How I Share Christ in My Everyday Life

Last month, my pastor asked me to share before the congregation, "How I Share Christ in My Everyday Life."  I'm amazed at how much my approach to Evangelism has changed since Christ changed my heart a few years ago.  And God has been reminding me of who I am and who I would have been for all of eternity had he not changed me.  I was a lover of theology and a hater of people.  And that made "evangelism" difficult because God loves people.  Enjoy this transcript of my short message. Be blessed.

TRANSCRIPT:

Good morning everybody. How are you guys?  If you’re a guest here today, welcome. 

My name is Ryan. I'm married to my best friend, and we have 4 "mini-mes" - one still chillin in the womb, but a human being nevertheless.

Without you saying it I already know what you're thinking. "Oh look at that cute little family. They're so cute and cuddly." Please don't do that okay. :)

My wife and kids will be the first you tell you that we desperately need Jesus.

If there was a hidden camera in our house... Yeah. We need Jesus too.

If there was a camera in our house, you’d see a lot of fun for the most part.

THE GOSPEL IN OUR HOME

In fact, as a family we want to have the most fun possible... by living our lives for the sake of the gospel.

One of the ways we do this is by enjoying the freedom that the gospel brings.

*Here's how POWERFUL the gospel is in our lives: we live completely secret free.

The power of the gospel in our home means that when there's ANY HINT OF EVIL in our hearts, we come clean. every time. 

We Verbally come clean. We confess our sins. “Same-say." Out in the open, to one another.

And in THOSE moments…we encourage one another.  we forgive.  And we lift each other up.

For me, there isn't a single sinful act that Ive done that I haven't told my wife. 

And I have a handful of men in my life that know me 100%. not 99.

And the same goes for my wife. 

THATS the power of the gospel. It's complete FREEDOM rooted in the RESURRECTED CHRIST.

And most of all it's a sneak peak of what HEAVEN looks like.  

What life was intended to look like.  No shame, no guilt, just freedom in Christ.

The Gospel in our marriage

Plus, my wife and I don't want to paint a false image for our kids.

We explain that mommies and daddies disagree.

…that sometimes mommies and daddies get mad. real mad and need forgiveness.

We show them what it should look like when adults disagree.  no biting or kicking, but talking.

We teach that Jesus calls us to forgive one another and be patient with one another.

Jesus set us free to FORGIVE and not be bitter.

Jesus set us free so we wouldn’t have to DEFEND ourselves.

Jesus set us free from our idols so that we can be SATISFIED in God alone.

You see, for us, there's NO OTHER WAY to live...than to live lives freed up because of the gospel.

The Gospel in our prayer life

We're practicing as a family getting in the habit of asking, “Father, are you pleased?”

When I wake up in the morning, I pray, "God. What are you doing today? ...and how can I get on board with that?”  

*In a little while we’re going to sing one of my favorite songs called, “Give me your eyes.”  

I love that plea:  “Lord, give me your eyes today.  Let me see what you see so I can do what you want.”

When I pick up my kids from school, I'm not asking, "did you have fun?" and I'm not even asking, “what did you learn?" 

I'm asking, "did you please the Father today?"

Because in the end, as a father, a husband and the leader of my house, THATS what I want for my family: Obedience to God.  

A love for God that goes way beyond their love for me.

And we're doing this as a team. One team, one fight. We're in this together.

This is not Daddy's thing. This is the “Bareng Family thing.” 

We're full-time partners in ministry.

We want the mark of our lives to be, "not my will but yours be done.”

In fact, we don’t want to do ANYTHING to just please people, but to please the Father.

That means serving here at OceanPointe not to get a thank you, but to please the Father.

That means opening our home, not to be appreciated, but to please the Father.

…Because creating an environment of acceptance and love where the gospel is lived preached is pleasing to him.

THATs the power of the gospel; that we can be free to serve others without any need to be validated except by God alone.  Friends, THAT is completely liberating.

And let’s not forget, Jesus told us to store up treasure in heaven so that’s what we’ll do - until the day he comes back…

So, that’s the gospel INSIDE our home…

THE GOSPEL OUTSIDE OUR HOME

Would you like to know how we share the gospel outside our home?

It's simple: Friendship. Friendship.

And you know who I learned that from? Jesus.

Notice, he was so gentle and kind to those whose hearts were postured to hear truth.

To thieves, to salty Sailors, to broken women who sold their bodies to sad men to make money…he was full of compassion.

He REJECTED the Religious guys that were too good for a savior and was DRAWN to what society labeled “sinners” & “REJECTS.” 

Question: Did anybody in here become a Christian because someone schooled you in a public debate? Anybody? No.

That's why I believe in "Friendship Evangelism."

We don't share Christ by stumping people with bible knowledge.

We don't share Christ by condemning people to hell.

We share Christ by being a conduit of GOD’S LOVE to people. and we Graciously point people to the Savior.

And in the end, my concern is, "Have I been faithful”?

NOT how many people joined my Church.

NOT How many people joined my small group.

I could care less about NUMBERS.  I just want to be faithful.

What is the gospel?

Let's take a step back and define the gospel; it literally means "good news."

***But you can't have good news without bad news.

You can't darkness without light.

You can't have sickness without health.

You can't have death without life.

And you can't have the gospel without some bad news...

And this is why it's so easy to share the gospel with ANYBODY…

Because in the back of my mind, I know that EVERYONE, EVERYONE wants the gospel to be true! 

They want to hear good news in light of all the bad this world has.

Nobody likes death.

Nobody likes to be in bondage to substances or the internet.

Nobody likes to have a secret.

And Nobody wants to carry the weight of shame and guilt.

THATS the bad news that we can all raise our hand and say, “Yes!  I want to be free from that!  I’m tired of being my own savior!  It doesn’t work.”

*I don’t care what you call yourself…You could be a god-hater…

…Even YOU don't want to cry yourself to bed anymore.

YOU want freedom.

WE want freedom.

The Gospel is always RELEVANT because EVERYBODY in this agrees: 

This is a jacked up world, 

with jacked up people, 

with jacked up situations where people are dying for solutions. 

We buy all these self-help books but none of them work. 

We try to "manage" anger, but it always rears its ugly head.

Christians, be encouraged, we have the answer…

We have a Savior who LIVED a perfect life, DIED on the cross, was BURIED for three days then RESURRECTED.

...and history verifies it ALL of that!

…your BIRTHDAY verifies it.  

Our whole calendar system centers on Christ!

There is so much EVIDENCE that it demands a verdict.

Because JESUS LIVES, I’m free to let people know just how much I need him.

And just like in my home, when I share Christ with others, I'm willing to confess my sins...ALL of them....to ANYONE who wants to see the power of the Gospel at work in a BROKEN man.

I've watched my wife share Christ like this.  And Its BEAUTIFUL!

And it's my hope and prayer that my kids, when they grow up, are completely set free to do the same.

So, Church. 

I want to encourage you today. 

I believe the best way for you to share your faith is TO POINT people to the Savior - by showing them just how much YOU need him.

You Be transparent. You Be vulnerable.

And there's a big difference.

Let’s put a bullet in this idea that you need to protect some false image of yourself.

Let them see beyond your Instagram highlight reel.

WE ARE FREE to share because we have NO FEAR of man.

….Only FEAR and TREMBLING before a mighty God who desires for us to walk in freedom in Christ.

Lastly, For me, sharing Christ, doesn't have to be technical or pretty.

I want to leave your with the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:

“...brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”