There are so many nice things that we can do to make a difference in the world every single day:
Volunteer at a local nursing home
Serve the homeless in simple practical ways
Be kind to others
Raise money for a cause
Donate blood
However, as Christians we should ask ourselves, what is THE one thing that we can do to make a difference in this world?
Simply put, We make a difference for eternity in people’s lives when we share with them the Gospel of Christ!
In Matthew’s Gospel we are given our mission as Christ followers. We call this the Great Commission:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Matthew 28:19
However, while our mission is clear, often we can easily lose track and focus on how we are to share Jesus with a lost and hurting world.
When it comes to evangelism, I believe (like all areas of life) we must look to the Word to address how we are to go about engaging our communities with the Good News. The Apostle Paul lays out for us a simple format in which we are to share Jesus.
4 Steps to Living on Mission for Christ
In First Corinthians 2:1-5 he lays out for our families four steps that we must take if we are to live on mission and make a difference in this world for Christ.
Paul is writing this letter to the church because they had begun to engage in all sorts of sinful activities and Paul takes them on a time warp in this letter and says “this is how I reached you for Christ.”
So, let’s learn together from one of the greatest missionaries of all time.
1. Keep it Simple
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom proclaiming to you the testimony of God.1 Corinthians 2:1
The testimony of God here means that he didn’t teach them the deeper mysteries of the faith. This is important for us to look at when we are talking about reaching people for Jesus Christ.
There are millions of people in this world that claim no relationship with Jesus Christ. This means that many never darken the door of a church.
There are many people whose parents didn’t take them to church growing up. And their grandparents didn’t take their parents to church. In other words some of our friends have NO knowledge of the Word of God.
Often times as Christians, we make the mistake of speaking over the heads of our lost friends and family members. While we share the deeper theological truths of our faith with good intentions we must be cautious to focus on every individuals greatest need…Jesus!
One individual that has greatly impacted our family’s approach to evangelism is Ray Comfort. Comfort says, “I am not trying to get them to believe EVERYTHING all at once.”
Each week in your family worship time, dinner table, and in passing conversation with your children, discuss some simple approaches that your family can share Jesus.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.1 Corinthians 2:2
In verse 2 Paul says here that he emphasized one thing above all else…and that was the good news of the…DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!
Often times we think we have to try and really be clever and its our job to convice people into heaven. We have to be witty and smart and have winsome personalities. But I think if we aren’t careful that mindset often comes from pride.
If we truly desire to impact those around us with the Gospel we don’t have to come up with some fancy plan we just have to obey!
Think about it in the context of our relationship with our children. What is the primary thing we desire out of them? Obedience. Our desire for them to obey us doesn’t come from a harsh place but rather we know that when they obey us, they will experience more joy and alignment for God’s plan for their lives.
The same can be said about evangelism. We may not always feel like sharing Jesus but ultimately when we obey we too, are in alignment with God’s plan for our lives as we live on mission!
Speaking of plans, we can have confidence as we emphasize the Gospel to those around us because it is the Father’s plan than this world encounters His love:
God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.1 Timothy 2:4
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.2 Peter 3:9
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”Ezekiel 18:32
For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him shall notperish but have everlasting life.John 3:16
I want to caution our families and speak into a lie that I believe the enemy is spreading rapidly today. The falsehood is that if we just serve enough people, if we smile nicely, and do kind things, and love everyone, then eventually…ultimately people are going to be born again.
But that’s simply not true. Is that how any of us were saved? No. Somebody opened their mouths and boldly shared the love of Christ with us.
While serving in your local soup kitchen, caring for the poor, and mowing your elderly neighbors yard is kind and absolutely the Christian thing to do, we must also not confuse those tasks with Gospel proclamation.
Remember the story in the book of Acts about the Ethiopian Eunech?
Acts 8:28-30: “and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?”
“Unless someone explains it to me.”
Parents, I want to encourage you to cheer on your children as they serve others in Jesus’ name. And then challenge them on how they can go one step further and proclaim the Gospel.
3.Be Full of the Holy Spirit
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.1 Corinthians 2:3-4
Have you ever identified with Paul before? Have you ever felt like you were doing something that you were way over your head in?
Maybe it’s parenting…as a dad I only feel like this about ten times a day! Maybe it’s a new job. Or maybe you have a family member, co-worker, or friend that you want to share Jesus with BUT you feel like Paul did here, you had fear and much trembling.
Let me just put all of our minds at ease. It should feel that way when we’re living out a Christ centred life. We’re not SMART enough, TALENTED, enough, or GIFTED enough to reach the world for Jesus but you know who is? The Holy Spirit that lives within us is!
This is what Paul is conveying here. He is saying “I came in afraid and weak and not trying to impress anyone with my elegant speech, and the Holy Spirit demonstrated His power!”
Often, we are not effective in our evangelism efforts because we are grieving the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not quench the Spirit…”
Pastor and theologian R. A. Torrey reminds us that we must be constantly willing to rid ourselves of anything that is not in alignment with God’s will for our lives in order to maximize our effectiveness.
“If there is anything unholy, impure, selfish, mean, petty, unkind, harsh, unjust, or in any way evil in act or word or thought or fancy, He is grieved by it. If we allow those words “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God,” to sink into our hearts and become the motto of our lives, they will keep us from many a sin.” – R. A. Torrey
4. Inspire trust in God not man
so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.1 Corinthians 2:5
I was raised in a “Christian” home. We were always in church but often our home was chaotic as we did not live out the faith we claimed on a daily basis. Their was often turmoil in our home and eventually my parents divorced in my teen years.
In my youth, I often found respite from those challenges at home when I visited other friends and family members whom to me seemed to really “have it all together.” Beautiful homes, seemingly no money problems, parents that were deeply in love, etc.
However, I remember a good friend that I would have always put his family in the before mentioned category. One day I discovered that his parents were getting a divorce due to infedelity. I remember feeling shocked and even a little hurt. It seemed that even what appeared to be a picture perfect family was not invincible to satan’s schemes.
Why do I share that story with you? Often, in our broken fallen nature we long for things to be made whole and beautiful like they were at the start in the Garden of Eden. However, until Jesus returns for His Bride we will not experience such bliss in this world.
You see, when it comes to sharing our faith, and living on mission as a family, we aren’t trying to get people to “follow us” and “look at us”. We are not saying, “look at our sweet kind family and how we do all the right things.” We are saying with bold confidence, “Don’t look at us, LOOK AT HIM! LOOK AT JESUS!”
We don’t want people to know how great we are, we want them to experience how great Jesus is!
Joy is Found in Obedience to Living On Mission
When we were living in Canada, a new friend visited from the States to conduct an evangelism training class. It was incredible! For a half day we learned why we should share our faith, what we were to be sharing, how to share our faith, and when we should be sharing.
At the end of our training I will never forget what my new friend said to the churches gathered in that room: “Joy is always discovered on the other side of obedience.”
Friends, the world says your family will have joy when you are financially secure. Some say you will have joy when your kids have good grades and are staying out of trouble. Others believe that joy comes when you find the “perfect” home.
However, I want to remind you, true joy comes for Christians we obey Jesus and make disciples. Make a difference in the world as a family, tell people about Jesus!
Guest Blogger Bio.
Matt Hess is a church planting catalyst with the North American Mission Board, Church planter at Waypoint Wentzville, MO, and a father of 4 amazing kiddos. Oh, and let’s not forget, he’s married to an amazing woman!!
I really appreciate how you point us to the Word and how simple you make this! Thanks for the nudge to keep walking this out!