“WELL, I DECLARE” (1 John 1:1-6)
Series in Evangelism
Rev.
Jeremy B. Stopford, Retired Pastor
INTRODUCTION
Today’s Special: “Artist’s Canvas”
I used to work in an art supply store. We sold artists’ canvas by the yard, and you could get it in either of two widths: 36 inches or 48 inches.
Customer: “Can you please cut some canvas for me?”
Me: “Certainly, what width?”
Customer: (confused and slightly annoyed) “Uh, Scissors?”
* “Who am I?” – a good song; a good slogan – as it reminds us personally where we would be if God hadn’t shown us His love at the cross.
* So… the #1 need of the church is _____
Suggested Answer # 1: get more people to come to church; OR
Suggested Answer # 2: take Jesus to more people outside the church
SO… what do we declare? PRAYER
I. WE DECLARE A PERSON (1 John 1:1,2)
“Evangelism”:
Definition # 1: “one beggar telling another beggar where there’s bread”
Definition # 2: “the declaration of God’s good news to the lost with a view to winning them to Jesus Christ”
NOTE
WELL: evangelism is NOT the
effect produced (salvation) BUT is simply the declaration. All
God asks of us is to declare His love. HE does the rest: He changes
the heart!
II.
WE DECLARE A PROOF (1
John 1:3,4)
* “Fellowship” =
“2 fellows in a ship”?
* Fellowship is NOT relationship – relationship is what began at the cross
* “Fellowship” means to share Jesus together, a PROOF that God has brought you into a relationship with Him!
* See Acts 2:42ff These proved their fellowship!
* The result is (1 John 1:4) JOY!
III.
WE DECLARE A PRINCIPLE (1
John 1:5)
* The
principle is: “God is light
and in Him is no darkness”
* Declare it by our word and by our life!
* What happens if we don’t declare by our life that God is light? Look at verse 6: we walk in darkness!
* ILLUSTRATION.: Pastor Ray Stedman observed: “’darkness’ is not ‘sinning’; it is ‘the absence of light’; to live as if there is no light in you.’”
* How can we do that? How can we “turn off the light”? Suggestions (but not necessarily your own): church becomes ritualistic, to the point of your not coming; don’t see Jesus daily; don’t walk in Scriptures; don’t examine yourself to see if you are walking in the truth.
* Our lives are to declare: “God is light and in Him is no darkness!”
CONCLUSION:
Jesus
as the Evangelist! John 11:25-27
Using our outline:
- He declares HIMSELF (“I am the resurrection and the life”)!
- He declares PROOF (His resurrection)!
- He declares a PRINCIPLE (“do you believe this?” – seeks a personal acknowledgement of truth)!
Look at the fruit! “I believe that You are the Christ!”
CLOSE IN PRAYER
