Relational Evangelism: July 27, 2025
The Heartbeat of the Church: Rediscovering Relational Evangelism!
In our sermon this week, David shared how nervous they always feel before a sermon, not because he want to perform, but because he deeply desire to convey God's message exactly as he believe He intended. That passion for the transformative power of God's Word is something we can all connect with!
The sermon began with a heartfelt prayer for our church, its leaders, and every person dedicated to its vision, asking that the Word would not just be another sermon, but something that motivates us to do God's work, driven by love. Amen to that!
Evangelism: The Lifeblood of the Church
The core of the message revolved around evangelism, boldly declared as the "heartbeat of the church." You might think it's all about teaching the Word, but as the speaker pointed out, "Without evangelism, we have nobody to teach!" It's the lifeblood that keeps the church growing and thriving.
We heard about how evangelism used to be seen – going out cold-calling or knocking on doors, often out of a sense of duty. While those efforts planted seeds, the speaker suggested that in today's world, we need a different approach: relational evangelism.
It's about being intentional with our outreach. The Holy Spirit is our helper, but we have a responsibility to go out. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, and we're encouraged to pray for more workers! Imagine our church, no matter its size, being a laboring, harvesting church – 30 laborers can impact an entire city!
Seeing with God's Eyes
One of the most profound takeaways was the idea of "men as trees" – how we sometimes look at people and only see them for who they are in the moment, rather than who God created them to be. The speaker challenged us to pray for God's eyes, to see beyond the surface, beyond the hurts and struggles, to the potential within each person.
This isn't about judging, but about understanding that everyone outside of Christ is "broken in some way." Whether they've had a "good life" or have faced immense challenges, we all meet on common ground at the foot of the cross. There, our pasts, our money, our hidden sins – none of it matters. We are all equal under the shadow of a Savior.
The Good News for a Bruised World
The sermon really highlighted that we live in a bruised world. People carry emotional hurts from their past, relational failures, and even pain from experiences within the church itself. Jesus came "to set at liberty them that are bruised," and as the church, we are called to bring that freedom.
Think about it: when Jesus stepped into darkness, the "undesirable" were drawn to His light. Prostitutes, tax collectors, the marginalized – they found comfort at His feet. When we shine our light, we should expect the same. It might be uncomfortable at times, but remember, we were once that "undesirable thing" too!
We were reminded that the church is meant to be a "hospital" – a place that takes in the undesirable, the hurting, and the broken. It’s about more than just saying "Jesus loves you." It's about tangible love: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, being hospitable. When we meet those real-world needs, the "intangible" message of Jesus becomes desirable.
The Urgency of Hope
Finally, the sermon touched on a powerful, often overlooked truth: the reality of hell and the beauty of heaven. If we truly grasp these realities, evangelism won't be an option, but an overflowing desire. We are bringers of good news, full of hope because Christ lives in us! We have the world's answers residing within.
The message concluded with a challenge: "If not now, then when? If not here, then where? If not us, then who?" This isn't about replicating old methods but about allowing God to use our unique individuality to reach a world desperately waiting for someone to be sent to them.
What a powerful reminder that our faith isn't a spectator sport. It's an active, compassionate movement, propelled by love, reaching out to a hurting world.
