My sermon notes for Sunday, Nov 3rd. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net
WHY SHARE THE GOSPEL – THE NEED
Because of THE GREAT NEED
(A very great need)
Intro/Thoughts
Matthew 4:18–22 – [19] And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (read all of text)
We are called to be FISHERS OF MEN. (We are failing miserably)
- The call is to FOLLOW HIM, LEARN FROM HIM, SERVE HIM
We possibly have forgotten the GREAT NEED of the Gospel being shared. We need a little reminder and a little motivation.
2 Things to consider this morning.
- People are lost and going to hell (rough, but true)
- People need relationship with God and one another . Once saved they become part of the family of God.
THE NEED
Divine Conversion/Redemption
People need the Lord. People are lost. People are separated from God.
THE PEOPLE JESUS ARE REFERRING TO ARE LOST (the fish)
- Hopeless and Helpless
- Sinful and Separated
- Damned and Desperate
2 Timothy 3:1–4 – [1] But understand this, that in the last days
- Last days are now – began with the coming of the Spirit
- Lovers of self rather than God.
- 3:23 – Fall short of the glory of God.
- They think they measure up, BUT GOD’S HOLINESS is the standard.
- HE ALONE IS WORTHY!
- 4:8 &11 “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty.” “Worthy are you, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created”
Luke 18:1-24 (the example of the rich young ruler)
- Not about wealth, morality, or standing.
- He had the DONE what HE THROUGH WAS NECESSARY
YET, LACKED THE ONE THING
- True repentance.
- Jesus knew the heart. More of self rather than the kingdom. (vv. 23-24)
- Kingdom verse Self. (v. 29 for the sake of the Kingdom)
- The idea of I GOT THIS. NO YOU DO NOT.
Individually, our family, friends, and neighbors are lost.
- WE NEED TO MAKE IT PERSONAL!!!!
Why share the Gospel? Because people we know, live with, work around are lost, separated from God, and have an eternal destiny of hopelessness and lostness.
Divine Fellowship/Relationship
People need relationship and fellowship.
- In the beginning we were created with perfect fellowship with God and with one another (Adam and Eve)
Because people are separated from God, they also have no relationship with God or the people of God.
- As we have relationship with God, we also have a relationship with one another.
Not that we will ever see perfection in our world, but imagine a city transformed by the Gospel. A community in relationship with God and with one another.
Why share the Gospel? Because people need to belong to the FAMILY OF GOD!
I think we forget… when someone comes to Christ, they change… they become part of the family and household of God.
- There allegiance changes
- Their thinking changes
- Their motives change.
Imagine if everyone you worked with loved the things of the Lord.
- Loved God
- Loved truth
- Loved the Church
- Loved one another
We then have common goals and understanding. We have a true friendship and oneness in Christ.
Ephesians 1:4-5 – Adoption to Himself.
Ephesians 2:19 – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (ESV)
Romans 8:14–17 – [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” [16] The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)
Think about it…
- A life changes
- A family changes
- A church changes
- A city changes
This transformation takes place as someone repents of their sin and trust Christ alone for their salvation. Their sins are forgiven and they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. They are adopted into the household of God. Then and only then does one see real life change.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Matthew 4:18–22 – [18] While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. [19] And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” [20] Immediately they left their nets and followed him. [21] And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. [22] Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (ESV)
2 Timothy 3:1–4 – [1] But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (ESV)
Luke 18:18–30 – [18] And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [19] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” [21] And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” [22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [23] But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. [24] Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! [25] For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [26] Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” [27] But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” [28] And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” [29] And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, [30] who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (ESV)
Ephesians 1:3–10 – [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (ESV)