E.A. Johnston challenges believers to overcome common excuses and embrace the urgent call to personal witnessing as a vital part of their faith.
In this compelling sermon, E.A. Johnston addresses the common reasons believers hesitate to witness and challenges them to embrace their responsibility in fulfilling the Great Commission. Drawing from Romans 10:14, Johnston exposes excuses such as laziness, indifference, and faulty theology that hinder personal evangelism. He calls for a heartfelt revival in the church, urging believers to move from passive spectators to active soul winners. This message is a powerful reminder that true salvation compels urgent and compassionate witnessing.
Full Transcript
My Bible says in Romans 10 14 How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how should they believe in him of whom? They have not heard and how will they hear without a preacher? 95% of church members are content to sit in church and listen to a man preach But they are not willing to go out and do any witnessing themselves 95% of church folk never open their mouth to warn sinners Well, won't you witness friend? I've gave you several reasons and you can check off the ones that apply to you In fact, I'll list ten reasons why you won't witness and you pick the ones that pertain to you Reason number one You're too lazy You won't make the effort to go tell someone about Jesus You think the Great Commission is for the clergy and it doesn't apply to you You have an armchair religion. That is more spectator than participant reason number two You're indifferent towards the souls of men you really don't care folks go on to hell So long as it's not you Long as you can watch your reality TV and your ball games Then you were content to let others drop into a burning hell every minute reason number three Your theology has you Pickled in a jar and the lid is only taken off for church meetings You feel if someone is one of the elect then they'll be saved Whether you lift a finger or not But where would you be friend if others felt that way and never told you about Christ? Where would Christianity be in the world if no one ever witnessed? reason number four You are into Self-preservation above all else you are not willing to stick your neck out there for anybody Let them go on to hell so long as you can save your skin You wouldn't walk across the street to keep your neighbor out of hell reason number six You're a pastor or a preacher and you feel you do your job in the pulpit and Therefore you don't have to do any personal witnessing I know lots of preachers who feel this way they refuse to do any personal evangelism They refuse to tell folks about Jesus one-on-one they will sit beside them in public and talk about sports and Politics talk about just about any subject but not mention the name of Christ Not mention Jesus to a lost person Brother preacher, why did God call you into the ministry if you're not a personal soul winner? number seven You don't have on your heart. What is on God's heart if you walk closely in an intimate walk with God You would have a burden for souls enough said number eight Yourself absorbed when you pray.
It's all about me us and mine You have a bubble Christianity that only pertains to what is in your bubble and you don't want it to pop you care less about Hell a-popping every minute as another soul drops in the hell so long as it doesn't bother you number nine You were backslidden You were in direct disobedience to the Great Commission You have backed away from the God who saved you What breaks his heart no longer breaks your heart? You were quite content in your indifference and apathy toward the lost you have dried When you pray you care little over souls perishing into a devil's hell. What's it to you? reason number ten You're not really saved yourself If you were truly saved you'd be out there talking to folks like a dying man to dying man You'd have tears in your eyes over people going to hell You'd be doing all you can to pull someone out of the fire Your own conscience is asleep in a carnal security and unless you get saved you go to hell along with everyone else you refuse to witness to
Sermon Outline
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I. The Biblical Mandate for Witnessing
- Romans 10:14 emphasizes the need for preachers
- Believers must actively participate in sharing the gospel
- Witnessing is not just for clergy but for all Christians
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II. Ten Reasons Why Believers Avoid Witnessing
- Laziness and armchair religion
- Indifference to the eternal fate of souls
- Faulty theology and reliance on election
- Self-preservation over others' salvation
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III. The Heart of a Witness
- Having a burden for souls reflects intimacy with God
- Avoiding self-absorption and embracing God's heart
- Overcoming backsliding and apathy
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IV. The Urgency of Being Truly Saved
- True salvation compels one to witness urgently
- Carnal security hinders evangelism
- Personal salvation is foundational to witnessing
Key Quotes
“95% of church folk never open their mouth to warn sinners.” — E.A. Johnston
“If you were truly saved you'd be out there talking to folks like a dying man to dying man.” — E.A. Johnston
“Where would you be friend if others felt that way and never told you about Christ?” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Examine and confront personal excuses that prevent you from sharing your faith.
- Cultivate a deeper intimacy with God to develop a genuine burden for lost souls.
- Commit to active personal evangelism as a natural expression of your salvation.
