Introduction
Segway
Community Outreach Conference: Some us may prefer the abstract, theoretical pursuit of foreign missions to the concrete action of community outreach.
We know with our heads what Christ wants us to do. The problem is usually our heart.
! Title: The Evangelized Evangelist
The nucleus of the individual life must be kept pure if the impact of evangelism is to be effective. We must ourselves be thoroughly evangelized before we can succeed markedly in evangelizing others.
--J.B. Chapman in Preacher’s Magazine Lent/Easter 2009 (Nazarene preacher)
Propositional expression: essentials to being an Evangelized Evangelist.
An Evangelized Evangelist has
I. Received the Gospel Message
Chapter One of Charles H. Spurgeon’s book for pastors, Lectures to My Students contains this obvious, but sometimes overlooked admonition.
“For the herald of the gospel to be spiritually out of order in his own proper person is, both to himself and to his work, a most serious calamity…”
“It should be one of our first cares that we ourselves be saved men.”
Acrostic: A list or poem where the first letter of each line or word spells out a word or message
! God
John 14.2-3
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;(dwellings) if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Heaven reminds us that …
· God is our creator.
· God is love.
· God is perfect and holy.
>>John 3.16
! Only son
John 1.1 & 14 the Word was God … the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
John 5.21-23 ...all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father
! Sin
definition: It is
· more than the stuff that makes my life crummy or that I get in trouble for.
a state of being an enemy of God that is demonstrated by breaking His commands.
· Colossians 1.21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
>>1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
penalty:
>>Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
! Precious blood
Romans 5.8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Peter 3.18
For Christ also suffered once for sins,
the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
>>1 John 1.7b …the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
! Eternal Savior
>>1 Corinthians 15.20-22
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
! Let Him in
It is not enough to just feel and know. Receive Him.
>>John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Having Christian parents and friends. Going to church and doing religious things is not the issue here.
An Evangelized Evangelist
II. Has the Gospel Heart
· The Gospel at its heart is more than
the essential acts of Christ’s death and resurrection
· It is more than
the preaching message about how to be saved
· It is more than
the act of conversion.
· The Gospel is Christ.
A Gospel heart is a heart for Christ.
& Announce text: Mark 14.1-11
Matthew - to Jews, Christ the Messianic King
Mark – to Romans; Christ as a Servant Savior
Luke – to Greeks; Christ as the perfect Son of Man
John – Christ as the eternal Son of God
>>Message of Mark
Key verse:
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Simple outline of Mark Not completely chronological
I. Serving (1-10)
Blind Bartimaeus / Triumphal entry
II. Ransoming (11-16)
Read text:
Mark 14:1-11 Also in Matthew 26.6-13; and John 122-8, not Luke 7.
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1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
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3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
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10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
Explain textual versus chronological context
A. Contrasting Context
“…as the moment of crisis approached everybody came out in their true light.”
–F.B. Hole in The Gospel of Mark
It is ever the light which throws the shadows of object – and this deed of faith and love now cast the features of Judas in gigantic dark outlines against the scene.
----Alfred Edershiem in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
The verses before an after this account contrast
· darkness against the light.
· hate against love
· selfishness against service
· sincerity against hypocrisy
· calloused treachery against loyal love
covetousness against God
! Turn you paper sideways for a picture of our story
! 1. Before our story – tricky priests (1-2)
1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
After two days… “the time reference in 14.1 governs the leaders’ concern to arrest Jesus, not this even.” (anointing of Jesus) --Bible Knowledge Commentary
trickery δόλος Strong's G1388 – dolos do'-los : lit. to catch with bait; fig. craft, deceit
ylt—guile; kjv, Wuest—craft, craftiness; nasb, esv—stealth; nkjv—trickery; nlt—secretly
! 2. After our story – greedy Judas (10-11)
10 Then Judas Iscariot, [the] one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.
The definite article appears before the word “one;” Judas, “the one of the Twelve” who betrayed the Lord.
betray
! Draw Simon, Jesus, and Lazarus eating. Martha serving and a lady pouring oil on Jesus’ head.
B. Good Deed from a good heart
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
Simon the Leper—It was unlawful to eat with persons that had the leprosy; and it is more than probable, therefore, that this Simon had been healed…”
---A. Barnes in Notes on the New Testament
Three things about the perfume or oil:
nardos nardos came from India
pistikos pistikos genuine, pure
polutelhs poluteles very costly price not given here
4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
were indignant ἀγανακτέω Strong's G23 – aganakteō ä-gä-näk-te'-ō : indignant, angry;
wasted ἀπώλεια Strong's G684 – apōleia ä-pō'-lā-ä destroyed, ruined,
The word John 17.12 uses to describe Judas as “the son of perdition.”
John tells us that it was Judas who took the lead in this criticism. (“takes one to know one”)
criticized her sharply ἐμβριμάομαι Strong's G1690 – embrimaomai em-brē-mä'-o-mī lit. the snorting of horses; fig. sternly charge, threateningly enjoin
ylt, kjv—murmuring (ed); nasb, esv—scolded (ing); nkjv—criticized sharply; niv—rebuked sharply; nlt—scolded harshly
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
trouble κόπος Strong's G2873 – kopos ko'-pos : lit. a beating fig. labor, trouble with emphasis on the fatigue caused.
A beautiful thing----------------
good work --- a goodness seen on the outside as it strikes the eye, a beautiful, pleasing goodness. –Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament
A timely thing----------------
whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
poor πτωχός Strong's G4434 – ptōchos ptō-kho's : lit. one who cowers down, hides for fear fig. powerless, afflicted, destitute
Deut 15.11
For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’
Where did this culture of living frugally to help the poor start?
A generous thing------------
She has done what she could.
· This is not mentioned as an excuse for inadequacy, but a praise.
· When we are aware of the desperateness of our sin and the enormity or our salvation, it moves us to generosity toward God.
· "A cold heart makes a slow hand." —JC Ryle
·
An insightful thing------------
She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
A memorable thing------------
memorial μνημόσυνον Strong's G3422 – mnēmosynon mnā-mo'-sü-non : a memorial, a rememberance
ylt, kjv, nkjv, Wuest—memorial; nasb, esv, niv—memory; nlt--remembered
Note that it was the deed not the person that was to be remembered. The gospel that sets up the memorial does not mention the name.
The Gospel heart is one that loves Christ at great cost. Whether it is two widow mites or a pricey flask of oil, love Christ with all.
The disciples longed for fame and influence, but this woman is the one who finds an enduring memorial. She found it not by longing for a position, but simply by loving Jesus and serving Him. --David Guzik in Enduring Word Commentary
TE: Let’s look to the passage that Bob read earlier and contrast The Gospel Life with the tricky priests and greedy Judas.
II. An Evangelized Evangelist has
Lives the Gospel Life
& Turn to 2 Peter 3
“The description of a soul winner required but a few lines, “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord” (Acts 11.24) It is as though the cause and effect were stated.”
--J.B. Chapman in Preacher’s Magazine Lent/Easter 2009 (Nazarene preacher)
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,
A. Living with a Pure Mind !
unlike the tricky priests
· Our story took place around the time of Passover.
· Instead of scouring their lives for the evidence of sin or humbly thinking the God who spared them when they didn’t deserve it, they were plotting to kill an innocent man. --Steve Zeisler in “Why do you bother her?” Questions Jesus Asked
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,
pure εἰλικρινής Srong's G1506 – eilikrinēs ā-lē-krē-nā's : (From heile (the sun's ray) and κρίνω ) found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun's light
Illustration about going to the sunlight to get a better view of something.
Duplicity and secret sins are not part of The Gospel Life.
B. Living with an eternal focus !
unlike greedy Judas
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
· Look around at this beautiful building. Your car in the parking lot, your home, the stuff of this world is temporary.
Mark 8.36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Colossians 3.1-2 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
The Fully Evangelized Evangelist is one who …
1. Received the Gospel Message
Receive Christ for yourself.
2. Has the Gospel Heart
Develop a wholehearted love for Christ.
3. Lives the Gospel Life
Look for and pursue the eternal.
4. Does the Gospel Work
Check out the outreach ministries in the foyer.
