A Message to the Youth by Russ Clodfelter
Hello future leaders here at Shady Grove, My name again is Russ Clodfelter, you, the person to the right and left of you, are the future lay-people, leaders, administrators, youth and lead pastors, you, led by The Holy Spirit, will be responsible for the future of the Church, Let us open today in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, We come before you today with open hearts and eager spirits, ready to receive your word and to be empowered by your Spirit. As we gather today as a youth group, we pray for the courage and wisdom to be bold witnesses of your love and grace in the world. Guide us Lord, as we dive into your Word and explore the call to evangelism. May your presence be visible among us, and may your truth resonate deeply within our souls. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
If you attend Shady Grove regularly, I am sure you have seen me, at some point. It is a great honor for me, to be able to share and serve God, and be his hands and feet in this small way. I was born with a condition called Cerebral Palsy, I will spare you the details, but because of my condition, I am unable to walk and talk. However, through the marvels of technology, I have this power chair that allows me to move about, attached to it, I carry my personal communication device, which allows me to speak. With all these drawbacks, God still calls me to be his hands and feet, and spread the Word, wherever and whenever I can, I have been giving my testimony at various churches, youth conferences and mission camps for over 15 years now. Thank you Kelsy for asking me here today. In my short message today I would like to speak to you on Evangelism, who here today, can tell me what evangelism is?
Thank you, A Good definition of Evangelism is, the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness, the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ, Evangelism, is spreading the gospel, and this is very important to Jesus. As the Bible tells us, Jesus came so that we may live, Jesus wants everyone to know this truth so they, too, can be part of Gods holy kingdom, Open your bibles if you have one to Matthew 28 starting at verse 16. Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Holy and precious is the Word of the Lord!
What does the word evangelism bring to mind, For some, it may conjure images of street preachers or door-to-door missionaries, For others, it might be a source of discomfort or fear, But at its core, evangelism is simply sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. In the passage we just read from the Gospel of Matthew, often referred to as the Great Commission, Jesus gives his disciples a clear command, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, This command wasn't just for those disciples standing on that mountain with Jesus, it's a commission for all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, But let's pause for a moment and acknowledge something important, evangelism can be intimidating. It's not always easy to talk to others about our faith, especially in a world that often seems indifferent or even hostile to matters of spirituality. So how do we overcome this fear, How do we find the courage to be bold witnesses for Christ?
First and foremost, we must remember that we do not undertake this task alone, Jesus promises his disciples and also you and I, And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. We have the assurance of his presence and his power as we step out in faith to share his love with others, We are never alone in this journey of evangelism. Secondly, we must cultivate a heart of compassion for those around us, Evangelism is not about winning arguments or proving ourselves right, it's about sharing the transformative power of God's love with those who desperately need it, When we approach others with genuine love and empathy, our words carry far more weight than any clever argument ever could. Finally, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and take risks for the sake of the gospel, Yes, evangelism can be scary, but the rewards far outweigh the risks, Every time we share our faith with someone else, we have the opportunity to participate in God's redemptive work in the world, And there is no greater privilege than that. So, my young friends, I urge you today to embrace the call to evangelism with courage and conviction, Let us go forth from this place as bold witnesses of the love and grace of Jesus Christ, knowing that he is with us every step of the way. May we never shrink back from the task at hand, but instead, may we shine brightly as beacons of hope in a world that so desperately needs to hear the good news. Thank you so much for allowing me to share a message with you this evening, let us end in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the opportunity to gather together with this youth group and to explore your Word. As we go from this place, fill us with your Spirit and embolden us to be courageous witnesses of your love. Help us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with our friends and all those we encounter, and may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And its In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Thank you.