Matthew 9:9-13 Telling People About Jesus

This story is the very heart of My Hope with Billy Graham. Matthew invited family, friends, and neighbors to his house for a meal and to learn about Jesus. We can do the same thing today to introduce people to Jesus.

Barriers to telling people about Jesus that Matthew overcame. Sometimes Christians fearfully think:

Some people are too sinful for God to forgive.

People are not interested in the Gospel of Christ and will not respond.

I am not trained to tell people about Jesus. It is too hard for me.

I will be criticized by others or embarrassed if people do not respond.

The story of Matthew answers your questions about these barriers.

FOUR BARRIERS TO TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS

Some people are too sinful for God to forgive.

Matthew was a traitor, a tax collector from Rome! Matthew betrayed his people by becoming a tax collector. He cheated people by collecting too much tax. He led a sinful lifestyle. Jesus loved Matthew in spite of his sinful lifestyle. God loves this world and does not want them to perish in their sins.

““For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, HCSB)

Jesus came to save sinners.

“Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”” (Matthew 9:13, HCSB)

People are not interested in the Gospel of Christ and will not respond.

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, HCSB)

Jesus looked deeply into Matthew’s lonely life and spoke to him. Matthew followed Jesus immediately and invited others: the poor, the tax collectors, and sinners. People try to hide their needs so others dod not see them. But Jesus sees, and He knows how to help those who are hurting.

I am not trained to tell people about Jesus. It is too hard for me to do.

“While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples.” (Matthew 9:10, HCSB)

Matthew used what he had to introduce others to Jesus Christ: his home, his food, and his relationships. He did not forget his old associates (tax collectors, sinners, family, friends, and neighbors.) He shared what he found in Jesus, and it was a powerful witness for Jesus Christ.

I will be criticized by others or embarrassed if people do not respond.

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”” (Matthew 9:11, HCSB)

Matthew was so happy about being a follower of Jesus that he had a party and invited everyone, especially those who needed Jesus. Matthew was criticized, but there were great results:

Jesus was the focus of the meeting.

Sinners confessed their sins and received forgiveness from Jesus.

New believers met other followers of Jesus and were established in their new faith.

Matthew grew spiritually.

The critics were silenced.

You can do this! You do not have to be a great pastor or teacher. Use the Matthew and Friends plan to get them to come. Invite people to your home or meeting place. Give them refreshments. Watch the program together. Tell your testimony in three minutes. Invite them to accept Jesus.

Let’s review the Matthew Strategy:

LOOK AROUND and identify your friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow students, and family who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Write their names on the Matthew brochure.

LOOK UP and pray every day for each person you have listed.

LOOK OUT for opportunities to build your relationship with these people.

LOOK FORWARD to the event: Invite every person on your list, prepare your three-minute story, and pray for God’s help as you ask your friends if they want the kind of hope that you have – then lead them to Jesus.

LOOK AFTER those who gave their lives to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith.

DISTRIBUTE THE MATTHEW BROCHURE TO EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH MEETING.

Point out the steps in the brochure.

Ask people to write the names of at least two people who need Jesus Christ.

Encourage them to pray every day for every each person on their list.

I want to challenge everyone to open their homes and become a Matthew Host. I have a sign-up list of people who will commit to hosting people in their homes in the back. We will also have training for event.

Let me explain a timeline of opportunities for sharing the Gospel in this church for the next couple of months:

October 18 Revival – Youth Day

October 19 Revival – Family Night

October 20 Revival – Friend Day and baptisms that evening

October 23 My Hope with Billy Graham Training (Wednesday Evening)

October 27 Upwards Soccer League Registration Begins

October 31 Halloween Safe House

November 3 My Hope with Billy Graham Training Make-Up Day (Sunday Evening)

November 7 My Hope with Billy Graham in various homes

We are using various different methods to share the Gospel. First, we will use revival meetings where we can invite people who need to hear the Gospel and who would be willing to come to the church to hear it. We will have a special emphasis each day: Friday is for the youth, Saturday is to invite the families, and Sunday is to invite your friends. We will take Sunday evening to hear a final message and celebrate with possible baptisms.

Second, we will use Upwards Soccer registration to promote the Gospel through the use of sports. Our goal is forty kids (K-8). Rob Wheeler is managing that entire ministry. We will start sign-ups on October 27th, and we will have a booth during the Safe House to register families. Once they have signed up, there will be a series of opportunities to share the Gospel.

Third, we will hand out tracts during the Halloween Safe House. We will use information about the church. We will sign people up for My Hope with Billy Graham. We will also sign people up for Upwards Soccer. Dickie’s Bar-B-Q of Springfield will be donating the meat and so we will be serving the people a meal during this evening.

Fourth, we will continue to list and pray for people to come to the Matthew Homes for November 7^th. Next week, I will provide a list of TV channels where you can see Billy Graham speak on that day. The broadcast will be played on various channels (all of them on cable and satellite, none of the local channels will cover his broadcast.) They will be repeated for November 8, 9, 10, and 12.

So we are going to use different strategies. We are using different hooks and locations to go fishing. For the revival, we are letting Sam Moore speak to them. For the Upwards Soccer, we are letting the sports expert Rob Wheeler organize people to help teach the kids and parents about Jesus. For the Halloween Safe House, we will use an activity to draw people in and let them hear about Jesus. I will show the same video that will be used with My Hope with Billy Graham in one of the rooms for people to see and hear about Jesus Christ. You can also use that time to invite people to your homes for November 7^th. On November 7^th, you can use a DVD or television to let other people share their testimony, and then you get a chance to share your story. We will talk more about this during the training.

Remember, you can do this. You don’t have to be a great evangelist, or a great soccer player, a pastor or teacher, and you don’t need to use gimmicks to share your story. Just invite people to your home or meeting place. You can reach many people for Jesus Christ. We can all do it one at a time.