Sunday 29th August 2021

 BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sunday 29th August 2021

with Nottingham North East Circuit 

Prepared by Rev Yanyan Case and adapted for Burton Joyce Community Church by Phil Colbourn. Hymns: Songs of Fellowship (SoF)

The Methodist Way of Life 4: Witness and evangelism

Call to worship: Isaiah 52:7-10 

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news 

Hymn SoF 10

All heaven declares 

Opening prayer 

Father God, splendour and holiness are your canopy, grace and justice are your footstool. You have compassion on the nations and your goodness and mercy draw us to repentance and so we come in confession:

Forgive us when we fail to be salt and light in either word or deed

Forgive us if we fear the world more than fearing you

Forgive us if we have ignored your Great Commission for the world. 

We come to the foot of the cross. By your stripes, we are healed. Holy Spirit, work in and through us, establishing the Kingdom on earth. Nurture us with your living word so that we may rejoice in the truth. Grant us peace and understanding as we follow Christ. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Hymn SoF 205 

I cannot tell 

Bible reading 

Colossians 4:2-6 

Reflection 

On the night before she planned to end her life with her 3 months old down-syndrome daughter who was born with three holes in the heart, Judith received a scam phone-call trying to sell her insurance. She was annoyed and could not be bothered to talk but the caller shouted to her as she was about to hang up: “Would you come to church this weekend; there’s a special event going on?” Judith had never been to church but she agreed she would go before she died.

That Sunday, Judith felt an unspeakable sense of peace that healed her heart-pain and she received Jesus as her personal Saviour. Since then, her life has been completely transformed and her daughter is completely healed. Now, as a pastor, she helps thousands of widows and orphans in third world countries. I would recommend her testimony. Here is a link: 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW7TwRNnWR8

Judith’s testimony made me think about evangelism. Very often when we talk about evangelism and mission, Matthew 28:18-20 comes to mind - “make disciples in all nations”. But how? Do we all have to become missionaries? How can we play a role in our day-to-day life? 

This insurance salesperson played an important part in the life of Judith. Evangelism and mission need not to be complicated. We can start from right where we are. It is not what “we” can do “for” God, but what “God” can do “through” us. What a privilege!

Today’s reading is from Colossians, a letter about the sufficiency of Christ and His life-transforming work. In the first three chapters, Paul deals with the redemption of believers but now, in chapter 4, he encourages Christ’s followers to consider their responsibility in sharing the Good News.

This paragraph in Colossians 4 outlines two types of involvement in evangelism. Verse 2-4 is about “indirect involvement” whereas verse 5-6 is about “direct involvement”.

Indirect involvement through prayer 

v.2 “Devote yourselves to prayer” 

If we cannot do anything else, we can still pray. Prayer is the new way of life for Christians, breathing to keep our spirit alive. It is a privilege with great power, so let’s use it!  What shall we pray for then? 

1. First of all, "Pray for us also that God may open to us a door for the word" (v.3a). Just like the Apostle Paul, many people are called to preach, to go to the unreached people-groups, to dangerous places that most of us probably wouldn’t dare to go. Paul asks us to pray for, so that doors may be opened to them. If we cannot go, we can support them with prayers. 

2. Secondly, “Pray for the whole mystery of Christ to be made plain when God opens a door’ (v.3b). What is the “mystery of Christ”? It is not a confusing riddle, but the deep, ancient and overwhelming truth of God that is beyond our comprehension. It is only a mystery because people cannot know it unless it is revealed to us by God.

Direct involvement through witness  

1. “Live wisely” (v.5a) 

The Gospel is not only preached by word, but also by deed. We might be the only “Bible” some people read. We share the Gospel through our conduct, in creativity, experience, tact and thoughtfulness, having a feel for the moment and knowing how to respond. It requires us to remain in Christ, and to pray unceasingly. 

Methodists have long been committed to social justice. We pursue justice as a way of responding to God’s grace, living in obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbours as ourselves. But we have always been aware that good works in themselves are not enough.

2. Gracious speech (v.6) 

Paul says, “how can they hear without someone preaching to them” (Romans 10:14)? Sharing the Good News in words is a vital part of our direct involvement in evangelism. Paul tells us we need to have conversations and to season our speech with salt to make it appealing. 

Finally, let us make the most of every opportunity (v.5). In Judith’s story, the insurance salesperson did not preach the Gospel, but made the most of the opportunity. In an amazing way, God was at work and Judith has turned out to be an effective Gospel communicator reaching thousands in many countries. What a mystery of Christ! 

Today, I would like to leave a few questions for us all to ponder: 

-  Can you articulate the Good News in 3 minutes? 

-  When is the last time you shared the Good News with someone? 

-  What can I do directly or indirectly to get involved in evangelism? 

Here are some points it is always good for us to remember:

§  Christ is the visible image of the invisible God; 

§  he became flesh and dwelt among us; 

§  he healed, taught and loved even the outcast;

§  he died on the cross to take away the sins of the world; 

§  he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven as our King; 

§  whoever believes in him shall have eternal life;

§  he gives us the Holy Spirit to be with us until the end of the age. 

Amen

Hymn SoF 88 

Facing a task unfinished 

Intercession 

Response: Merciful Father, may your Kingdom come.

God, the Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ, you are the Giver of life. Thank you for Jesus your Son, in whom we inherit eternal life. Thank you for the world which provides us with food and necessities for life. Thank you for the diversity of your creation. 

We pray for evangelists and missionaries who go and make the wonderful mystery of Christ known boldly and faithfully. Send more labours to your mission field, equip them with the skills they need and give them abundant harvest. 

Merciful Father, may your Kingdom come. 

Thank you for the churches and Christian organisations around the world. Lord Jesus, you are the head of the Church. Make our roots grow deeper into your love, to know you better and to share the Good News with others. 

Grant us gracious speech and wise conduct so that we may draw people to you to be your faithful disciples. 

Merciful Father, may your Kingdom come. 

Thank you for the work of healing in our hospitals, for medics and scientists, for the vaccine program rolled out so quickly to save lives. 

We continue to pray for all those who are suffering from Covid or any other illness that you will hold them with your healing hands. 

Lord, provide for all those living in poverty and struggling with basic needs. 

Merciful Father, may your Kingdom come. 

In the silence, pray for all those in your heart...

Let’s finish together with the Lord’s prayer

Hymn SoF 738 

Go forth and tell! O church of God, awake! 

Closing prayer 

Father God, rekindle our passion for your Kingdom so that we can become your faithful ambassadors

Jesus Christ, direct our thoughts and minds so that we know how to play our parts in your Great Commission

Holy Spirit, teach us your wisdom and embrace us with strength so that the unfinished task on earth may be accomplished through us. Amen. 

Blessing 

May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.