Title: Evangelism
Contents
Evangelism is (1 Corinthians 9:19-24)
Today, we are preaching the Gospel, and we look for three reasons why we must evangelize in the text. They give up easily when the reason is not clear. You may not even try. If you have a clear reason, you can handle any challenge.
Now the most precious gospel to me
That's right. The gospel has been changed to be the most precious thing. Paul says that he has become a servant of the gospel. Essential to the servant is the master. Can't think of anything else apart from the owner. Of course, to a servant, the master has many meanings. The owner who is afraid, the owner who makes fun of it, the owner who hates it, the owner who must obey unconditionally, the owner who insists on everything and controls everything.
But there are other owners as well. Whatever it is, whoever it is, what I like the most, what I am most passionate about, and what I love, is the owner. Who is your master today? myself! What I like most, what I care about, what I spend a lot of time on, and what I am thinking about! it is the owner And that's what we say and think, so we deliver it eagerly.
But what is the master of Paul? - The gospel! He says he is a servant for the gospel. So, looking at the text, it says that we have given up on something else. His renunciation was because he had found the greatest treasure. That is why 1 Corinthians 9:4 tells us that we have given up the right to eat and drink (better). Verse 5 says that he has given up the right to travel comfortably with his wife, like the other apostles. In 9:9-11, it says that he gave up even the right to receive a salary as an evangelist. In verse 12, we confess that there is only one reason, “so that there may be no obstacles to the gospel.” To evangelize his beloved neighbors, he just wanted to live like a servant.
Yes, for Paul, the gospel was the master. It was his hobby, his interest, and his love. Anything else will automatically give up.
How are you? Some are good at worldly things! Be nice to me, I can't just preach the gospel - but no! You have to be good at other things, but you must preach the gospel! Even if you can't do anything else, you have to preach the gospel well.
I visited the butler Yang Young-gi's shop, and the bread and the contents in the sandwich are all different for the customers who order sandwiches! It was just amazing to memorize it and put it all in without omitting it. Folks, we must not forget Jesus! You cannot exchange this gospel for anything at home, at school, at work, or in your hobbies. I hope that you will live a life of embracing the precious gospel and sharing it.
What is this gospel and why is it a treasure?
That's right. We need to be able to articulate and share what the gospel is with our neighbors at critical times. The Apostle Paul already declares in 1 Corinthians 9:16 that evangelism is an inevitable and solemn duty of Christians. “Even if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about because it is something I must do. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.”
That's right. The moment when this gospel is directly preached and the moment when we respond by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the moment when souls come to life. That is why the gospel must be specifically communicated by word of mouth. I always remember how Bishop Lee Kyung-jae introduced what the gospel is. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
But the director says: We shouldn't just skip "this way". It is to realize the true love of God. I can't forget the tears in that passage.
After finding the treasure of the gospel, nothing else becomes more important. Therefore, the gospel is also the master for us. We voluntarily and joyfully became slaves who live for the gospel. I hope that I can continue to live such a life.
The Importance of My Experience of Change
In order for this gospel to be transmitted with power to us, there must be a change in me. Grandma makes rice cakes. What's the taste of a grandson approaching? Would it be delicious? Come on eat it! Is it delicious? delicious! delicious! Then the grandchildren came rushing in.
Taste the Gospel and Paul is valuable. It's valuable! will cry out Paul's power is to share the experience of the gospel that he believed in. What others have heard has no power, and it is not easy to convey it to others! But what I've been through is capable! Even if it's not a big change, if you know for sure the change you've made and be grateful for it, you have the power. Even if it is a faith the size of a mustard seed, it will eventually become great.
Last time I caught a cold and coughed badly for the first time. As I continued to cough, I realized just how hard it is for the person who is coughing. Prayers are different for those who cough. Ah! Anyone who has been sick knows how it feels! When you realize that you are sick of the body, it's not all that bad! You will have that realization.
It's not just a disease! Those who have believed in the power of the saved gospel and those who have received grace live by sharing it. The reason I am telling you is because the Jesus I experienced is so good! If you do not preach this Jesus while preaching other things well, you will be identified as not a true believer. Rather, those who preach Jesus, even if they do not do anything else, enjoy the blessing of “lifelong gratitude”.
Again, of course, the Lord loves everything in the church, and he values every service. However, don't forget that you are not very pleased with anything that saves your soul and there is no purpose for saving your soul.
Therefore, the image of a shepherd returning to find one lost sheep is truly the heart of the Lord. I hope that you can always remember the heart of the Lord who is holding a feast with the greatest joy in finding the lost sheep and be able to treat people. One of the visions of our church is “Mission to find souls”. Before this is the vision of the church, you must know that it is the heart that pleases the Lord. It tells us about our attitude to invite our precious neighbors to share the gospel and make a decision. Evangelism is done by those who have the heart to share, whether it is time or not.
In today's text, 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul shows the Saints of the Corinthian church the passion for sharing the gospel, the gospel that he believed, gained, experienced, and experienced.
However, it is important to remember that Paul lived as a servant to the gospel, but also lived as a servant of men. This is verse 19. “I was free to all, but I made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more people.”
I was free! Paul who made himself a slave, in fact, he could be said to be a well-to-do person at that time, a person who lacked nothing, a perfect person! There was nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing ugly.
But when he meets Jesus, he changes. This is also the full summary of the text. That is, “Jesus is the best.” What does his appearance teach us? He confesses that if he can share this gospel through himself and people can be saved, he will do anything and become anything. Because it makes you realize that there is nothing better or more noble than the salvation of the soul.
Gentlemen, we cannot evangelize without sacrifice and without service. But that sacrifice is not forced. It's not pointless. Sharing the most precious treasure. If you give the gospel, you give that person something to be thankful for for the rest of their lives.
Gospel and its Rewards
Even if all the runners run, only one gets the reward!
In this day and age, people are running for all kinds of work. But keep in mind. The reward is only one person, one who runs for the gospel. Everyone who runs for the gospel is one who will receive a reward. Congratulations on being one of them.
A sports day was held at a school in a small town. Very young kindergarten students start running. Several people were running, and while walking halfway around, a child saw her mother and forgot why she was running.
When we live for the gospel, we win, receive blessings, and solve problems on this earth! Obviously more important! Our eternal home is in heaven. Let's all run together and be embraced by the Lord. Let's greet those who have been saved there and diligently preach until the day when we will all be embraced in God's arms and praise the Lord there. Let's preach the gospel. I bless you all who share the most precious treasure of the gospel.