Time for a new sermon snipet. I'll be breaking this week's sermon into two sections. First, "Why Share Your Faith?" and second, "Can A Person Really Change?". This first section of the sermon really explains why I feel compelled to put my sermon notes on my blog and why I feel like I should share my faith.
There are two reasons we share our faith.
1. FEAR OF THE LORD. 2 Corinthians 5:11 says, "Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men."
As Christians, we must tell others the good news. God has commanded us to share our faith and we have a fear of God. We know one day God will look at our life and ask us, not if we believed in Him, but what we've done to further His Kingdom. We will be held accountable and rewarded for our actions and obedience. On that day, I want the Lord to say "Job well done." not "Why didn't you do more?" So I will set my sights on sharing my faith more every day.
- "For we will all stand before God's judgement seat. It is written: "'As surely as I live', says the Lord, 'every knee shall bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." Romans 14:10b-12
We aim to please the One who has given us life. We should ask ourselves "Who are we aiming to please?". Who is the commanding officer of your army? Are you living for worldly, fleeting pleasures? Or are you striving to fulfill what has been commanded of us by our Heavenly Father?
- "So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body (on this Earth) or away from it (in Heaven)." 2 Corinthians 5:9
- "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10
- "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer." 2 Timothy 2:4
2. The Love of Christ "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
God loves us. What an amazing statement! We, who are so unworthy, are loved by a majestic God. We should want to share the good news because we are loved by Christ.
- "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
- "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
- "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10
Also, we must share God's love in a method of love. There are two parts to sharing God's love: meeting needs and sharing the message. One without the other just isn't good enough. Lots of people can meet people's earthly needs, but are they telling them about what will save their eternal life? On the other hand, if you can't have compassion for people and meet their physical needs (as Jesus did for so many), why should they listen to what you have to say about Christ? These two components are essential for sharing the Word of God.
Ultimately, these two reasons are why I share my faith. Tune in tomorrow to find out if people can really change.
(Part 1 of the sermon preached by Jarrett Stephens on 5.8.10 at Prestonwood Baptist Church)
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