[Slide 1] Today we begin a six-week series of messages we're calling "Just Walk across the Room." I believe that this journey will radically change the way you and I view evangelism. See, already I feel the tremors in the room. EVANGELISM! "I'm not going to knock on people's doors cold turkey and tell them they need Jesus. Evangelism is for people like Billy Graham. I think I'll check out over the next several weeks."

Relax. I understand your fears. The type of evangelism we will explore has no formulas or scripts. Nor does it require a bunch of memorized information. We're going to discover that evangelism can be as simple as just walking across a room. How many of you believe that you can walk across a room? It's that simple.

For the first four weeks of this series we will be learning a lot from Bill Hybels who wrote a book with this same title, Just Walk across the Room. Let me introduce him with a brief video clip. [Video, 1:10] I love Bill's closing statement: "If we would all do just the small thing that we can do, we would touch a lot more lives!" We all know people who are living far from God. How many of you would really like to be able to touch their lives?

Let me tell you about the "just walk across the room metaphor." It is based on the story of a Muslim whose entire world got upended because a Christ-follower touched his life. Guess how it all began? Right. This Christ-follower just walked across the room.

Bill Hybels attended a luncheon in the Deep South. The guests around the ballroom table all introduced themselves. When the man sitting across from Bill stated his name, it was obvious that his background was Muslim. During the course of the lunch, the African-American told his story. He talked about how awkward it was for him to attend social functions in the Deep South because he often found himself standing alone. No one would venture his way because he was different. But his profession required these social events. So he would attend, do his usual social hellos, and then quietly and quickly find a way to exit.

On one occasion, however, he was standing in a room filled with people. But as usual he had a plate in one hand and a drink in the other with no one to talk to. But a man about ten feet away from him, socializing with his own kind of people, noticed him. He stopped his conversation, walked across the room, and introduced himself to the Muslim.

The conversation flowed smoothly between the two as they talked about the business, their family, and interests. Eventually the subject of faith came up. The Muslim feared an awkward moment when he revealed that he was Muslim. To his surprise the other gentleman said, "Well, I'm a Christ-follower. But honestly my understanding of the Muslim faith is minimal. Could we do breakfast real soon and you give me the Cliff's Notes version of your faith?" That brief conversation led to a deep friendship between these two men and eventually led to the Muslim giving his life to Jesus Christ. All because someone was willing to just walk across the room.

[Slide 2—The single greatest gift] The single greatest gift Christ-followers can give to people around them is an introduction to the God who created them, loves them, and who has a purpose for their life. Nothing else comes close. And this is exactly what evangelism is: constantly looking for ways to give this single greatest gift to someone living far from God.

That's what happened in the story I just told. God used this man. And He wants to use you too. Today we will begin the process of discovering how we can make ourselves usable. We must leave our circles of comfort and stretch out a hand to a person who needs hope. What will it take for us to give this single greatest gift to someone we know?

First, we must enter the zone of the unknown. [slide 3-Zone of the Unknown] Let me illustrate. [slide of sketch, 1] {Slide 4 consists of 3 sketches}

Go back to the story. One Christ-follower in a social setting was standing in what we call a conversational "Circle of Comfort." In this circle it is easy to relate and converse. It is safe and comfortable. He had every reason in the world to stay in that circle. We've all been there. [slide-sketch 2]

He looked across the room and saw someone—really saw someone—standing alone, someone who probably needed a little encouragement and friendship. Not only did he see someone, but he also felt something and heard something in his heart. It was the Holy Spirit saying, "Why don't you go over and talk to the guy?" He walks over without having a clue what's going to happen next. He just knows the Spirit has prompted him to move. Once he leaves the Circle of Comfort, there is no turning back. [slide of sketch 3]

He has just entered the Zone of the Unknown. And it is in this Zone that God often does His best work. It was in this Zone that God began to work in an African-American Muslim's life that eventually led to him and his family becoming Christ-followers. Just a few steps across the room impacted the kingdom of God. When he took the first step away from his Circle of Comfort, I have a feeling the gates of hell shuddered. But in heaven I have a feeling the angels were already on their Macs creating their party banners. Ponder with me: What would happen if we were to take a few steps across a room. Could we actually impact someone's eternal destiny and their family's as well? You betcha. And don't you think that turning someone away from a Christless eternity is well worth taking ten steps? Isn't it worth the risk? My prayer is that every CBC member will become a "just walk across the room" Christian. He wants you to make a difference in people's lives—in the gym, on the ball field, in the conference room, at work, in the neighborhood, and at school. If you're a living, breathing Christ-follower, God wants you to take a walk. We focus too much energy on our Circles of Comfort, never once looking outside the circle to see that person who needs some words of hope. People, we've got to change that!

To give the single greatest gift, first, we must enter the Zone of the Unknown. Second, we must listen for the Spirit's promptings. [slide 5, listen…] Let's see if I can unpack this truth for us. We've all probably heard stories of people leading others to Christ on airplanes, in restaurants, in the stands of a Saturday afternoon football stadium or in a grocery store line. These stories can intimidate us and make us feel like we don't measure up. All I'm asking you to consider is to listen for the Spirit's prompting. And this requires a conscious effort on your part. But keep in mind, just because the Spirit prompts does not mean that the person will give his life to Christ.

There's a fellow who works out at Crooked Creek that I've been praying for and listening for the Spirit's prompting. The other day this older gentleman walked up to me and told me about his Baptist upbringing. At that moment I sensed the Spirit prompting me to go deeper with him since he was no longer in church. The conversation didn't go much deeper or further, but I believe I was obedient to God even though the person didn't make a spiritual commitment.

So, you see, the key to listening to the Spirit's promptings is our willingness to obey them, even if we can't always see what He is up to. Basically, we must learn to walk when He says walk, and not walk when He says not to walk. This practice makes the adventure exciting because it puts you in the position of consciously listening for the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

[slide 6, Matthew 5] The Bible says, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot" (Matthew 5:13). This verse teaches you must have savor, a spiritual potency. But if salt is going to affect anything, it must have proximity. Salt is worthless sitting in a shaker. It's got to get close to something to affect it.

Here's the deal. I can be the saltiest salt on the face of the earth. But it won't matter one hill of beans unless I get up to people who need to be affected. Some of you right now are thinking, "Ken, I'm tracking with you. But I still believe this whole evangelism idea is for the spiritual superstars. And I'm not one. I don't have the skill level, training or confidence to do what you're suggesting. To walk across the room and talk to someone is just too risky for me.

I understand. There is a genuine fear you must overcome. When you enter the Zone of the Unknown, it can create incredible anxiety when a normal conversation transitions from sports and weather into the spiritual territory. It can unnerve even the most seasoned Christ-followers. But let me state to you a scenario that should become a natural part of how we operate. You're standing in a Circle of Comfort. As you're listening to the conversation, you also have one eye roving around the room to see if there is someone the Holy Spirit wants you to approach. You're praying, "Lord, what you got going? Is there someone here? I'm willing, Lord. I'll just walk across the room."

Some of you have experienced this firsthand. You take the walk and don't have a clue how it will turn out. But you love the excitement of the adventure because this is living the spiritual life at its highest level. Others of you can relate somewhat because you've tried this a least a couple or few times. The rest of you are saying, "This is totally foreign territory for me. Honestly, I've never even considered doing what you're suggesting."

Walking across the room is something every single one of us can do. You can be trained for this. You can learn how to be effective in starting up spiritual conversations with others. But why? What is the reason we want to get better about all this stuff?

[slide 7, Rom. 5:8] The Bible says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). I've been thinking about what this verse means to me personally. As a ten-year-old boy, I knew that I was a sinner and that if I died, I would spend eternity in hell. I was probably no worse than any other boy my age. But in my heart I knew that issues in my heart separated me from God. But I also knew that on the cross Jesus died for all my sins. On April 8 of that year, I gave my heart to Jesus. It's all grace—how a ten-year-old boy brought up in a broken home with a lot of abuse could make a decision that would change his life forever. What a gift—not merely that God would feel this type of love for me, but that He would go to such lengths to demonstrate it in such a radical manner. How was it that God demonstrated His love? What was the radical move He made to prove to you and to me that He really does feel redemptive, grace-filled, unconditional love for each one of us? He took a walk. [slide 8, Phil. 2] Read Philippians 2:5-8. At a specific point in history, Jesus walked all the way across the cosmos and reached out His redemptive hand to people like you and me. Because of that one walk, people are able to be saved and secure in the family of God forever.

Think about it. Jesus left the ultimate Circle of Comfort, heaven itself. And He took the longest walk a person could ever take. Why? To stretch out a hand to people just like you and me, many of whom were right smack dab in the middle of wrecking their lives.

In addition to taking a walk across the cosmos to redeem us, He also took a walk so that we could see how it is done. He is saying us, "Just like I had to leave my Circle of Comfort to save you, I want you to leave your Circle of Comfort so that you may influence others to be saved."

Here is what I believe God is saying to us today. "I am going to ask you to walk across the street; I am going to ask you to walk across a restaurant; I am going to ask you to walk across an office complex; I am going to ask you to walk across a cafeteria or locker room. I'm going to ask you to leave whatever Circle of Comfort you are in and take a walk to enter the unknown—and something really exciting is going to happen. This is what I want you to do.

[slide 9, point 3] And that is our third point: Just walk! Why? Because Jesus just walked for you and for me and for every person inhabiting the planet today. This is why we're devoting six weeks of our ministry calendar to these ideas. So we can get better at hearing the Spirit's promptings, yes. But also so that we will start taking action immediately and with a new level of confidence. And when we do, we will be more like Jesus.

Think of the times that Jesus just took a walk. He walked toward a woman standing at a well, initiated a conversation, and led her to a faith decision. She in turn just took a walk to town and practically led the whole city to Christ. Jesus walked toward a sycamore tree and struck up a conversation with Zacchaeus. He walked across to a tax collector's booth and talked with a man named Matthew, who became one of His twelve disciples. Jesus lived out the principle that we are addressing during this series. I know we're all tempted to stay in our safe little circles. We easily get into the habit of rushing off to our lunch appointments or business meetings or family gatherings instead of caring about the people standing right in front of us. But hopefully, the more we hang around Jesus, the more our eyes will be pried open to see the things He sees—people who need care, hope, friendship and community.

[slide 10—God used you…] As I close, I want you to think about how you wound up in the kingdom. Most believers can think back on somebody (parent, boss, pastor) who walked across the room for them. If you're a Christian, someone probably took a risk for you and did a little something that would interest you in the possibility of knowing the love of God and the opportunity to be freed from your sins. My guess is that you probably have a high level of respect for that person who explained to you the single greatest gift you could ever receive.

In your bulletin this morning you should have received a postcard. This week I want you to write a note of gratitude for the person who walked for you. With the exception of my Mom, those who walked across the room to lead me to Jesus are with Jesus now. But I'm going to write my Mom and let her know how much I appreciate her spiritual influence in my life. If for whatever reason you're no longer in touch with the person who walked for you, write an encouraging note to someone you know who exemplifies the "just walk across the room" lifestyle.

Put a stamp on it and as you walk to the mailbox to mail it, I hope you will pray each step of the way that God will help you become the kind of person that others will write notes saying, "Thanks for just walking across the room for me."

[slide 11, campaign graphic (repeat)] Friends, the greatest single gift you and I can give to another human being is an introduction to the God who declared that His mission was to find every person who was lost and bring them home.

Over the next several weeks we're going to get extremely practical. We will learn how to excuse ourselves from the Circle of Comfort. We're going to learn how to scope a room to see if there is someone we should be paying attention to. We will talk about how to pray and what to pray. We're going to learn how to talk normally with people who need a normal Christian to talk to them in a normal way. And we're going to have a ball doing it.