Proclaiming The Gospel - Are We Ashamed Of The Gospel?

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                        "PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL"

                     Are We Ashamed Of The Gospel?

INTRODUCTION

1. Shortly before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave His apostles the Great
   Commission...
   a. To preach the gospel to every creature - Mk 16:15-16
   b. To make disciples of all the nations - Mt 28:19-20

2. It was a mission taken seriously by the early disciples...
   a. From the beginning, at Jerusalem - Ac 2:36-39
   b. Even when persecution forced them to flee - Ac 8:4-5; 14:5-7;
      20:24
   c. Thus the message of the gospel spread throughout the world - Ro
      10:16-18; Col 1:23

[But what about today?  Are we proclaiming the gospel of Christ as we
should?  To our friends, to our neighbors?  To those in our communities,
to those in other places?  If not, perhaps we should ask...]

I. ARE WE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL?

   A. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME...
      1. You personally shared the gospel with someone?
         a. Not just discussed some religious subject
         b. But actually talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ
         c. Is sharing the gospel no longer a priority for you today?
      2. You heard the gospel preached in a "gospel meeting"?
         a. Many churches no longer have gospel meetings per se
         b. Many churches announce them as such, but then ask the
            preacher to edify the saved
         c. Is evangelizing the lost no longer a priority for churches
            today?

   B. MIGHT WE BE ASHAMED....
      1. Of Jesus and His words? - Mk 8:38
         a. Jesus postulated that some might be ashamed of Him and His
            words
         b. Perhaps through influence by a sinful and adulterous
            generation
         c. Our generation has become increasingly sinful, are we
            embarrassed to talk about Jesus?
      2. Of appearing foolish to others? - 1Co 1:18,22-23
         a. Paul admitted that the message of the cross is foolishness
            to many
         b. Preaching Christ crucified can be both a stumbling block and
            foolishness
         c. Many people today consider religion foolish, are we ashamed
            to talk about Jesus?

   C. WHO ARE WE TRYING TO PLEASE...
      1. Men or God? - Ga 1:10
         a. Paul posited that we either please men or God
         b. If we are concerned with pleasing men, we are not servants
            of Christ
         c. Who are we trying to please today - family, friends,
            neighbors, co-workers?
      2. Why some would not confess Jesus - Jn 12:42-43
         a. Even though they believed in Jesus
         b. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God
         c. Whose praise do we seek today:  man’s or God’s?

[There may be other reasons why proclaiming the gospel is not priority
for many Christians today, but I suspect many are simply ashamed of what
others might think.  Yet let me offer reasons...]

II. WHY WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED

   A. THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD...
      1. Which is why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel - Ro 1:15-16
         a. Why he was ready to preach the gospel
         b. Even to those in Rome who had already heard it
      2. Because it contains incorruptible seed - 1Pe 1:23-25
         a. Through which one is born again
         b. The Word of God, which lives and abides forever
         c. Like the rest of God’s Word, it is living and powerful - He
            4:12

   B. THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER TO SALVATION...
      1. Salvation from our past sins - Ro 3:23; 6:23
         a. Of which we are all guilty
         b. Of which we stand in danger
      2. Salvation from the present storms - Mt 7:24-27; 1Co 10:13
         a. With words, when obeyed, help us weather the storms of life
         b. With God’s care, when received, will deliver us from evil
      3. Salvation from the future judgment - 2Co 5:10; Ro 5:8-9
         a. A judgment we shall all face
         b. A judgment without wrath for those in Christ

   C. OTHER REASONS NOT TO BE ASHAMED...
      1. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren - He 2:11
      2. God is not ashamed to be our God - He 11:16
      3. That we not be ashamed at the Lord’s coming - 1Jn 2:28

CONCLUSION

1. There may be other reasons why many Christians do not share the
   gospel...
   a. Cares, riches, or life’s pleasures may have a strangle-hold on
      them - Lk 8:14
   b. Hearts hardened by the deceitfulness of sin may be the problem
      - He 3:12
   c. Simple apathy may be a reason - Re 3:15-17

2. But if it because we are embarrassed or ashamed...
   a. There is no good reason to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ
   b. Even if it means having to suffer ridicule, rejection, even
      persecution

For the message we proclaim is the most important message in the world!
It is more important than the cure for cancer, the solution to world
hunger, etc.  It is the message that saves souls for eternity...!

   Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of
   me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the
   gospel according to the power of God - 2Ti 1:8
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