Why Are We Doing This?

By Phil Sanders

In Chicago there is an Oldsmobile dealership which had the practice every Monday morning of gathering all its employees in the shop area at 7 A.M. More than sixty employees worked there, and they would form a semi-circle. As part of the emphasis of the week's work, the owner would walk around the circle and ask each person two questions: "Who do you know who needs a car?" and "How can we sell more Oldsmobiles?" Each employee had to come up with two answers, regardless of how ridiculous the answer may have sounded. The owner did this to get his employees to focus on the business of the dealership.

Our business is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in fulfillment of the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16). We might ask the questions, "Who do you know who needs the gospel?" and "How can we tell more people about Jesus Christ?" Why should we do that?

First, because people matter to God. God so loved the world, every man and woman, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. If people matter to God, they also matter to us. The life of Jesus shouts that every person matters. He ate with sinners and with Pharisees. He talked to Samaritans and had time for a thief on the cross. He took time for children, blind men, lepers, and tax collectors. He realized every person was made in the image of God. He knew what the world was like but loved us anyway (Tit. 3:3-7).

Second, because God matters to us. When we consider how much God loves us, we cannot ever be apathetic about the Father or the Son. The world may live as if God doesn’t matter (Mt. 24:37-39), but the love of Christ constrains us to live for Him (2 Cor. 5:14-15). Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all. We are crucified with Christ, and He lives in us by faith (Gal. 2:20).

Third, because people are lost in sin. Those who do not believe and those who do not obey the gospel will be lost (John 8:24; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). We do not wish anyone to be lost, but that everyone love and believe in the Lord Jesus. We want everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3-4). Every person has sinned (Rom. 3:23) and needs to recognize their sin.

Fourth, because people need Jesus Christ. People need the love, the moral example, the forgiving spirit, the honesty, and the courage of Jesus Christ. They need his comfort (Mt. 11:28-30), their Savior (Jn. 1:29), and their Lord (Acts 3:22-23). People have a hole in their hearts and souls that only Christ can fill. He is the great source of faith, hope and love.

Why are we preaching Christ? Because people matter to God, God matters to us, people are lost in sin, and people desperately need Christ. Please help us to continue taking this message to America and the world.

- Phil Sanders, along with Mac Lyons, speaks on the popular and long-running television ministry, In Search of the Lord's Way. Phil may be contacted at searchtv@searchtv.org.