The call not only to reflect on mission but to engage in sharing Jesus with anyone who needs him as Lord and Saviour may not take root because of the restrictions arising from the dreadful Pandemic we are all facing.
It needs to be remembered though that our 1st century brethren also faced a dreadful ‘P’ but were very actively involved in sharing the gospel wherever and with whomever.
Their dreadful P was Persecution which could and did mean death for some and imprisonment or social hatred for most. Acts 8:1-14 paints an exciting picture of what is possible when faithfulness trumps fear. Ponder a few major points from the text.
- v.1 – great Persecution of the Jerusalem Church. Scattering of all of the Church members excepting the Apostles. So the Apostles were left back or stayed in Jerusalem.
- (7.59) vv.2-3, Stephen, murdered and buried. Saul tries to destroy the Church.
- v.4 “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
The rank and file Church members who were scattered went everywhere in Judaea and Samaria [hostile territory for Jews] and preached the word.
- v. 14 “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.”
When last have you invited a friend or neighbour to Church? When last have you shared your faith with anyone? If you refuse to get involved in mission for Jesus, you may be either sinfully lazy or simply lost, either sinfully unconcerned about the lost or simply unconverted!
So mission is not for Pastors and Deacons only, mission is every member’s spiritual responsibility. Every ‘born again’ member can witness for Jesus. I share my simple witnessing outline which can be done in less than 2 minutes.
Imagine raising with and answering the question ‘why do I need Jesus?’ with an unsaved person.
Three biblical reasons why you need Jesus in your life.
Reason #1
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
“All have sinned…” (Rom. 3:23)
Reason #2
THE PENALTY FOR SIN
“The wages of sin is death …(Rom. 6.23)”
[spiritual separation from God].
So living without Jesus is dangerous/deadly
Reason #3
THE PROVISION/SOLUTION FOR SIN
“…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus.” (Rom. 6.23b add John 3:16)
This simple outline does not require you to know many passages of Scripture just 3 or 4 that you already know.
So then, amidst the pandemic where family, friend, coworker, neighbour, classmate could die in short order, sharing Jesus with them is not just nice but necessary and should be a delight not a duty if you really love those who are lost.
During mission month and beyond trust God to enable you to share Christ with at least 1 person each week (live or via media) and concentrate your prayer on the salvation of those with whom you share and invite them to church.
Song: ‘Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me. And may I humbly do my part to win that soul for Thee.’
©Rev. Clinton Chisholm, September, 2020First published October 4, 2020, in On a Mission (the magazine of the Gregory Park Baptist Church, St. Catherine, Jamaica)