HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
INTRODUCTION
MEDTRONIC WAS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN THE USA DURING THE 1990S. BY ALL MEASUREMENTS—STOCK PRICES, REVENUE INCREASES, AND EARNINGS PER SHARE—IT HAS BEEN THRIVING.
IN AN ARTICLE FOR WORLD TRAVELER MAGAZINE, CEO ART COLLINS IS QUOTED AS SAYING, "WITH A MISSION STATEMENT THAT IT STRIVES TO 'ALLEVIATE PAIN, RESTORE HEALTH, AND EXTEND LIFE,' MEDTRONIC TRANSCENDS THE PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVE OF MAKING MONEY. . . . WHILE WE TRACK A NUMBER OF MEASUREMENT CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THE FACT THAT EVERY 12 SECONDS THE LIFE OF SOMEONE IS IMPROVED BY ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS OR THERAPIES."
AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WE HAVE A SIMILAR MISSION. WE HAVE A LIFE-TRANSFORMING MESSAGE TO PROCLAIM TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR.
ROMANS 10:9-15 THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, "JESUS IS LORD," AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. 10FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. 11AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME." 12FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE--THE SAME LORD IS LORD OF ALL AND RICHLY BLESSES ALL WHO CALL ON HIM, 13FOR, "EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14HOW, THEN, CAN THEY CALL ON THE ONE THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED IN? AND HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE IN THE ONE OF WHOM THEY HAVE NOT HEARD? AND HOW CAN THEY HEAR WITHOUT SOMEONE PREACHING TO THEM? 15AND HOW CAN THEY PREACH UNLESS THEY ARE SENT? AS IT IS WRITTEN, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS!"
EVERY DAY, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE BEING SAVED FROM SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES THROUGH FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS. OUR MISSION AS HIS FOLLOWERS IS TO BE MESSENGERS WHO "PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE" (V.15), TELLING OTHERS ABOUT THE SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. THERE IS NO MORE WORTHY MISSION, FOR "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED" (V.13).
ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TO FULFILL THIS MISSION?
HOW MANY OF YOU PRAYED FOR SOMEONE WHO IS LOST THIS LAST WEEK?
HOW MANY WITNESSED TO A LOST PERSON THIS LAST WEEK?
HOW MANY INVITED SOMEONE TO CHURCH WITH YOU LAST WEEK?
THIS MORNING MY SERMON TEXT IS FOUND IN 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-23, AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS.”
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECT WITNESSES GOD HAS EVER HAD.
THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT WE FIND MANY EXAMPLES OF PAUL LEADING LOST PEOPLE TO THE SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.
HOW MANY HERE THIS MORNING HAVE EVER PERSONALLY LED A LOST PERSON TO THE SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST?
HOW MANY HAVE LED A LOST PERSON TO JESUS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, 2 YEARS, 3 YEARS, 4 YEARS, 5 YEARS OR MORE?
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS LIKE PAUL?
WHY WAS PAUL SUCH AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS FOR JESUS?
THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT FIVE WAYS TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS FOR JESUS.