John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have
the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One
of God."

Evangelism!  That's considered a pretty important word in the work of the
church.  Today, the trend is to make evangelism the end all and be all of
what a church does.  Well, in some ways that is true and in some ways
that is not true.
Let me explain.  The first thing we need to do is come to grips with what
the term "evangelism" means.  Evangelism is a word derived from the Greek
word "gospel or good news" and is thus a word that refers to the
spreading or sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior
from sin.  Please note that evangelism is about sharing Jesus and Him as
the Savior.  It is not about increasing numbers, not about biblical
preaching to help you live better, nor is it about the personal
ministries and goals of individuals.  It is about sharing Jesus and his
truth, his entire truth!  It is teaching Jesus as the Savior from sin and
the giver of eternal life.
If we understand that definition of evangelism our evangelism as a church
will be strong and good.  However recognize that evangelism, or what some
churches call evangelism is a deadly pitfall and danger to the church.
Should we desire to really learn about evangelism we need to look to
Jesus and what he was about.  That's the reason and purpose of this
discussion in the first place.  Our text gives us a wonderful insight
into Jesus and His evangelism.  Let's see what we can learn from Jesus.
Our theme will be: JESUS THE EVANGELIST.  1st. His Preaching.  2nd. His
Methods.  3rd. His Purpose.
As we begin this study of the evangelism of Jesus let's consider a few
basic but important facts.  First, we want to ask the question, "Who is
evangelism for?"  If we look at the life of Jesus it is rather clear that
the good news of the Savior was for all people.  We can see that as Jesus
ministers to everyone around him.  Primarily, since he came to fulfill
the Old Testament Jesus worked among the Jewish people.  But do recognize
that he never limited his teaching or word to just them.  He shared it
with all.  He wanted all people to know the truth of salvation and the
victory that would be theirs in Him.
So it was that Jesus thus went around preaching the message of God.  The
curious thing is that Jesus was and is the good news.  He is the Savior
and as such he clearly taught himself as the Savior.  Think of the gospel
lessons that we had recently were we see Jesus clearly teaching about him
as the bread of life, the real food and drink of God from heaven sent to
bring life and salvation to the world.  What he was teaching was the
truth.  Some didn't understand it.  Some marveled at it.  Many wanted
nothing to do with it.  The reaction of the people isn't the important
thing.  Understanding that Jesus teaches the truth is.
By the way I think it important to hear what Jesus says to us in John 8.
There he says, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."  Or
consider what he said in Matthew that passage called the Great
Commission.  He said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given
to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."  Or how did his
disciples put this fact?  2 John 9 says, "Anyone who runs ahead and does
not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever
continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."
Do you get the feeling that preaching and teaching the truth is
important?  Jesus taught the truth to everyone.  He didn't hold this or
that back, didn't determine that since people weren't going to get it He
may as well skip it.  He didn't even shy away from that which he knew
people would reject.  What Jesus knew as the Son of God was that
preaching and teaching the whole truth of God was the most important
thing there was.  Preaching and teaching especially the message of
salvation by the atoning sacrifice of himself is exactly what Jesus got
into in this "bread of life" sermon.  It is the truth of God that counts.
 The truth of sin.  The truth of the Savior.  The truth of our
forgiveness and eternal life won in Jesus.
The next question we wish to ask is this: "How is evangelism carried
out?"  Don't forget what we just learned because it has an impact on the
answer here.  In his teaching and preaching Jesus is clear.  He tells us
His Holy Spirit works through the Gospel in Word and sacrament.  He makes
it clear that the preaching and teaching of His Word is to include the
entire counsel of God, his entire truth and nothing but the truth.
What else can we learn?  As one looks at the ministry of Jesus there are
those who say that Jesus evangelized through miracles.  That's not
entirely true.  Jesus did miracles, lots and lots of miracles,
indisputable, verifiable miracles.  Those miracles were done so that
people would know he was the promised Son of God.  Those miracles were to
fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament that told you how to identify
the Son of God.  That's the reason for the miracles.  Miracles were not
the method of evangelism, rather the miracles showed that Jesus had a
right to proclaim the good news and kingdom of God.  The miracles showed
that Jesus was the Son of God.
By the way, think of what has happened to those churches that use
miracles as a means of evangelism.  Every so-called worship service has a
miracle doing session.  How come their miracles aren't verifiable?  How
come they aren't indisputable?  Why aren't they doing visible miracles
like Jesus?  That's the problem they have.  Since they focus on the wrong
thing for the wrong reason they must produce that thing which they
proclaim important.  If they can't really produce it, they will fake it.
What surprises me is that when these people are shown to be fakers people
still keep going.  If it were really of Jesus why would anything be fake?
 Miracles were not a method.
Is it all right to hide or compromise the truth for the sake of bringing
souls to Jesus?  Look at our text and what happened.  Jesus has just
spoken of himself as the bread of life that came down from heaven.  They
questioned Jesus on it, "This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it?"
Do you see Jesus backing off?  Do you see Jesus changing his tune and
saying something like, "Well, I simply mean I'm like bread and how bread
is good for you.  And I didn't really mean you had to eat my flesh and
drink my blood, no, no!  I just meant all of that symbolically and that
if we think of it in only a spiritual way that's fine."  No way!  Jesus
shoots right back, "Does this offend you?  And he continues to hammer at
them with the truth.  The result?  "From this time many of his disciples
turned back and no longer followed him."
Who here wants to proclaim Jesus a bad evangelist?  And who here doesn't
grasp that the truth of Jesus is still going to turn people off.  Because
people aren't flocking to our doors to get in doesn't make us bad
evangelists.  Is it just possible that when Jesus told us the path to
heaven was narrow and few enter it he was telling the truth?  Our job is
to preach and teach the truth.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit to see
who believes and doesn't believe.
 One more thing about method.  Please note that Jesus appointed disciples
to go out and preach in His name.  God expects that the real evangelists
are going to be those people who have been touched by the wonder and joy
of Jesus.  In other words, share what is precious and wonderful to you.
As you hear the word and the truth of Jesus you will share what you know
with those around you.  I believe we have made a serious error in today's
world by our misuse of the word evangelist.  Did you know that the word
is only used three times in the New Testament?  Did you know that in two
of those three passages the word is used to describe what Christians do?
Did you know that only once is the word used where it seems to be a
special category of church worker?  But I don't think it is a special
category.  I think it is a word that describes what every Christian,
especially what every called worker will do in their lives.  Evangelism
is carried out by us the disciples of Jesus...by all of us, not just some
special person.
Third question is this: "What is the goal of the Evangelist?"  There are
those who view evangelism as the way to grow the church, to increase the
numbers and membership of the church.  That is not the goal.  Scripture
makes it clear that it is God who grants the increase or the decrease in
a congregation, but note that God is looking at hearts not just bodies.
What good is a church of 10,000 where no one believes in Jesus as the
Savior?  The goal of evangelism is to share the whole counsel and marvel
of God, especially the good news of Jesus.  Evangelism is carried out
only through the gospel preached, taught and lived by God's children.
Why is this question important?  Because when you focus the goal of
evangelism on the results you want then you begin to use whatever as a
means of gaining members.  That's why you see churches today with gyms,
projection screens, mega activities, specialty groups, touchy-feely
worship, the list here is endless.  The reason for all of this is that
they consider the results of evangelism the purpose of evangelism.  Thus
they take a "whatever it takes" attitude in what they do.  They do
whatever it is that they perceive people will like and enjoy so that
people join their church.  But is this really evangelism?  It is more
like membership drives, like Weight Watchers, the Shriners or Mason
engage in.  The problem with such things is that usually it is Jesus and
his Word that gets left behind even though that's supposed to be the
purpose of evangelism.
Again look at Jesus.  Jesus didn't back down when people were offended at
the truth.  Jesus didn't change his tune for the sake of numbers.  What
is striking to me is what Jesus does with those remaining.  He turns and
says to the Twelve, "You do not want to leave too, do you?  Talk about
direct.  That challenge of Jesus is a clear one.  It is letting those who
remain know that they will do it his way or they could hit the highway
too!
More important, the response of the disciples helps us grasp the point of
evangelism.  Peter says, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words
of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Do you grasp what Peter has confessed?  "Jesus, there is no where else to
go?  You are what it is all about.  You have the message of eternal life.
 You are the holy son of God!"  Pretty remarkable statement considering
that Jesus hasn't finished his work yet.  Jesus still had to suffer, die
and rise from the dead yet.  And even after that happened, Jesus had to
work to help his disciples understand the full implication of the cross
and empty tomb.  They got it then, fully.  From that point on they began
to preach salvation by grace through faith.  This is what Jesus had done.
 Jesus is what it was all about.  There was no place to go!
That's still true.  If we aren't teaching Jesus as the Savior from sin
and the source of eternal life what's the point?  If we aren't preaching
the gospel of Jesus, how the Son of God came and died for us and then
rose from death to show his total victory what's the point?  You can be a
mega-church with thousands but if Jesus and his atoning sacrifice is not
the heart and core then you may as well recognize that in the eyes of
Jesus you are not HIS church.
Beware.  There are lots of churches that teach "the Bible."  But they
spend all their time telling you how you are to live or how you are to
minister and testify and show Jesus in your heart.  They spend time with
political issues and family life issues and on and on...all of this from
their understanding of the Bible.  Fine and well, if that's what they
want to do.  But clearly God's Word says they are to be preaching Jesus
Christ and him crucified and risen from the dead.  If you don't see and
hear that message at every service, run.  It is Jesus and His Word that
brings eternal life.  Not just a general moral view of his Word.  The
truth of His word.  The hard teachings of his Word.  The proclamation of
His word that He is the Savior and not us!  Yes, we need to humbly say
with Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus!
Share the word.  Share Jesus.  Don't be afraid and don't be ashamed of
his gospel.  He is the power of salvation.  He is all that counts.  He is
the heart and core of evangelism, the evangelism that all of us are to be
involved in because we have the good news of Jesus.  In Jesus heaven is
ours now and always.  In Jesus are the words of eternal life.  That's why
we are called St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.  We are about Jesus.
Amen.