Transcript Document

Establishing a Gospel
Sharing Church
Bishop-Elect
Charlie Masters
November 11, 2009
1. Introduction-(a brief Bible study)
• Though suffering, everyone sharing
Acts 5:41-Then they left the presence of
the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the
name. 42And every day, in the temple and
from house to house, they did not cease
teaching and preaching Jesus as the
Christ. (ESV)
• The Holy Spirit given to make us
witnesses
Acts 1:8-But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth. (ESV)
• The gospel works in every case when
received by faith
Romans 1: 16-For I am not ashamed of
the gospel, for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek. (ESV)
• There is a message with specific content.
Anything else is no gospel at all
2 Timothy 1: 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us,
guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (ESV)
Galatians 1: 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly
deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are
turning to a different gospel— 7not that there is another one,
but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the
gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we
preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said
before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a
gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be
accursed. (ESV)
• Always being prepared
1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the
Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for
the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness
and respect, 16having a good conscience, so
that, when you are slandered, those who revile
your good behavior in Christ may be put to
shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good,
if that should be God's will, than for doing
evil.18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the
righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh but
made alive in the spirit, (ESV)
• The Bible is essential to lead people to
salvation and also to equip to serve
2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what
you have learned and have firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it 15and how
from childhood you have been acquainted with
the sacred writings, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16All Scripture is breathed out by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, 17that the man
of God may be competent, equipped for every
good work. (ESV)
2. An Environment where the
gospel thrives
• Pray, Pray, Pray
• Memorizing Scripture
(www.navpress.com/store/product.aspx?id=97815
76839973)
• Regular Testimonies
• Alpha ( www.alphacanada.org ) or Christianity
Explored (www.christianityexplored.org ) regular
part of church life
• Identify and release those with the gift of
evangelism
• Several times a year plan evangelistic
services with an invitation
• Folk trained,identified and commissioned to
follow-up new believers
• ESL and other courses reaching out to new
Canadians
• Help create a climate where people invite
people to respond
• Train every member (in a minute we will
look at the Bridge Illustration) including the
children (I suggest the WORDLESS
BOOKwww.berean.org/bibleteacher/wb.html
how to share the gospel and invite people
to respond)
The Bridge Illustration of the Gospel
It is important that we be prepared, if given the opportunity, to
present the gospel in such a way that a person can
understand it and know how to respond if they want to.
The Bridge Illustration is one way. Its strengths are:
a) It’s Personal – you draw it out with the person
b) It’s Visual – it helps the person visualize what Jesus has done
to bring us to God. It also helps the person to
clarify or visualize where they stand with God.
c) It Uses Questions – to find out where the person is
– their understanding
– so you can make sure the gospel is being
communicated
– tailor your presentation to the listener.
d)
It gets the person to actually look at the Bible themselves.
It should be noted that this method does require:
•
•
•
•
at least 15 minutes,
a Bible,
paper and pen
the permission of the listener for you to show it to
him or her.
It does take some time to learn the plan also. I personally
have found it beneficial to more or less memorize it. This
actually makes you more able to be flexible and sensitive
to the other person rather than less, because you have a
direction you know you’re heading so that you can be more
attentive to the other person’s concerns, etc.
Here is a Sample Way of Presenting it:
OPENER: (Whenever it seems appropriate to
present the gospel by this illustration you need to
gain the person’s permission)
“I have an illustration that I found helpful in
understanding what the Bible says of how we
can know God personally. It takes about 15
minutes to show. Would you be willing for me to
show it to you right now?”
(If the person agrees – then you carry on.)
Draw the first part of the illustration
Draw the Wall in and label the wall
rebellion because it was we who
blocked out God, not the other way
around.
Draw the two cliffs
– people on one side and God on the
other
– a great chasm
– canyon between them
1.
All People Sin
(Romans 3:23)
2.
Sin results in death
(separation from
God) Romans 6:23
3.
Judgement
(Hebrews 9:27)
Would you agree that all people
are guilty of sin?
1. All People Sin
(Romans 3:23)
Do you know what the Bible says the
result of sin is in a person’s life?
2. Sin results in death
(separation from God)
Romans 6:23
We all have an appointment with
death – and at that point we come
before God and are judged
3. Judgement
(Hebrews 9:27)
That’s why God sent Jesus – Because God
recognized that all of us were in a tail-spin, we
were incapapble of coming out of it without Him
intervening.
(2)
He
(1)He is God’s
Son
died
for
our
s
i
n
s
(3) He rose
again
“The question is then how can a person
entrust themselves to Christ and climb (as it
were) on the Bridge?”
“What does Jesus say He’s doing?”
Answer: knocking
“What does He say He wants us to do?”
Answer: open the door (write it down above
Believe)
“If we do, what does He promise?”
(Answer: 2) JESUS COMES INTO OUR LIFE
and 3) WE BECOME HIS FRIENDS FROEVER.
Write in in below ‘eternal life’)
Point out 1) 2) 3) is exactly what God
created us for in the first place.
Clarifying questions: That’s the illustration.
(a)Does it make sense?
(b)Is there anything you disagree with?
(c)Where would you put yourself on the diagram
(d)Would you know how to cross if you wanted to?
(Point out only two places.)
(e)Anything stopping you?
(f) Would you like to receive Jesus?
(2)
People
1)All people sin (Romans 3:23)
2)Sin results in death (separation
from God) (Romans 6:23)
3)Judgement (Hebrews 9:27)
Jes us
He
(1)He is God’s
Son
died
for
our
Op en t he door ( R ev el at io n 3 :2 0)
Chri st
(3) He rose
again
God
Be lieve = Tr u st
1)eternal life
2)Jesus comes into you life
3)He becomes your friend
forever
s
i
n
s
Prayer to
J e su s
Lord Je su s:
a)
I’m sor r y I ’v e h ur t yo u by m y si n
b)
Plea se co me in to m y lif e r ig h t now
(1 ) I w a nt to b e your s fo r ev er