Gospel-Centered, Spirit-Empowered Evangelism

Sermon Series: Why Community Groups?
Sermon Title: Gospel-Centered, Spirit-Empowered Evangelism
Sermon Text: Colossians 4:3-6

Jesus declared, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all the I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the Age.”
(Matthew 28.18-20)

“Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of
Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I
ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let
your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you
ought to answer each person.” (Col 4:3–6 ESV)

“to evangelize does not mean to win converts…but simply to announce the good news,
irrespective of the results.” – John Stott

To evangelize is to spread the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was
raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that as the reigning Lord he now
offers the forgiveness of sins and the liberating gift of the Spirit to all who repent and
believe. – Lausanne Conference, 1974

Evangelism is not a making of proselytes; it is not persuading people to make a
decision; it is not proving that God exists, or making a good case for the truth of
Christianity; it is not inviting someone to a meeting; it is not exposing the contemporary
dilemma, or arousing interest in Christianity; it is not wearing a badge saying “Jesus
Saves”! Some of these things are right and good in their place, but none of them should
be confused with evangelism. To evangelize is to declare on the authority of God what
he ahs done to save sinners, to warn men of their lost condition, to direct them to repent,
and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. – John Cheesman

“…I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will
listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. …My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,
and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is
greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John
10:16, 27–29 ESV)

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call
on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom
they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom
10:13–14 ESV)

“He had not much to say, thank God, for that compelled him to keep on repeating his
text, and there was nothing needed—by me, at any rate except his text. Then, stopping,
he pointed to where I was sitting under the gallery, and he said, ‘That young man there
looks very miserable’ … and he shouted, as I think only a Primitive Methodist can,
‘Look! Look, young man! Look now!’ … Then I had this vision—not a vision to my eyes,
but to my heart. I saw what a Savior Christ was.… Now I can never tell you how it was,
but I no sooner saw whom I was to believe than I also understood what it was to believe,
and I did believe in one moment. And as the snow fell on my road home from the little house of prayer I thought every snowflake talked with me and told of the pardon I had found, for I was white as the driven snow through the grace of God.”

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech
always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer
each person. (Colossians 4:5-6)

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how
you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6 ESV)

“… always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for
the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Pet 3:15 ESV)