Outreach only goes as far as the faith does.
When we began covering this subject of evangelism in June we started with a few men on a boat.
They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
And, I'm willing to bet, no one here knew where this would go either.
These men have heard some wild tales. Stories from the Savior.
Parables, they are called.
Jesus uses them for a special purpose. To keep the message of the Kingdom hidden.
Hidden from a people who have long sought for the wrong thing.
They have looked for relief, but in the wrong places.
In Old Testament times, from idols made of stone, gold or rock.
In New Testament times, from rulers, governors and messiahs.
And, now, this Messiah stands in front of them and calls them to come and follow.
What have they heard? What have they seen?
The miracles they have witnessed. The world they have encountered.
All for one purpose. To enrich their faith.
Faith. It what the Christian life needs.
It is the oil that makes the engine run. Without it the engine would seize and lock up.
The smallest little bit of faith can grow and blossom and become something great.
Jesus told his followers exactly that.
When we began covering this subject of evangelism in June we started with a few men on a boat.
They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
And, I'm willing to bet, no one here knew where this would go either.
These men have heard some wild tales. Stories from the Savior.
Parables, they are called.
Jesus uses them for a special purpose. To keep the message of the Kingdom hidden.
Hidden from a people who have long sought for the wrong thing.
They have looked for relief, but in the wrong places.
In Old Testament times, from idols made of stone, gold or rock.
In New Testament times, from rulers, governors and messiahs.
And, now, this Messiah stands in front of them and calls them to come and follow.
What have they heard? What have they seen?
The miracles they have witnessed. The world they have encountered.
All for one purpose. To enrich their faith.
Faith. It what the Christian life needs.
It is the oil that makes the engine run. Without it the engine would seize and lock up.
The smallest little bit of faith can grow and blossom and become something great.
Jesus told his followers exactly that.
Mark 4:30-34
New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
The Kingdom of God. Do we really grasp what it is?
Jesus has told he followers in other places that the kingdom of God was like seed that was scattered on the ground. It needs to find good soil so it can take root.
Jesus has said that the kingdom of God belongs to little children. The disciples wanted to keep the children from him. Maybe they will bother the Messiah, get in the way. But, he says, "Come".
Jesus has proclaimed that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. It's easier for a camel to thread the eye of a needle. What in the world does that mean?
In every instance where Jesus speaks about the kingdom there is an unmissable, unsaid notion that he is eluding to the subject of faith.
Faith is what it takes to enter the kingdom.
Faith is what it takes to grow the kingdom.
Faith is what it takes to part with all we have and follow.
We looked at the word earlier this summer, but it begs another look.
Definition of FAITH
noun
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion
b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant faith>
In this summer of evangelism, we have been looking at the subject from many different angles.
Let us now look at it head on from the subject of faith.
It takes faith to make this church work.
It takes faith the reach out and share what we have.
It takes faith to get up on Sunday morning and come here to this service.
When Jesus spoke to these disciples on that shore, long ago, and beckoned them to come...
"Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
Some might call that blind faith. Webster's had something to note there also.
— on faith
belief and trust in and loyalty to God. There it is! Our central focus. We need God to lead and guide us. He shows us where to go. We pour our hearts out to him and trust that he will show us the right way. He couldn't have given any clearer instructions to his disciples.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Which brings another point of that definition out...belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion.
What the Law and the Prophets? Essentially, everything these people believed. Everything they hung their hats on and trusted in. What essentially were the Law and the Prophets doing? Simply showing the world around them the truth about the almighty God. Sounds like a good evangelism technique.
Let your light shine. Use your saltiness to flavor the world around you.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
It takes faith to shine your light. It takes faith to put yourself out there in hopes that you can be of use to God somehow. So...why don't we see our altars lined with folks and people seeking the Lord? Are we short on faith? Are we afraid to share our faith? AH, that might be a question of more importance. Where is our faith? What are we doing with it? Do we have anything to share at all? Are we afraid the world might not understand or we might be thought less of?
firm belief in something for which there is no proof. That's the kicker, isn't it? Having to share what we believe and not really knowing how to back it up. How to explain it. How to define it. People have questions and we are supposed to have the answers. To often we are left with our knees shaking and our tongues searching for some place to hide.
The popular term now is to call is your faith story. There are many websites out there now where you can go to learn how to share your story, what you believe. Max Lucado has a good one called His Story, Our Story. But hearing someone else's experience of sharing the story might be the best motivator of all. Listen to this one from a lady speaking on her faith and her marraige.
Let us now look at it head on from the subject of faith.
It takes faith to make this church work.
It takes faith the reach out and share what we have.
It takes faith to get up on Sunday morning and come here to this service.
When Jesus spoke to these disciples on that shore, long ago, and beckoned them to come...
"Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
Some might call that blind faith. Webster's had something to note there also.
— on faith
: without question <took everything he said on faith>
As much as I don't want people to take everything I say on faith, to often they do.
What choice do they have? They have come to sit and listen to me and they have to presume that I know what I'm talking about. What I am presenting must be the truth. alliegance to a duty or person
People get wrapped up in the person they are following. The tend to repeat the words coming out of their mouths. You see it on Facebook all day long. People re-posting this televangelist's words or that author's thoughts. fidelity to one's promises. sincerity of intention. I think people want to be authentic. They have a desire to be true. They put their faith in people and things hoping this or that will get them to a true point and place in life. But, is there something we still lack?
As much as I don't want people to take everything I say on faith, to often they do.
What choice do they have? They have come to sit and listen to me and they have to presume that I know what I'm talking about. What I am presenting must be the truth. alliegance to a duty or person
People get wrapped up in the person they are following. The tend to repeat the words coming out of their mouths. You see it on Facebook all day long. People re-posting this televangelist's words or that author's thoughts. fidelity to one's promises. sincerity of intention. I think people want to be authentic. They have a desire to be true. They put their faith in people and things hoping this or that will get them to a true point and place in life. But, is there something we still lack?
belief and trust in and loyalty to God. There it is! Our central focus. We need God to lead and guide us. He shows us where to go. We pour our hearts out to him and trust that he will show us the right way. He couldn't have given any clearer instructions to his disciples.
Matthew 7:7-12
New International Version (NIV)
Ask, Seek, Knock
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Which brings another point of that definition out...belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion.
What the Law and the Prophets? Essentially, everything these people believed. Everything they hung their hats on and trusted in. What essentially were the Law and the Prophets doing? Simply showing the world around them the truth about the almighty God. Sounds like a good evangelism technique.
Let your light shine. Use your saltiness to flavor the world around you.
Matthew 5:13-16
New International Version (NIV)
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
It takes faith to shine your light. It takes faith to put yourself out there in hopes that you can be of use to God somehow. So...why don't we see our altars lined with folks and people seeking the Lord? Are we short on faith? Are we afraid to share our faith? AH, that might be a question of more importance. Where is our faith? What are we doing with it? Do we have anything to share at all? Are we afraid the world might not understand or we might be thought less of?
firm belief in something for which there is no proof. That's the kicker, isn't it? Having to share what we believe and not really knowing how to back it up. How to explain it. How to define it. People have questions and we are supposed to have the answers. To often we are left with our knees shaking and our tongues searching for some place to hide.
The popular term now is to call is your faith story. There are many websites out there now where you can go to learn how to share your story, what you believe. Max Lucado has a good one called His Story, Our Story. But hearing someone else's experience of sharing the story might be the best motivator of all. Listen to this one from a lady speaking on her faith and her marraige.
"We began to pray every morning as we had coffee in our bedroom."
When I look back, thinking of what about my faith I’d share, I think of a simple practice my husband and I began 30 years ago. It started with a parish retreat we made together. It was about marriage. We weren’t having big marriage problems. But, the wear and tear of our being different from each other was beginning to show. I liked to talk about my experiences. We husband didn’t. I was more emotional. He wasn’t. You know the pattern. Well, at this retreat, they suggested that we pray together. My first thought was, “That’s too idealistic. In fact, it’s impossible.” But, the thing that attracted both of us – and became the compromise that made it work – was that we didn’t have to use words. All we had to do was sit together, at the same time, in the same place, each morning. Each of us was to pray individually, but to do it with each other.
When I look back, thinking of what about my faith I’d share, I think of a simple practice my husband and I began 30 years ago. It started with a parish retreat we made together. It was about marriage. We weren’t having big marriage problems. But, the wear and tear of our being different from each other was beginning to show. I liked to talk about my experiences. We husband didn’t. I was more emotional. He wasn’t. You know the pattern. Well, at this retreat, they suggested that we pray together. My first thought was, “That’s too idealistic. In fact, it’s impossible.” But, the thing that attracted both of us – and became the compromise that made it work – was that we didn’t have to use words. All we had to do was sit together, at the same time, in the same place, each morning. Each of us was to pray individually, but to do it with each other.
So, we began to to pray every morning as we had
coffee in our bedroom, in two easy chairs before the kids got up. This
simple practice got us through all kinds of challenging bumps in the
road. It got us through our child raising years and all through our
empty nest years. Eventually, we did share some things. It began by
our just talking about things in our day and stuff we were bringing to
prayer. Eventually, the way a married couple does, we knew each other
so well, that we knew what we were each talking to God about. This
little practice became the center of our faith live and our private
connection with each other, in faith, each day. Very few people ever
knew we did it, but as I look back, it was the most important
foundation of our faith throughout our adult married lives.
A few moments each day to pray. Someone close to you to support you.
We find out faith in the simplest of places and it can carry us into and through the most difficult.
And, so I challenge you as we finish this morning...
Where can you share your little bit of faith?
A few moments each day to pray. Someone close to you to support you.
We find out faith in the simplest of places and it can carry us into and through the most difficult.
And, so I challenge you as we finish this morning...
Where can you share your little bit of faith?
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