Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar preached during the 11:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Rhode Island/Eastern Mass. District Superintendent Seok Hwan Hong translated.

The Scripture reading was Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector. The Bishop’s sermon was titled “Evangelism Today.”

“In many parts of the world, some Christians believe evangelism is not possible; others feel very uncomfortable talking about their faith,” the bishop said. “However, as we look at Jesus’s encounter with Zacchaeus, we are reminded again and again that evangelism is possible even today, no matter where we live or what our challenges or fears may be.”

Bishop Devadhar stressed that while evangelism is possible wherever we are, it requires understanding the people to whom we speak and their context.

“… Friends, do we know the people to whom we preach? Do we understand their pain?  Do we have sympathy for them? Do we know the hurts of people suffering from alcoholism or from AIDS? Unless we know them, we cannot reach out to them with the love of Christ.” 

Read the sermon.