12 Facts About Evangelism from Jesus – Part 2 Lk 10:1-16
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12 Facts about Evangelism from Jesus – Part 2 Lk 10:1-16 Intro: Last week we started investigating this passage in which Luke tells us about the instruction Jesus gave to 72 disciples being sent on an evangelistic mission. Let’s look back to the verses we covered in Lk 10 to bring ourselves back up to speed. Review: Luke 10:1-3 - After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. We began looking at the facts regarding evangelism from Jesus’ instruction. He is telling these 72 untrained men what they need to know about evangelism as he is sending them out. We looked at 5 facts last week. They were: Ev is for all Followers – “others” Ev is a Ripe Opportunity – “harvest” Ev needs more laborers – the problem Ev is a Matter for Prayer – the solution Ev is Risky – lambs in the midst of wolves Let’s see if we can get through the other 7 right now! Pray: Father we want to place our feet on the ground next to our teacher Jesus. We are the 600 “others” who need to hear what you have to say about evangelism. Emmanuel Baptist Church is filed with people who love the gospel. Help us be s convicted about it that we long to tell the lost people in our lives about this good news. Teach us and move us as we attune our ears to the instructing and powerful words of our master, Jesus. Jesus, we ask this in your name, amen. VI. Entails dependency (4) Look now to v. 4. Where we see fact number 6. We have seen a similar instruction before in Ch 9. Luke 10:4 - Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. What could this possibly tell us about evangelism? How does not having a money bag, food bag, or extra sandals, and greeting no one, tell us anything? It tells us much – three things, in fact. Let’s look at the items Jesus forbids them to bring and figure out what hey mean. Dependency Money bag and Knapsack = these are the bags in which you would carry provision. Money and food. Jesus is saying, when you go, I want you dependent upon me for your provisions. I will provide for you through those with whom you minister. Evangelism entails dependency…. You will never have everything you need, but go anyway. Never enough answers, money, confidence… go anyway. Art and science Evangelism is a balance between art and science. There technical non non-negotiable that must never be left out. The Gospel message contains truths that we cannot miss in our telling. But at the same time that this “science” exists, there also exists an art. Evangelism is about the relationship and unique situation of that person with whom you are talking. This is the art. You are trying to bring the truth of the gospel to a person so that they will believe it. Your presentation will depend upon that person’s need and current understanding. (Dennis’ testimony – came to Jesus through a study of creationism). The art and science both require dependency. You are dependent upon the bible for the gospel message and you are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to lead you ask you tell it. Remember Jesus’ words: Mark 13:11 - And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. VII. Evangelism entails sympathy (4) Back to that list of items Jesus forbids in v.4 Luke 10:4 - Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Sandals – Jesus also tells the 72 not to bring sandals. He is basically referring to extra sandals. Most poor people were lucky to have one pair of sandals. Rarely did anyone have two. People either wore sandals or went barefoot. Jesus was saying to his evangelists, when you go, you are going to poor people. Do not wear something that will set you apart from them. Don’t have all your luxury items with you. It is not about your comfort, it is about identifying with that lost person, who may not have anything. Evangelism entails sympathy… The Order of the Mustard Seed founded by Count Zinzendorf had three guiding principles, namely: 1. Be kind to all people. 2. Seek their welfare. 3. Win them to Christ. I will do what I must do so that I don’t get in the way of someone seeing the Good news of Jesus. 1 Cor 9:19-23 - For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. VIII. Evangelism entails urgency (4) One more item from v.4 Luke 10:4 - Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Greet no one on the road – Why is Jesus instructing his disciples to greet no one on their way to their appointed village? Because they have a mission to accomplish that cannot be interrupted. When people of a society like these people lived in met each other on the road, it could turn into a meal and an all-night event! Jesus is saying that evangelism entails dependency, sympathy, and urgency! How often do we get distracted on our way to talk to a friend about the lord? Almost every time! The conversation moves in other directions, or something like that. We need to know that our message is urgent and that nothing can stand in our way! IX. Spiritual Litmus Testing (5-6) Now let’s move on to v.5 where we need to dig just a little to get the gist of what Jesus is telling His disciples. Luke 10:5 - Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. Why telling them what to say first? Now Jesus is telling them what to say when they get invited into a home. Why is he doing that? Because He knows that the disciples has to direct the conversation and that the words He is telling them to say will do that. Peace to this house = an offer to receive God’s blessing What were the disciples to say? “peace to this house”. What does that mean? “Peace to this house” is not merely a statement. It is an offer that must be received. It is an offer of goodwill from God. When the disciple said this he was asking whether or not the person at that house was interested in receiving God’s blessing. It’s not a mere “God bless you”. It is a real question “are you interested in spiritual things?” The disciples are looking for people in whom God is already at work. Look at the rest of the verse. They are to wait for a response. Received or not Lk 10:6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. Here we see Jesus tell His disciples to see what their request does. Either their peace will be received or it will not. The person is interested in God’s blessing or he is not. Period. If he is, stay. If he is not, leave. Spiritual litmus testing What is going on here? Jesus is basically saying that evangelism is spiritual litmus testing. Evangelism is fishing for people interested in the things of God. If we believe that a person cannot come to Christ unless the father draws him (Jn 6:44), then the uninterested person cannot be convinced at that time. So we are looking for people who have some interest in spiritual things. This is who Jesus calls a son of peace. Son of Peace = a person God connects with the evangelist to receive the good news and work with that person to bring others in the community to Christ. It is Cornelius, Lydia, the woman at the well, and the Philippian jailer. How? – Build spiritual relationships How do you do this? How do you find so called “people of peace” or what we would call people who are prepped by God for the gospel? (it’s easy to lead these people to Jesus!!).