Anyone who has ever watched
the launching of a space craft is probably familiar with the
term, "Mission Control."
This is the central hub where all of the decision makers for
the project are located. There is a precise manual that is followed
and each person knows their particular area of responsibility.
There is an ordered sequence of events that must occur and an
exact chain of command that must be followed if the launch is
to be successful.
If we turn to the Gospels we can begin to see how Jesus trained
His disciples in order to launch the Church, Christ's body
or God's instrument on earth. Many things could be included
but I am only going to highlight a few.
- Servanthood
We begin in John 13 where Jesus washes the disciples' feet
as a means of sharing that they were called to be servants.
- A New Commandment
Jesus then gives His disciples a new
commandment in John 13:34. We are to love one another just
like Jesus loves us. In John 14:6, Jesus tells His followers
that He is the way, the truth and the life.
- The Holy Spirit
In John 14:16, Jesus promises to ask God to send the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit according to John 14:26 will, "teach us
everything and remind us of all Jesus says to us." In John
16:13, we are told that the Holy Spirit will, "guide
us into all the truth."
- Unity
In John 17, Jesus prays that we may all be one
with God and each other.
- Forgiveness
At the end of John, following the Resurrection Jesus
gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples and instructs them
to forgive the sins of others.
Last of all, Simon Peter is appointed
by Jesus to lead the disciples in their ministry.
Do You Love Me?
Three times Jesus asks Peter if Peter
loves Him. Each time Peter says, "Yes!"
Feed My Sheep
Jesus tells him to feed and tend or care for
all those who are loved by Jesus. Feeding here is to be understood
as teaching others and allowing them to feed on the Word of God.
The Great Commission
In Matthew 28:19, we have the final
direction from Mission Control. "Go therefore."
Because of everything Jesus has done, has said and has promised
we are to, "make disciples
of all nations. We are to baptize them in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are to teach them to obey everything
that Jesus commanded us to do. And, we are to remember that Jesus
is always with us."
Our Ultimate Purpose
Our ultimate purpose is found in the previous directions recorded
in the Gospels. We are to tell others the GOOD NEWS. God loves
us, and God is for us.
Evangelism
What images, thoughts and emotions come to you when
you see or hear the word evangelism? This term which had a wonderful
beginning has fallen on hard times in many places today. Permit
me the privilege of asking you to do something. Think of some
way God has been good to you. You may have several responses.
How has God been good to me? Now I am really going to break the
rules for preaching etiquette. Turn to someone near you and in
a sentence or two tell them how God has been good to you. Go
ahead. I know this is strange behavior for a Presbyterian congregation
in the middle of a sermon. Tell someone else how God has been
good to you. How did that feel? A little strange because it is
new? Really good because you were sharing wonderful stuff? Is
there someone who is willing to come to the pulpit and share
their good news with everyone?
Do you know what you have been doing? You have been doing the
work of evangelist. You have been telling someone else the great
news of how God's love works in people's lives.
It really wasn't that difficult to do now, was it? Of
course we are in a somewhat safe environment here. We more or
less expect everyone to be familiar and okay with the story of
Jesus.
When it comes to those outside the church we are not all that
certain what their reaction will be. Nor are we certain about
what they want or need to hear.
How to evangelize:
- Need to meet others
If we are going to ultimately tell
others the Good News about God we have to first find a way
to be with others. Where are some places where you can be with
others outside your circle of familiar friends? At work? At
school? In your neighborhood? At civic meetings? At sporting
events?
- Get acquainted
After we meet people we need to make an effort
to get acquainted. Discover their interests and concerns. Take
a genuine interest in them knowing that we are called to love
others.
- Be patient
Be patient. Don't scare others away
by trying to bring them to Christ the first time you meet them.
- Be a friend
Practice being a friend. Help them if they need
help. Quietly allow them to discover that you are part of a
church. Each person is different. Some will welcome an invitation
to worship. Others do better if asked to come to a social gathering
or a small group. No one way of bringing people to God works
for everyone.
My personal experience is that people discover
if you are genuine, if your faith is meaningful to you
and if you really care about them. Then there is usually some
natural opportunity that occurs for you to share your faith
or to issue an invitation.
- Be excited about your faith
Most of us could be better at
bringing others to God if we worked on our own faith development
a little more. We need to be excited about something, in this
case God, before we can expect others to get excited.
- Take some risks
We need to take a few risks and be willing
to handle a few rejections. Keep in mind that Jesus did not
attract everyone and neither will we. In order to be effective
in this outreach ministry we have to develop a passionate concern
for people's
eternal salvation while at the same time having a loving non-judgmental
respect for where others are.
- Love others
More people will be loved into God's Kingdom
than there will be people judged into God's Kingdom.
The thing I remember and admire most about Billy Graham is
that he loves God and when I was with Dr. Graham he treated me
in such a way as to help me believe I was very important to him
and that he genuinely cared about who I was and what was happening
in my life.
As we are called to reach out remember Jesus and
Peter. "Do
you love me?" Jesus asks. If we say, "Yes, Lord,"
then Jesus says, "Then love these others even as you love
me." The rest of the process will be handled by the Holy
Spirit. Our calling is to simply love others the way Jesus loves
us.
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