Matthew 28: 16-20

(Make Disciples!)

(Make Disciples!)

Tupperware “evangelism”

● ● There is nothing in the world more There is nothing in the world more important than entering into a saving important than entering into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.relationship with Jesus Christ.● ● What can compare to helping another What can compare to helping another human being put their feet on the Jesus human being put their feet on the Jesus Trail?Trail?● ● This has been the main business of the This has been the main business of the church for 2000 years, introducing the church for 2000 years, introducing the drowning to the real Life Guard.drowning to the real Life Guard.● ● I don’t have to be obnoxious, intrusive or a I don’t have to be obnoxious, intrusive or a nuisance to help others find new life in nuisance to help others find new life in Christ. But it doesn’t work to be passive, Christ. But it doesn’t work to be passive, too subtle or impersonal.too subtle or impersonal.

• To the fishermen, Peter and Andrew: “Come, To the fishermen, Peter and Andrew: “Come, follow me follow me and I will make you fishers of people” and I will make you fishers of people”

• To Philip: To Philip: “Follow me.”“Follow me.”

• To Levi (Matthew): To Levi (Matthew): “Follow me.”“Follow me.”

• A disciple is one who follows (obeys and A disciple is one who follows (obeys and learns from his master). learns from his master).

Jesus puts a relational face on Jesus puts a relational face on concepts such as Saved, Born concepts such as Saved, Born

Again and Redeemed.Again and Redeemed.

SO OFTEN A CHRISTIAN IS SO OFTEN A CHRISTIAN IS DESCRIBED AS ONE WHO HOLDS DESCRIBED AS ONE WHO HOLDS TO A CERTAIN BELIEF SYSTEM OR TO A CERTAIN BELIEF SYSTEM OR

FOLLOWS A SET OF RELIGIOUS FOLLOWS A SET OF RELIGIOUS RULESRULES

• The Rich Young Ruler saw his faith as The Rich Young Ruler saw his faith as keeping to a list of commands. I have ‘done all keeping to a list of commands. I have ‘done all these things’.these things’.

Jesus told him: Sell your possessions. Give Jesus told him: Sell your possessions. Give the money to the poor. Then come, follow me. the money to the poor. Then come, follow me. (Matthew 19:16-21)(Matthew 19:16-21)

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw religion as mere ‘compliance’ to the scriptures. religion as mere ‘compliance’ to the scriptures. Jesus brought the message that true religion Jesus brought the message that true religion is following the One spoken of in the is following the One spoken of in the scriptures.scriptures.

““And the father who sent me has testified And the father who sent me has testified concerning me…you have never heard his concerning me…you have never heard his voice…you do not believe the One he sent…voice…you do not believe the One he sent…you diligently seek the scriptures because you you diligently seek the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life…think that by them you possess eternal life…these scriptures testify about me, yet you these scriptures testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” John 5:37-refuse to come to me to have life.” John 5:37-4040

Other religions direct us to a teaching, Other religions direct us to a teaching, philosophy or even to our inner self. God philosophy or even to our inner self. God sends us to a person…Jesus! sends us to a person…Jesus! ……that whoever believes in Him may have that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life John 3:16eternal life John 3:16

EVANGELISMEVANGELISM IS ALL ABOUT HELPING IS ALL ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRUST IN JESUS …A PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRUST IN JESUS …A TRUST THAT LEADS TO TRUST THAT LEADS TO DECLARINGDECLARING HIM AS LORD, HIM AS LORD, FOLLOWINGFOLLOWING AND AND OBEYINGOBEYING HIM. HIM.

• Confession Confession is a matter of publicly is a matter of publicly declaring our trust in Jesus Christdeclaring our trust in Jesus Christ• RepentanceRepentance means remorse over means remorse over our old way of living and turning to our old way of living and turning to follow Jesus.follow Jesus.• BaptismBaptism is our formal pledge to is our formal pledge to follow Jesus and pictures death to follow Jesus and pictures death to our old self, rising to walk in a new our old self, rising to walk in a new life. I Peter 3:21 and Romans 6:4life. I Peter 3:21 and Romans 6:4

•““And this is the And this is the testimony: God has testimony: God has given us eternal life, and given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son Whoever has the Son has life; those who do has life; those who do not have the Son of God not have the Son of God do not have life.” do not have life.” --I John 5:11, 12--I John 5:11, 12

THE APOSTLE JOHN UNDERSTOOD THAT OUR THE APOSTLE JOHN UNDERSTOOD THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS ALL ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS ALL ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUSRELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

Remembering Remembering how the death of how the death of Christ brings new Christ brings new life to “whosoever life to “whosoever will.”will.”

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

“It’s not easy to be me.” Life is hard. People need Jesus

HOW WOULD A MODERN DAY BELIEVER HOW WOULD A MODERN DAY BELIEVER (DISCIPLE OF JESUS) GO ABOUT HELPING (DISCIPLE OF JESUS) GO ABOUT HELPING OTHERS FIND LIFE IN CHRIST?OTHERS FIND LIFE IN CHRIST?

• “ “You yourselves are our letterYou yourselves are our letter…known and …known and read by everybody.” read by everybody.” --II Corinthians 3:2--II Corinthians 3:2• “ “Let your light shine before others Let your light shine before others that they that they might see your good works and praise your might see your good works and praise your father in heaven.” father in heaven.” --Matthew 5:16 --Matthew 5:16 • “ “Live such good lives among the pagans Live such good lives among the pagans that, that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” -the day he visits us.” --I Peter 2:12-I Peter 2:12

Live a consistent life in obedience Live a consistent life in obedience to Jesus. to Jesus.

““Christ came into the world to save sinnersChrist came into the world to save sinners—of—of whom whom I am the worst. I am the worst. But for that very reason I But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of the worst of sinnerssinners, Christ Jesus might display his , Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” would believe on him and receive eternal life.” --I Timothy 1:15-17--I Timothy 1:15-17

Testify to God’s Testify to God’s grace in grace in

dealing with dealing with your own your own failings.failings.

Lord, I need courage, Lord, I need courage, patience, persistence, patience, persistence, timingtiming

Pray for pre-Christians …Pray for pre-Christians …and yourselfand yourself

Offer to tell the Story (Gospel).Offer to tell the Story (Gospel).Be creative! As wise as a serpent Be creative! As wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove.but harmless as a dove.

Learn the Jesus Story well Learn the Jesus Story well enough to re-tell it.enough to re-tell it.

• Get to know Get to know your your neighbors, and co-neighbors, and co-workers.workers.• JoinJoin a dance club, a dance club, service club, PTA, service club, PTA, bowling league.bowling league.• Keep relationships Keep relationships genuinegenuine, but an eye to , but an eye to reconciliation with reconciliation with God.God.• Fishing Fishing for for others others may mean going may mean going fishing fishing ‘with’ ‘with’ others.others.

Keep engaged …Keep engaged …develop social develop social contacts and contacts and long-term long-term relationshipsrelationships

• Highly confident, Highly confident, isolated, angry, isolated, angry, resistant and other resistant and other ‘distant’ people are ‘distant’ people are often dealing with often dealing with issues that would issues that would respond to a good respond to a good dose of love and dose of love and understanding.understanding.

Look beyond Look beyond masks.masks.

Socially, Sunday Socially, Sunday assembly, Church assembly, Church social functions social functions and good timesand good times

Invite folk to Invite folk to spend time with spend time with you and your you and your believing believing friends.friends.

““The Lord is not The Lord is not slowing in keeping slowing in keeping his promise…but is his promise…but is patient…not wanting patient…not wanting anyone to perish, but anyone to perish, but everyone to come to everyone to come to repentance.” repentance.” --II Peter 3:9--II Peter 3:9

SINCE GOD IS SINCE GOD IS GIVING US MORE GIVING US MORE TIME TO GET THE TIME TO GET THE WORD OUT…WORD OUT…LET’S GET TO IT!LET’S GET TO IT!

• We were won We were won to win to win others.others.

• We were forgiven We were forgiven to help to help others find forgiveness.others find forgiveness.

• We were called We were called to call.to call.

• Who helped you put your Who helped you put your feet on the Jesus Trail? feet on the Jesus Trail? Go Go and do likewise!and do likewise!

NO DEAD-END NO DEAD-END LINKS!LINKS!

Returning to God out of our Returning to God out of our abundance. A gift of thanks.abundance. A gift of thanks.

PRAYER & PRAISE

● ● There is nothing in the world more There is nothing in the world more important than entering into a saving important than entering into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.relationship with Jesus Christ.● ● What can compare to helping another What can compare to helping another human being put their feet on the Jesus human being put their feet on the Jesus Trail?Trail?● ● This has been the main business of the This has been the main business of the church for 2000 years, introducing the church for 2000 years, introducing the drowning to the real Life Guard.drowning to the real Life Guard.● ● I don’t have to be obnoxious, intrusive or I don’t have to be obnoxious, intrusive or a nuisance to help others find new life in a nuisance to help others find new life in Christ. But it doesn’t work to be passive, Christ. But it doesn’t work to be passive, too subtle or impersonal.too subtle or impersonal.