Scripture:  Mark 2:1-12

Subject: Evangelism

Central Theme: Team Evangelism

Objective Statement: We should do evangelism as a team.  Here are three compelling reasons for doing evangelism as a team from the ministry of Jesus.
Keyword:  Reasons

Points:

1. Team evangelism was modeled during Jesus’ ministry.
2. Team evangelism was modeled by Jesus’ ministry.
3. Team evangelism was commissioned to the church.

Introduction:

Connection:

• This week I read an interesting account of how a particular sled race got started.
• Every year in Alaska, a 1000-mile dogsled race, a run for prize money and prestige, commemorates an original "race" run to save lives.
• Back in January of 1926, six-year-old Richard Stanley showed symptoms of diphtheria, signaling the possibility of an outbreak in the small town of Nome.
• When the boy passed away a day later, Dr. Curtis Welch began immunizing children and adults with an experimental but effective anti-dipheheria serum.
• But it wasn't long before Dr. Welch's supply ran out, and the nearest serum was in Nenana, Alaska--1000 miles of frozen wilderness away.
• Amazingly, a group of trappers and prospectors volunteered to cover the distance with their dog teams!
• Operating in relays from trading post to trapping station and beyond, one sled started out from Nome while another, carrying the serum, started from Nenana. Oblivious to frostbite, fatigue, and exhaustion, the teamsters mushed relentlessly until, after 144 hours in minus 50-degree winds, the serum was delivered to Nome.
• As a result, only one other life was lost to the potential epidemic. Their sacrifice had given an entire town the gift of life.

Tension:

• When it comes to saving people’s lives, and being on mission for Christ, we all must commit personally to be engaged in evangelism.
• Last week we talked to you about taking it personally and being equipped for personal evangelism.
• And we tried to help people identify where they are in this area of evangelism.
• We did that by looking at 8 levels of evangelistic engagement.
• (Talk through 1-4)
• Now interestingly the first 4 levels of engagement are possible to be involved in individually and alone.
• We must make a choice to move from being unengaged, to being aware of people’s souls.
• You can write out your testimony if you have one, and even learn a gospel presentation as a way to share your faith.
• But I want you to see that getting engaged in evangelism is much easier as a “we” thing than as simply a “me” thing.
• Evangelism does not have to be, and rarely is a solo sport.
• Evangelism- sharing Christ with others in such a way that they understand their need for Christ and respond to that need with repentance and faith- is something that is most likely to happen in someones life by the participation of many people working together as a team.
• Paul said it this way, “I planted. Appollos watered. But God gives the increase.”
• In a real sense, this is the mission of our church.
• We exist not as a club, or simply an ongoing Bible study. We aren’t a service schedule, or a set of programming.  Trinity Baptist Church is a fellowship of disciplemakers involved in making disciples of Jesus Christ through evangelism and discipleship.
• Evangelism and discipleship is a team sport. It’s not something you have to do on your own.  It’s a we thing, and not just a me thing.
• Today I want to convince you, as part of this team, to get engaged in evangelism with the team you are already on.
• We’re in a battle for the souls of men and women, boys and girls.
• This is Evangelism Boot Camp. We’re helping to prep you for the battle that we are already in.
• Individuals don’t win battles. Armies win battles.  So let’s fight together.
• Here is the big idea for today’s message.

Body:

We should do evangelism as a team.  Here are three compelling reasons for doing evangelism as a team from the ministry of Jesus.

Reason #1- Team evangelism was modeled during Jesus’ ministry.

• People worked together all the time to get people to Jesus.
• One of the most well known times this happened is documented in Mark 2:1-12.

Mark 2:1-12

(1)  And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

(2)  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

• Jesus was ministering in Capernaum.
• He was drawing a crowd, the way he often did.
• So much of a crowd was gathered that he was filling up the house where he was teaching.
• Now, remember we are talking about how that people work together to get people to Jesus.
• Notice a few things about this scenario.

A. They were a “they”.

(3)  And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

• How many of themwere there? At least four.
• We’re going to read the rest of this story, but I want you to notice how many times it says they.
• Notice the next thing.

B.  They had a friend.

• “bringing one sick of the palsy”
• This is someone that they believed needed to get to Jesus.
• Why? He was sick and Jesus had been healing people.
• We’ll see other reasons why in the rest of the story.

C. They overcame obtsacles.

• What were the obstacles?

1. He couldn’t walk.

• They had to bring him on a bed of somekind.
• It took all for of them to carry him.

2.  The crowd kept them from getting to Jesus.

(4)  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

3. The roof didn’t stop them.

• They broke up the roof, and let the man down toward Jesus.

(5)  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

• Whose faith was he responding to in this scene?
• Certainly the faith of these four that brought he sick of the palsy.
• I believe also the sick man.
• Ultimately he trusted his friends to get him to Jesus.
• But notice what Jesus deals with first.
• “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
• The stretcher comes down through the roof, and you would expect him to say, “Your healed.” Insteady he says “your forgiven.”
• Jesus does everything for a reason.

(6)  But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

(7)  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

(8)  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

(9)  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

(10)  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

(11)  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

(12)  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

• The point of the story and the encounter is so that we would know that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins, just like he had the authority to heal their friend.
• But that’s what I want you to get as well.

D. They didn’t heal their friend- Jesus healed him.

• That may have been their main motivation- to see their friend be healed.
• But Jesus had more in mind.
• Not only did he heal their friend, he forgave their friend.

E. They didn’t forgive their friend- Jesus forgave him.

• They couldn’t forgive their friend.
• They couldn’t save their friend.
• They couldn’t heal their friend.
• But they could get their friend to Jesus.
• And we see them do that together.

We should do evangelism as a team.  Here are three compelling reasons for doing evangelism as a team from the ministry of Jesus.

Reason #1- Team evangelism was modeled during Jesus’ ministry.

Reason #2- Team evangelism was modeled by Jesus’ ministry.

• What was Jesus’ ministry like?

Matthew 9:35-36

(35)  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

(36)  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

• Jesus did three things that are characterized by these verses.
  • Jesus reached people.
  • Jesus taught people.
  • Jesus ministered to people.
• He was amazing at reaching people.
• You remember some of their names.
• Remember Zachaeus?

Luke 19:9-10

(9)  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

(10)  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

• We know some of the people that he reached? Nicodemus, Zacheus, Mathias, Mary, Martha, Lazarus.
• We know that he reached people.
• We also know that he taught people.
• Can we agree that Jesus was the best teacher that ever lived?
• He taught better and with more authority than anyone had ever taught.
• If there was anyone who could have done a teaching ministry alone it was Jesus.
• Did Jesus have the ability to draw crowds?
• Of course he did.
• If there was anyone that could have had a crusade, gigantic crowd kind of ministry it would have been Jesus.
• He did things no one could do.
• I can hear the carnival barkers now…
• Come see Jesus! He heals the blind! He heals the sick!  He raises the dead!  Free fish sandwiches to everyone in attendance!  You have to taste these sandwiches made from the makers miraculous hand!
• His whole ministry could have been by himself, and could have been to crowds.
• But you know, that’s not the method he used.
• You know what his main method was?
• Men were Jesus’ method.
• What did he do to reach people? He poured himself into men.
• He didn’t just do ministry for people.  He did ministry with people.
• He started his ministry by putting together a team of people.

Matthew 4:18-22

(18)  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

(19)  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

(20)  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

(21)  And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

(22)  And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

• Jesus called these men to follow him and they did.

Mark 3:13-19

(13)  And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

(14)  And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

(15)  And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

(16)  And Simon he surnamed Peter;

(17)  And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

(18)  And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

(19)  And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

• He taught them. He told them things that he didn’t tell other people.
• He ministered to others in front of them. They saw him do things and learned how to imitate him.
• They saw him reach people, and that is how they learned how to do it.
• But he also coached them. He sent them to reach people, teach people, and minister to people.

Luke 10:1-2

(1)  After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

(2)  Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

• He was giving them on the job training.
• They were sent out, not on their own, but in this instance as seventy in pairs- two by two.
• What did they do? They were told to reach, teach and minister.

Luke 10:17-20

(17)  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

(18)  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

(19)  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

(20)  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

• What was he doing?
• He was making sure that he was not the only one on mission.
• He was making sure that they had the same mission that he did.
• He didn’t do ministry alone. He did it with people.

We should do evangelism as a team.  Here are three compelling reasons for doing evangelism as a team from the ministry of Jesus.

Reason #1- Team evangelism was modeled during Jesus’ ministry.

Reason #2- Team evangelism was modeled by Jesus’ ministry.

Reason #3- Team evangelism was commissioned to the church.

• Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.
• We know that.
• We know that He died on the cross for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again on the third day for our sins, according to the scriptures.
• We know that he then commissioned His disciples to continue this mission as the body of Jesus Christ- the church.
• The church’s mission is the great commission.
• It isn’t something that they ever were intended to do only on their own.
• Just like Jesus, they were to do this mission together.

Matthew 28:18-20

(18)  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

(19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

(20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

• He told them to go do what he had taught them to do.
• He told them to do that with each other, and with the ones they would reach.
• He told them that they wouldn’t be alone.
• Not only would they do that with the disciples they would reach and teach, he wouldn’t leave them either.
• Are you getting the point? Evangelism doesn’t happen alone!
• We studied the book of Acts in the past year. Over and over again we saw people partnering together and working together to share the Gospel.
• They started with the 120 in the upper room.
• The Holy Spirit came down to indwell them, and the began to speak in tongues.
• Peter gets up and shares the Gospel and their number goes from 120 to 3000!
• Sure, Peter preached, but it took all of them together to do the work of evangelism and discipleship- the Great Commission.

Acts 2:41-47

(41)  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

(42)  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

(43)  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

(44)  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

(45)  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

(46)  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

(47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

• They did evangelism together. They did this ministry together.
• Why? Because evangelism is not a me thing alone. It’s a we thing.
• What was Jesus’s mission?
• His mission was to glorify God by reaching people, teaching people, and ministering to people. He died on the cross for them, and rose from the dead for them.
• What was the mission of the early church? They reached people, taught people, and ministered to people.
• What is the mission of Trinity Baptist Church? We exist to glorify God by reaching people, teaching people, and sending people out to minister.
• So how do we do that?
• Should we do evangelism individually?
• I don’t think people will do it individually if they don’t learn to do it together.

So, how are we going to do evangelism together?

• Starting in the month of August we are going to make evangelism something that is on our calendar. It’s something that we are going to set time aside to do every week.
• We are calling this simply Trinity Outreach.
• Here is what it is and how you can be involved.
• We are asking every member o four church to help us to do evangelism together by donating one hour a month to helping our church reach people by being involved in one of the following five activities:

1. Writing Letters to New Move Ins and Prospects
2. Taking Welcome Packages to New Move Ins
3. “Pray & Go”
4. Following Up on Guests and People that Need Care.
5. Child Care for people who are going.

• 2 Times Available Each Week
  • Tuesday from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
  • Saturdays from 10:30am to 11:30am.
• How can I get involved?

Conclusion:

Application:

Inspiration: