Matthew 28:16-20
My daughter remembers the day when she got the Big Envelope!
Donna and I were on our way out of the house when I turned back to see if anything was in the mailbox, and there it was.
A Big Envelope, the school’s logo prominently displayed … I grabbed it and hurried back into the house.
To this day, Rachel recalls my “klomping” through the house into the family room where she was sitting on the floor, watching TV.
I stood in front of her – Big envelope in hand – her face, at first uncomprehending, exploded into a mile-wide smile.
“The Big Envelope” I announced.
“The Big Envelope” she shouted.
Up she jumped – tore it open, and there it was.
“Welcome!”
To the school of her dreams.
The Big Envelope!
In the kingdom of God, everyone gets the Big Envelope.
Everyone!
“For God so loved the world!
No ifs, ands or buts.
Paul the Apostle writes: “we are convinced that one has died for all.”
Everyone gets the Big Envelope!
There’s no guessing game here – as if some were in and others were out.
Everyone gets the Big Envelope.
Some can’t recognize it.
Some don’t know what to do with it.
Some don’t know how to open it.
Some read it and can’t believe it.
“When you grow up the hard way
Sometimes you don’t know
What’s too good to be true,
Just might be so.”
Lots of folks grow up in a small envelope world – that’s all they’ve come to expect.
“You don’t belong here.”
“You don’t measure up.”
“You’re not good enough!”
“You’re a flop, a flub, a failure.”
“You’re a dope, a dummy, a dunce.”
Some folks have drawers full of small envelopes – attics filled with them; basements stuffed with them …
We all have a cache of small envelopes somewhere!
Jesus has special regard with folks who live in a small-envelope world.
He touches the untouchable leper.
He heals the blind and the deaf.
He invites a tax collector to climb down out a tree.
He talks to the woman at the well.
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news … to proclaim release … recovery of sight … to let the oppressed go free … to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor.”
To give God’s Big Envelope to folks who live in a small-envelope world.
“Go!” says Jesus … into all the world … and let folks know they have a place in the kingdom of God. Everyone belongs; no one left behind.
Evangelism!
Helping people see the Big Envelope – it has their name on it … no mistake about it … God knows what He’s doing … God is still in the business of saving people.
Last week Sunday – keep it simple … evangelism is simple …
Simple talk about God.
Think how Jesus did it: simple talk -
A father waiting for the Prodigal Son;
A shepherd searching for a lost sheep.
A little old lady sweeping her floor to find one lost coin.
The passion of God … “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Jesus tells stories … simple stories … He helps folks reconceive of God … think differently about God … God’s not so bad; God’s not angry with you; God is not out to get you. He’s on your side. He’s all for ya!
“Don’t be afraid … it is your Father’s will to give you the kingdom.”
Look what God does …
God leaves heaven to be with us.
God takes up our flesh and blood, our sins and sorrows …
“He has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases … wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities … upon Him was the punishment that made us whole … by His bruises, we are healed.”
Jesus shoulders a cross … stumbles through the troubled, dirty streets of Jerusalem … New York, Chicago and LA, too – Culver City, Inglewood and Westchester – Mogadishu, Kuwait City, Baghdad … every city, every town, anywhere a heart cries out, wherever a child sheds a tear.
A generous-hearted God.
A world-sized love.
A Big Envelope for everyone!
For God so loved the world …
The thief on the cross and the soldiers driving the nails.
The rulers and the ruled; Pilate and Caesar; Jew and Gentile; man and woman; free and slave, near and far; the old and the young, you and me!
“Come to me all you who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest.”
Is there anyone who doesn’t need the Savior’s grace? Anyone who doesn’t need a fresh start, a second chance, a mulligan?
Evangelism!
A good word.
“You’ve got the Big Envelope!”
I was a pastor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the home of Oral Roberts University. In the airport, Sunday afternoon, heading out to a conference.
A tall, gangly young man, fresh of face and bounding with energy sat down next to me and asked, “Are you saved?”
“Yes I am,” I replied.
The young man’s face fell. He was clearly disappointed.
He began to question me like a trial lawyer.
He didn’t want me to be saved.
I ruined his Sunday afternoon.
He continued to press me.
Knowing the drill, I said, “Yes, Jesus is my Savior. I serve Him, I love Him, I honor Him I gave my life to Him a long time ago.”
The young man grunted reluctantly, excused himself and headed across the terminal for a few other sitting ducks.
The young man loved the LORD.
But on that Sunday afternoon in Tulsa, he couldn’t wrap his heart around another Christian.
He couldn’t celebrate the world-sized love of God.
That young man was NOT doing evangelism – he was on a commando raid, and I was the enemy.
His guns were loaded, and he could hardly wait to fire a volley.
It’s no fun being someone’s target.
Put on spiritual trial.
No wonder so many Christians have a sour taste in their mouth when it comes to the word, “evangelism.”
But it’s a good word; a word rightfully ours.
A Presbyterian word!
Frontier preachers and globe-trotting missionaries – inner-city pastors and tall-steeple preachers – telling the stories of Jesus, helping people find hope and healing – building hospitals; teaching people how to farm; bandaging the wounded and consoling the broken-hearted; teaching children to read and write, saying the name of Jesus with care and joy.
The Biblical word for evangelism is rooted in victory announcements … brought back from the battlefield – a breathless runner crests the hill; a soldier in the watch tower cries out – “Runner approaching.”
Every one holds their breath.
What’s the news?
The city gate is thrown open – the runner collapses into the arms of a friend – someone brings a cup of cold water – parched lips and dry throat refreshed: “Good News,” cries the runner. “Good News. Victory is ours!”
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ.”
“And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith!”
Every one of us is an evangelist in the best sense of the word.
It’s very simple.
We live our lives the best we can, with what we have, where we are.
We cry when a loved one dies; we laugh at corny jokes. We fall on our face, pull ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and try it all over again.
And always, we’re perfect - did you know that?
Perfect!
Perfectly human.
And God loves us with all of heaven’s glory.
We are loved more profoundly then we could ever know.
Our sins, though they be many, are as if they never were.
Even now, God sends the Holy Spirit to bind us to Jesus and to one another.
And when we die, we’ll be with Jesus forever!
I’ll tell anyone about Jesus, because He’s my King, my LORD and my Savior.
He’s my hope and my light.
I’d be sunk without Him.
But I’ll not buttonhole people and push Jesus into their face.
I’ll not do a commando raid.
The name of Jesus is precious, and so are the people He loves … so we’re wise to be restrained.
Yet if we Presbyterians can be faulted for anything, maybe it’s carrying our restraint too far.
There are those moments when someone we know, someone we love, is hungering and thirsting for God … the Spirit of God flings wide the heart’s doorway … just a simple word is all that needed.
An invitation to come to church with you … “I’ll pick ya up and we’ll have lunch afterward.”
That’s evangelism.
“I’ll pray for you today.”
That’s evangelism.
A sympathy card to a bereaved neighbor – slip in a Bible verse written in your own hand.
That’s evangelism.
Breakfast with a friend, and a patient ear to hear their heartache.
That’s evangelism.
When others speak with fear and frustration, we speak with faith.
When folks are mean-spirited and grumpy, we’re kind and gracious.
When extremism of either right or left threatens to unravel the social contract, we stand in the middle, a moderating voice, because Christ is bigger and better than all of it.
When others dig ditches, we build bridges.
When other raise up walls, we create doors.
When others give up, we get going.
When negativity rears it’s ugly head, we’re positive and we’re progressive, because this is “our Father’s world.”
When others speak harshly, we speak the language of grace.
When folks slam a door, we open it.
When folks walk away, we walk with them … to the ends of the world.
One of life’s most gracious moments … when we can say the name of Jesus to someone … those moments are few, but what a moment they are … no commando raid in an airport, just regular Christians living regular lives in the Spirit and grace of Jesus … alert and eager, faithful and loving … committed and ready … “Jesus my LORD.”
The Big Envelope … for everyone!
Amen!
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