Yass Community Baptist Church
Part VIII of our series 'To The Ends Of The Earth'
Acts 13:1-5 NIV
Do you like Green Eggs and Ham?
'Green Eggs and Ham' is a classic childrens story about trying new things. It raises the question as to whether we have a reason for refusing things we don't understand, and encourages us to try new things.
We all have our 'Green Eggs and Ham' moments. Times when we refuse to try something new for fear that we will not like it, or it won't be what we expect.
What has been one of your 'Green Eggs and Ham' moments?
And what does any of this have to do with taking the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth?
It's just not my calling / someone else is better at it / I'll do it later in life
(fill in your excuse here)
The book of Acts, and in fact the whole New Testament makes clear that every Christian is called to tell people about Jesus.
Mission and Evangelism is the number one responsibility of the church. The church in Antioch embraced this calling when it sent out their best pastors and preachers to tell others about Jesus.
Acts 1:8 NIV
Acts 13:2-5 NIV
Do you like evangelism?
I do not like it Sam I am, I do not like evangelism!
Most Christians understand that God wants them to tell other people about Jesus, but many struggle deeply with evangelism.
A 2012 LifeWay Research study in the USA found that 80% of churchgoers believed that they had a responsibility to share their faith, but only 39% actually had shared about how to become a Christian in the past six months.
We do not like evangelism, so they say.
But try it, try it, and you may...
The life story of the apostle Paul
The rest of the book of Acts centers on the life story of the Apostle Paul, the persecutor of the church turned evangelist, and his efforts to take the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth and into every nook and cranny.
I will share it while in chains
Acts 16:23-34 NIV
I will share it in the synagogues
Acts 17:1-4 NIV
I will share it in the marketplace
Acts 17:16-18 NIV
I will share it in the public square
Acts 17:19-23 NIV
I will share it in houses
Acts 18:5-8 NIV
I will share it in the courthouse
Acts 26:26-29 NIV
I will share it on a ship
Acts 27:23-26 NIV
I will share it on an island
Acts 28:1-9 NIV
I will share it in Rome
Acts 28:23-24 NIV
Acts 26:29 NIV
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV
Acts 28:31 NIV
You do not like it so you say. Try it! Try it! And you may! Try it and you may, I say.
For many Christians evangelism is like Green Eggs and Ham. We don’t like it but we haven’t really ever tasted it.
The key to loving evangelism is loving Jesus. Jesus is so good, so good, you see! Don’t wait for the big platform, or the big moment, simply fall in love with Jesus and tell other people about him.
Don’t be anxious about having the right words, or a great speech. Don’t worry about telling people the whole story of the bible in one mouthful. Just tell people something, anything about Jesus.
Luke 12:11-12 NIV
Acts 5:42 NIV
So... what will you do?
I will tell them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
Jesus is so good, so good, you See!
So I will tell them in a box.
And I will tell them with a fox.
And I will tell them in a house.
And I will tell them with a mouse.
And I will tell them here and there.
I will tell them ANYWHERE!
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