SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Transcription

1 DOING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TOGETHER A Study Based on Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life By Donald S. Whitney PLACING OURSELVES IN THE PATH OF GOD S GRACE

2 The Spiritual Disciplines are a PRACTICAL set of activities that help us in our PURSUIT of realizing the fullness of His gracious PROVISION. They are about becoming what we already are

3 We practice Spiritual Disciplines not as an ends but as A MEANS of TRAINING ourselves for godliness INTIMACY WITH Christ and CONFORMITY TO Christ We want TO OBEY the Scriptures, placing ourselves in the PATHS OF GOD S TRANSFORMING GRACE

4 BIBLE INTAKE Hearing the Word Reading the Word Memorizing the Word Meditating on the Word Studying the Word

5 PRAYER 1. The Importance of Prayer 2. The Barriers to Prayer 3. An Approach to Prayer 4. The Promise of Prayer

6 WORSHIP WORSHIP THAT IS BOTH... WHAT MAKES FOR ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP? Public Private A Duty A Privilege In Spirit In Truth A Focus A Response An End & A Means

7 EVANGELISM

8 Some of the most rewarding times of my life have been during mission trips when I have done nothing but talk about Christ on the streets and in homes, with one individual or group after another, all day long. The same is true in my own locale-nothing so excites me as a conversation about Christ with someone who does not know Him. It can be an equally rewarding experience for any believer. -Donald S. Whitney

9 WHAT IS EVANGELISM? EVANGELISM IS THE GOSPEL COMMUNICATED Evangelism is to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to sinful people, in order that they may come to put their trust in God through Him, to receive Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church."

10

11 SO, HOW IS EVANGELISM A WAY TO GET IN THE PATH OF GOD S TRANSFORMING GRACE?!? All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. -Jesus Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

12 SO, HOW IS EVANGELISM A WAY TO GET IN THE PATH OF GOD S TRANSFORMING GRACE?!? 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. -Jesus Acts 1:8 ESV

13 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS EXPECTED Jesus expects his followers to share of the Good News that they have heard of And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation -Jesus Mark 16:15 ESV

14 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS EXPECTED Jesus is sending us for the same purpose the Father sent him to proclaim the coming of God s Kingdom As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. -Jesus John 20:21

15 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:8-12 ESV

16 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS EMPOWERED BY THE MESSAGE 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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith. Romans 1:16-17 ESV How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:14,17 ESV

17 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS EMPOWERED BY THE MESSENGER But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 ESV

18 PERSONAL BARRIERS TO PERSONAL EVANGELISM 1. Evangelophobia (fear of evangelism) 2. The Seriousness of the Topic (Eternal Destiny) 3. Fear of Failing 4. Not Enough Training/Bible Knowledge

19 PERSONAL BARRIERS TO PERSONAL EVANGELISM 1. Evangelophobia (fear of evangelism) 2. The Seriousness of the Topic (Eternal Destiny) 3. Fear of Failing 4. Not Enough Training/Bible Knowledge Our Evangelism is empowered by the Holy Spirit For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and selfcontrol. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

20 PERSONAL BARRIERS TO PERSONAL EVANGELISM 1. Evangelophobia (fear of evangelism) 2. The Seriousness of the Topic (Eternal Destiny) 3. Fear of Failing 4. Not Enough Training/Bible Knowledge Often, those we are evangelizing to, we care for, we have relationship with There is great hope for their salvation We must trust in the sovereignty of God For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God, for salvation Romans 1:16 ESV

21 PERSONAL BARRIERS TO PERSONAL EVANGELISM 1. Evangelophobia (fear of evangelism) Is it a failure anytime someone does not come to saving faith? 2. The Seriousness of the Topic (Eternal Destiny) Does that mean Christ was a failure with the rich, young ruler? 3. Fear of Failing 4. Not Enough Training/Bible Knowledge So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 ESV

22 PERSONAL BARRIERS TO PERSONAL EVANGELISM 1. Evangelophobia (fear of evangelism) 2. The Seriousness of the Topic (Eternal Destiny) 3. Fear of Failing 4. Not Enough Training/Bible Knowledge Often we think we need to be trained to share the gospel with people Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman s testimony John 4:39 ESV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus Acts 4:13 ESV

23 5 MINUTE BIBLE STUDY Colossians 4: What is Paul instructing the Colossians to do in this passage? 2. What are some words that standout as a call to exercise discipline?

24 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS A DISCIPLINE TO BE CULTIVATED Discipline ourselves to be with unbelievers: Invite a neighbor over for a meal Have lunch with co-workers Be aware it is easy and comfortable to stay in our Christian Bubbles

25 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS A DISCIPLINE TO BE CULTIVATED Discipline ourselves to create eternal discussions: During those meals with unbelievers, or during personal times at work, be purposeful in talking about things that will provide opportunities to have eternally impactful discussions (evangelism) Don t JUST talk about the Seahawks, but if you re going to talk about Sunday, talk about all of your Sunday

26 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS A DISCIPLINE TO BE CULTIVATED Discipline ourselves to ask how we can pray for people: Tell your neighbors or your co-wrokers that you regularly pray for them (start now if you don t), and ask them how you can pray for them more specifically This is a very unobtrusive way to make your faith known, and it often opens doors to share the explicit gospel in a comfortable manner

27 PERSONAL EVANGELISM IS A DISCIPLINE TO BE CULTIVATED The bottom line is to cultivate the discipline of personal evangelism, we have to be purposeful to make opportunities, remembering that it is expected, and empowered by Jesus Christ

28

29 HOMEWORK Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness by committing to one or more of the following: 1. Commit yourself to share a meal with an unbeliever 2. Commit to asking someone how you could pray for them 3. Commit to having an eternal discussion with someone in your life

30 EVANGELISM

31 DOING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TOGETHER PLACING OURSELVES IN THE PATH OF GOD S GRACE