September 4, 2022
Sermon Series: Believers Are To Sow The Gospel Seed
Sermon # 5
A GOSPEL WORTH SHARING
Romans 1:16-17
How open are you with your Christian faith? Are you the same in public as you are in private? Many believers find it awkward to share their faith in public places---to really share what was in their heart. Careful not to offend, they choose to say nothing about the gospel. Every day in the world people miss opportunities…
· To share Christ at their workplace
· To share with their neighbors
· To share Christ with friends and family
· To share Christ with perfect strangers
How can this be? How is it that people who love Jesus Christ can come up empty handed when it comes to leading the lost to Christ? Donald McGavran, one of the greatest experts on world missions, says:
The world has more winnable people than ever before….but it is possible to come out of a ripe field empty-handed.
What is the key to leading people to Christ? The key is being able to share the gospel without any shame or embarrassment. All over the world God is raising up men and women who are not ashamed of the gospel. Like the Apostle Paul, these believes are convinced of the power of the gospel’s power to save the most unlikely of characters…including myself.
These two verses contain one of the greatest summaries of the gospel ever written. It is a clear declaration of God’s power to save all who believe, no matter their nationality or condition. It is a clear explanation of why Paul was never ashamed of the gospel.
Today’s lesson is “A Gospel Worth Sharing”. I want to share three movements regarding this lesson.
I. THE GOSPEL AND ITS PERSONAL APPEAL v. 16
A. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”
1. Once Paul had been an enemy of the gospel.
2. His conversion on the Damascus - road changed him (Acts 9).
B. This former persecutor became a preacher of the gospel.
1. He spent the rest of his life telling others of Christ.
2. He preached with passion, tears, and purpose.
C. Place Paul anywhere and he would talk about Christ’s love.
1. Place him before political leaders, and he would give his testimony.
2. Place him in prison and he would pray, sing praises, and win the jailor to Christ!
THE GOSPEL AND ITS PERSONAL APPEAL! Does the gospel appeal to you in such a way that you just can’t keep it to yourself? “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ”, because it saved me from my sins.
The gospel is the “Good News” salvation through Jesus Christ! Aren’t you glad that a perfect sacrifice died for our sins?
II. THE GOSPEL AND ITS UNIVERSAL AUTHORITY v. 16
Not only is there a personal appeal to the gospel, there is a universal appeal. It is for all who believe, for the Jews as well as the Gentiles. The universal authority belongs to Jesus Himself. Remember the beginning of the Great Commission according to Matthew 28:18 NIV, “ “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.”
A. All nations belong to Him.
B. Jesus died for everyone.
C. Jesus has total authority.
D. All nations are actually related. In actuality, there are not multiple races, there is only one. Jesus paid the price for all of us, we belong to Him.
III. THE GOSPEL AND ITS DIVINE APPEARANCE v. 17
“This good news tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say. “It is through faith that is righteous person has life. NLT
A. When we read the gospel, we see the revelation of God in the flesh by the revelation of God in Scripture (John 1:14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
B. When we look at Jesus, we see the “righteousness” or the “rightness” of God.
C. The only way we can live with God is to be made righteous, perfectly righteous.
D. The gospel is the revelation of God’s righteousness and reveals how man can be made righteous and reconciled to God.
From the beginning of faith to the end of faith we are to show the world who Jesus is. We exhibit His righteousness by tapping in to His faith. Believers are justified (declared righteous) because of Jesus. Therefore, we become acceptable to God. The Gospel And Its Divine Appearance!
Responsive Reading: Romans 1; 8-17
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