“WE ARE NOT ASHAMED” (Play “Invite a Friend” by Good Shepherd UMC, KCMO, a DVD about a man at work struggling to invite a co-worker to church.) Matthew’s gospel is the first to contain a warning from Jesus to the disciples that being his follower means to deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow him. He tells them not to be afraid of those who can kill them. The way to gain eternal life is to obey the one who gives it. After experiencing his power and authority, he says, “Don’t be ashamed to own me and my teachings publicly--even if it costs your life. Those who follow me, and then deny knowing me, will be disowned by me when I return in glory. But those who speak of their faith, those who are public witnesses to my sacrificial love, will be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven.” The disciples were acquainted with the martyrs of Judaism throughout history. Jesus wanted his followers to love him more than they loved their own lives. He wanted it then, he wants it now. He entrusts his disciples to fulfill his mission. Are you an obedient, faithful disciple? In Mark’s gospel we find the same message: “If you really want to save your life, don’t deny me, don’t disavow my teachings. You may lose your physical life, but you will gain true life, eternal life. If you are not ashamed to confess me before sinners, when I return I will claim you, I will own you before God. Now turn to Luke’s gospel, chapter 9, verse 26, and let’s read together: Luke 9:26, “Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Again, “if you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you.” Matthew, Mark, Luke – the synoptic gospels, meaning they come from the same source bear the same proclamation. When the words are repeated, it is to stress the importance of the message: Jesus cries out, down through the ages, “Don’t be ashamed of me. Don’t act like you don’t know me when you’re around your family and friends and co-workers.” The only appropriate response from his followers is, “We Are Not Ashamed.” Now if you really feel that way, say it with me. Tell God, “We Are Not Ashamed!” In Transforming Evangelism: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith by Henry Knight & Douglas Powe, (Discipleship Resources, 2006, p. 94) the authors write, “People are able to share why they root for a certain sports team over another team. People are able to share why they like a particular restaurant more than others. We should be able to share why the gospel intersecting with our lives is so important to us…. In a society where most of the news is negative, we need to hear some good news.” But let’s get real. Wouldn’t you rather ignore Jesus? Wouldn’t you rather get a root canal than share your faith? That’s what a four-year research project recently concluded (Unbinding the Gospel by Martha Grace Reese, Chalice Press, 2007, p. iii). Our relationships with our families and friends should not be more important to us than our relationship with our Lord and Savior. Last month the Evangelism Team challenged everyone to invite at least one person to church on Easter Sunday. How many of you did? Thank you for accepting the challenge. Was it frightening or easy? For those of you who invited someone, whether they came or not, remember that you did your part; you planted the seed. Dr. Knight and Dr. Powe say, on p. 95, “We need to invite others to come to church and not be afraid of the response we will receive.” Plant the seed. Someone else will water the soil. And God’s grace will inspire growth and produce the fruit. Where would we be if Paul had been ashamed to spread the gospel around the world? I don’t know, but we wouldn’t be here. Over 50 years after the resurrection of Christ, Paul is on his way to Rome, the home of the Emperor, to proclaim that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, not Caesar, Jesus! Why is he not ashamed to preach in the enemy’s front yard? Because he knows that the good news is God’s power that saves everyone who hears and believes. That means even Caesar had a chance to be saved. But he, along with everyone else, has to hear it in order to accept or reject it. Every Jewish person and every Gentile has to hear it. How will they hear it unless someone, you and me, shares it. How has your relationship with Jesus made you a different person, a new person? (pause) Invite them to the game? Yes. Invite them over to your house for dinner? Yes. Then invite them to a free meal and a Wednesday Night Live Beginnings class. Or youth group. Or worship on Sunday morning. Raise your voices and repeat after me, “We Are Not Ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” May God bless your obedience as you share your faith in his Son with someone who has yet to me him. Amen. |