Listen to the sermon here 2800938
“World Changers Series” Harry Denman – “Love Wrapped Up In A Person”
Who in the world is Harry Denman???
Harry Denman – Layman
Geoff Surratt – #1 Stupid thing Pastor’s do that keep the church from growing: Doing too much of the ministry rather than equipping the laity to do ministry
Laity – is the mass of people in religion who are not clergy.
Have you ever wondered, “What can I do, I’m not clergy?
Harry was one of if not the greatest evangelist the Methodist church in modern times has seen. With Harry’s Visitation model 500,000 people came to Christ and into membership of the Methodist church in one year alone.
Harry created the Foundation for Evangelism which operates strong today. (Website for the Foundation for Evangelism www.evangelize.org )
“Harry Denmans body died November 8th, 1976. (Theologically Correct, he never said the person died, the body died.)
Upon hearing of his death Dr. Billy Graham telegraphed the following statement. “Just heard that the Lord has taken one of his greatest servants, Harry Denman, to heaven. I had no better friend or greater supporter or better counselor in my evangelistic work than Harry Denman.”
His personal dedication forced him to follow Christ totally, and he sought to lead others to have what he had: total commitment to a life of faith.
“I remember being so impressed to learn that most of his worldly possessions consisted of what he was wearing on his back! He had no need for material gifts.”
When Denman died, “Closing his estate was no big task, for he gave all his material possessions away throughout his life.”
He moved tirelessly, confidently, dedicated to one objective: to witness for the Lord, Jesus Christ. When he was part of a group, whether with colleagues or strangers, businessmen or politicians, the conversation was shifted by Harry to the Bible, prayer, and the Risen Lord whom he sought continually to serve. He commanded attention by his dedication and singleness of purpose. In his adult life, he was committed to sharing Christ with at least one person every day of his adult life.
Someone once said to Harry, I don’t like the way you do evangelism. Harry’s response was, “I like the way I’m doing evangelism better than the way you’re not doing it.”
Harry believed that it was possible, in God’s time, for the whole world to turn to our Lord. He believed that his job was to do what he could to bring that about, one person at a time.”
He copied the entire Bible in handwriting at least once in his lifetime. He said this discipline led him to new insights into the scriptures.
“He set the churches on fire, and we had the greatest years in evangelism in the history of modern Methodism.”
Love wrapped up in a person
Galatians 2: 20-21 NLT
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
I asked the question on twitter this weekend, how do you know Jesus loves you?
#1 answer: because the Bible tells me so!
This is a GREAT answer and let me apologize for this but I don’t think it works for most people!
I know that Jesus loves me because love is wrapped up in a person!
My old self is dead, know what this means?
This means that I no longer do the things I once did, the wrong things!
But, if as Paul says in another place you find yourself once again doing the bad things you once did, then you ask forgiveness and get up and move again, in the right direction.
But, But,
What this means most is, It is no longer (ME) living inside this body, Christ lives here!
It’s easy to say to a person – Jesus Loves You! We have become good at that!
But Galatians says, He loved me and gave himself for me.
Harry Denman said “I read that one day and it startled me, the way I know that Jesus loves me is that He gave Himself.
3 Things that Harry Denman Emphasized in Life and Ministry
#1. Teach with your life
Teach with your life
“He taught with His life before He taught with His lips.” Said about Harry Denman
What would happen if, when we are insulted, we blessed the one who insulted us?
What would happen if, when someone was mean to us, we were nice in return?
What would happen if, when someone said something bad about someone else, we said something nice about that same one?
What would happen if, when someone hurt our feelings, we did something nice for them?
What would happen if, when someone did anything that isn’t nice or is just outright mean, we took the time to pray for them and then forgave them?
Mark 8: 34-35 (NLT)
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
What would happen? WE WOULD WIN THE WORLD!
Love is wrapped up in a person!
#2. Visitation
“How many invalids have we been to see? I think that one of the things we ought to do is to visit the people who are not able to come to church. We make a rather big to-do over those that do come to
church, but sometimes for months we neglect the people who cannot come.” Harry Denman
Bus Ministry – Once Harry said, I see buses coming into the community every Sunday picking up children to take them to church. What would happen if we took a bus loaded with people from the church and reached out into the community instead?
What if We ReThink Church?
“Universal means all persons. A church that witnesses only to those who come to its sanctuary will soon be a museum or a mausoleum. The church that believes in the gospel of Christ will go to the
community in which the church is located.” Harry Denman
#3. Communication
Use All Methods of Communication
“Believers in the universal gospel must use all methods of communication. Jesus came preaching, teaching, praying, visiting, healing, calling persons, and training them to communicate the gospel.”
Harry Denman
Communicate the Gospel – and Signs won’t do it…
As you drive around today, you will see signs like these.
“Come worship with us, we serve the one true God”
“We are a Bible Believing church”
“Free trip to heaven – details inside”
“God cares about you”
“Will your eternal home be smoking or non-smoking?”
“Accept Jesus Christ or prepare to take the heat”
“Don’t wait for the hearse to take you to church” (I sort of like that one)
As I ponder these signs, I think of the best restaurants in town that need no sign to attract people.
The fact is, satisfied customers will lead people to the best places to eat.
What is my point, you might ask?
Love is wrapped up in a person!
Let’s communicate the Gospel by the life that we live.
Tell your story, of how God came into your heart and changed you from the inside out.
But when people see a changed life, they will come because of your satisfaction in Jesus Christ.
It’s love wrapped up in a person!
The World Needs Jesus
“Today men and women are hungry for bread. They are lonely. They are unwanted. They are neglected. They are sick in body, heart, mind, and soul.” “We who believe in the gospel of Christ must have Christ’s social passion for all persons.”
Harry Denman
Matthew 25: 35-40 (NLT)
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Do we believe that Christ can give life to everyone? We know that every person is searching for life. If we believe that, then we will go and tell that person. Do we believe that Christ can save
sinners from sin and save men and women from death if they believe? Do we believe that Christ lives today?” Harry Denman
Pastor Ronnie