Pastor Matthew Johnson opened this message in the Everyone, Everywhere series by welcoming guests. He explained that the church has been encouraged to invite family and friends, so some people may be there because someone invited them. He wanted them to know what that means. If someone invited you, they genuinely love you and want you to know the good news they have found. He hoped every guest would hear that God loves them and wants a relationship with them.
Why Some Conversations Feel Hard
Pastor Matthew said some conversations are difficult because of the topic, the relationship, or both. It might be telling a friend they have bad breath or something in their teeth. He admitted he is that friend, and he wants people to do the same for him. Other conversations are much heavier, like asking a family member to repay a loan, talking with aging parents about what comes next, or asking a spouse why so many Amazon boxes keep arriving.Talking about Jesus carries the same tension. We know it is the best news anyone could hear, because Jesus loves them and will transform their life. But we also know we are saying their life needs to change. On top of that, they might reject it or be offended, and the relationship could feel awkward.
Accountability and Love
Pastor Matthew shared that a couple of years ago he needed to have a hard conversation with an employee who was underperforming. The night before, his wife asked if he was dreading it. He told her he was not, for two reasons. He is accountable to God, to the elders, and to the church for how he leads. But the true motivator was love. He genuinely cared about that employee and wanted them to thrive.He said it is the same for followers of Jesus. We are accountable to Jesus, who called us to share the good news. But when our hearts are stirred by love, we gain a new level of confidence. And he had more good news. The conversations that intimidate us are actually much easier than we imagine.
Keep a Good Reputation
Pastor Matthew turned to 1 Peter 3, where Peter writes to believers facing pushback from their culture. Peter encourages them to respond with compassion and humility, to bless people, and to pursue peace instead of retaliation. In verse 13 he asks, "Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?" Even if they suffer for doing right, they will be blessed.Pastor Matthew explained that Peter is calling believers to live so that everyone they meet sees them as kind, loving, and generous. He said bluntly that this is where Christians often fail most today. Studies show that many people who do not know Christians see them as political and judgmental, because Christians have attacked not only ideas but people. Peter is clear that believers stand against evil, but their reputation should be good.He invited everyone to reflect on everyday moments. When a restaurant server gives bad service, do we complain or leave a snarky note, or do we tip generously because our reputation matters? The same goes for returning something past the deadline, being cut off in traffic, disagreeing with a teacher or coach, or facing tension with a spouse. In each moment, we can choose to protect a reputation that honors Jesus.
Always Be Ready to Share Your Hope
In the middle of this passage, Peter says to honor Christ in our hearts and to "always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." Pastor Matthew explained that making a defense does not mean being argumentative. It means giving a reasonable explanation, and Peter adds that we should do it with gentleness and respect. In other words, always be ready to share your hope.This is good news, because every believer can do it right now. Pastor Matthew described two sides of that hope. The first is what he called temporary hope, not because it wears out, but because it is what Jesus has already done in our lives on this side of eternity. The second is eternal hope, that we were met with grace, our sins have been forgiven, and we have been promised eternal life with Jesus. So the call is simple. Keep a good reputation, and be ready to share your hope.
The Man Born Blind
To show how this works, Pastor Matthew walked quickly through all of John 9. It begins, "As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth." He pointed out that this was a man everyone else passed by, but Jesus noticed him.The disciples asked whether the man or his parents had sinned, assuming God was punishing someone. Pastor Matthew laughed that sometimes followers of Jesus have whack theology. He said this matters because many of us feel we need perfect theology to be a witness. "It is not a prerequisite to have perfect theology to follow Jesus." The disciples were still learning, and Jesus patiently keeps developing our understanding too.Jesus answered that the man's blindness was not because of sin, but so the works of God might be displayed in him. Then Jesus spit on the ground, made mud, put it on the man's eyes, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Pastor Matthew admitted parts of this are unclear. Jesus may have been exposing the religious leaders, who saw miracles on the Sabbath as work. He may have needed the man to go to that place for a reason, or he may have been showing his power in a culture that believed saliva could heal. What is clear is that Jesus was not shaming the man. And the man came back seeing.
A Changed Life Leads to Questions
Pastor Matthew described the man's journey. At first, he was unsaved, uninformed, and blind. After the healing, he was still unsaved and only partly informed, but now he could see. This was the beginning of his hope, just like our first encounters with God, whether he settles our spirit, heals us, or restores something in our lives. And even though this was the greatest thing that had ever happened to the man, Jesus still had something greater for him.His neighbors debated whether he was the beggar they had known, while he kept insisting that it was him. Pastor Matthew laughed at the scene and drew out a truth. When Jesus changes you, it leads to questions. People who knew the old you will notice when the foul language is gone, the addiction is broken, despair has turned to hope, or a broken relationship is reconciled.When they asked how his eyes were opened, the man simply said that the man called Jesus made mud, put it on his eyes, and told him to wash, and now he could see. He shared the hope Jesus gave him. Pastor Matthew said that after 27 years as a pastor, he knows Scripture well. Yet when he talks with people who do not know Jesus, he does not start with Scripture. He tells them how Jesus brought him peace, did miracles in his life, or spoke to him when he was lonely. He may lead to Scripture later, but he begins with his own hope.When they asked where Jesus was, the man said, "I do not know." He probably did not even know what Jesus looked like. Pastor Matthew said it is okay not to have every answer. We can go and find them.
Experience and Theology
The Pharisees questioned the man next. Some said Jesus could not be from God because he healed on the Sabbath. Pastor Matthew noted that the people who should have known God best were no witness at all. He challenged the church that Christians can do the same thing when they attach themselves to political parties or movements that cheapen the message of Jesus. When any conviction sets itself up against the command to love God and love people, we fail as Christians.When the man was asked what he thought of Jesus, he said he was a prophet, meaning someone God had worked a miracle through. Pastor Matthew said his experience became his theology. He did not know everything yet, but he knew what God had done. As a pastor who firmly believes in teaching the Word, Pastor Matthew said theology matters deeply. But "theology can point you to God, but it can't be a substitute for experiencing God's presence, his love, and his power." Experiencing God leads us to understand him more deeply in his Word.
Doubters and Rejection
The religious leaders questioned the man's parents, who confirmed he was their son and had been born blind, but were afraid to say more. Pastor Matthew said there will always be doubters. Our job is not to win every debate or change every mind. "Our job is to point them to Jesus."When the leaders pressed the man again, he answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." No one could argue with his experience. Pastor Matthew encouraged the church that the people closest to us usually will not challenge our hope. They already love and trust us, and they want to understand why we live differently.When the leaders asked the man to tell the story again, he sarcastically asked if they wanted to become Jesus's disciples too. Pastor Matthew shared that he and his wife, Pastor Mary Johnson, have a phrase for moments like this, "Yes, he did," and he loves the man's boldness. The leaders insulted him and cast him out. Pastor Matthew said some people will reject Jesus no matter what we say or do. We share our hope, plant seeds, and trust the Holy Spirit to water them.
A Story About Jesus
Pastor Matthew said this is not really a story about a blind man. It is a story about Jesus. Beggars were placed in familiar spots where people passed them so often they stopped noticing. Yet Jesus, surrounded by crowds, was not too distracted to see him. And after the man was cast out, Jesus went and found him. Pastor Matthew told the church that Jesus sees them better than anyone ever has. He knows what they are going through, he loves them, and he wants to meet their needs and save their souls.Jesus asked the man, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man asked who he was so he could believe. Jesus said, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you." The man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him. He was now saved, informed, and seeing. His testimony changed from Jesus opening his eyes to Jesus saving his soul.
Share Your Hope
Pastor Matthew invited anyone who has never surrendered their life to Jesus to do so. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and surrender fully to him. In return, he gives us his presence, his grace and forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life. You do not need perfect words. Just pray from your heart, ask Jesus to be your Savior, and keep coming, because the church is a community walking toward Jesus together.For believers, he said sharing our hope is our calling, and it is something we can do. I was blind and now I see. I was unsettled and now I have peace. I was broken and now I am restored. I was a sinner and now I am saved. I was dead and now I am alive. He closed in prayer, thanking Jesus for finding us in our brokenness and giving us an eternal hope, and asking him to help the church share that hope this week with confidence, boldness, and love.
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