Transcript Slide 1
Keys To Reaching The Lost If you are a Christian, reaching the lost is your purpose in life. People in the world live for themselves and their little clan. The Christian has committed his life to God I Corinthians 6: 19b–20 ... you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, ... THEREFORE : If Christ really does “lives in me”, His priority and mine will be the same ... to seek and save the lost. Jesus left Heaven and came to earth specifically and only to save lost people from sin. The angel made His purpose clear. Matthew 1: 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Jesus made His purpose in life clear. Luke 19: 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. The Apostle made it clear why Jesus came to earth. I Timothy 1: 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. THEREFORE : One who follows Jesus seeks to save lost. Jesus commands ALL of His disciples to proclaim salvation to the lost. John 17: 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world . This was important enough that Jesus commanded it to all His disciples. John 20: 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me , I also sent you.” Jesus directly commanded all of His disciple to spread the good news. Mark 16: 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” All that we are taught we are commanded to pass on to others. II Timothy 2: 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. THEREFORE : One who obeys Jesus teaches the gospel to lost people. God requires more of American Christians than He requires of others. Luke 12: 48b ... From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. Americans are more spiritually than any nation on earth and physically blessed more than most. a. b. c. d. The gospel flows like water Bible are readily available There is freedom to preach 24x7 Physical blessings : peace, food, education, transportation, houses THEREFORE : With these great blessings, we are tasked with greater responsibility to teach the gospel to lost people. Without question we have a great responsibility to teach the gospel to the lost, but how do we do it ? With this lesson we will observe “Five Keys To Reaching The Lost.” The st 1 Key Make sure we have the right message ... the pure gospel Only the gospel message has the power to save lost people. 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. Preaching anything but the PURE gospel is to be cursed by God. Galatians 1: 8 But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! What is the gospel that Paul preached ? Paul did NOT preach “The Five Steps To Salvation.” Baptized Confess Repent Believe Response Hear This is the gospel that Paul preached. I Corinthians 15: 1-5 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if I Corinthians 15: 1-5 ... Continued you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 I Corinthians 15: 1-5 ... Continued and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Our job is to communicate the message and let the power of the message work. I Corinthians 1: 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe THEREFORE : If we share the gospel, It’s power will save some. The nd 2 Key Make reaching lost people your heart’s desire. By and large we accomplish that which we most strongly desire. Jesus instructed us to put HIS goal first in our life. Matthew 6: 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. The world tells us that we should put our family first. Matthew 10: 37-38 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. The Apostle Paul taught us by word and deed that he cared for the lost Romans 10: 1-2 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. ( Cf. Rom. 9 .. Give my soul for theirs ) When is the last time you wept for the lost ? Jesus wept in lament over the lost in the city of Jerusalem. Luke 19: 41 – When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, Philipians 3: 18-19 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. The rd 3 Key Lead God-centered lives. We can’t persuade the world to change if we live like they do. Anyone who blatantly lives in sin, denies Christ ... a practical atheist. Titus 1: 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. Faith changes one’s life. Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. The plan of God for His people is that they be a contrast to the world. Matt. 5: 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. The Christian’s contrast to the world is like a light in a dark place. The difference must be observable. Phil 2: 15 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, The th 4 Key Frequently each day pray for specific lost people. We tend to pray about things that are important to us. What could be more important to pray for than for souls destined for Hell ? Romans 10: 1-2 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. Prayer should be the constant companion to our teaching. Ephesians 1: 18-19a I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Prayer opens doors and softens hearts. Colossians 4: 2–3 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, We should also be praying for others who are sharing the word. Philippians 3: 1–2 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. The th 5 Key Work the field where you find yourself at the time. “Go into all the world” does not necessarily require that we go to a far away place. Jesus told the demoniac to stay home Mark 5: 18-20 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and Mark 5: 18-20 ... continued report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. God has placed you exactly where he wants you ... serve Him there ! I Corinthians 12: 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. Before you became a Christian God had a work for you to do here. Ephesians 2: 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. We have observed “Five Keys To Reaching The Lost.” Preaching the right message. Make souls top priority. Exemplify Christ in daily life. Pray for the lost and for open doors. Work the field where we are. The 2nd step is to turn off the TV, get out of that chair, and speak out for Christ. The 1st step is to surrender yourself to Christ and let Him save you.