WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT EVANGELISM IS AND WHY WE NEED TO DO IT.  TODAY WE ARE GOING TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES THINKING ABOUT HOW TO BE AN EVANGELIST.  HOW DO YOU TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS WITHOUT OFFENDING THEM OR INTRUDING INTO THEIR SPACE OR IMPOSING YOUR BELIEFS ON THEM?  WHAT DOES JESUS WANT US TO DO AND HOW DOES HE WANT US TO DO IT?

        ONCE AGAIN, THERE ARE 10% OF US WHO ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW WHO HAVE THE UNIQUE AND POWERFUL SPIRITUAL GIFT OF EVANGELISM.  THESE FOLKS HAVE A SPECIAL POWER GIVEN THEM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TELL OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL IN WAYS THAT RESULT IN MANY PEOPLE MAKING A DECISION
TO PLACE JESUS AT THE CENTER OF THEIR LIVES.

       BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US WHO PERHAPS DO NOT HAVE THE GIFT OF EVANGELISM?  WHERE DO WE FIT IN JESUS' PLAN? WELL, WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE WITNESSES...PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL...AND BY THE TIME WE FINISH HERE THIS MORNING, I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS MEANS AND HOW TO DO IT.

        A LARGE PART OF OUR ANSWER CAN BE FOUND IN OUR BIBLE STORY FOR TODAY ABOUT THAT POOR MAN THAT SATAN HAD SO TERRIBLY POSSESSED THAT HE WAS FILLED WITH A LEGION OF DEMONS.  IN BIBLICAL TIMES, MENTAL ILLNESS WAS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF DEMONS WHO WERE THOUGHT TO BE LIVING IN A PERSON.  THIS MAN SAYS HE HAS A LEGION OF DEMONS IN HIM. NOW THAT'S ONE HUGE CROWD OF DEMONS, MY FRIENDS...A ROMAN LEGION AT THAT TIME HAD 6000 MEN IN IT.  BUT WHAT THIS POOR GUY IS REALLY SAYING IS THAT "I'M REALLY SICK, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM!"

        NOW, SOME OF US REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THE IDEAS OF DEMONS IN OUR SOPHISTICATED WESTERN WORLD, DON'T WE?  THEY SEEM UNREAL AND IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY REALLY EXIST. THEY ARE MORE LIKE THE FUN PARTS OF A STEPHEN KING NOVEL OR A MOVIE LIKE THE CHAIN SAW MASSACRE THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SIMPLY SCARE US SILLY.  WE ALSO WANT TO TRIVIALIZE SATAN IN THE SAME WAY.  SO WE DRESS OUR KIDS UP FOR TRICK OR TREATING IN CUTE LITTLE RED LONG JOHNS WITH A LONG TAIL ON THEM, PUT A TOY PITCHFORK IN THEIR HAND, JAM SOME PLASTIC HORNS ON THEIR HEADS AND SEND THEM FORTH TO SEE HOW MUCH CANDY THEY CAN WRANGLE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORS.  FLIP WILSON GAINED FAME AND FORTUNE WITH THE ALIBI, "THE DEVIL MAKE ME DO IT"...REMEMBER THAT?  THE SINNER IS TURNED INTO A VICTIM WHO HAS NO CONTROL OVER HIS OR HER CHOICES.

       SEAN MIXSON, WHO IS A PREACHER OUT IN ILLINOIS, TELLS HOW ONE SUNDAY DURING JUNIOR CHURCH THE KIDS LEARNED A NEW SONG WITH THE LINE, "HE HAS CONQUERED EVERY FOE."  HE SAW A NUMBER OF PUZZLED EXPRESSIONS, SO HE EXPLAINED THAT A FOE IS AN ENEMY.  STILL THINKING ON HIS FEET, HE SAID, "THE NAME OF ONE OF OUR FOES BEGINS WITH THE LETTER D."

        HE WAS REFERRING TO THE DEVIL, BUT HE GOT SOME IMMEDIATE INSIGHT INTO ONE FAMILY'S POLITICS WHEN ONE KID REPLIED, "OH, YOU MEAN THE DEMOCRATS!" (PARABLES)

       NO OFFENSE TO CLIFF BESETT, OUR RESIDENT DEMOCRATIC COUNCILPERSON, IT'S JUST THAT THE STORY WAS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.  I HAVE THOUGHT, FROM TIME TO TIME, HOWEVER, THAT A GOOD EXORCIST COULD PROBABLY WORK WONDERS IN BERKELEY TOWNSHIP...REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL PARTY...EVEN
REPUBLICANS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE DEVIL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

       WELL, ENOUGH OF THAT TOPIC.

       WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT DEMONS AND SATAN ARE VERY PRESENT FORCES IN OUR WORLD TODAY.  I HAVE A FRIEND FROM SEMINARY WHO IS A MISSIONARY IN THE PHILIPPINES AND CHINA. DALE SPEAKS OPENLY ABOUT HOW HE ROUTINELY CASTS OUT DEMONS AND HEALS PEOPLE.  AND THE FORCES OF EVIL ARE JUST AS STRONG IN OUR SOPHISTICATED WESTERN CULTURE...THEY HAVE JUST ADAPTED THEMSELVES TO FIT IN.  THEY STILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO DO DESTRUCTIVE THINGS AND THEY STILL RETAIN A POWER THAT IS ALMOST OVERWHELMING.  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ALCOHOLISM, DRUGS, LUST, SERIAL KILLERS, RAPISTS...ALL OF THESE AND MORE ARE SIMPLY REFLECTIONS OF A WORLD WHERE DESTRUCTIVE CHOICES AND INFLUENCES INFLICT PAIN ON THE PERPETRATOR AND THE VICTIM AND OTHERS AROUND THEM.

        THE STORY TELLS US THAT JESUS CAST ALL OF THE DEMONS IN THE MAN INTO A HERD OF PIGS GRAZING NEARBY.  THE PIGS IMMEDIATELY RUN INTO THE WATER AND DROWNED.  WHEN THE TOWNSPEOPLE COME WE SEE AN ONLY TOO FAMILIAR RESPONSE.  THEY ENCOUNTER A MIRACLE...A MAN HAS BEEN MIRACULOUSLY HEALED OF A DEVASTATING MENTAL ILLNESS...A MANIAC HAS REGAINED HIS SANITY AND IS SITTING CALMLY, FULLY CLOTHED AND COMPLETELY RATIONAL, TALKING TO JESUS.  INSTEAD OF REJOICING, THEY ASK JESUS TO LEAVE THEIR REGION.  THEY RECOGNIZE HIS POWER, BUT ARE AFRAID TO BE TOO CLOSE TO HIM.  THEY ARE AFRAID TO ENCOUNTER THE DIVINE...THE HOLY...PREFERRING TO BE LEFT ON THEIR OWN AND TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.  THEY ARE SO CONCERNED WITH THEIR OWN AFFAIRS THAT THEY CAN NOT APPRECIATE THE DELIVERANCE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE BEFORE THEIR EYES.  LIKE SO MANY OF US, THEY SEE GOD AT WORK AND PRETEND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED...WHAT A TRAGEDY!

        THE HEALED MAN WANTS TO JOIN JESUS' TRAVELING GROUP OF DISCIPLES, BUT JESUS HAS ANOTHER CALLING IN MIND.  SOMEONE HAS TO BE LEFT BEHIND TO TELL OTHERS WHAT GOD HAS DONE. SOMEONE HAS TO BE A WITNESS TO WHAT GOD HAS DONE.  THIS IS WHAT THE MAN'S JOB IS.  HE MUST BE A WITNESS.

        AND WHAT IS A WITNESS?  A WITNESS IS NOTHING MORE THAN SOMEONE WHO TELLS WHAT THEY PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED.  THEY TELL WHAT THEY KNOW...THEY BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH BY THEIR WORDS AND THEIR ACTIONS.  RIGHT?

        THERE WAS A DEFENDANT ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.  THERE WAS STRONG EVIDENCE INDICATING GUILT, BUT THERE WAS NO CORPSE. IN THE DEFENSE'S CLOSING STATEMENT THE LAWYER, KNOWING THAT HIS CLIENT WOULD PROBABLY BE CONVICTED, RESORTED TO A TRICK.

       "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY, I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU ALL," THE LAWYER SAID AS HE LOOKED AT HIS WATCH. "IN TEN SECONDS, THE PERSON PRESUMED DEAD IN THIS CASE WILL WALK INTO THIS COURTROOM."  HE LOOKED TOWARD THE COURTROOM DOOR.  THE JURORS, SOMEWHAT STUNNED, ALL LOOKED ON EAGERLY.
TEN SECONDS PASSED.  NOTHING HAPPENED.

        FINALLY THE LAWYER SAID, "ACTUALLY, I MADE UP THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT.  BUT YOU ALL LOOKED ON WITH ANTICIPATION.  I THEREFORE PUT TO YOU THAT YOU HAVE A REASONABLE DOUBT IN THIS CASE AS TO WHETHER ANYONE WAS KILLED AND INSIST THAT YOU RETURN A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY." THE JURY, CLEARLY CONFUSED, RETIRED TO DELIBERATE.  A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE JURY RETURNED AND PRONOUNCED A VERDICT OF GUILTY.

        "BUT HOW? ASKED THE LAWYER.  "YOU MUST HAVE HAD SOME DOUBT; I SAW ALL OF YOU STARE AT THE DOOR."

        THE JURY FOREMAN TOLD HIM: " OH, WE DID LOOK AND APPARENTLY DID HAVE DOUBT, BUT WE ALSO NOTICED THAT YOUR CLIENT NEVER LOOKED."  (PARABLES)

        WELL, SOMETIMES WE BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH WHEN IT'S NOT IN OUR BEST INTERESTS TO DO SO, DON'T WE?

        BUT THE QUESTIONS THAT AROSE IN MY MIND AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE MAN IN OUR STORY IS THIS: "WHAT DOES HE WITNESS TO?  DOES HE WITNESS THAT HE HAS MET THE SON OF GOD IN JESUS?  DOES HE TELL PEOPLE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH? DOES HE PROCLAIM THAT IF FOLKS JUST HAVE FAITH IN JESUS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE?  NO, NONE OF THESE THINGS. HE DID NOT RUN AROUND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE ANYTHING HE BELIEVED...NO DEEP THEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS OR DISSERTATIONS ON THE NATURE OF RECONCILIATION OR SANCTIFICATION OR JUSTIFICATION.  NONE OF THAT.

        HE SIMPLY TOLD PEOPLE WHAT GOD HAD DONE IN JESUS IN HIS LIFE.  THAT'S IT.  HE SIMPLY TOLD HIS OWN STORY AND HOW WHEN JESUS ENTERED HIS LIFE, HE WAS TRANSFORMED FROM A RAVING LUNATIC INTO A SANE, RATIONAL HUMAN BEING.  HE TALKED ABOUT HOW JESUS HEALED WHAT WAS BROKEN AND FRACTURED AND RESTORED JOY TO A LIFE PREVIOUSLY WRACKED WITH DESPERATE PAIN AND ISOLATION.

        AND THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS KIND OF WITNESS IS THAT NO ONE CAN REALLY TAKE OFFENSE AT IT AND NO ONE CAN DENY IT BECAUSE THE STORY BELONGS TO THE ONE WHO IS TELLING IT AND HE OR SHE IS SIMPLY RELATING A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD. THE POINT HERE IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE
BELIEVE, WE WANT TO TELL THEM WHY WE BELIEVE WHAT WE BELIEVE.  THAT IS EVANGELISM THAT WORKS.  IT IS NATURAL AND EFFECTIVE AND IT ALLOWS US TO BE AND REMAIN GENUINELY WHO WE ARE.  WE DON'T HAVE TO LEARN THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS OR THE ROMAN ROAD OR THE QUESTIONS USED BY THE EVANGELISM EXPLOSION
OR ANY OTHER KIND OF FORMULA.  ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TO TELL OUR OWN STORY ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS.

       NOW I RECOGNIZE THAT WE EACH HAVE A UNIQUE PERSONALITY AND A PARTICULAR WAY WE INTERACT WITH OTHERS.  THOSE FACTORS ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS WILL DETERMINE OUR STYLE OF PRESENTING OUR STORY.

        THE FOLKS AT WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH OUT IN ILLINOIS RECENTLY CAME OUT WITH AN EVANGELISM CURRICULUM THAT A FEW OF YOU HAVE TAKEN.  IN THIS CURRICULUM THEY EMPHASIZE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT OURSELVES TO DO EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM.  THE KEY COMPONENTS ARE TO BE AUTHENTIC OR GENUINE IN LIVING OUT OUR FAITH.  TO BE NATURAL AND NOT TRY TO BE SOMETHING WE ARE NOT.  TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL...PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.  THIS MEANS WE HAVE TO VERBALLY TELL OUR STORY AND WHY WE BELIEVE.  IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE NEED TO SPEND THE TIME NECESSARY TO HELP FOLKS TAKE THE STEPS THEY NEED TO TAKE ALONG THE WAY TO FAITH.  AND IT MEANS THAT WE MUST BE READY TO PUT THAT PERSON AND THEIR NEEDS FIRST...LEARNING ABOUT THEM, SHARING THEIR INTERESTS, LISTENING TO THEIR STORIES AND QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS.  WE HAVE TO MEET THEM AT THEIR STICKING POINTS.

        THE WAY WE APPROACH THE TASK OF WITNESSING WILL ALSO DEPEND TO A LARGE EXTENT ON OUR PERSONALITY AND OUR OWN FAITH JOURNEY.  THE WILLOW CREEK FOLKS IDENTIFIED ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT STYLES THAT PEOPLE TYPICALLY ADOPT IN WITNESSING TO OTHERS.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT
THESE AND WHAT YOUR OWN STYLE MIGHT BE, I'M SURE WE COULD ARRANGE TO HOLD ANOTHER CLASS SOMETIME SOON.

I LIKE WHAT JIM PETERSON HAS SAID ABOUT IT IN HIS BOOK LIVING PROOF.  HE SAYS THAT "WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR INTENT IN PRESENTING THE GOSPEL IS TO BRING ABOUT A NEW MARRIAGE, EVEN THOSE FAR AWAY SUDDENLY SEEM MUCH CLOSER. THEY ARE WITHIN REACH.  OF COURSE, SOME EVEN AFTER TAKING AN HONEST LOOK, WILL TURN JESUS DOWN.  WE CANNOT PREVENT THAT. BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO REJECT HIM BECAUSE HE COMES WRAPPED IN THE TRADITIONS, DOGMAS, OR MORALISMS OF THE MESSENGER.  SUCH POTENTIALLY DAMAGING INFLUENCES WE CAN AVOID." (PARABLES)

        THE POINT IS AN EASY ONE TO GET.  BE NATURAL, BE YOURSELF, BE FAITHFUL TO WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE, AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO TELL SOMEBODY ELSE ABOUT IT.  THE BEST NEWS IN ALL OF THIS IS THAT WE DON'T DO IT BY OURSELVES. JESUS MADE A PROMISE OF THAT WHEN HE SAID "GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND REMEMBER, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE." WE CAN TRUST HIM TO KEEP HIS PROMISES.  AMEN.