Because the gospel is the best news, we must embrace and share it.
I. Share (vv. 2-8)
Knowing: In our text, the Spirit has recorded patterns for sharing and embracing the gospel. We learn them by unpacking the verbs:
- Lived (vv. 1-6): The first and most important way to share the gospel is by living it. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro had “heard of all that God had done for Moses and Israel.” That is, he had heard about the mighty things God had done in Moses’ and Israel’s lives.
- Went (v. 7): Moses went humbly to meet his father-in-law and deferentially bowed to him and kissed him. Not only did Jethro ask about Moses’ welfare, Moses showed interest in his life as well.
- Told (v. 8): Moses clearly explained the gospel to Jethro. How? By telling him “all the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake.”
Being: We must not wait for unbelievers to come and ask us about our faith, we must go to them. We must go to them as true servants, considering their needs as more important than ours. We must seek out their felt needs and meet them practically.
Doing: Which of these three patterns for sharing the gospel resonated with you most? What is an area of your life where the way you live before others can demonstrate the gospel? Who is someone you can move toward more in order to share the gospel with them? How can you become better at sharing what God has done in your life through the gospel?
II. Embrace (vv. 1, 9-12)
Knowing: Our goal in sharing the gospel with someone who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus is for them to embrace it.
- Heard (v. 1): Jethro heard what God had done. This wasn’t an incidental bit of news for Jethro; it was a transformational hearing.
- Rejoiced (v. 9): Jethro’s reaction to Moses’ compelling testimony is emotional. “Rejoiced” is an accurate translation but it is insufficient to convey the power of Moses’ reaction. Literally, Jethro’s “skin tingled” when he heard Moses’ testimony.
- Blessed (vv. 10-12): So what should you do next? Just what Jethro did. He turned his back on all other gods and became a follower of the one true God. It is not irresponsible to say he embraced Jesus because what most impressed him was God had delivered the Israelites from Egypt and we know from Jude 5, that was Jesus.
Being: We must share the gospel by sharing how God has saved even people like us, and plead with people to believe and be saved as well. It is too good of news not to share this way.
Doing: Think of the people with whom you are trying to share the gospel right now. How can you not only tell them the good news but plead with them to embrace it?