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In the book of Romans, like other of Paul’s writings, Paul sets out the theory of his teaching– then he sets about telling his audience what to do about the ideas he set forth.

He’s saying – in effect – now you know what Jesus did for you, this is what I want you to do.

Jesus left no doubt at all that Christianity was something to be shared, not horded. He talked about how the church would need to be witnesses to those who were close by and to those who were at the very ends of the earth. He commanded them to teach what he taught, to make disciples, to baptize those disciples and to help the DISCIPLES MAKE DISCIPLES. THAT IS SHEEP MAKE SHEEP

We’ve been talking a lot about the different venues. Hope is Sunday services; faith is care groups and LOVE is evangelism

Evangelism can be one of those words that scare people and intimidate them, but it is really a simple word. It just means being a bearer of good news. Evangelism. It is not just a good idea; it is a matter of survival. Without evangelism, there would be no Christianity, because without evangelism there would be no Christians.

Now we have a little problem here, let’s read Romans 10:13 again

“Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.”

BUT wait a minute - (again) Jesus said this: 

READ Matthew 7:21-23

It would appear that simply calling yourself a Christian doesn’t necessarily make you a Christian.

I could tell people I was a gifted singer or a gifted athlete but me verbalizing either of those statements wouldn’t make them so. So being a follower of Jesus entails more than just saying “I believe”. It is living out the commands and teachings of Jesus.

READ 10:14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

And they need someone to tell them about the name of the Lord.

If you are a follower of Jesus, it is because it is because somebody told you about Jesus. SO, WE’RE SAYING THAT saving faith is HEARD faith.

READ Verse 17 This brings it home: Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

It doesn’t say faith comes from watching someone act like a Christian. It doesn’t come from growing up in a Christian home. It doesn’t come from random acts of kindness. WE NEED TO STOP SAYING “preaching the gospel at all times, and if necessary, using words.” NO! BECAUSE Faith comes from hearing. HEARING! There was always someone explaining the Word so someone else could receive it.

So again, you are here because someone invited you. Someone taught you. Someone told you. Someone was patient enough with you to answer your questions and walk alongside you.

READ Romans 1:7

The book of Romans wasn’t written to be read aloud at a pastor’s conference, it was a letter written to the church.

IT WAS PRESERVED FOR US but what does that mean on a practical level?

When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he was writing to a church which was situated in the greatest city in the greatest empire in the world.” This Was for the Church in Rome: Remember THERE WERE NO SMART PHONES, NO EMAL. So, after Paul had written the letter it would have been carried by hand to Rome and then it would have been READ in individual house churches. So, it was first instructions for the local church.

NOW I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING

There will be people who can be reached by us- those of us here in this church. I’m not saying that the churches down the road don’t do a great job. I’m saying that this may be “home” to many people in this community. But there are people OUT THERE who will be reached by THIS church who wouldn’t be reached if we don’t go there.

Just as over the past twenty-five years OR SO, there have been people who have come to faith because GCI was here, and there have been marriages saved because GCI was here, and children who have been kept on the right track because GCI was here.

EVANGELISM

SO, THIS IS NOT about you “PAYING AND PRAYING”

This is not about Gordon, Chris Gill and myself getting out into the community.

READ Ephesians 4:11-12

OUR JOB IS TO EQUIP YOU FOR ACTS OF SERVICE BECAUSE WE ARE THE priesthood of ALL BELIEVERS

READ 1 Peter 2:9

So, this is about all of us. We all have a story. We can all be witnesses

READ Matthew 28:19-20

In Jesus’ last conversation with the Apostles, 40 days after the resurrection he gave them direction for the future, we pick up the story in , Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This LETTER Was for the Church in Rome: BUT the small gatherings would have an impact on THE WHOLE WORLD. CHRISTIANS EVANGELISED. THEY SPREAD THE GOSPEL

READ Romans 15:20-21

Paul was casting his vision for the uttermost parts of the world and inviting the church in Rome to share with him by assisting him financially.

Our church GCI has churches all over the world. Yet we are worshipping in a community where people do not know God

READ Romans 10:16

Our scripture reading this morning ended with vs. 15 but let me take you into the next verse. Romans 10:16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, . . . I wish that everyone who every heard me speak about becoming a Christian, either ONE ON ONE or from A SERMON would have made that decision, but they haven’t.

It was Billy Graham who said, “Nowhere do the Scriptures tell us to seek results, nor do the Scriptures rebuke evangelists if the results are meagre.”

Our responsibility is to be a witness, results are not our responsibility. And that is heart breaking at time, because there will be people we care about, people we love, people who share our communities and people who share our homes and people who share our beds who will never respond to the claims of Christ.

So, what is our response?

Research has discovered that media, radio, television, account for a tiny percentage of people “born again”

What accounts for the other large %? In most cases it wasn’t a something it was a someone. Someone who took seriously the BUT in Romans 10:14 and was willing to tell someone about Jesus.