Eagles Nest Church
Evangelism - Week 12

      • 2 Timothy 3:16–17ESV

  • When it comes to hearing the gospel,
    there are all sorts of different kind’s of responses.
    For example:
    In the book of Acts,
    Luke records Paul’s preaching to all kinds of people.
    And one of the responses we find,
    is the response of being “undecided.”
    In Acts 26, after Paul witnesses to King Agrippa, he responds:
    Acts 26:28 ESV
    And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
    And what’s interesting,
    is that King Agrippa didn’t deny the gospel.
    Instead, he implied that, were he to become convinced of it, he would need more time to do so.
    But when we share the gospel with the “undecided,”
    We need to make it clear that to not decide is still to decide.
    While they may not be making up their minds fully about Christ,
    they are “making up their lives.”
    Because they will either live as if Christ is Lord and Savior or as if He’s not.
    And that’s a huge decision!
    When it comes to the claims of Jesus,
    there are only two options.
    And each of us in the world lives as if either we or Jesus is Lord.
    Another common response to hearing the gospel is: “I want to wait.”
    This is one is similar to the “I’m undecided,”
    But a “wait” may or may not be an “undecided.”
    A “wait” could be a person who doesn’t want to close the door on Christian faith by rejecting it - at least not yet.
    Or they could be a person who doesn’t want to repent of their sins - at least not yet.
    For whatever reason, they want more time.
    But regardless of whether they are in the undecided or wait camp,
    We should respect their decision and not try to force them to make a decision.
    While still being clear about the dangers of waiting.
    There’s a story about the famous nineteenth-century evangelist D. L. Moody,
    Who was once holding an evangelistic meeting,
    and as it was ending, Moody said:
    “Now, I want you to take the gospel’s invitation with you and think it over, and next Sunday I want you to come back and tell me what you are going to do with it.”
    His song leader led them in a hymn called: “Today the Savior Calls.”
    And later that night, a fire began.
    Before noon the next day, much of Chicago had been destroyed by fire,
    including Moody’s own church building.
    Around three hundred people were killed,
    and thousands were made homeless.
    Afterwards, Moody vowed that he would never again give a congregation a week to think over their need for salvation.
    Question:
    Why do we often fail to talk about the dangers of waiting?
    The point is, we need to press the importance of accepting the gospel now - not later.
    2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV
    … Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
    At the same time,
    If the person refuses to accept the offer of salvation today - drop it.
    Continue to pray for them after you’ve presented the gospel clearly.
    And be thankful for the opportunity that God gave you be a faithful witness while remembering 1 Corinthians 3:6
    1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV
    I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
    Most of the time, people need to hear the gospel numerous times over a period of time.
    So be patient.
    Another response is a: “No never!”
    Often this response is irritated or even angry.
    Paul himself responded this way in Acts 7 and 8
    as he went around persecuting Christians, even approving of Stephen’s martyrdom.
    This response says: “I’ve examined Christianity and found it wanting.”
    But even this response doesn’t tell us the end of their story.
    Because many Christians, like Paul, once had this response.
    Which includes people in this very room.
    So don’t give up on praying for the “no nevers.”
    According to the Bible, non-Christians are spiritually blind.
    Their eyes are not open to spiritual truths.
    They are dead to the things of God.
    Their own beliefs on spiritual things may be sincere, but they’re not accurate.
    People who clearly reject the gospel should still be treated with respect.
    We do not need to push the issue every time we see them,
    because constant pressure often pushes people farther away rather than drawing them in.
    Instead, we remain faithful and keep praying,
    while remember that strong resistance today does not mean God is finished with them.
    Paul once opposed the gospel fiercely,
    and God later turned him into a powerful witness.
    So we live the gospel in front of them.
    Let them see your life.
    Let them see your character.
    Let them see your church family loving one another and following Christ together.
    Question:
    What wrong beliefs do we have when we become discouraged when someone responds with a “no never” to the gospel?
    So those are some of the negative responses,
    but what about the positive ones?
    What are we to do with someone who has repented of their sins, accepted the gospel, and professed faith in Christ?
    The Bible, tells us that these new Christians are to be brought into the fellowship of the local church.
    They’re to be given all the family privileges and all the family responsibilities.
    They’re to be baptized and added as covenant members of a local church,
    And then be admitted to the Lord’s Table.
    They are to be provided with guidance and counsel, love and support, care and teaching.
    A new Christian needs to be taught what it means to follow Jesus.
    Evangelism does not end with a decision.
    It finds its goal in discipleship.
    The gospel is not only about the removal of guilt
    but the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Christ.
    Real faith always leads to a life that follows Him as a disciple.
    This is important, because some “yeses” are actually false ones.
    Sometimes people say thy have accepted Christ when they really haven’t.
    Some of these people will be revealed in the world to come,
    but sometimes it because clear this side of eternity,
    because they refuse to be disciples and follow Christ.
    Jesus warns us of this in His parable of the 4 soils.
    Matthew 13:18–23 ESV
    “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
    Matthew 13:18–23 ESV
    As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
    With false conversions,
    their zeal seems to lag.
    Their church attendance becomes spotty - and they don’t seem to care about it.
    They would continue to say they are Christians,
    but following Christ is of little practical concern to them.
    Little of their energy or attention goes into it.
    And then one day the flickering flame just seems to go out.
    It is extinguished by the cares of this world,
    the lust of the flesh,
    the pride of life.
    The preacher George Whitefield once said:
    “There are so many stony ground hearers, who receive the Word with joy, that I have determined to suspend my judgment till I know the tree by its fruits. I cannot believe they are converts until I see fruit brought back; it will never do a sincere soul any harm.”
    George Whitefield
    Funerals illustration.
    Question:
    Why do we often fail to stress the importance of spiritual growth when it comes to evangelism?
    At one time, none of us were Christians.
    Some were converted at such a young age that we cannot remember a clear moment of turning, and that is fine.
    The Bible still tells us what was true of all of us by nature.
    We were not neutral toward God.
    We were opposed to him.
    Then, at some point, God acted.
    He awakened our hearts.
    What was once dead came alive.
    What once resisted began to submit.
    Our wills were bent toward him,
    not by pressure or persuasion alone, but by grace.
    That is what conversion is.
    And that is what we are aiming for in evangelism.
    Not a momentary response,
    not external compliance,
    but a real turning of the heart to God.
    And that’s what we must long for.
    We must long to see people brought from spiritual death to life,
    by trusting Christ and beginning to follow him.
    Question:
    How does understanding the sovereignty of God equip and encourage is with evangelism?

      • Acts 26:28NIV2011

      • 2 Corinthians 6:2NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 3:6NIV2011

      • Matthew 13:18–23NIV2011

      • Matthew 13:18–23NIV2011

Eagles Nest Church
pastorzach@eaglesnestmn.org
(218) 562-5252
http://www.eaglesnestmn.org
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