Title: Paul the Evangelist
Brothers and sisters, the apostle Paul was also an apostle who was crazy about evangelism like Pastors Warren. Through today's text, we also want to renew our vocation to evangelism through the heart and passion for evangelism of the Apostle Paul. I want to ignite the passion for evangelism.
1. Paul had a clear sense of calling for evangelism. (verses 15-17)
Paul was crazy about evangelism. As an evangelist, he was entitled to a fee. It is the Lord's will, as stated in 1 Corinthians 9:1-14, that evangelists receive a fee. Paul was well aware of this.
However, if the fee is an obstacle to the gospel ministry, it means that we will not give up on preaching the gospel even if we do not receive the fee. Look at verse 15. “But I have not used any of these [the right to receive royalties], and I am writing these words not to ask you to do this to me, but I would rather die… so that no one will turn my boasting into vain.” Paul is saying that even if the cost of living is not guaranteed, he will not stop preaching the gospel. Dear saints, this shows how Paul views evangelism. Paul was so thorough and perfect about evangelism that it could be called awful. Soon, evangelism was the purpose of his life. This was his vision. Paul did not align evangelism with his own life plan, but he put everything in his life into this evangelism. He lived for this.
What drove Paul crazy about evangelism? How could evangelism become the goal, dream, and vision of Paul's life? The text shows two things. First, Paul knew the gospel. He met the gospel. He understood the gospel. That's verse 16. “Even if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, because it is something I must do, for if I do not preach the gospel, woe to me. This is the reaction of those who met the gospel with their hearts. A heart that cannot bear without preaching, a heart that seems to go mad at me if I don't, is the reaction of those who understand the gospel. Guys, what is the gospel? It is an incident where Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for us sinners who are the object of God's wrath and judgment. “Jesus took the cross for me....”
Paul met the gospel. The gospel compelled Paul to evangelize.
Second, Paul received the ministry of evangelism from the Lord. Verse 17. “If I do this voluntarily, I have a reward, but even if I do not do it voluntarily, I have been given the office. The title here refers to the stewardship that the slave received from his master. The Lord who died and lived on the cross called Paul and gave him the ministry of evangelism. This is the Lord's command to Paul. It's not Paul's choice. As a servant, we simply obey the Lord's commands. Paul understands evangelism as a calling from the Lord and confesses that he is obedient only as a servant. The gospel and the Lord's commands made evangelism to Paul the goal, dream, and vision of Paul's life.
Dear brothers and sisters, what is the purpose of your life? What is your life dream? What is your vision for life? Like Paul, we also met the gospel. Like Paul, we are also commanded by the Lord to evangelize. According to John 20:22, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” As those who were sent into the world to evangelize, I hope you have a clear purpose in life. We want our church to have a clear identity as a church sent into the world for evangelism. The church exists to evangelize. This is the essence and purpose of the church. I hope you believe it.
2. Paul evangelized in every possible way for one soul. (verses 19-23)
How did Paul preach the gospel? Serving as a servant. Verse 19. “I was free to all, but I made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more people.” Here Paul says that he was free. However, for the sake of evangelism, he served as a servant. It is important to note that when we are servants, we think of them as servants of God. Because so many pastors boasted that they were servants of the Lord. But look closely at verse 19. Whose servant are you? It is a paper for everyone. Serving unbelievers as servants is Paul's method of evangelism. Evangelism is not just done by word of mouth. Our bodies must also be included. It is by serving as a servant. The way of evangelism is through love.
We can see in verses 20-21 how Paul preached the gospel in the spirit of a servant. In a nutshell, Paul preached the gospel to many people in various forms. Paul was a spiritual chameleon. He tried to use every method to save souls. But we must distinguish Paul's flexibility from compromise. Although Paul adjusted the method of evangelism according to people, circumstances, and culture, he never made concessions to the content of the gospel. Paul never compromised on the essence of the gospel. According to Galatians 1:8, “Cursed is we, or even an angel from heaven, if they preach any other gospel than the one we preached to you.” Although Paul was flexible in the way he preached the gospel, he never compromised on the essence of the gospel.
3. Paul did evangelism through his life. (verses 18 and 23)
Paul did not preach the gospel only by word of mouth. I preached the gospel with my whole life. Soon, Paul himself lived the gospel first. Verse 23. “I do everything for the sake of the gospel, so that I may participate in it.” He received the gospel, understood the gospel, and believed the gospel. And I lived for the gospel and participated in the gospel. Paul did not just explain the gospel. He lived the gospel and showed and presented it before the gospel people he had lived before.
According to today's newspaper, "Believe in the Lord Jesus. Then, you and your household will be saved.” It is said that the Bank of Korea is in trouble because of the printed thousand-dollar money. Today's world is deaf to the messages we tell them. They are protesting that please don't just talk and show them the gospel. Because the church is not showing the church. The saints are not showing their saintliness. In this situation, like Paul, we need to show the world the gospel not only with our mouths, but with our whole lives. We must show our neighbors that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life through our own lives. It must be proved in the dark world that the church is the foundation and pillar of the truth. For that, like Paul, we must live the gospel. We must participate in the gospel.
Paul gave up all rights for the sake of the gospel. Rather, they were happy to give up and sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. Verse 18. “What then is my reward? For when I preach the gospel, I preach it freely, and because of the gospel I do not use up all my authority.” Sacrifice for the gospel was regarded by Paul as a reward. It is a picture of those who live for the gospel and participate in the gospel. Paul became a servant to all for the sake of the gospel. He wanted to serve them as a servant to all for the sake of the gospel.
Dear saints, what is evangelism? Professor Seo Jeong-woon, a missiologist who was the former president of Jangsin University, said that he was called Jeon Jeon. That's right. Those who are crazy about the gospel like Paul are evangelism. Like Paul, I hope you make evangelism the goal of your life. Like Paul, I hope that you will devote yourself to evangelism and obtain the fruit of saving many souls.