Isaiah 6:4b – 9aMSG

 This coal has touched your lips.  Gone

your guilt,    your sins wiped out.” And then I heard the voice of the Master:  "Whom shall I

send?  Who will go for us?“ I spoke up,  "I'll go.   Send me!“  

He said, "Go and tell this people . . .  " 

Part 1

Are you a “fan” or a “ follower “of Jesus?

What’s the difference?

MATTHEW 9:35-38MSG

Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"

MATTHEW 10:1 MSG

The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives

MATTHEW 10:5-8 MSG

Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:   "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

REALITY #1

Men and women are spiritually lost until they receive Jesus; therefore we must evangelize urgently.

TWO REALITIES OUT OF ROMANS

1. Everyone has sinned and is guilty before a holy God.

2. God, through Jesus, provided a way for things to be made right with Him.

TWO COMMON LIES: 

 LIE : Christianity is a private issue between me and God

TRUTH: A relationship with Jesus is supposed to be personal, but not private.

 

Jesus always called people to action, publicly and He suffered and died publicly. Why would we think that He would change things just for us?

   

TWO COMMON LIES: 

 LIE: All religions lead to the same place.

TRUTH: Christianity is a distinctive , different path going to a different place. 

Sincerity does not change reality. We can be respectful without being tolerant. 

REALITY #2

Many people are ready to respond to the gospel, but they just don’t know how; therefore, we must evangelize regularly.

EVANGELISM IS NOT:

1. The terrorism approach

2. The living a good life approach

3. The invitation to church approach

4. The “Talking about God” approach

5. A job for specialists only

Reality #3

Believers are clearly commanded to evangelize in scripture; therefore, we must evangelize obediently.

1. We must obey God’s Word!

Matthew 28:16-2016 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“

2 CORINTHIANS 15-21NIV

15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:11, 15-21NIV

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

REALITY #3

2. The primary calling as a follower of Christ is to fish for people.

Mark 1:17NAS

And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

3. All of us want to witness, many do not; therefore, we must evangelize purposely.

THREE FEARS OFTEN HOLD US BACK:

1. Fear of failure.

2. Fear of rejection.

3. Fear of ignorance.

Pittsburgh INVASION KickOff Everyone is welcome!

You won’t want to miss Pastor Steve Bartlett

as he equips & encouragesyou to reach your neighbors.

Wednesday, July 137:30 p.m. NB Campus