Sharing Your Faith: Why

                Today, we begin a new series. It is something that is new for me as well. In the past, I’ve preached mainly themes from within books of the bible, basically remaining in the passages. I have done a few topical sermons for special days such as Mother’s and Father’s Day. This however, will be my first topical series.

                I don’t say this to ask for positive feedback, but in a way to let you know that as I ask you to stretch and even leave your comfort zone, you will know that I am doing likewise.  And I am excited to be doing this series. Now why am I asking you to lay aside your comfort zone? The past several themes have been about living for God, to be the type of people that brings glory to God. I have encouraged you to share your faith with others. And as I have done so, I’ve given examples of sharing your faith, but I’ve failed the preparation.

                Sharing your faith for some is easy. Paul does say that some are given to be evangelists. Yet, we are all called to this task, to lead others to Jesus. Now I don’t mean that we all are to go up to strangers and tell them about Jesus. I mean that there are those within our own unique circles that only we can reach. You have more influence in your sphere of family and friends than I do. I have more influence within my family and friends than you. This also goes for the neighborhoods that we live in. You have a better chance with Mr. Jones next door to you than I do, living across town. He’d expect me, but he wouldn’t expect to see you.

                Before we get to the why, let me draw your attention once again to the prayer sheet. Notice both the first and last request. Luke 10.2. That’s all it is. Have you memorized it yet? “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.” (NIV)

                This has been a constant prayer request because by praying this, hopefully our minds will adjust to a different way of thinking, allowing us to be more open about seeing the need of Jesus in the people we encounter, that we would be open to sharing with them.  I believe that we are to be those workers. But like with any work, we need to prepare ourselves. We need to see how plentiful the harvest is. More than ever, people around us need to know who Jesus is, to see how He makes a difference in our lives.

                People are searching. Some may be like Nathaniel. He grew up waiting, expecting something better. One day his brother, Philip, comes along and tells him about Jesus (John 1.43ff). Or the eunuch who summoned Philip, the other one, to come onto his chariot and explain the Gospel from Isaiah to him.  Some may be that easy to reach. Others, however will take persuading, such as with the Bereans. They knew what they thought was important. They had their traditional way of looking at the Scriptures, what they expected a messiah to look like, but when Paul came in with his interpretation, showing the Old Testament testified of Jesus particularly, they took a double look. They had to be sure. Today, people are also searching for relevance. They want to know what they do will make a difference to someone else, that the church is relevant to them. Are we able to serve?

                People are hurting and lonely. Facebook is the largest social media. The fastest growing groups are tweens and seniors, the ends of the spectrum. It’s easy to see the appeal, too. People accept you as a friend, and you don’t have to get too involved. Everything seems to be kept superficial. Still, a yearning remains. People want to be accepted where they are. They are lonely people. They are like the lady at the well in John 4. She was a miserable woman who was scorned. She was a failure in her family. She couldn’t keep a husband. It makes me wonder what her boyfriend saw in her. Someone to walk on? She couldn’t keep friends. She was drawing water while everyone else was home in the shades of their porches. It made the best time for avoiding the judgmental stares and sneers. Jesus saw her. He accepted her. He loved her. Let us not forget the woman caught in sin. All others wanted to condemn her. Jesus showed her grace. He showed her grace when grace was a foreign word. The question for us is: Will we be able to see the person hurting, offer them what they need? Not only acceptance, but purpose. God created us for our fellowship. When sin separated us, He sought to restore us through Jesus. See us clean and pure. A new start.

                Finally, why do we tell others about Jesus? We do so because time is short. One of my favorite passages comes from Acts 1.11. The angel tells the disciples that as Jesus was taken up in a cloud, so he will return. It kind of reminds me of a Neil Diamond Song, “Both Sides”. Anyway, cloudy days, I often ask, is it today, Lord? I remember what he has said in John 9.4 that while it is still day, we must do the works of the Father. Paul echoes this in Romans 13.11 that it is now high time to wake up since our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Jesus always taught that his return would be unexpected, but that we should be like the servants busy working, pleasantly surprised at his return, than the lazy servants who are caught unawares at their master’s return. There was a time that I was taking an afternoon break. I decided to play a single game of solitaire on the computer. Boss was in Silver City, and would be there the entire day. That was the schedule. As soon as I was into that game, he surprised me. I didn’t know that his daughter had a piano recital that afternoon. It was embarrassing.

                Now of course, someone might say, what has changed in the 2000 years since this was written? When we see the kingdom will come one of three ways. It will happen suddenly with Jesus return, as Paul tells the church in Thessalonica. It may happen after we have lived a full life as many of our loved ones have gone before us. And it may happened tragically as many of us know. But these ways are not new to us. Paul wrote expecting to see the Lord’s return during his life, but also as one who would sleep before that day. It’s this same urgency I hope to convey today. And as for tragedy, Jesus used a contemporary of his day, with the collapse of the tower in Siloam, as recorded in Luke 13. The end came quick. That may be the end for us.

                But I hope that this morning I’ve conveyed why we need to tell others of Jesus. Next week, we will begin looking at the steps needed. If you are willing to step outside your comfort zone, then we shall watch this kingdom grow here in Stuttgart & Ar.