76a) The Church Evangelizing #3

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that the regular preaching and teaching of God's Word is a primary, often overlooked, ordinary means of evangelism. He uses 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 and 2 Corinthians…

Paul sorting out the chaotic charismatic worship at Corinth, where an uninstructed person would think it a 'madhouse,' illustrates the need for orderly worship that is comprehensible and convicting to unbelievers.

Remember the setting Paul is sorting out, the charismatic free-for-all that was going on at Corinth, a situation, he says, into which an uninstructed person would come and think that he'd walked into a madhouse. And Paul is sorting this out and putting these various issues into their proper categories. And here, in verses 23 to 25, he writes, If, therefore, the whole church be assembled together. So, the...

3:26 - 3:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not think lightly of those means connected with the regular preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and do not avoid the challenge of seeking to find a legitimate avenue out of every theme and every text that will …

Martin quotes J.I. Packer's 'Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God' to argue that all scriptural preaching is inherently evangelistic, not a special brand of sermon, and that a lack of evangelistic thrust in ordinary services is a 'damning indictment'.

And he gives this statement of the central issues of the gospel, of this alien righteousness, the one who knew no sin being made sin, that we might be the righteousness of God in him, and giving this passionate evangelistic appeal. Packer's comments in his classic work, it's become a classic, it was first printed, I think, in 1955, InterVarsity printed it in 65, but I think it first saw the light of day in England. I think it saw the light of day over here even earlier. And so it continues to go through reprints because it is such a helpful distillation of biblical and practical thinking on th...

9:29 - 10:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not think lightly of those means connected with the regular preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and do not avoid the challenge of seeking to find a legitimate avenue out of every theme and every text that will …

Martin quotes Robert Bolton's statement that Christ is 'offered most freely and without exception of any person every Sabbath, every sermon,' reinforcing the idea that all biblical preaching is evangelistic.

The Lord Jesus Christ, said Robert Bolton, is, quote, offered most freely and without exception of any person every Sabbath, every sermon, either in plain and direct terms or impliedly at the least. Again, beautifully balanced statement, end quote. So it is, inevitably, wherever the Bible is preached biblically, and there's something terribly wrong in any church or any man's ministry to which Bolton's generalization does not apply. If in our church's, quote, evangelistic, end quote, meetings, and, quote, evangelistic sermons are thought of as special occasions, different from the ordinary run ...

12:05 - 13:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not think lightly of those means connected with the regular preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and do not avoid the challenge of seeking to find a legitimate avenue out of every theme and every text that will …

The example of Pastor Jeff Smith consistently praying for the unconverted in opening worship services illustrates a practical, ordinary evangelistic tool that raises awareness and cuts presumption.

One of the things that encourages me, particularly when my fellow elder, Pastor Jeff Smith, leads the worship service, and I don't know if you've noticed this, rarely does he ever leave out of his opening prayer, and we pray, Father, for the unconverted among us, that while we worship, and while we praise, that you would open their eyes. That's a tremendous evangelistic tool that is constantly praying, pressing home to the awareness of those sitting there. They are unconverted around me. I ought to lift up my heart in prayer to God for them, and it helps cut the nerve of presumption that becau...

13:29 - 14:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Convey to our people that this is part of the evangelistic mandate that in those situations where they are seen, that they are to be seen as lights shining in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation and that they …

The historical reputation of Corinth as a debauched city ('Corinthianized') is used to emphasize that Paul assumed believers would naturally interact with the worst of sinners, serving as salt and light.

And I think this is a strange passage to bring to the service of this particular head but I hope you'll see the rationale for it. Paul is rather sternly rebuking the Corinthian church for not exercising discipline upon this immoral man and then in mandating the social strictures of that discipline he says, I wrote unto you, verse 9 in my epistle to have no company with fornicators not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world or with covetous and extortioners or with idolaters for then you must needs go out of the world but as it is I wrote unto you not to keep company if any man that ...

22:57 - 24:25 Read in full sermon

The point: We need to instruct our people and to encourage our people to seize those opportunities that arise from the natural social context that God has given to them.

The story of Levi (Matthew) hosting a great feast for Jesus with many tax collectors and 'notorious sinners' illustrates Jesus' willingness to engage in natural social contacts as a 'friend of sinners' and a 'heavenly physician'.

And then a wonderful example of that in the life of our Lord Jesus. This is but one example. And he that saith he abideth in him ought himself so to walk even as he walked. You remember that subsequent to calling Levi or Matthew into fellowship with himself and eventually into an even more intimate relationship.

28:36 - 28:57 Read in full sermon

The point: In our pastoral ministries as we begin to see some who manifest special gifts in this area of evangelism, we should encourage them.

The analogy of a coach discerning a football player's optimum position (cornerback, flanker, linebacker) illustrates the pastor's role in guiding individuals to discover and use their special gifts for evangelism within the church.

But it's not the individual in isolation from the body and certainly not in isolation from overseers. So you're there sort of like the coach. You're trying to discern will this guy use his optimum ability on the football team as a cornerback or as a flanker or a wide out or by pumping out, working out and pumping a bit more iron in the weight room can we make an outside linebacker out of him? It's obvious that from his mother's womb, from his early development, from his acquisition of certain skills in playing football, the guy's going to sit here and say, here, here, here.

34:52 - 35:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be deceptive or duplicitous in evangelistic efforts, as this denies the gospel by the manner in which it is presented.

An 'evangelistic supper' with an excellent meal and a speaker sharing about Christ is given as a specific example of an 'extraordinary' evangelistic activity, emphasizing the need for honesty and integrity in such events.

Is it legitimate while recognizing that every gathering of God's people is in a true sense evangelistic, is it right that we should attempt, as churches, to have gatherings where it is known that there's going to be appointed formal presentation of the gospel by those who have a proven ability to communicate the gospel in a meaningful, warm, and, insofar as is humanly possible, a non-offensive way. Where the offense is the gospel and the word of the cross, not a person's oddities, not his boorishness, not his insensitivity, et cetera. Well, I think we'd be hard-pressed to say that given the ma...

39:23 - 40:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be deceptive or duplicitous in evangelistic efforts, as this denies the gospel by the manner in which it is presented.

The example of using a 'religious survey' as a deceptive segue into sharing the gospel illustrates how dishonest means undermine the gospel's integrity, even if the end goal is conversion.

That's what bothers me with these approaches where people say, well, you just come up to the door and say, we're just here to take a religious survey. Well, no, they're not there to take a religious survey. They're there to get the gospel to them. Now, if all you're going to do is take the survey and stop, fine.

41:13 - 41:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines several 'extraordinary' means, including concentrated church-wide efforts for formal gospel presentations, literature distribution, home Bible studies…

The success of Bible studies in business establishments and office buildings in the Philippines is cited as an example of effective 'extraordinary' evangelistic tools.

And if nothing else, this does something for your own people to be light and to be salt. Thirdly, a concentrated church-wide effort to enroll people in a short-term home Bible study. You all know if you follow the prayer letters from the Philippines how Bible studies in business establishments in office buildings have been one of the most useful evangelistic tools in the Philippines. Now, in some places home Bible studies.

43:49 - 44:15 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines several 'extraordinary' means, including concentrated church-wide efforts for formal gospel presentations, literature distribution, home Bible studies…

The story of a family's failed attempt to start a home Bible study in their neighborhood, despite preparation, illustrates that not all efforts will bear immediate fruit and that God's people must adapt.

We know some of our sister churches have done great reaping. We've made some efforts here but they've come to naught. One of our families a couple of summers ago pounded the streets up and down their neighborhood and we had someone prepared to lead them in a three successive I think Friday nights it was and they ended up one person came one night I think a Jehovah's Witness and didn't show up anymore and the whole thing fizzled. They just could not drum up any interest.

44:15 - 44:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines several 'extraordinary' means, including concentrated church-wide efforts for formal gospel presentations, literature distribution, home Bible studies…

Martin refers to a statement by Packer (which he cannot precisely recall) on the 'enterprising nature of love,' using the analogy of a man pursuing a woman, to argue that love for God and men will naturally lead to creative and persistent evangelistic efforts.

the best thing for all of these and since I did I left my notes at home and they have the page reference I was trying to remember it in Packer but he has this marvelous statement I'll try to find it in the break time on the enterprising nature of love that it is of the very nature of love to be enterprising if a man has his heart set on a given woman and his first approach she doesn't even give him the time of the day if his heart is set upon it he won't go back again and try he's not going to be blown off by an initial indifference and the nature of love is to be enterprising and if that fund...

46:49 - 48:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek to read and reread works calculated to stir up a passion for the task, such as Horatius Bonar's 'Words to Winners of Souls,' Spurgeon's 'The Soul Winner,' Baxter's 'Reformed Pastor,' and Packer's 'Evangelism and the…

Martin highly commends Horatius Bonar's booklet as the finest he's encountered for stirring up evangelistic passion, making it a 'lifetime companion'.

It's vital to constantly stir up ourselves in this area. And so I'm giving an exhortation that you seek to read and reread the following works, calculate, to stir up a passion for the task. Interesting that our brother should mention the first that I've listed, Words to Winners of Souls by Horatius Bona. If I had to be limited to one little booklet dealing with the subject, I would say this is the finest that I've ever encountered.

51:32 - 52:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek to read and reread works calculated to stir up a passion for the task, such as Horatius Bonar's 'Words to Winners of Souls,' Spurgeon's 'The Soul Winner,' Baxter's 'Reformed Pastor,' and Packer's 'Evangelism and the…

Martin mentions Spurgeon's chapter 'Conversion, Our Aim' from 'Lectures to My Students' as a work he rereads to stir up his own evangelistic focus before preaching.

Spurgeon's book, The Soul Winner, that's gone through numerous editions, the Reformed Pastor by Baxter, particularly the sections in which he addresses his brethren concerning the necessity of having a passion for the unconverted, the chapter in Spurgeon's lectures to my students entitled Conversion, Our Aim. I had opportunity to reread sections of that in reworking the lecture, and as I think of seeking to preach with evangelistic focus, a special focus Sunday night, I'm determined to read that chapter before I even carry on any specific preparation, to have myself stirred up afresh in these ...

52:15 - 53:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Read and reread the biographies of men marked by evangelistic passion (Whitfield, Payson, Spurgeon, McShane, Brainerd, Griffin) to be stirred up to imitation rather than intimidation.

Reading biographies of men like Whitfield, Payson, Spurgeon, McShane, Brainerd, and Griffin is recommended to stir up imitation and a desire for evangelistic passion, noting the 'contagion' of drawing close to a passionate heart.

And among these are Whitfield, Payson, Spurgeon, McShane, Brainerd, Griffin, etc. You complete your own list, but find those biographies which, when you read them, do not bury you with intimidation, but stir you up to imitation and cause you to say, Lord, if I ever preach, if I ever preach with passion, give me something of what this man had, something of what this man had, something of that spirit that throbbed through their ministries. There is a contagion that comes when you draw close to a passionate heart. And that is a phenomenon that relates to human experience and grace works within th...

53:24 - 54:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Avoid the artificial regimentation and imitation which does not allow the vast diversity of gifts and opportunities in any given congregation.

The story of a friend, a company president, who could boldly tell his dentist, 'I've been trying for twenty years to keep him out of hell,' illustrates how God-given individuality and earned relationships allow for diverse, natural witnessing styles that would be 'ludicrous' if artificially imposed on others.

That's part of wholesome, biblical body life. But what I'm talking about is avoiding artificial regimentation does no justice to this vast diversity of gifts and opportunities in any given congregation. For example, a dear friend of mine in past years had a place in his community. Almost everyone knew him in association with his particular company.

58:57 - 59:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Absorb principles of evangelism in a way consistent with who you are, rather than petrifying into a specific method that may be ludicrous for your individuality.

Martin recounts learning from his friend's 'flirtatious' yet effective way of witnessing to a waitress, illustrating that while he couldn't imitate the style directly, he could absorb principles of putting people at ease and finding opportunities to speak of Christ.

But it was perfectly natural with him. And I learned some very helpful principles. He would take me out to eat. First time I ever was taken out to eat I was brought up borderline poor, just plain poor by today's standards and I'd never eaten in a restaurant until I think I was nineteen.

60:25 - 60:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Follow Paul's pattern as God gives us an increasing constraint upon our hearts, a divine heaviness for the unconverted to find a conduit of that burden as we supplicate for them, that they may be saved.

The anecdote of a Scottish woman describing McShane's preaching as 'as if he were dying to have you converted' serves as a powerful closing illustration of the ideal evangelistic passion for pastors.

And may God grant that we, as the servants of God, as we find our place in the Kingdom of Christ and our service in conjunction with His Church, that not only will we be known truly as men who walk with God, who are marked by a responsible, passionate, relevant, applicatory ministry in the Word to God's people, that the people will know, consistent with our God-given temperament, with our particular gifts, that we, like McShane, are dying to have our people converted. As someone asked the dear little Scottish woman what she felt was the secret of McShane's success as a preacher, and she said h...

68:35 - 69:51 Read in full sermon