Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.
To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:
Share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost (Matt. 28:18-20; Ps. 96:3)
How many of you were taught or have heard: 'Don’t talk about politics and religion'?
I am fine if we pass on political discussions (even though we definitely need to discuss them), but we cannot fail to speak of our faith. As we reach this line of our covenant, it is the very commitment we make that is based on the namesake of our church, M28 Church.
Matthew 28 (M28) is the last chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, and it is here that we read of Christ bursting forth from the tomb after His crucifixion and then telling those gathered to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’ Disciple-making begins with proclaiming the Gospel.
Evangelism has always been a part of God’s people.
I am fine if we pass on political discussions (even though we definitely need to discuss them), but we cannot fail to speak of our faith. As we reach this line of our covenant, it is the very commitment we make that is based on the namesake of our church, M28 Church.
Matthew 28 (M28) is the last chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, and it is here that we read of Christ bursting forth from the tomb after His crucifixion and then telling those gathered to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’ Disciple-making begins with proclaiming the Gospel.
Evangelism has always been a part of God’s people.
Psalm 96:3 says, 'Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!'
And Paul, in the book of Romans, speaks that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and that this has always been the way. There is no distinction for people to be saved or different methods depending on where or when you have lived. So, he is clear that people can only hear as we share and send one another to share the Gospel (Romans 10:5-17). In seminary, I took a class called personal evangelism, and I still remember my favorite definition of evangelism: 'I am just one man trying to tell another man where I found bread.' I can’t credit the person who said it, but I love it! What wonderful imagery and truth.
My prayer for M28 is that we will be a people so consumed with the goodness and glory of God that we will have a culture of evangelism in our church family.
What I mean by this is that when others are around us, the Gospel will just come out of us because we are so taken by God’s salvation we have in Christ. The focus many times is on results when we talk about Gospel sharing, and it is right to long for and pray toward others confessing Christ and being baptized. In fact, I pray that 2024 may be the most fruitful year for M28 in this area. But the results must not be our main focus. The joy and task of sharing the Gospel are to be our aim as the people of God. He brings the harvest as we sow and water the seeds!
Some may be a gifted evangelist (Ephesians 4:11-12), but most of us aren’t. Rather, the Bible calls the Church to be evangelistic. We, the Church, are to be so confident in the Gospel and so consumed with the Gospel that evangelism will just be a natural response and result of God’s people. This is why we can’t think of evangelism ultimately as something that we just do individually (even though that will take place), but rather it is the call of the Church! It is who we are as a Church!
Some may be a gifted evangelist (Ephesians 4:11-12), but most of us aren’t. Rather, the Bible calls the Church to be evangelistic. We, the Church, are to be so confident in the Gospel and so consumed with the Gospel that evangelism will just be a natural response and result of God’s people. This is why we can’t think of evangelism ultimately as something that we just do individually (even though that will take place), but rather it is the call of the Church! It is who we are as a Church!
We are the people just telling others ‘where we found bread’!
We do this in many ways, including our singing, preaching, praying, fellowshipping, and each week we take the Lord’s Supper. Let’s not let these opportunities pass without proclaiming again and again the salvation that is in Christ alone! I have been asked due to our name if M28 Church is a cult or just trying to be ‘hip’? The answer is neither! We are just trying to be the people that joyfully share the Gospel with all that the Lord puts before us! So, M28…let’s make disciples and baptize them as we proclaim and teach all that our Savior has commanded! So we may not want to talk about politics, but we must talk about ‘religion’ to a lost world that may not even know they need 'bread.' What a joy to be God’s plan to tell His creation that He is the only way to salvation.
What a joy to covenant with each of you as we partner together to share the Gospel with our neighbors and unto the nations!
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