2016.7.10 礼拝

2016.7.10 礼拝

249th Life Church Service

2016.7.10 　John 1:35-42 “Putting Evangelism into Practice”
Main Passage of July: Mark 1:15

To practice evangelism is not to seek one’s own interest or satisfaction but to help other people in accordance to God’s call. Why do we have to share the gospel? The answer is because Jesus says so.

Let’s put evangelism into practice!

➀ First you should meet Jesus personally.
John 1:41-42 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is the Christ) 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Make sure that you have really met Jesus and understand that meeting Jesus does not mean:

・Believing an obscure god.
・Understanding a concept of Christ.
・Choosing Christianity as your religion.

You shouldn’t say you believe in Jesus without knowing Christ clearly, or just because you understand the concept of Christ. And don’t choose to be a Christian as a handy religion because meeting Jesus means:

・Surrendering to Jesus.
・Following Jesus.
・Loving Jesus.

Andrew had been told about Jesus from John the Baptist, and finding Jesus, he was convinced that He was the Messiah. He did not choose to follow Jesus half-heartedly.

➁ Introducing your family members and friends to Jesus.
John 1:41-42 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is the Christ) 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Make every efforts so that our family members and friends can come to know Christ just as we did. Meeting Jesus, Andrew was greatly excited that he couldn’t help introducing his brother Simon to Jesus. It would be good to remember the time how we felt when we decided to be a Christian. Then we would want to share Jesus with our family members and friends.

What can we do to be specific? Much of what we are already doing, such as:
・Giving the Bible or a copy of the Gospel.
・Asking him/her to read the Bible together.
・Inviting him/her to Life Group or Sunday Service.

➂ Making sure if he/she has met Jesus.
John 1:42 …Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be call Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
…”You will be called Cephas.” Peter accepted this new identity given by Jesus without any questions, and started a new life with Jesus.

As Andrew has met Jesus, he was also able to ascertain Peter meeting Jesus. In like manner, when we introduce our family members and friends to Jesus, we should see to it that they meet Jesus. We must make sure that a person does not respond without conviction when a person says “I believe in Jesus.”

For example, when a person is attracted to church because of the pastor, praise songs, atmosphere or other things rather than to Jesus, he/she may not be able to understand what God really wants of us.