The Everyday Evangelist
Summary of Sermon: The Everyday Evangelist
Series: Talking Jesus – Week 1 | Pastor Torry Sheppard
Introduction Pastor Torry Sheppard launches a new series at Gateway Church titled Talking Jesus, addressing the call for every believer to step into the role of an everyday evangelist. He begins by acknowledging the cultural uncertainty and spiritual fatigue of our time—pandemics, polarization, and digital overload. Yet, he proposes that this cultural low point may actually be the perfect moment for spiritual awakening. Drawing from historical revivals such as the First Great Awakening and the Jesus Movement of the 1960s, Pastor Torry emphasizes that God often breathes life into the Church during moments of apathy and unrest. His central question: If the Spirit is blowing, will we lift our sails?
Evangelism as an Overflow of Identity Pastor Torry challenges the modern view of evangelism as something reserved for professionals, instead grounding it in the biblical identity of every believer. Referencing 1 Peter 2:9, he reminds the congregation that Christians are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood,” called to proclaim the praises of God. Evangelism, then, is not a task but a byproduct of who we are in Christ. The early Church modeled this identity-based ministry, where pastors and teachers equipped everyday believers to carry the message of the gospel in their ordinary lives.
Evangelism in Modern Tension Acknowledging the discomfort many feel around evangelism, Pastor Torry addresses common fears—being rejected, saying the wrong thing, or being labeled. Many Christians, he says, avoid sharing their faith due to insecurity or cultural pressure. However, he warns against outsourcing evangelism to pastors or influencers, reminding the Church that spiritual impact belongs to every believer. He encourages the Gateway family to shift their mindset from fear and hesitation to identity and calling.
Four Marks of an Everyday Evangelist Pastor Torry distills the message into four key qualities—postures of the heart that enable believers to carry the gospel naturally and powerfully in daily life. These are not about personality, skill, or charisma, but spiritual posture and openness to God.
1. Spirit-Led
Evangelists must be attentive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Pastor Torry highlights Romans 8 and the story of Philip in Acts 8. Philip leaves a fruitful revival to follow the Spirit’s call to a desert road, ultimately leading to the conversion of an Ethiopian
official. This obedience births an entire faith movement. The point: being Spirit-led requires spiritual sensitivity, even in inconvenient moments. Evangelism happens when we say yes to divine detours.
2. Personal Holiness
Holiness, Pastor Torry explains, is not perfection or legalism but closeness to God. It’s about living a life set apart, one that radiates the presence of Jesus. Drawing from 1 Peter 1:15–16 and Isaiah 43:19, he emphasizes that personal transformation is essential to effective evangelism. When our walk with Christ is fresh, our witness is compelling. He invites those feeling spiritually stale to re-engage with God’s renewing work, pointing to the woman at the well in John 4 as a powerful example: she shared her encounter with Jesus—not a perfect life, but a transformed one.
3. Prayer
Prayer prepares our hearts for evangelism and transforms how we see others. Using Colossians 4:2–4, Pastor Torry explains that prayer opens doors and softens hearts. He warns of the danger of losing compassion for the lost, noting that over time, some Christians grow more repelled by sin than concerned for sinners. Evangelists must see others through God’s eyes. Prayer reshapes our posture—turning frustration into empathy and distance into intercession.
4. Urgency
Evangelism must carry a sense of holy urgency. In Romans 10, Paul outlines the chain of faith: how will they believe if no one tells them? Pastor Torry shares a personal story of when his daughter Palmer went missing. In the panic, everything else faded—because when someone you love is lost, finding them becomes the only priority. He connects this moment to our calling: spiritually lost people matter to God, and they must matter to us. We don’t need panic—but we do need passion.
Two Invitations As the message concludes, Pastor Torry extends two invitations. First, to those who feel lost themselves—disconnected, broken, or spiritually adrift—he offers hope and a way home. Jesus is always ready to meet people right where they are. Second, to believers who have been spiritually passive or disengaged, he offers a call to action: step forward with a “Here I am, send me” spirit. Citing Isaiah 6:8, he reminds listeners that God isn’t looking for perfect people, just willing ones.
Closing Challenge The message ends with a call for Gateway Church to be a people who actually talk to others about Jesus. As the Spirit moves, the Church must move too. Evangelism isn’t about forceful arguments or public platforms—it’s about walking closely
with Jesus and being ready to speak when the moment comes. Pastor Torry charges the church to carry the message of the cross with humility, clarity, and urgency—because the world is hungry for hope, and we’ve been entrusted with it.