God did not isolate himself from the world. Instead he plunged right into our world as one of us with a supreme love for us. He did not like the world or the mess we had made of it. We were marred by sin and we have marred one another and the planet we live on by our sins. However, God pours out his love on us not because we earned it. He loves us because God is the Supreme Lover.

The last words of Jesus to the disciples were to “go and make disciples of the nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Last words are remembered and honored. The last words of my Dad to me were go home and preach the gospel and that he loved me. Those words will forever ring in my heart. I will preach the gospel until the day I go to heaven. In the same way passionate followers of Christ meditate and act upon the last words of Jesus.

Finally, Jesus promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit who bears witness to Christ and continually glorifies Jesus. His presence in our lives causes us to want to do the identical thing, glorify Jesus! It is the clearest indicator that we have received the Holy Spirit, that we long to share Christ with others.

Evangelism is rooted in God. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! God is the first missionary and He is fully committed to missions today! So are Passionate Followers of Christ! It is through us that God has willed to reach those that He longs to reach. When we say passionate followers of Christ at Woodland, we mean those who are being changed by Christ. We have convictions because we are convinced by Christ. 

“If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishng. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

Those who not know Christ are perishing.

The unseen enemy has blined the mind of unbelievers. He enthrones himself on their hearts through common lies like the Bible is full of contradictions, Christianity is for little old ladies, etc.

Listen there is no middle ground. There is light and darkness. Two destinations, life or destruction. A fatal disease sin and the only antitoxin is the blood of Christ.

If we believe that, we will lovingly, daily, determinedly live our lives to share Christ with lost people. We do not lose heart according to 2 Corinthians 4:1. I can’t begin to describe to you the joy of helping someone to discover the Good News of Christ and see them commit their lives to Him.

(my personal summary of pp 17-25 of Michael Green’s Evangelism)

Peace!