10-05-08 Sermon Review

Christ-centered Evangelism
John 4:27-42

There is no doubt in my mind that the greatest work we can apply ourselves to is the Great Commission. I believe with all my heart that it is God's will for us to take this work seriously and diligently work for its completion. Many realize the significance of Jesus' command, "God and make disciples of all nations," but sadly, many have also given in to the market-driven mentality of church growth movements. During a time when mega churches are on the rise but faithfulness to Christ is low, we really need to ask some serious questions about our evangelism methods. In a day where marketing techniques are the norm for evangelism, it is necessary for us to sit down and see what the Bible has to say about evangelism. What is amazing is that the Bible is not silent on this topic. Today in our text, we see a glimpse of true evangelism taking place as the Samaritan woman's story comes to a conclusion.

The motive for Evangelism - As the Samaritan woman realizes the significance of Jesus' words, John tells us that she "left her water pot, and went into the city" (4:28). Though we cannot conclude exactly why she left the jar, we can conjecture that she felt a sense of immediacy and joy from speaking with Jesus Christ that she was aroused to action. Lesslie Newbigin writes, "Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus i alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told. Who could be silent about such a fact? The mission of the Church in the pages of the New Testament is like the fallout from a vast explosion, a radioactive fallout which is not lethal but life-giving." What drives you to share the Gospel? Do you feel compelled to share Jesus Christ because you have seen His glory and His salvation? Or is it that you know it is evangelism is a Christian duty, but feel that He is not really worth sharing? Let us never preach the Gospel out of mere duty. We must preach because we have encountered the God-man, Jesus who can save the sinner and set the captives free. You must truly believe He's worth sharing before you share Him with others.

The message of Evangelism - Now, if we are motivated by joy and knowing Jesus Christ, what then is the message that we must share? What we see here from the text is that the Samaritan woman made Christ the center of her message. She said, "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?" (4:29). "See" here is the same word John the Baptist used when he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Her basic message was a call to examine Jesus, and to see whether or not He is the Christ. In a lot of our Gospel-sharing, we forget that we need to call people to examine Christ. We tell people to receive God's love, to confess their sins, but we forget to lead them to examine Christ so that they can "confess with [their] mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in [their] heart that God raised Him from the dead" (Romans 10:9). We must not forget that we are called to proclaim Christ, and not the benefits of knowing Christ. If we do, we will highlight His gifts and not Him. People will seek the gifts and bypass Christ; they will look like Christians, but they will be wholly without Christ.

The marvel of Evangelism - Lastly, we must marvel at this great work of Evangelism, namely that Christ uses the weak like us to do His work. The Samaritan woman, who was an outcast, in one meeting with Christ became the bearer of good news for the whole city! "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things" (Romans 10:15). God was able to use such a woman to bring many to know Christ; that is something marvelous. Do you feel inadequate to share the Gospel? God can still use you. Do you still you're too great of a sinner to be able to share the Gospel? God can still use you. The marvel is this: God uses people like you and me to do His mighty work. The market-driven mentality has discouraged many from doing personal evangelism, convincing them to leave the job of sharing the Gospel to the professionals. The Christian's duty is not to share Christ but to bring them to church. Let us never forget that we, the individuals, are the vessels that God uses to carry His good news. I am no more useful to the Lord than you are. John Macarthur is no more useful to the Lord than you are. John Piper is no more useful to the Lord than you are. The reason why all of us can be effective in this work is not because we are great, but the God who commissioned us and empowered us is great. Let us marvel that God used the Samaritan woman. Let us marvel that He will use us as well.

Christian, if you are saved, you have come to know the King of kings and Lord of Lords. you have come to know the Savior of the world. He is valuable. He is precious. He is amazing. He is worth sharing. We hold the message of the Gospel that is called the "power of God for salvation" (Romans 3:16). And we are all individually called by God to carry the good news. Will you this day decide that your highest calling will be to make disciples of all nations? Oh I pray that as you go to your schools, to your friends, to your work places, and share Jesus Christ with others, the same kind of revival will take place as it did when the Samaritan woman went into the city. "And they were saying to the woman, 'It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world'" (4:42). May God bless and confirm the work of your hands. Stay strong and God bless!