2016.7.3 礼拝

2016.7.3 礼拝

248th Life Church Service

2016.7.3 Mark 1:14-20”Putting Evangelism into Practice”

Main Passage Mark 1:14-15

⒕Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15“The time has come,” he said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believer the good new!”

Q.　Why do we need to share the gospel?
A. Because Jesus tells us to do so.

Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

We do not go on mission because of our needs but because God wants us to and Jesus told us to.

Q. Why did you become a Christian?
A. Because Jesus called me.

John 15:16 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit….

We became a Christian because Jesus called us and not to satisfy our needs. If our faith is based on our needs, then we would easily lose interest and separate from God once our needs are met.

➀　”Calling for Salvation” and “Mission” are inseparable.

Mark 1:15 & 17 15 “The time has come,” he said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good new!” 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Jesus did not say, “I’ll take you to heaven.” But he said, “follow me” which is His call, and “I will make you fishers of men” to send us out on mission.

➁　Answering Jesus’ Call for sharing the gospel.

Mark 1:18-20 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Jesus did not call those who were already trained to be disciples. They were called as they were – sinners. They did not know the whole reason behind His call but responded right away, which is an encouragement to us since we were still not aware of the complete picture when we were baptized.

➂　Find out the reasons for fear and reluctance.

Do you know why we experience fear and reluctance when trying to share the gospels with our family or friends? Could it be our pride or our lack of knowledge or afraid of rejection?

➃　Understanding the significance of the mission.

・Urgency – 14 3:10

10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

The emergency is just around the corner and there is no time to spare. We must not hold back sharing the gospel to people who are not aware of them.

・Ethical – Romans 10:14

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

For the same reason as in urgency, we would only be self-centered if we stopped helping other people once we ourselves have been saved.

・God’s Love – Colossians 1:21-22

21 Once you were alienated from God and we were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-

We were enemies of God but God decided to call us because of His love. There could be many reasons for us to reject the mission, however, he called us knowing the abilities that each one of us have because of the urgency.

・Letting people know that you are a Christian.

Matthew 10:32-33 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

This is not sharing the gospel yet, however, this will put us on the starting line.