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here Prairie Lakes Church. Hey, I think it's been. Man, like a month maybe a little bit more since I've had a chance to talk to you from this spot. I think it was like the week before Thanksgiving so in light of that here's what I want to say to you because I haven't had a chance to say it to you yet.
Merry Christmas Merry Christmas and It's it's a week away by the way, just nuts. So here's my guess. I'm guessing that you're probably. All over the place. I've talked to folks who are already getting sad because they can see the end of the finish line of the holiday season and they just want it to be longer and then I've talked with folks who?
for host of reasons just probably can't wait for for it to be over just for life to settle back down or kind of just get through the season so we say this every single weekend and we're gonna say it again no matter where you're at on the Christmas Spectrum here whether you're you know, Tiny, Tim or Scrooge.
About who you are no matter where you've been. No matter where you're at right now. No matter what you've done no matter what's been done to you. And this is very true every single day. It's especially to a Christmas time. God loves you. He really does. And whatever you're bringing into the room. Okay, you can look for him here. All right. Hey, we are concluding a series we've been in for the last.
Four weeks and called Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. And so here's where we've been week one we talked about. Hey, we want to have a merry Christmas. We got a Wonder so is it almost relearn how do we wonder week two is how to help how to be a helping presidents people live in the week through just how to be a presence last weekend. And so if any of those kind of peak your interest and you missed go back pretty lakes church.org and you can see all of those sermons on there but this weekend we're gonna conclude and here's where we're going as we do the topic for this weekend. Is this how do we have if we're gonna have a Merry Christmas maybe even help others have a Merry Christmas. How do we share truth?
Or how do we share the truth? We think that's a pretty big part of the of the holidays. How do we share the truth about about Jesus the truth about what we believe our faith. How do we do that with the people and our little Iowa's and our in our fears of Influence, especially those who maybe don't know him. Maybe those those of us those people in our lives are just haven't haven't taken that step yet.
So I want to make this say the same thing but maybe rephrase it in the form of a question because really what we're asking is this, how do I share my faith? How do I do that and we're gonna explore this question in a few different ways this weekend. But before we do, let's do this together. Let's do a little self check a little exercise in in self-awareness because as you look at that question there on the screen as you look at that, I just want to ask you and just check yourself here. What does this question make me?
feel what do I feel as I as I read it become present to that just for a second. Okay? Can you name it even can you name what you're feeling and what you're thinking. My guess is this my guess is you're probably feeling a mix of things maybe more than one thing. So just might be a mix of something like this, right you might you might you know be feeling a little bit of fear. You might be feeling hopeful you might be feeling optimistic or or unequipped or comfortable or confused. I mean could be a host of instant a host of different things.
What are you feeling right now, though? Okay, see if you can't grab one or two. Just kind of file that away. As we go because however you're feeling about it. However, we're feeling about it. There is one thing that those of us who stepped across that line of Faith. Here's one thing that we know.
To be true about this question. And that is this if we have this face if we got it if we stepped across that line of faith and we know Jesus and we've got a relationship with them and all of that right if we got that here's what we know we had to share it. Kind of part of it.
It's pretty familiar passage. I'm sure and we've referred to it several times here through the fall and start a winner. But Matthew 28. Okay, let's just remind if you got it. You got to share it. Here's what Jesus says. Jesus came to them and said all authority in heaven on Earth has been given to me therefore go and make disciples of all Nations go and make disciples relations baptizing them in the name of the father and the son of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey.
Everything I've commanded you and surely I'm with you always even to the End of the Age. So it's it's familiar. If you've been around it pretty like pastures and it's often referred to as the Great Commission. Because that's exactly what it is. It's Jesus commission is Jesus giving a mission to his then 11 disciples to to go and make other disciples and and to get outside and in all nations share their faith. That's the mission he gave me saying what I've done with you guys for the last three years.
I want you to go do with others don't stay in this holy huddle, or if we quoted our our senior pastor, don't be a fat dumb. Happy Christian. Right, right. Oh man, the things that that guy gets away with right, but but get out there because he's not wrong. Get out there. Share your faith. Tell people who don't know about me. Tell them about me teach them what I taught you.
This is what Jesus is saying. So it's a pretty clear picture. pretty clear mission but just make sure we don't miss it. Let's fill out the picture here because here's what we said. We said if you got it, you got to share it. All right.
And so now here's what we have to to add to that. It's it's a decision. Yes, but It's also not really an option. If you're following Jesus. I know it doesn't make doesn't make logical sense because how can something be a decision if it's not really an option, you know, so I hope you get what I'm saying there. I mean, it's a decision meaning like it. It does require you to engage it will and decide to do it right doesn't in other words. It doesn't just happen automatically.
Right, but if you're a follower of Jesus. It's not really an option that you either do or don't do being a follower of Jesus means. sharing your faith one thing means The other we could summarize it in this way. We're not following Jesus.
If we're not sharing our faith. right, I mean That's that's what those are Jesus's words how he's defining it. Okay, so Now, how are you feeling like guilty shame frustrated, you know, it's a simple, you know, it's simple Jesus said it I believe it. Let's go do it right well have to say about it.
It's not that simple is it right? It's just not just isn't. I mean, I think that Jesus's words are clear. I don't think he's being unclear but I also would say I don't think it's a simple thing that He's telling us to do either I don't think it is. I don't think that sharing your faith is always simple or or even easy.
And I've actually got some data that I want to share with you. To back that up. I know I've shared some some data from this organization before but Barna research did a project back in 2019. So just you know three years ago. And they called this project to massive survey.
But they were trying to figure out they called it Reviving evangelism. They're trying to get a sense of how do how does everybody inside the church outside the church? How do we think about this idea of sharing your faith? And so if that were evangelism is either unfamiliar to you or if it's got weird package to it. Here's what it basically means is the practice of sharing your faith are more. Literally. It's proclaiming the good news.
About Jesus. That's what evangelism means and there's some just crazy crazy stats. I think you're gonna I think it'll interest you because they do capture how some of us feel about this idea of sharing of sharing our faith. So buckle up. Okay, here's here's the first one.
Nearly half of millennial practicing Christians. So half of this group of millennial aged practicing Christians half of them say That it's wrong. Oh, okay. So just a couple of terms. We need to Define there Millennials. What are millennials Millennials are people in the study? Anyways, they're born from oh 1984 to 98. So if you're if you're born in in this period of time between those two years, you're a millennial according to survey 24 to 38 years old.
That's a millennium practicing Christians. Here's other Define that practicing Christians are people who identify as Christian. They say that faith is very important in their lives and they've attended church at least once in the last month. Now you might say that bar is really low. You're probably right, but that's who we're talking about. Okay, so nearly half of that crew.
Said that they think evangelizing is is wrong, which means what which means like half the people in the room that you're in who fits that category have disagreed with most of what I've said to this point. to a degree 2D right I think it's just important to recognize but the question is why?
A why? Why do half of them think it's wrong? Well, the study doesn't say exactly but I would say this. I think there's an increasing desire even on the part of Christians who believe and are following Jesus to to not force our beliefs on other people or to to be respectful of other religions or to not be a jerk in the name of Jesus, right and and just again, so we're clear when we're talking about Millennials 24 to 38. We're not just talking about kids.
Right. I mean these are people that are approaching middle-aged. If you're if you hear the term Millennial and you go like all those those kids that's kind of awkward because it kind of reveals how where you're at on the Spectrum but a lot of millennial practicing Christians for a lot of them the idea of evangelizing. They're kind of categorizing it I think almost as unloving almost like that.
Now you may want me to set the record straight, you know right now. And we'll get our minds wrapped around that but just keep going with me. Just just for a little bit. Here's another stat and it's gonna I think explain a little bit what's going on that first one 65% of the same group? Okay, same group of people that said half of them said evangelists 65% believe that being a witness about Jesus is a part of their faith.
um so that does but then that you know, like I don't know that doesn't make it doesn't make a lot of sense necessarily but I think what it reveals is that a lot of us feel maybe conflicted about this.
Yeah, because I I want my friends to know about Jesus. Yes. Share my faith in the way within that guy turns them off either. And it seems like I've got more examples of people doing it bad than people doing it effectively. I really know how to resolve that. Yes. Okay. Okay. Here's another step just keep going almost two and five practicing Christians. So now I'm not just everybody regardless of their age two and five forty percent almost say that they've no non-Christian friends or family members.
Right, so holy huddles the problem. Okay, and and and not only that here's the next one more than half of practicing recreation's report having two or fewer conversations about faith of the non-Christian during the past year. I mean, some of us are not only stuck in in holy huddles.
Most of us aren't sharing our faith very much. at all right doesn't matter if you're Millennial or not. Whether you agree with it, or don't agree with it, most of us most of us are not doing it or not doing it very frequently.
and you know what if you're not depressed yet? Right over the edge because there's some stats from the other side of the fence as well. We've been talking about what Christians think and believe and how they operate let's let's a little bit about how non-Christian people outside that you're how do they think about some of this stuff? So here's the first one seven in 10 say that they are not on a quest.
For Spiritual truth. So all these people that Jesus is saying go reach all these nations all these disciples you all of our little Iowa Seven out of 10 percent out of 10 70% Yeah, thanks. I mean, it's great. It's great for you. Um, I'm glad it works for you. But no I'm not interested. You know what I'm interested in talking about. You know, how bad the Broncos are this season lots of interest there, but when it comes to Jesus Welcome to Jesus by the way, let's just let's just hit pause for a second. Okay, how many of you are? Just so supremely irritated with Nathan Lawrence and the lies that he's feeding the Pastor John and anybody else irritated I am okay. I'm working on that. But anyway, so let's get back get back. Get back to here. Most people are not like on this Quest. Okay. Most people are not at least with the study says and then here's the last one. Okay, here's the last one 38% people outside of the Christian faith outside of the church outside of a relationship with 38% say I don't have any questions about it.
All right. I'm not on a quest. And I don't really have any questions. so so there's a lay of the land right? Let's just get this straight. Let's keep score here. Some of us think it's wrong to share our faith. Most of us aren't doing it. And most of the people we should be doing it with are not interested.
That's what the data says to us reminds me that lay the land reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from the movie Lord of the Rings. Okay, this whole picture reminds me of that and if you've seen it, maybe you remember but take a look at this.
Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening. Sauron had the ring we would know it. It's only a matter. Of time you suffered a defeat. Yes, but Behind the Walls of Mordor High enemies regrouping let him stay there let him rot. Why should we care?
Because Ten Thousand Oaks now stand between Frodo and man. I've sent him to his dad. No. There's still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage Across The Plains of gorgorath.
We can give him that. how draw out sauron's armies empty his lands Then we gather our full strength and March on the black gate. We cannot achieve Victory through strength of arms, not for ourselves.
But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves. a diversion certainty of death small chance of success What are we waiting for?
Right small chance of success, you know like I love Gimli. I love Gimli so much. Okay. So if you're feeling like that, I mean I get it I get it. So here's let's let's let's let's let's figure this thing out because we're gonna spend the rest of our time this weekend just talking about this and and working our way into it in light of all this in light of all of this.
Regardless of where we're at in it. Regardless of where the rest of the world's at in it. When it comes to sharing our faith two things. Why? Would we still do it? Okay, why?
and then how why and then how okay so in his book start with why the author and consultant simonsonics some of you've read this book? Here's what he says. He says people don't buy what you do.
They buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves? What you believe? I think there's a verse about that. And it's true. It's true. Right so when it comes to sharing your faith, why what's what's our why we've actually already talked about our first why you know number one is because Jesus told us to do it. He told us to do it. That's at the top of the level, right? We Matthew 28, we looked at that. Let's go a little bit deeper and deeper into our why.
Because if Simon sinek is on to anything and I think he is there's probably a deeper why that we need to connect with. When it comes to sharing our faith. So next level is this, okay? Why would we share your faith? Yes, Jesus told us you but also this because I haven't forgot what Jesus did.
for me I think when we forget and we do have a tendency, I have a tendency you do the longer we get in this the the easier it is to forget who we were. and what life was like when Jesus found us and when we when we don't forget.
When that story is close to our hearts, we have a tendency to share of Faith take a look at this verse from Romans. 5:8 Romans. 5:8 says this but God demonstrates his own love for us in this while we were still sinners. Christ died For us let's just make sure we understand what's going on here while we were still Sinners while we were still sinning Jesus died.
He died for that sin that still between us and God. He took it upon himself. He took the separation. That was due us. And he did that before. before we express openness while we were one of the seven out of 10, you know all we were one of the 38% who don't have any questions. He did it anyways.
Before we expressed interests before we felt conviction before we ask for forgiveness before we confess before we believe before we stepped across that line of Faith before I repented Jesus. Did this for me and for you? I think a lot of us. He's just so easy to forget because the further away that we get from that moment that time in our life that decision.
Just the easier it is to forget. The smaller that story can grow. smaller and smaller in our hearts This is why Jesus tells Parables like the one about the two debtors in Luke 7. About the guy who was forgiven a huge debt that he could never repay.
But then who goes around and demands payment from a debtor of his own for a very small debt how easy it is to forget how much we've been forgiven. Or there's the one in Matthew 13 where you know, the guy just goes He discovers a hidden treasure in a field and he mortgages everything. He owns to buy that field because he knows that with that comes this treasure.
Do we remember? What an absolute treasure it is to be loved by God in Jesus. And do you remember who we were? When that gift was offered to us. Okay. Let's go one level deeper. Let's go one level deeper.
Why should we share our faith? Jesus said so because I haven't forgot who I was in Jesus found me not finally. Because God loved me first. Before I loved him. He loved me.
I think in this conversation about sharing our faith. It's it's easy to think that you know, I I should I should share my faith almost as like a it's like a favor. I'm doing for God, you know. How that guy up there, he wants me to talk about him. And if you'll make him happy, you know, like I'm doing this thing not I'm doing this thing for him in some kind of weird.
And I think we fall into that trap in a lot of a lot of areas when it comes to our relationship with him. I mean religion has a way. This obligation this transactional way. Of doing life with God. It just has a way of seeping in.
And displacing what really is a relationship what really should feel natural what really should kind of come out of us, you know flow out of us. We don't share our faith because we have to I don't share because God will be happier with us when we do.
It's not like every time we share our faith and Angel gets its wings. It's not that. Angels Don't Have Wings, by the way, just so you know, we do it. We do it. because of love we do it because of love.
Because God's love because God first. Loved us. Let's just be reminded first John 4. Okay. This is love. Those most have to cross Faith Line. This is Love. Not that we loved God. Don't forget. Don't forget who you were.
Okay, this is love. Not that we love God, but that he loved us and here's how he sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. That's one word in the Greek language and it it's a propitiation which which really means Jesus not only took all of the sin that stood between us and God he took all of God's anger. He took all of God's rest think about the things in relationship that when they happen when someone does something to you, that's wrong. That's hurtful. What does it do? It creates distance in your relationship and what what's filled into that Gap in your relationship with them if you're the ones being offended sometimes it's hurt. Sometimes it's anger and all this Justified right because of what they did what this is saying is Jesus took all of that that stood between us and God he took all of that away. He took it upon himself so that When God sees you and me.
He does not see. our sin it does not define. His relationship his posture his thoughts his emotions. His view his perspective his impression.
Of you and me. it's only Love so dear friends since God so loved us since he loved us in that way.
It's it's that kind of love. It's not obligatory love it's this kind of sense. God did this for us? We also ought to love. One another that's what should fuel. our desire prayer Our strategy our will our emotions when it comes to sharing our faith we love because he first loved us.
That's the depth. That we need to get down to when it comes to our why. Not that we love God. Let us start with what we ought to do. This Is Love This is Love what God has already done for us in Jesus Since God so loved us. Okay. All right.
So start with why start with why there's the why? As we finish now. Let's tackle our second one. Let's talk about how how In that same barnest study that I referred to early.
They also asked people outside of the faith this question and this is gonna serve as a guideline for us as we think about how They ask people who don't know Jesus. Okay, don't go to church don't believe most of them aren't interested chunk of them aren't even asking questions. Those people. Here's what they asked. What are the qualities of a good person?
To talk to about faith like if you were. What kind of person would you want to do that and they just kind of gave them several options? And so what I want to do is I want to share with you what people on the outside are saying about how they would maybe like to engage.
And so first slide first slide, we're gonna see three stats here. What are the qualities of a good person talked about faith 62% of those responded said you know what the number one quality is this the person would have to listen without judgment. So when we're thinking about how do we do this got to know?
listen Right Pastor John grab this one a while ago. It's really kind of held on we brought it back up quick slow slow quick to listen slow to speak slow to become angry, but quick listen first scripture kind of tells us and also they're telling us be a good listener.
What's 34% What's that mean? Here's what that means. They asked those people. Do you know of a Christian who is like this? for the most part Now only a third knew someone a Christian person.
Who listens without judgment? But 62% of them said you know, what if I was looking for someone that'd be the most important thing because there's a gap right number one number two, here's what they said. 50% of them says does not force a conclusion. How many of you like to be on the other end of a sales call in which the person is trying to close you?
Not me. And it's the same for a lot of these folks because these are these are really deep things. We're talking about, right? Hard to see hard to Define. We're all in process, you know, hey don't. Don't try to tile this up in a little bow, please.
It's not where I'm at. It feels very disingenuine. Okay, so don't try to force a conclusion. Hey, do you know of any Christians like that? No, not really. I you know only a quarter of them knew someone who was like that. So there's a real opportunity there. Number two number three.
Hey, I talked to someone about faith if they allow me to draw my own conclusion. Mmm. It feels a little weird, right? I mean what if someone says something like well, you know what? I don't know Jesus is fine. But like oh, I think all roads lead to Heaven, you know. Well, actually, you know, oh gosh.
Hey. It's okay that people don't land where we land. Okay, when I say that I don't mean that it's okay meaning like I agree with it or that I think it's it's true. I'm not saying that I'm saying in those conversations. You've got to kind of prayerfully discern. Okay, this person is not really Landing. I think where God ultimately want some land but I gotta tell myself. That's okay because they're in process guys at work. I'm just gonna keep in step just to see you know, I'm not gonna Force stuff on them, right?
Do you know of anybody like that? No, not really. Now we're getting down. There's like one in five only one in five of them know a Christian who's like that? All right, next three and this is where we're gonna end. Hey. This is me surprise you.
I would talk to someone about faith if they were confident in sharing their perspective. Really? Yeah, don't beat her on the bush. Don't be weird about it. It's okay that you tell me what you believe as long as you're not forcing an army or let me draw my own conclusions, you know, if you're listening if it's a dialogue, I mean people are for the most part. They're okay with that, you know of anybody like that. There's not much of a gap there. But still it's pretty low next one.
Hey if they demonstrate interest in my story or my life Faith is shared when you know someone. It's just a lot easier to share when you know them. You develop a relationship with them. It's really that's really. yeah, of course, but again, right Do you know if anybody like that even less now? Not really 17% new Christian that was like that.
and this thing like we need to be the kind of people that play the long game, okay. developing the relationship and continue to develop it and like a genuine relationship a genuine friendship a genuine connection. Is so so important when it comes to authentic and even transformative real conversations about faith.
increasingly in our culture increasingly any sort of in-personal non-relational quick-hitting means of sharing your faith. Like I'm gonna put this bumper sticker on my car. I'm gonna wear this t-shirt. I'm gonna give them this tractor. I'm gonna There's a reason that Jesus came to Earth.
as a person and lived 30 plus years. And spent three years every single day with a group of 12. There's a reason he did that. Okay, last one.
We got to be good at asking questions. Just ask questions. Not as like an inquisition, right? Tell me more about that. What do you think about that? What's your marriage like tell me what your kids you know, like I'd be just oh, it's interesting perspective. What do you think that I mean? Just just asking quite just just asking questions.
Right. So six things six things there is we're thinking about how to do this year at Chris. I'm thinking about a Christmas Eve invite or listen. Maybe even beyond that, right? Because so many of us in relationship with people we have to play the long game. How do we do that?
How do we do that? So what we're going to experience something together before we before we leave to kind of creatively and even prayerfully get us in this mindset. But before we do that, let me pray for us. Okay?
Father in heaven, we are we're grateful first and foremost for the story that you put in many of our hearts this this real story of being adopted into your family because of what your son Jesus has done for us. God we also just recognize there's a for I'm sure almost every single one of us. There's a gap between that story in our hearts and this practice of sharing our faith and and so I just ask God as we navigate our relationships over these next few days, but but not just that Past Christmas and beyond that we would be people.
For Whom the story of your son Jesus is large looms large in our hearts and our minds that we share our faith out of that that deep why and God that we would do it in such a way that just brings you glory. God helps people just take steps towards you so.
Bless our conversations Jesus pray this in your name. Amen.