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Aug 20, 2017

Purpose Over Product

Purpose Over Product

Speaker: James Gallaher

Series: Love Thy Neighbor

Category: Sunday Morning

Evangelism is your story about God’s grace in your life. Your story is the connection someone is needing to connect them to the only One who can save them. It’s time for us to give it away.

Opening Scripture:
Mark 8:22-25  And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.


Mark 8:14-21  And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Evangelism has become the product instead of the purpose. The focus is on results instead of relationships.

I know and believe the Great Commission, but I struggle in figuring out how to fulfill it.

Does evangelism feel like a sales technique for the Gospel?

95% of all Christians have never led anyone to Christ.
80% of Christians do not consistently witness for Christ.

I don’t think it’s a conviction problem, but I think it’s a delivery problem. Evangelism has been portrayed as not only unattractive but also unsuccessful.

Over 85% of us came to salvation by the same means, a personal relationship. God uses people to connect others to Himself.

Reread Mark 8:22-25

They brought him.
  -  They said I should talk to you.
He took him by the hand.
  -  This is the personal connection.
He led him to a private place.
  -  Spiritual healing was never meant to be a public spectacle.
He healed him.
  -  Then He did it again.

Jesus’ intent was never to lead him part of the way but to see him through to total healing.

Evangelism is your story about His grace on your life. Your story is the connection someone is needing to connect them to the only One who can save them.

Let us put our effort in what produces the greatest success - Relationship!
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