Love in Context #5: Lifestyle Evangelism | Pastor Mac Hammond | October 23, 2022

Recap:
This weekend Pastor Mac started his Vision 2023 series and wrapped up his series Love in Context. Both of these topics are intricately connected to how we take God’s love that He has for us and turn around and show it to the world. Some people preach God’s love and salvation from the corner of every street, but some people simply show God’s love to others through their lifestyle. They are a living, breathing example of God’s love for this world. Everyone has a style of evangelism that works for them.

Dive Deeper:
Before Jesus left this earth, He had specific instructions for His disciples to be His witnesses “both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is a clear strategy for how we can bring Jesus from our house to the world. Affecting the world for Jesus starts with those close to us: our family and community. From there, it goes to our state, our nation, and the world.

So how do we do it? How do we go into the world and preach the Gospel to all people?

First of all, know that if the idea of evangelism intimidates you, it doesn’t need to. You can relax, for God has provided every believer with a unique evangelism style within which they can communicate God’s love and salvation to others.

Some people are like Peter. After he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he preached to crowds of people and confronted them with the reality of their sin and the amazing blessing of God’s salvation. Others are like Paul, who had the intellectual ability to debate the truth of God’s Word with those who doubted. Others have a testimony of God’s goodness that they want to spread to the world through their relationships. Still others are like Dorcas, serving everyone with the love of God. One of the biggest groups of people are those who invite people to church.

With invitational evangelism, you don’t have to explain the Romans road or walk someone through the salvation prayer. You can let the church do it. Just get your friends and family and community into church so they can be saved.

Which style of evangelism resonates most with you?

Read About It:
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 1:8 KJV
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:38 KJV
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 17:17-18 KJV
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Mark 5:20 KJV
And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Acts 9:36 KJV
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Luke 14:23 KJV
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Discussion Questions:
1. How do you like to share your faith with others?
2. Have you ever invited someone to church?
3. What’s one thing you can do today that will point someone to Jesus?
4. Why do our individual stories about our relationship with God matter?

Rewatch or catch up on the full sermon with the link below!

Recent Sermon Notes

FOCUS FOR EFFECT: Love | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the third installment of his series entitled, “Focus on Effect,” based upon 2nd Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The apostle Paul said the hardships in our lives can be light and momentary. It all depends on what we place our focus upon. Paul says we are to focus our attention on what is eternal, rather than what is temporal. There are three things that are eternal: faith, hope, and love. We are to focus on that.

FOCUS FOR EFFECT: Hope | Mac Hammond

This series is all about focus, meaning where do you give your attention. This is important because whatever you give your attention to will determine how hard or difficult your life will be. And conversely, it will determine how easy and carefree it will be. Teaching on 1st Corinthians 13:13, Pastor Mac says you can gain the clarity you need to succeed in your life by focusing on matters of faith, hope, and love.

Focus on Effect | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac began a new series entitled, “Focus on Effect.” He started off by telling us the topic of the new series is something we probably think we already know about, but in fact, we don’t know enough about it as we probably should. The scriptural reference was 2nd Corinthians 4:17–18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Though Pastor Mac has taught on this passage before, he said he’s “gotten a glimpse of a different side of this mountain. And I’m seeing it from a perspective that has really impacted me in a positive way.” He added, “And I want it to be that way for you all as well.”

Are We in the Days of Noah? | Jim Hammond

Jesus’ disciples asked Him what the signs will be of His coming. Jesus said it will be like it was in the days of Noah: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Fellow believers, we are in the days of Noah. All they thought about in the days of Noah was eating and drinking and the like. They were not thinking about the flood that was coming. So it is today!

A Deception of Palestine | Jim Hammond

This past weekend, Pastor Jim ministered a special God-directed message for the congregation entitled, “A Deception of Palestine.” He talked about how there is a division in the body of Christ worldwide, where believers are allowing themselves to become deceived when it comes to the present and ongoing deception regarding the Jewish people and Israel. It’s important that Christians do not allow themselves to be persuaded by worldly and ungodly leaders and news systems. It’s important they know what the Word of God says and exalt it as God’s truth.