CONNECT: Evangelism/Missional Living

Hey folks! Here's some notes and references from this past Sunday's sermon: CONNECT them with Christ: WHO-WHAT-WHEN-WHERE-WHY OF EVANGELISM / MISSIONAL LIVING

Acts 1:7-8

“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

WHO? YOU – YOU will receive power…God has called each of us to share his message with the world.

• John 17: 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
• John 17: 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
• Matt 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

“You and I are an indispensable link in the chain of redemption.” –John Piper

WHAT? - HIS WITNESSES – we are the walking testimony of the gospel of Christ Jesus, “Witnesses”

Acts 2:32 Peter preached: “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”

Acts 3:15 Peter preaching says "and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

1. Do people see the gospel in us?

Matt 5:14 “You’re the light of the world”

2. Do people hear the gospel from us?

Rom 10:1 7So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

1 Peter 3:15 always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you

WHEN/HOW? When the Holy Spirit comes upon you…The when is NOW and the Holy Spirit is HOW

1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

2 Tim 1:14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Rom 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes

WHERE – “…Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” For us today that means EVERYWHERE.

WHY-

1. TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD

Acts 1:8 “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority…”

Matthew 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…

2. BECAUSE IT IS OUR HONOR

2 Cor 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

We are ambassadors!

• Ambassador: a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative

3. AS A REMINDER OF HOW BIG GOD IS

2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Summary verse:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.