the person says they don't know, tell them it's John 20:31
31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Sometimes the people would ask, What religion are you? What church do you attend? Then, they would say, "I'm not Baptist." the door would slam in my face.
My earliest attempts at evangelism were misunderstood as attempts to recruit people for my local church. It became a thorn of contention in the past, but I always knew there was something more. . .My sermon explores something more. . .
Pastor Phil <><<
June 25, 2017 - Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland <><<
EVANGELISM IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Things My Traditional Church Never Taught Me
Matthew 28:19,20
"What passes for evangelism in traditional churches is often guilt and performance laden. Sharing Christ isn't WHAT you do. It's WHO you are.
Sharing Him with a friend or acquaintance is actually a great joy!" pastor Phil <><<
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:16-20
GREEK = euangelion =EUAN-GEL-LION= Good News, Shouter of Good News / Announcer of Good Tidings
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
John Wimber,"The Kingdom of God is the Rule and Reign of Jesus in this present age."
Evangelism in the Kingdom of God. . .
I. ISN'T ABOUT GUILT OR OBLIGATION - John 8:36
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
A. Guilt is a Poor Motivator in God's Kingdom
1. Angry with yourself about what you have or have not done
2. Jesus sets us free from unhealthy guilt and shame
3. Two Kinds of Guilt and Shame
a. Unhealthy - "I'm a worthless, no-good person"
b. Healthy - Motivates me to make right choices
4. Remember there is no condemnation w/Jesus - Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
B. You don't have to. . .
1. Beg, Cajole, Persuade, Guilt or Intimidate people
2. Argue or debate with people about the Gospel
3. Make Converts for your local church
4. Get people to go to your church
5. Force them to listen to your pastor
6. Goad them into walking the aisle
7. Sing endless altar call songs
8. Tell them to get their act together
EVANGELISM IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, cont. p.2
Evangelism in the Kingdom of God. . .
II. IS ABOUT SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS - Romans 5:5
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
A. Kingdom Evangelism is telling people you care about them
4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would
know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. Psalm 142:4
1. Reminding them of Jesus' Love for them
2. Telling distressed people you love and care for them
B. Kingdom Evangelism is giving your personal Testimony
1. Develop a 60 second testimony of your experience
2. Preface with. . .
'I want to tell you about the most amazing thing that happened to me'. . .End with, 'Has anything like this happened to you?'
C. The Real Gospel Message leads to Transformed Lives - John 3:3
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
1. Greek, GEN-AY-THAY A-NO-THEN= Born From Above
2. We are “Born from Above” into the Kingdom of God
3. Cannot SEE the Kingdom until Re-Birth
4. Not Physical Rebirth- John 3:4
"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second
time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5. Spiritual Transformational Rebirth
a. Shows on your face
b. Shows in your choices and attitudes
c. A discernable changed life
D. Kingdom Evangelism leaves the results with God - John 4:37
37 For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.'
1. One sows, another reaps
2. The sower, nor the reaper may take credit
3. God gives the increase, it's His Kingdom
Evangelism in the Kingdom of God. . .
III. IS ABOUT SHARING THE REAL GOOD NEWS OF JESUS
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
A. Being led by the Holy Spirit to fertile ground
1. Personally giving the Kingdom Message to receptive hearts
2. In Matt. 13, 3/4 of the Gospel seed falls on unfertile ground
B. Passing on the Gospel we ourselves have received - 1 Cor. 15:3
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:
1. Believe Christ died for our sins
EVANGELISM IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, cont. p.3
2. Believe He truly died and was buried
3. Believe He rose again the third day
4. Believe He appeared to Eye witnesses after rising
a. To Peter and the Twelve
b. To the Five Hundred
c. To James, all the Apostles and Paul
5. Believe He's Alive
6. Believe we will live also - John 14:19
19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you
will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
Evangelism in the Kingdom of God. . .
IV. IS KNOWING THE REAL GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
then by the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
A. Results in a Transformed Life - Eg. The Apostle Paul - Acts 9:1-6
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the
Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to
the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged
to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to
Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say
to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?"
Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
1. His love for materialism died on a road to Damascus
2. Paul was Regenerated - Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5
3. He was changed by a supernatural act of God
B. The Real Gospel of the Kingdom results in Transformation
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your
heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:8-10
1. Accept it
2. Believe it
3. Put you complete trust in it
4. Has this happened for you?
Evangelism in the Kingdom of God
Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV)
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
