Practical Evangelism (The Gospel) By Lewis A. Armstrong PASSING THE GOSPEL ON!!! II Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. I Corinthians 2: Authority of the Bible For who has known John 17:20-21 20 I do not pray for II Timothy :-17 All Scripture is given by the mind of the LORD that he may instruct these alone, but also for those who will believe inspiration of God, and is Him? But we have the in Me through their profitable for doctrine, for mind of Christ. word; 21 that they all reproof, for correction, for How do we have the may be one, as You, instruction in righteousness, 17 that the mind of Christ and Father, are in Me, and I man of God may be receive instruction? in You; that they also complete, thoroughly may be one in Us, that equipped for every good I Corinthians 14:7 the world may believe work. 7 If anyone thinks that You sent Me. What does it meant himself to be a prophet How do we know that that Scripture is by or spiritual, let him Jesus is on our side? inspiration and is for acknowledge that the equipping us? things which I write to II Thessalonians 2:15 you are the 15 Therefore, brethren, commandments of the stand fast and hold the Lord. traditions which you How can anyone not were taught, whether by acknowledge the word or our epistle. commandments of How are we to stand God? fast and teach? 1
John 20:0-1 0 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 1 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. Do we have enough to live in His name? The Bible is Complete and Inspired II Peter 1: as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue What does God's divine power give us? Romans 5:8-8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. What does Christ's death do for us? John 8:2 2 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. What does the truth do for anyone who hears the Word? Galatians 1:8-8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. How should the Gospel be perceived? Revelations 22:18-1 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 1 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. How significance is the Book of Revelations? 2
John 17:-18 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. Where are we the saved and what is the Word? Rightly Dividing God s Word II Timothy 2:15-17 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. How are we to not be ashamed and what are we to avoid? Hebrews : then He said, Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God. He takes away the first that He may establish the second. What is the First and what is the second? Galatians :24-25 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. How is the law a tutor? Colossians 2:2-7 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. How's our heart knit?
Fear God and Keep His Commandments II Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. How does fear help us? I Timothy 4:1-4 4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; God Wants Everyone to be Saved I Timothy 2:-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. What is being seared with a hot iron? II Peter : The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. What is the promise? Luke 15: Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. What is happening in heaven when a sinner or we repent after committing a sin? Romans 5:8-8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. How important was God's Love for us? 4
Who May Be Saved John :6 6 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. What's the life we see? Acts :4-5 4 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 5 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. What is our works? I Timothy 2:-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. What should we tell others about being saved? Revelations :20 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. How does one knock? Revelations 22:17 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Explain water of life? What Must I Do To Be Saved? Hear (Learning God s Will) Romans :17 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Can you have faith without study of the Word? John 6:44 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. What does it take to be raised out in the last day? Romans 1: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. How do we reach out to others today? Matthew 1:1-2 1 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Why did Christ speak in parables? 5
Matthew 1:14-15 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them. Can you describe person who has grown dull? Matthew 1: But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it What is the difficulty of seeing and hearing? Matthew 1:18-1 18 Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 1 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. Why are people pulled away? Matthew 1:20-21 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. What happens to the Gospel in the heart of stony ground? Matthew 1:22 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. What happens to the Gospel in thorns? Matthew 1:2 2 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. What is the result of the Gospel in a genuine ready and receiving heart? 6
Hebrews 1:1-1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, How did Christ purge out sins? Believe/Faith (Change of Heart) Heb 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How do you explain the receipt of our faith? John : For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What was the result of God's Love? John 5:24 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. How do we attain everlasting life? Acts :1 1 So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. How powerful should our belief be as we continue to mature? Romans 1: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. What all does the gospel do for us? John 8:24 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. Why will some people die in their sin? 7
Repent (Change of Life) Acts 17:0 0 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, How different is it from the OT to the gospel? Luke 24:47 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Who should be teaching repentance and remission of sins? Luke 1:-5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Who all will perish? Acts :1 1 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord Can you explain the times of refreshing? II Corinthians 7:-12 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. What does Godly sorrow contribute to in our lives? _ Confess (Change of Allegiance) Matthew :2 2 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. What does it take to have Christ confess us to God? 8
Romans :- that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. What are we to confess? I Timothy 6:11-12 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. What are we to pursue and how do we do it? _ Baptism (Change of Relationship) Mark :15-15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. How is baptism so important? Acts 2:7-41 7 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 8 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. To whom is the gift promised? John :-5 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother s womb and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. To what must we be born?
I Peter :20-21 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, What is the antitype? Acts 8:8 8 So he [eunuch] commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him What happened here? Acts 22: And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Does this represent a urgency in salvation? Romans 6:-6 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. What do we expect being Christians? I Corinthians 12:1 1 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. What is the one body? Galatians :27 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. What happens here with baptism?
Colossians 2:12 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. What does baptism do for us with Christ? Ephesians 4:5-6 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Can you explain one baptism? Examples of Baptism Acts 8:5-5 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 6 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water. What hinders me from being 7 baptized? Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son 8 of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. Can you explain about the teaching that enabled the eunuch to be saved? Acts 8:-12 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. What did Philip preach? Acts 18:8 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. What is your impression of so many being baptism? 11
Acts :27-6 into his house, he set 27 And the keeper of the food before them; and prison, awaking from he rejoiced, having sleep and seeing the believed in God with all prison doors open, his household. 5 And supposing the prisoners when it was day, the had fled, drew his sword magistrates sent the and was about to kill officers, saying, Let himself. 28 But Paul those men go. 6 So the called with a loud voice, keeper of the prison saying, Do yourself no reported these words to harm, for we are all Paul, saying, The here. 2 Then he called magistrates have sent to for a light, ran in, and let you go. Now fell down trembling therefore depart, and go before Paul and Silas. in peace. 0 And he brought them What prompted the out and said, Sirs, what jailer to be saved? must I do to be saved? 1 So they said, Believe Acts 18:25-6 25 on the Lord Jesus Christ, This man had been and you will be saved, instructed in the way of you and your the Lord; and being household. 2 Then they fervent in spirit, he spoke the word of the spoke and taught Lord to him and to all accurately the things of who were in his house. the Lord, though he And he took them the knew only the baptism same hour of the night of John. 26 So he began and washed their stripes. to speak boldly in the And immediately he and synagogue. When all his family were Aquila and Priscilla baptized. 4 Now when heard him, they took he had brought them him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. What do you think was said to win the heart of the man? Acts 1:1-5 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? So they said to him, We have not so much 12
as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. And he said to them, Into what then were you baptized? So they said, Into John s baptism. 4 Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. What was the future influence of Apollos? We Are Added to the Church Acts 2:41-47 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 4 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. How did souls become added to the church or kingdom? Colossians 1:1 1 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, How are we conveyed into the kingdom? How can this lesson be used in the future? 1