We said first, we are people whom God wants to know! Entering into a right relationship with God where you actually know Him, worship Him, and grow close to Him is a gift the Bible says God is waiting to give you!
And second, knowing God means Living in Him. Our lives become enveloped in Him and we are no longer the “owners” of ourselves.
Today, I want to drive us towards understanding that:
Knowing God and Sharing Him with Others are the essence of Christian Living. These are the twin towers of purpose for which you were created!
Our theme verse for this series helps to frame those truths:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).
As for me, I want to live a life that is in alignment with God’s purposes for me. A life that is “overflowing with thankfulness”. If we are people whom God loves, and if He wants us to share Him with others, how can we do that? We must commit to having an “impact on our world”. We want to make an impact! But, maybe not like this fellow:
A man once counseled his son that if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a little gunpowder on his Cornflakes every morning. The son did this religiously, and he lived to the age of 93. When he died, he left 14 children, 28 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and a 15-foot hole in the wall of the crematorium. People want to make an impact, but they don¹t know how!
Each week, at the bottom of our programs we place our key phrase, “Impacting Our World for Christ”. I’d like to help you personalize that and make it “Impacting My World For Christ”.
Can you be involved in sharing your relationship with Christ with a hopeless world in a way that is natural, believable and effective? The answer is, yes! Who,me?
As you will learn, when God wants to evangelize a reached culture, He explains Himself through those individual believers He already has present in that culture.
God impacts people through His people.
After healing the demon-possessed man, Jesus tells him to:
Mark 5:19, "Go home to your family (world) and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
After Zaccheus was converted, Jesus said:
Luke 19:9, "Today salvation has come to this house (world)."
Then, His people impact their world
When Jesus healed the son of a royal official:
John 4:53, "...he and all his household (world) believed."
Now, God wants you to impact your world
In Acts 10, we see the first example of a Gentile world coming to Christ. Cornelius responded to the gospel presentation that Peter made and he and his household became believers. In reporting to the brothers in Jerusalem, Peter reflected:
Acts 11:14, "He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved."
Why is the “relational world” the place of greatest impact?
1) Faith demonstrated
We naturally have many more opportunities to share with those people we are with the most often. As a result, our faith can be demonstrated in our daily lives, which are constantly under scrutiny on a regular basis only in an world.
That's why the overwhelming majority of conversions have historically occurred in the confines of an extended family. Here are the percentages of those categories of people who found Christ under different circumstances:
- Special Need 1-2%
- Walk-In 2-3%
- Pastor 5-6%
- Visitation Program 1-2%
- Sunday School 4-5%
- Evangelistic Crusade .5%
- Other Church Program 2-3%
- Friend/Relative (Your World) 75-90%
2) Your life sparks the interest of your world.
The question of what to do as a Christian has always been overshadowed by who you are. While evangelistic technique is a vital study, the best way to prepare for effective sharing is to simply mature in your faith. It is one of the reasons that we are offering increasing resources to teach you about the Bible in daily life. It is the second half of our guiding vision for ministry (“believers will grow by systematic teaching and application of the Bible to their daily lives”).
I Peter 3:15a, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
The sequence is pretty simple: Your growth leads to their interest leads to their questions, which leads to your answers.
3) Your life silences the criticism of your world.
One of the most frustrating things that Christians have to contend with is the criticism of ignorant pagans. What's the most effective way to deal with criticism? Show 'em who is right!
I Peter 3:15b-16, "But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
4) Your life establishes the validity of your message.
A Ford salesman who tells you to come by and see him because the greatest vehicle in the world is made by Ford and then waves as he drives away in an Oldsmobile will probably not get your business. Neither will someone who preaches about God and lives like the Devil!
5) People are easily assimilated into the local church family.
Another significant aspect of world evangelism is the fact that after salvation, those people are effectively assimilated into the life of the church. They already have good friends who are involved. They naturally feel at home as soon as they arrive!
That's why opening effective channels of communication for Christ begins at home. Who makes up your world? Would you covenant right now to regularly pray for their eventual salvation, and then make a conscious effort to share Christ with them and incorporate them into the life of your church?
Make this your passion! It is literally the gift of life! Forever!
“that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God”(II Corinthians 5:19-20).
