An “Easter Church” Is Evangelical
Easter 7
May 4, 2008
Christ has risen! He has risen indeed!
As Christians, we confess that Christ has risen.
We believe that He has risen and lives in our hearts — but we also believe that we has truly and physically risen. We believe that the tomb of Christ is empty. We believe that the power of death has been broken – broken for Jesus and broken for us. We can’t begin to understand the divine power that rose Jesus from the dead. The more we try to understand it, the more astounded by it we become.
But — here is a truth that is even more astounding:
The same power that shattered the prison of death sets us free from all that binds us.
The very Spirit of God that rose Jesus from the dead can live in us to empowers us for the ministry God calls us to be doing in the world.
You see — resurrection power is for us, in us, and at work through us.
We can live as “Easter Christians” – we can be an “Easter Church”.
This means that we not only live in gratitude for our salvation and hope for the future, but we can also live lives that are filled with the power of God for His work in the world. We can be filled with His power and let His power touch every aspect of our lives.
We can be filled with His power – and let His power touch every aspect of our Church.
Christ has risen – and we can be “Easter Christians” – we can be an “Easter Church” – filled with the power of the risen Christ and doing the work of the risen Christ.
During this season of Easter we are looking at different aspects of what it means to be an “Easter Church” – filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly doing the work of Christ in the world.
We began 5 weeks ago by looking at John 20:19-31 – the story of Jesus and Thomas – and saw that an “Easter Church” believes.
4 weeks ago we added another aspect of what it means to be an “Ester Church” as we looked at Luke 24:13-35 – the story of Jesus – Cleopas – and another follower on the road to Emmaus – and saw that an “Easter Church” is on fire.
3 weeks ago we added a third aspect of what it means to be an “Easter Church” as we looked at John 10:1-10 – and saw that an “Easter Church” follows the leader.
2 weeks ago we looked at a fourth aspect of what it means to be an “Easter Church” as we looked at John 14:1-14 – and saw that an “Easter Church” takes comfort in Christ.
Last week we added yet another aspect to what it means to be an “Easter Church” as we looked at John 14:15-21 – and saw that an “Easter Church” makes a difference.
Today we conclude the Easter Season and conclude our look at what it might mean to be an “Easter Church” as we look at John 17:1-11 – and see that an “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
Listen to God’s word in John 17:1-11
Read scripture
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
What do you think of when you hear the word: Evangelism?
What about the word: Evangelical?
Well — what about the word: Evangelist?
Or the words: Share your faith?
Do these words conjure up positive images for you?
Do you feel some ownership to these words – like they describe you – or what you feel you should be?
Do you feel that you are supposed to be doing evangelism – that you are to be an evangelist – and that you are supposed to be sharing your faith?
Or do you feel that these are things for “someone else” to do – but not you?
Several years ago I attended an Evangelism Conference at Columbia Theological Seminary – and learned that the way we think about evangelism has a lot to do with the way we do evangelism.
Christ has risen – and we can be “Easter Christians” – we can be an “Easter Church” – filled with the power of the risen Christ and doing the work of the risen Christ.
One thing that means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
So – what do you think of when you hear the word evangelical?
What do you think of when you hear the word evangelism?
Going out and bringing people to Christ?
Going door to door and witnessing?
These have been images of evangelism for many people. And it is not something that many people want to be a part of.
What about the word evangelist?
What do you think of when you hear the word evangelist?
Someone with a floppy, well – thumped Bible who stands and yells at you until you finally give up and make a decision for Christ – just to get them to be quiet?
Someone who will get the pianist to play “Just As I Am” 100 times if necessary until people respond?
I heard a joke not long ago about a Revival Preacher who ended his message on the final night of meetings with the usual invitation. The pianist played and played – but no one came forward.
Finally a young boy came down the aisle –
the preacher praised God and said
“And a little child shall lead them!” –
and
“Who else is God speaking to – right now?”
and the boy went straight to the front of the Church – then turned right to go out the exit door to the rest rooms.
Not exactly the response the preacher wanted!
This is the image that many have of an evangelist – and for many it is not a very positive one!
What about sharing your faith?
What do you think of when you hear these words?
Passing out tracks of pamphlets?
Going up to someone and starting a conversation by saying:
“If you were to die do you know where you would go?”
This is the image that many have of sharing your faith – and again — for many it is not a very positive one!
Many people do not have a very positive image of evangelism – or of evangelists – or of sharing their faith. And since they do not have a positive image of it, they do not take part in it – leaving it to someone else – feeling that there is no
way they are going to take part in evangelism – or being an evangelist – or sharing their faith.
And yet — one thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
But – as I have already noted — the way we think about evangelism has a lot to do with the way we do evangelism.
The image we have of being evangelical has a lot to do with whether or not we are going to be evangelicals!
The negative ideas we have about evangelism have a lot to do with why we do not do evangelism.
Presbyterians have not done a very good job at evangelism in the past few years – and we have lost many members and not gained many more because of it. A recent study of the major denominations showed that the Presbyterian Church (USA) lost thousands of members every year – leading the way in membership loss of the 25 top denominations.
Yea – We’re Number One!
But membership loss is not something you want to be number 1 in!
Maybe we need to take another look at evangelism – evangelists – being evangelical — and sharing your story!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
But – what does it really mean to be evangelical?
What is evangelism?
What is an evangelist?
What does it mean to share your story?
And – is it something everyone should be doing?
The original meaning of them word evangelism – in the original Greek – means sharing the good news!
So – an evangelist is someone who shares good news.
And sharing your story means sharing how the good news has affected your life.
What if we were to think about evangelism as sharing the good news of God’s love?
What if we were to think about an evangelist as being someone who shares the good news of God’s love?
What if we were to think about of evangelical as being someone who shares the good news of God’s love?
What if we were to think of sharing your story as sharing how God has touched your life and changed your life?
And – what if we were to think that this work of evangelism – this commitment to being evangelicals – this sharing the good news of God’s love – was everyone’s job?
One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
What if we all took the role of evangelism – sharing the good news of God’s love – personally – seriously — and became involved in it—passionate about it – excited about it?
We may lose our number 1 ranking of being the top denomination as far are losing members.
Our churches may grow – and more and more people come to know about Christ.
But first we need to let it sink in that
evangelism does not have to be going out and bringing people to Christ
evangelism does not have to be going door to door and witnessing
evangelism is simply sharing the good news of the love of God in the best way you can do it.
An evangelists do not have to be someone with a floppy, well – thumped Bible who stands and yells at you until you finally give up and make a decision for Christ – just to get them to be quiet —
evangelists do not have to be someone who will get the pianist to play “Just As I Am” 100 times if necessary until people respond.
evangelists are simply people who try to share the good news of God’s love in every way they can.
No — sharing your faith does not have to be passing out tracks of pamphlets — sharing your faith does not have to be going up to someone and starting a conversation by saying:
“If you were to die do you know where you would go?”
sharing your faith is using any method you can to tell others about the good things God is doing in your life.
Evangelism is sharing the good news of God’s love!
Being an evangelist is being someone committed to sharing the good news of God’s love!
Being an evangelical is being someone committed to sharing the good news of God’s love!
Sharing your story is using any method you can to share the good news of God’s love!
And we are all called to do evangelism – to be evangelists – to be evangelicals — and to share the good news of God’s love!
One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
Our scripture passage before us today – John 17:1-26 – is a prayer Jesus prayed for His followers – and those who would come after them – at the Last Supper. A beautiful prayer for those who – with the strength of the Holy Spirit – would be doing the work of Jesus in the world – sharing the good news of God’s love with others in words and actions.
It is a prayer for evangelists – a prayer for evangelicals — a prayer for those involved in evangelism – a prayer for those involved in sharing the good news of God’s love with the world.
It’s a prayer for each of us.
Churches need to be “evangelizing communities” — or communities that are committed to spreading the good news of God’s love!
Christians need to be busy telling how God has shown them love — and can show love to others!
We all have a story to tell — the story of God’s love.
That’s what evangelism is!
That’s what being an evangelist is!
That’s what being an evangelical is!
That’s what sharing your story is all about!
One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
Dr. Leighton Ford, the brother in law of Billy Graham and at one time one who would preach along with Dr. Graham at many of the crusades they held around the world, was one of the main speakers at the conference referred to earlier. The point he kept driving home was the need to do evangelism. We all can not do it like Billy Graham or Leighton Ford – but we all can do it some way.
We all can share the love of God with the world.
We all can tell our story of God’s love.
We all can be evangelicals!
We all can do evangelism!
Dr. Ford asked each of us to think about the first person who shared the love of God with us. He said that for most of us it was probably not a “Bible thumping” preacher – the Evangelist who conjures up negative images in our minds – but a loving friend – or parent – or grandparent – who simply told us that God loved us in a way that made that love real for us.
That’s what evangelism is!
That’s what being an evangelist is!
That’s what an evangelical does!
That’s what sharing your story is all about!
And – that ‘s what we need to be committed to doing!
Not just as a denomination that is losing thousands of members a year.
Not just as a Church.
But also as individual Christians – called to be evangelists – called to be evangelicals – called to be people of faith with a story to tell!
One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
So – how can we be evangelists – people committed to sharing the good news of God’s love with the world?
Well – first of all it takes prayer.
We need to be in prayer that God will excite us – and give us a way to share the good news with others.
If we are going to be evangelicals – if we are going to be people who are committed to being evangelicals – if we are going to be people committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world and with the community – the first thing we are going to have to be is be people who are committed to prayer.
We need to pray that God will give us a vision for how He would have us to share His love with those around us.
George Bullard is a nationally known church consultant who heads us The Columbia Partnership — a group of Church leaders who help churches learn how to grow – and is the author of one of the books I’m currently reading — Pursuing The Full Kingdom Potential Of Your Congregation.
In it he discusses steps a congregation can take to reach the potential God has in store for it.
Can you guess what the first step might be?
The first step towards reaching the full Kingdom potential of the congregation – the full potential God has in store for a congregation — is for the congregation to engage in a time of prayer.
The first step Bullard suggests for the members of a congregation who want their church to reach their full potential for God’s glory is for them to pray for God to give them a vision for exactly how God wants it to “evangelize” their community – exactly what steps God wants it to take to tell those around it about God and God’s love.
God has a lot of ways for His people to tell about His love – the members of a church just have to pray and discuss and study and see what options God is calling them to be doing as they go about the business of being an evangelical church – a church committed to sharing the love of God with those around them.
One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
So – what is our first step to being the evangelical Church God wants us to be?
It is prayer.
We need to pray for God to give us a vision for exactly how God wants us to “evangelize” this community – exactly what steps God wants us to take to tell those around us about God and God’s love.
God has a lot of ways for us to tell about His love – we just have to pray and discuss and study and see what options God is calling us to be doing as we go about the business of being an evangelical church – a church committed to sharing the love of God with those around us.
So – what is your first step to being the evangelical Christian – the evangelist – God wants us to be?
It is prayer.
You need to pray for God to give you a vision for exactly how God wants you to “evangelize” this community – exactly what steps God wants you to take to tell those around you about God and God’s love.
God has a lot of ways for you to tell about His love – you just have to pray and see what options God is calling you to be doing as you go about the business of being an evangelical Christian – a Christians committed to sharing the love of God with those around you.
There is a second step also.
Second – we have to have tell our story.
We all have a story to tell.
Has God changed your life?
Has God made a difference in your life?
If so – tell the story!
If not – listen to someone else’s story – so you can learn what God can do for you!
So – we have 2 things to work on to become the excited – powerful – evangelical — Easter Church God calls us to be.
You have 2 things to work on to become the excited – powerful – evangelical Easter Christian God calls you to be.
We have to pray.
We have to tell our story.
You have to pray.
You have to tell your story.
But – there is a third thing.
Thirdly – we have to be willing to go out into the world – into the community — and tell that story of how God has changed our lives.
In the past we could just sit back and wait for folks to come to the Church – but things are different now. Now the Church – and that means each of us – particularly that means you — have to be willing to go out and take the message of God’s love into the community.
Times have changed.
The world is a different place than it used to be.
The church is not as important to people as it used to be – but the message of the church – the good news of God’s love – still needs to be proclaimed – more so now than ever before. But we have to take it to the people instead of expecting the people to come to us to hear it.
There are 3 ways we can respond to the changes in the world – in the culture – in the community —
We can fight it.
We can change with it.
Or – we can see how God is still working in the world – how God is at work in the community — identify the places God is working – and be a part of that work.
The third option is the option of Christ – who prayed to God to bless His followers as they take His message into the world – just as He had done.
Unless we are willing to take the message of God’s love into the world – unless we are willing to be evangelicals – unless we are willing to be evangelists — every day – the message of God’s love will not change or make a difference in our community – and we are failing in our call to be the Church – the Christians – God calls us to be.
One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
We are honoring our graduates today.
Tyler – Davey – and Kim – you have all accomplished many things – and – I am sure – will accomplish many more things in your lives.
As you begin a new phase of your lives – I want to encourage you to be evangelists – to be evangelicals – to take the steps that will help you share God’s love with those you come into contact with every day.
Pray
Tell your story.
Go out into the world sharing God’s love.
And – know that Jesus’ prayer for the Spirit to be with His followers has been answered. As you pray – tell you story – and share God’s love – the Spirit will strengthen you.
If we are going to be the “evangelical” Church God has called us to be —
We will all have to pray.
We will all have tell our story. .
We will all have to go out into the community.
But – as we do these things – we will all have the Holy Spirit with us!
That’s what evangelism is!
That’s what being an evangelist is!
That’s what being an evangelical is all about!
That’s what sharing your story is all about!
That’s what being an “Easter Christian” – filled with the power of Christ – is all about!
That’s what being an “Easter Church” – filled with the power of Christ – is all about!
That’s what reaching our potential for the glory of God is all about!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!
Amen.
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