Shorthand notes are below and presentation slides are available for download in the “Save” circle above:
Story of Paige at Basketball
Story of Om at Acasia
Pray
Recap
God the Father is spirit – perfectly epitomizes qualities associated with masculine and
feminine in ancient world
o Compassion/mercy was typically seen as a matronly quality – perfectly displayed
by Yahweh and Jesus Christ
Matthew 9:35-36 “35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in
their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease
and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because
they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
“He had compassion” (Gk splagchnizomai) the feeling of being moved as to one’s
bowels, hence to be moved with compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the
seat of love and pity). The strongest word for pity in Greek and describes the
compassion which moves a man to the deepest depths of his being.
o C.H. Spurgeon notes that “The original word is a very remarkable one. It is not
found in classic Greek. The fact is, it was a word coined by the evangelists
themselves. They did not find one in the whole Greek language that suited their
purpose, and therefore they had to make one.”
Matthew 9:13 “…‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners.””
o What is mercy?
(Gk eleos) is the outward manifestation of a non-condescending pity for a
person, to be moved to show kindness or concern for someone in serious
need, to give help to the wretched, to relieve the miserable.
Mercy is an attitude toward a need that is compelled to take action to meet
that need.
Teaching on Evangelism
Matthew 9:37 “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few;”
Matthew 28:18-20 “…“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Evangelism, Greek = Euangelion, Latin = Evangelium, literally to bring good news or good
tidings
o Acts 21:8 “On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered
the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with
him.”
o Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers”
o 2 Timothy 4:5 “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the
work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
J. Mack Stiles book Evangelism defines the term simply, “Evangelism is teaching the
gospel with the aim to persuade”
o I might add the word “discerningly” before teach – we must rely on the Holy Spirit
to help us winsomely, wisely, share truth in the moments that the Lord gives us.
o teaching (not merely demonstrating or showing….requires speaking in an
instructive way)
the gospel (going to preach future sermons on the depth of the Gospel (good
news) of Jesus Christ)
aim to persuade – not just a conversation for the sake of proving your
position/argument or showcasing knowledge – aim is for persuasive agreement
toward greater/deeper agreement with the gospel
Engel Scale
o James Engel’s 1975 book, What’s Gone Wrong With The Harvest? A
Communication Strategy for the Church and World Evangelism
people usually view evangelism only in terms of conversion.
Leads to perspectives of “failure” in evangelism when talking about
Jesus and the good news
Engel Scale eliminates this false perspective (many versions of Engel Scale
now almost 50 years later)
helping someone take one more step towards God is “successful”
evangelism just as much as helping them over the final line
1 Cor. 3:6-9 “6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So
neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who
gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each
will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow
workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”
Doing the work of an evangelist – as everyone is called to do – doesn’t
exclusively mean that success must involve conversion. Obedient
evangelism involves helping people take one more step closer to Jesus
conversion for those who are dead and maturity for those who are
alive
Mothers (and fathers) no one more important than your children…but we all have
opportunity every day to be intentional when the opportunity is presented to help
people encounter Jesus through you, and move them one step closer to Him
We are to be moved by compassion to show mercy and teach the gospel with the aim to
persuade
Conclusion
Paige and Om story Conclusions
o Neither of these young ladies have come to faith in Jesus…I may never see Paige
again
When I see Om next, I’m looking forward to asking how her elbow is
o By God’s grace, I believe I was obedient to the call to help each of them take a
step closer to Jesus – that’s evangelism