COMPROMISING THE GREAT COMMISSION
1. I once read about a minister who had an interesting approach to evangelism.
2. This preacher collected whiskey bottles.
3. According to the story he collected at least 30,000 whiskey bottles over a 30-year period.
4. This
man threw these empty bottles into a river that empties into the
5. Inside each bottle was a Bible message.
6. One might think that few if any of these bottles would ever be found and opened.
7. According to the story this man received thousand of replies from the bottles he tossed into the river.
8. These replies came from 29 states and 8 foreign countries.
9. Some of those who replied said that they were familiar with Christianity but had backslidden.
10. Others expressed an interest in Christianity for the very first time.
11. This minister engaged in what some have called “bottle evangelism.”
ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE GOD’S PEOPLE CAN ENGAGE IN COMPROMISE IS EVANGELISM. GOD SAID “GO” BUT NOT ALL DO. GOD SAID TO TEACH ALL PEOPLE BUT WE SOMETIMES FAIL TO DO THAT. TO HELP US AVOID MAKING CONCESSIONS IN THE AREA OF EVANGELISM I WANT US TO CONSIDER EVANGELISM IN THE FORM OF AN ACROSTIC.
A. That is, each letter in EVAGNELISM will be used to make a point.
B. Since evangelism has 10 letters each point will be pretty quick.
C. Our first point comes from the letter “E.”
D. The E in evangelism should remind us that evangelism is for every member.
E. In Acts 2 (which describes the start of the church) we find that the apostles taught people.
F. When the church was started the apostles were the ones who engaged in evangelism.
G. After the church began to grow people besides the apostles began to teach.
H. Notice what is said in Acts 8:1, 4 – READ.
I. Some are comfortable with leaving evangelism in the hands of a select few.
J. This is a compromise.
K. Evangelism cannot be turned over to the preacher, the elders, or anyone else.
L. When we do not have every member involved in evangelism we compromise the great commission.
M. Each Christian has a responsibility to either teach people or bring them to be taught.
N. If we cannot teach someone directly we can ask a fellow Christian to teach someone we know.
2. The V in evangelism stands for visitation.
3. This is another area where a local congregation can make compromises.
4. There are people who need to be visited.
5. The Lord expects members of the church to be involved with visitation.
6. On the Day of Judgment our willingness to visit people will be taken into account.
7. Listen to Mt. 25:36 – READ.
8. It is possible to make compromises in the area of visitation.
A. People can be sick but we forget or neglect them.
B. We can reason, “They will probably get better.”
C. Those who are lonely and those who are suffering may be overlooked.
D. These are compromises that are not pleasing to God.
9. The third compromise is found in the “A” of evangelism.
10. There are members of the church who are absentees.
A. We surely are aware of the fact that there are some who are not faithful members of the church.
B. At times there are Christians who slip away from the faith little by little.
C. It is easy to let people drift away and not notice.
D. At this congregation we have taken some steps towards dealing with absenteeism.
E. These steps are right.
F. In Gal. 6:1 Paul said – quote.
G. When people begin to slip away from God our goal needs to be restoration.
H. There needs to be a desire on our part to help absentees return to their first love.
I. If we do not pay attention to this area we have shirked one of our Christian duties.
J. We have made a compromise that is inconsistent with God’s will.
11. The “N” in evangelism stands for new members.
12. If we have every member involved in evangelism we will grow.
13. Things like visitation will help move us forward.
14. Some of our growth will come because people are baptized.
A. When people become Christians we need to help them.
B. Listen to what Peter said in 1 Pet. 2:2 – READ.
C. Those who are converted to Christ need to “grow.”
D. In some cases the church compromises in how it responds to new Christians.
E. There are instances where new Christians are left on their own.
F. In some cases new converts are left to sink or swim without any help from fellow Christians.
G. This is a compromise that is horrible but not uncommon.
H. What would we say concerning the mother who gives birth to a child and then abandons her baby?
I. Most would be horrified and outraged.
J.
In the
K. Instead of receiving follow up care some are left to fend for themselves.
L. This isn’t right. It certainly is not God’s will.
M. When we fail to support and help new Christians we evade one of our spiritual duties.
15. The “G” in evangelism can be applied to giving.
A. To go into the world requires money.
B. We may need to pay for literature or teaching aids.
C. Those who teach are supported.
D. Efforts like our house-to-house work require funds.
E. The New Testament does not permit us to solicit funds from the world.
F. If we were to seek money from outside members of the church we would compromise the gospel.
1). In 1 Cor. 16:2 Paul said, “Let each one of you.”
2). This directive was given to Christians.
G. Giving is a necessary part of evangelism and giving is to be done by each member.
16. The next “E” in evangelism stands for “every one in class.”
17. One of the most valuable resources for any Christian is the weekly Bible class.
A. In a Bible class people can share experiences.
B. This is a way to learn about the Bible that is different from all other ways.
C. If we take the great commission seriously, the weekly Bible class is a resource that will help us.
D. Our classes can help us come to a better understanding of the scriptures.
E. Being in the classes allows us to study some passages in depth.
F. These times are periods when we can even see how some passages are misapplied.
G. I will be the first to tell you that every class is not going to be 5 stars.
H. There may be some classes that we don’t like or enjoy.
I. Regular attendance at weekly Bible classes will make us better Christians.
J.
Peter told God’s people to grow (2 Pet.
K. The Bible class is like fertilizer; it will people of all ages grow and mature.
L. It will better equip us to carry out the Great Commission.
18. When we think about the “L” in evangelism the word “lost” comes to mind.
19. Evangelism is all about saving those who are lost (unsaved).
20. As Christians we need to think about the unsaved.
21. We need to consider how we can turn people from the road of destruction to the way of life.
22. Paul explained his approach to evangelism in 1 Cor. 9:22 – READ.
23. We need to do whatever we can to help people find the Lord.
24. If we don’t they will be eternally lost.
25. If we do not tell people about salvation and show them the right way, who will?
26. When we apply the information that has been given we will see an increase.
27. The word “increases” is represented by the “I” in “evangelism.”
28. In the first century the members of the church evangelized and the church grew.
29. One of the places where this growth is described is Acts 5:14 – READ.
30. Another place where Paul described church growth is 1 Cor. 3:6.
31. He said that some planted; others watered; God gave the increase.
32. Today religious groups who compromise the gospel can grow. They do grow.
33. If we are trying to please God we are not interested in mere growth.
34. We must grow without compromising the gospel.
35. This must be our goal and how we proceed.
36. To be an effective member of the Lord’s army we must concentrate our attention on the right thing.
37. We must “set” (the “S” in evangelism) our mind on the things that God wants.
38. Paul described this in Col. 3:1-2 – READ.
39. God is concerned about what we do.
40. If we will “set our mind” on “things that are above” we will have the right “mission.”
41. The word “mission” brings us to the letter “M” (the last letter in “evangelism”).
42. For our scripture reading we heard portions of Mk. 16 and Mt. 28.
43. The church has a mission.
44. We are to teach people.
45. We are to teach people in our local area and throughout the world.
46. We will accomplish our goal when:
A. Every member is active, we engage in visitation, we contact absentees,
B. We involve new members, we give of ourselves and our means, everyone is in class,
C. We are saving those who are lost, and we live by the standard God has given.
47. We will increase and we will be the church of the New Testament.
48. These are the things that were done by the first century Christians.
49. These are the things that still need to be done today.
50. Are we committed to being the Lord’s spiritual body?
51. Do we see each day as another opportunity to point people to Jesus?
52. Have we ourselves been pointed to the Lord?
53. Has the gospel been presented to us? If it has, have we obeyed it?