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Territorial Mission Resources Department Australia Southern Territory © 2016 2 Christmas Series: The Light of the World. Written by Christopher Trodden B.A (Bib.Stud)

Christmas 2016: Light of the World: Message 2 Sermon Outline: Shining Our Light

Topic: Evangelism

Main Point: Jesus has called us to share our light with others

Intended Response: Share our faith this Christmas season with others

Key Verse: “You are the light of the world” Matt 5:14

Mission Intention Making Disciples, Transforming Lives

Introduction A. God speaks to open hearts Mary and Joseph were open to hearing the gospel Jesus advised us to look for people who are willing to have a conversation Sharing our faith is like fishing

Point One: Look for people of peace

B. Four steps in having a faith conversations

Step 1: Talk about the future Step 2: Share a testimony Step 3: Use the name of Jesus Step 4: Invite them to fellowship

C. Exercise Write down a list of names of people to pray for to share your story with Write down your testimony and share it with some one this Christmas Invite someone to the Christmas service

Teaching Illustrations: This sermon is designed to help people share their faith with others. We have included a four step model that you can give out to every person in your Corps so they can 1) follow along with in the sermon, 2) keep a copy with them and refer to when sharing their faith with others. For more resources for this sermon, including PowerPoint slides www.sarmy.org.au/christmas-packs

http://www.sarmy.org.au/christmas-packs


Christmas 2016: Light of the World: Message 2 Sermon Transcript: Shining our Light

Introduction:

There are lots of great stories from the Bible that are well known to many people around the world: There’s the story of:

• Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, • There’s Job, a man who loses everything and God then restores him, • Joseph and his coat of many colours – and a great musical, • The Exodus story and the receiving of the Ten Commandments – again, a

story that Hollywood loves to remake • There are the walls of Jericho, David and Goliath, the calling of the twelve

disciples, Peter walking on water, Jesus on the cross… But perhaps the most well-known story is the one that is celebrated and retold every year and celebrated by millions of Christians and even non-Christians – it’s the story of the birth of Jesus – the Christmas story. The story is wonderful – but it is even more wonderful because it is true. God sent his Son, born of a virgin, born in the most humble of settings, to come into the world and to save us from our sins that separate us and God. As believers, we have been called to share our hope with the world. Christmas is a great time for us to share our faith as people are constantly exposed to the message of Christmas: so many school Christmas plays, so many nativity scenes, so many TV concerts and choirs, so many Christmas appeals, so many great opportunities for us to share Christ. God is a storyteller, and He wants us to share our story with others too. Jesus said to those who would receive salvation,

“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matt 5:15).

Yet one common challenge we all face is HOW do we share our faith in a way that others will listen? In setting up the Christmas story, the Gospel of Matthew and Luke provide us with a framework for sharing our faith with others that is helpful and is easy to follow.

Transition

Today, we will look at these two gospels and learn one way of sharing our faith with others this Christmas season…

Foundation: God speaks to open hearts

God looks for people with an open heart to start a conversation with. We see this openness in Mary when an angel appears to her and speaks to her of the virgin birth. At first, Mary is shocked, but then she responds by simply saying,

“I am the Lord’s servant…may your word to me be fulfilled” (Lk 1:38).


Joseph was also a person who was open to things of God. Even though he didn’t understand what everything meant the first time he heard them, the Bible says:

“Joseph he did what the angel commanded him and took Mary as his wife” (Matt 1:24).

Mary and Joseph had an openness about them that let them hear the gospel. When it comes to sharing the gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples:

“When you enter a home, greet the family, ‘Peace.’ If your greeting is received, then it’s a good place to stay. But if it’s not received, take it back and get out. Don’t impose yourself…when you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!’ (Lk 10:5-11 MSG).

Jesus basically said, ‘be on the lookout for people of peace’ - people who have an openness to enter into a discussion about God. When Jesus called Peter, He said to him “Follow me and I will send you out to fish for people” (Mk1:17). Jesus likened sharing the our faith unto fishing. To catch fish you don’t jump in the water with a fishing hook between your fingers and starting swiping - you need bait…and if the fish are hungry they’ll bite. So a good ‘openness bait’ could be when someone asks you “what have you been up to lately?” You can reply with:

• “the usual stuff, works and church”

Or you could ask them: • “do you have any plans to celebrate Christmas this year?”

Remember, If the fish are hungry they’ll bite. If people are open, they will ask questions. Story: share a quick story of how you started a faith conversation with someone recently. e.g. The other day I posted on Facebook a church service and asked if anyone would like to come with me next week …

Foundation

Look for people of peace – those who are willing to have a conversation with you.

Transition

But what do we say if they are open? Well, where is a simple way to share your faith story. It has four parts to it: Talk about the future, talk about the past, talk about today, invite them to respond. Let me quickly walk you through each one…

… Faith Conversation …

Step 1: Talk about the Future

When Joseph learns of Mary’s pregnancy, he has a little trouble believing it. And fair enough too, it’s a big thing. We also need to remember that some people are ready to hear the gospel but just find it hard to get their head around so there’s no need to try and cram it all into one conversation.


But when they are open, we can then talk to them about the future:

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:21).

The angel said, “he will” not “he has”. The angel referred to the future work of Christ. You know, we have a great future hope in Jesus. There is our big picture hope which is heaven, a place of no pain sorrow or heartache. But we also have a great hope for tomorrow, for the Lord is our Provider. The Lord is our ever-present help in times of need. The Lord is our peace and our shepherd and is with us in every difficult situation. None of us knows what will happen tomorrow – but we do know that whatever happens we will need Jesus. So many people are worried about the future. Will there be another war, will there be enough money in the bank, will my kids turn out okay, where is my next meal coming from, where will I sleep tonight? Jesus offers us peace in a troubled world. Next time you are in a conversation with a person of peace, ask them:

o what do they think about the future, o are worried about anything – could be a work stress, or a family issue, o Is there anything you can pray for them about?

Depending on what they say, see if you can share a testimony of how God has helped you in that area of your life. Or, if they have a personal need, see if you or the Corps can help meet that need. Personal example: Currently, I am praying for some direction when it comes to 2017. I don’t know what will happen exactly, but God does. What are you praying for? What are you thinking about? God can help.

Step 1:

Ask people about the future

Step 2: Share a testimony

The next part of your conversation is to share a testimony about God answering one of your prayers:

“All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (God with us)”(Matt 1:22-3).

What are some stories of how God became your Immanuel?

o It might be how and why you became a Christian, o It might be a time God provided for you or answered a prayer, o It might be a story of how God spoke to you and something happened just as

He said promised.


Personal example: share a quick testimony of when God did something in your life.

One of the reasons the early disciples were so effective in sharing their faith is that they had numerous testimonies of Jesus, Immanuel, being active in their lives:

When the Sadducees saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

When we share personal testimonies of God moving in our lives, it very hard for people to dispute. I love the Scripture in Revelations 12:11 “They triumphed over the enemy by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.”

Step 2

Share stories of how God has answered your prayers

Step 3: Mention Jesus

In Matthew 1:24-5, it says:

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus (Matt 1:24-5).

The name Jesus literally means: “He saves”. In Luke’s gospel account of Christmas, when the angels appear to the shepherds in the field, they say,

“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

There are many names out there today that people claim to be the way to God, but there is only one name that saves: Jesus.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

So when we are talking with others, don’t be afraid to mention the name Jesus – in fact, this can often be the very turning point of the conversation.

Step 3

Use the name of Jesus

Step 4: Invite them to fellowship

Finally, invite them to church, a service or for a meal.

How, 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? (Rom 10:14-5).

We all need someone to invite us to Christ.

Step 4

Step out and invite someone to fellowship


Conclusion

God wants us to share our story with others. Jesus instructed us to share our hope and faith with others:

“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matt 5:15). And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mk 16:15).

So in sharing your faith this year, be on the lookout for people of peace. And when you find yourself in a conversation, these four steps might be helpful for you to follow:

1. Talk about the future 2. Share a testimony 3. Use the name of Jesus 4. Invite the fellowship

Call to Action

Can I challenge you to take this week during your devotional times with God to sit down and map out your testimony:

• Write down a list of names of people to pray for to share your story with • Write down your testimony and share it with someone this Christmas • Invite someone to the Christmas service

If you would like some help, we can sit down with you, or you might want to practice sharing with people here over lunch. *We have a flyer here that walks you through the four steps of a faith conversation *Corps to create: We have a flyer available that lists all of our Christmas services to invite people to And can I encourage everyone to write down a list of people you are praying for to share your faith with. For anyone who is visiting here for the first time, if you would like to know more about Jesus, we would love to share a conversation with you and answer any questions you may have.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you sharing your story with us. Thank you for sending your Son to give us hope and peace in a trouble world. Thank you for being with us every day. We pray and ask that you call us closer to you, and give us boldness to share our faith with others, so they too can experience how good you truly are. We ask this in your Son’s name, Amen.


Christmas 2016: Light of the World: Message 2 Sermon Scriptures: Shining our Light

Matt 1:18 (NIV)

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Deut 11:18-9 (NIV)

You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Joel 1:3 (NLT)

Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.

Matt 5:14 (NIV)

You are the light of the world Luke 1:38 (NIV) I am the Lord’s servant…may your word to me be fulfilled Matt 1:24 (NIV)

He did what the angel commanded him Luke 10:5-7 (NIV)

Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ “If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. “Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the labourer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.

Mark 1:17 (NIV)

Jesus said to Peter, “follow me and I will make you a fisher of men”. Matt 1:22-3 (NLT)

All of this occurred to fulfil the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Acts 4:12 (ESV)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.


Luke 2:11 (NASB) For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

2 Cor 6:2 (NLT)

For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation.

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