Pastor John shared that our mandate for evangelism is a very important one, just like the yeast when bread is being baked. Without the yeast, baking would be virtually impossible. We are like speckles of leaven in dough. Each individual speckle, during the process of baking, would raise the dough and in the end bread is produced. The importance of the speckle can never be underestimated. Pastor John shared from 2 Corinthians 5:18 – 19 that because God reconciled with us through Jesus, He wants us to be partners with Him in the Ministry of reconciliation. This is the most urgent task at hand of everything that God has called us to do, because winning souls can only be done on this side of the world.
Sin separated us from God and trapped us in eternal damnation but it is God’s will that ALL should be saved. Hence, the ministry of reconciliation is the mandate God has given to us to bring the Gospel to the lost. The heart of God is such that God yearns for them to “come home” and as long as anyone believe that Jesus was raised from the dead (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9), they will be saved. On behalf of Christ, we are to “beg” people to “…believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” Acts 6:31).
As we who are saved start to live a changed or transformed life, we become witnesses and ministers of the Word. You do not have to be a Bible scholar to be a witness for Christ. In Acts 1:8, Jesus instructed us to be “witnesses” for Him. Witnessing is sharing what God has done in your life that points to His reality. We are to reach out to others and bring them into the Kingdom as well. We are not by-standers but co-laborers and partners with God in this ministry of reconciliation.
Pastor John shared how he led others to Christ and this includes reaching out to a mute person through simple sign language and to a rich Taiwanese lady through simply tearing a piece of paper artistically to share the gospel. Do not worry about how and when to reach out. As long as we are ready, God will give us ideas and empower us as long as the seed of God is planted.
It is our mandate to preach the Gospel! This is why the Great Commission is a command and not a request. It is also known as “co-mission” because we are partnering God in this ministry. In John 17:18 it clearly tells us that Jesus send us to preach the Gospel and that even Jesus came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:45). Jesus came sent by God on a specific mission – to give His life as a ransom for our redemption. Therefore every Christian is a missionary! All of us are missionaries and ambassadors by faith. We do not become missionaries by crossing the sea; we become a missionary by seeing the cross. God has made us representatives of Christ in whatever we do and wherever we are.
Let us start introducing other people to Christ and with the mandate in Luke 4:18 – 19, it is promised that God empowers us with His anointing to preach and demonstrate the good news. That is the first sermon of Jesus Christ – it is good news for hurting people, such as the poor, the sick, the blind, the oppressed and those who are bound. We have a life-saving message and the world is far more ready to hear it than we are willing to share it.
In closing, Ps John Koe shared that we need to overcome our inertia and fear. Work takes on new meaning when we understand that we are first a missionary. Our jobs and the places we are at, are but part of God’s “packaging” for us to reach those in our proximity or sphere of influence. Our mission is to preach the Gospel anywhere and anytime. All we need to do is to be ready to give an account of the hope that is within us in gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15). Let us be ready to share the gospel anytime and anywhere.
Discussion Questions
1. What caught your attention from Pastor John Koe’s sermon on evangelism? Why? [5 min]
2. Paul says in Romans 1:16 that he is not ashamed of the Good News about Christ. If evangelism is so important, why is it one of the least activities that Christians partake in? What are some fears associated with outreach and how to overcome? [15 min]
3a. What if you see yourself first as a missionary where you are now in your work, in the marketplace or in your school/institute – how would your perspective be different with the people around you, your superiors, your fellow colleagues or college friends? [10 min]
3b. What can cause your perspective to change? How would the change in perspective change the way you think, say or act? What will motivate you to make this change to be a witness for Christ? [10 min]
