Sermon Cloud

“Death by Love”
Matthew 28:16-20

Witnessing: “to make known by word and deed the love of the crucified and risen Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, so that people will repent, believe and receive Christ as their Savior and obediently serve him as their lord in the fellowship of his church.”  Anglican Church

“If any man be a dumb Christian, not professing his faith openly, but cloaking and colouring himself for fear of danger in time to come, he giveth men occasion, justly and with good conscience, to doubt lest he have not the grace of the Holy Ghost within him, because he is tongue tied and doth not speak.”  The Second Book of Homilies, 1571. 

Our 4 convictions provide help and assurance in our missionary enterprise:

1. Sovereignty of God. 

2. Gospel. 

3. Loving spirituality rooted in Jesus and His glory. 

4. Teaching and preaching. 

Church Structure Review: 

1. The Great Shepherd rules His church; has promised to build His church; and none can prevail against that plan as He appoints elders, Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 5:1-5.

2. Leaders should sacrifice, appoint leaders, equip and release the body for ministry, Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 4:6-17; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

3. The church should sacrifice/serve, honor and obey its leaders, Hebrews 13:17; 1           Thessalonians 5:11-12; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

New Believers

1. Go!  With Passion! Matthew 28:19; John 17:18; Romans 9:3-4; 1 Peter 2:9-10.

“The come-see-what-we-are-doing attitude ruins the missional activity of the church.  The Lord made the simple call of  “Come” to a number of people. An ‘our place is safer’ attitude will separate us from the very people God sent us to.”  Ed Stetzer

2. Live deeply, lovingly, purely, humbly, fearfully, fearlessly, sacrificially, joyfully, securely, transparently, 1 Peter 2:12; 3:15.

“Christians … need to look like what they are talking about.  It is people who communicate primarily, not words or ideas…What communicates now is basically personal authenticity.”  John Poulton

“Missional ministry is not about who can be the superhip church or the most anciently modeled congregation.  Many are witty enough to crack the culture, emotionally wedge in with people, or intellectually convince others of the truth.  But, missional ministry is not about our abilities.  It is about presenting God’s presence to the people of our world.”  Ed Stetzer, Philip Nation

            A. Deeply. 

            B. Lovingly.

            C. Purely.

“evangelism, instead of being technical specialties modeled on rhetorical styles, sales, and marketing models imported from the outside, ought to be everyday endeavors, the natural result of thinking and living as we do….Witness isn’t a method or technique.  It’s the sum total of our expression, what we say and what we don’t, what we do, who we help, and who we harm.  Our actions and reactions, taken as a whole, constitute a message to the world we live in….all it takes to be a witness is a willingness to come forward and reveal what you know”  J. Mark Bertrand

            D. Humbly.

            E. Fearfully.

            F. Fearlessly.

            G. Sacrificially – beware of the burden of your own preferences.

            H. Joyfully

            I. Securely. 

            J. Transparently.

“Nevertheless, that none of them is forgotten by God does not keep sparrows from being sold in the marketplace and eaten, nor does God’s knowledge of the number of hairs on ‘your head’ portend a divine guarantee of one’s safety [or of a head full of hair – my comment].” Joel Green.

3. What Now?

            A. Prepare. 

B. Go for it. Experience is the best teacher. 

C. Be clear.  Learn the gospel essentials. 

D. It’s about Jesus. 

E.  Look. 

F. Target the most unlovely.

G. Love people. Everybody. 

      Yes, learn a system, but witnessing isn’t a system. “what is witness if not unrestrained expression, a desire to share what one knows without regard to setting or propriety?” J. Mark Bertrand.

 I. Listen, learn, question.

 J. You will never lead someone to Christ. 

 K. Prayer list.