THE POWER OF SCRIPTURE in Sharing the Gospel
MANY WAYS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL Apologetics The love of the body of Christ (John 17:23) Personal testimony Miracles (Acts 14:3) Scripture
What might be some reasons that people shy away from using scripture when sharing the gospel?
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 1. God speaks to people through the Bible
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 1. God speaks to people through the Bible One of the main ways God communicates
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 1. God speaks to people through the Bible One of the main ways God communicates We come to Scripture not to learn a subject but to steep ourselves in a person. C.S. LEWIS
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 1. God speaks to people through the Bible One of the main ways God communicates 2. The best ambassadors use quotes
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 1. God speaks to people through the Bible One of the main ways God communicates 2. The best ambassadors use quotes Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 1. God speaks to people through the Bible One of the main ways God communicates 2. The best ambassadors use quotes The best ambassador uses the words of the person they are representing
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 3. The Bible is written to persuade
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 3. The Bible is written to persuade Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. JOHN 20:30-31
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 3. The Bible is written to persuade But he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. LUKE 16:31
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 4. The Bible has the power to convict hearts
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 4. The Bible has the power to convict hearts For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. HEBREWS 4:12
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 3. The Bible is written to persuade So will My word be which goes forth from My Paul s use of Scripture to reason in the mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without synagogue accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding Old Testament in the matter prophecies for which fulfilled I sent in it. Christ 4. For The you Bible will has go out the with power joy. to And convict be led hearts forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands ISAIAH 55:11-12
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 5. The Bible claims to be the source for truth
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 5. The Bible claims to be the source for truth Relativism vs. God s perspective
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 5. The Bible claims to be the source for truth Relativism vs. God s perspective Allows people to wrestle with God s truth not For our this opinions reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING SCRIPTURE 5. The Bible claims to be the source for truth Relativism vs. God s perspective Allows people to wrestle with God s truth not our opinions
JESUS AND THE APOSTLES USED SCRIPTURE FOR SEVERAL PURPOSES IN SHARING THE GOSPEL: 1. To show fulfilled prophecy 2. To challenging thinking 3. To clarify the gospel
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY 26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza. (This is a desert road.) 27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go up and join this chariot. ACTS 8:26-29
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Do you understand what you are reading? 31 And he said, Well, how could I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: ACTS 8:30-32
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY ISAIAH 53:7-8 He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth. 33 In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who will relate His generation? For His life is removed from the earth. 34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else? ACTS 8:32-34
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch * said, Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized? ACTS 8:35-36
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch * said, Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized? ACTS 8:35-36
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God my God why have you forsaken me? PSALM 22:1 MATTHEW 27:46
TO SHOW FULFILLED PROPHECY Paul reasoned from Scriptures: Acts 17:1-4; Acts 17:10-12; Acts 17:16-31; Acts 18:26-28; Acts 19:8-10; Acts 28:23
IN 2017 Prophecies that carry evidential weight for skeptical readers: Daniel 9:24-27 Isaiah 53 Psalm 22 Additional prophecies: www.evidenceunseen.com/articles/prophecy/ jesus-and-messianic-prophecy/
IN 2017 Prophecies that carry evidential weight for skeptical readers: Daniel 9:24-27 Isaiah 53 Psalm 22 Additional prophecies: www.evidenceunseen.com/articles/prophecy/ jesus-and-messianic-prophecy/ Need to be sensitive to the Spirit s leading
TO CHALLENGE THINKING
TO CHALLENGE THINKING 25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 And He said to him, What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? 27 And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. LUKE 10:25-27
TO CHALLENGE THINKING 25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 And He said to him, What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? 27 And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. LUKE 10:25-27
TO CHALLENGE THINKING 25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, Your Teacher, only job is what to turn shall pages I do to and inherit to stay eternal out life? of God s 26 And way. He said The to Holy him, Spirit What will is help written your in the friend Law? understand How does it more read from to you? a simple 27 And reading he answered, of a verse You than shall any love explanation the Lord or your sermon God with all you your could heart, have and preached...you with all your soul, are and only with in the all your page-turning strength, and business with all with your one mind; goal, and to stay your neighbor out of God s as yourself. way. SHARE JESUS WITHOUT FEAR, WILLIAM FAY LUKE 10:25-27
TO CHALLENGE THINKING 28 And He said to him, You have answered correctly; do this and you will live. 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? LEVITICUS 18:5 LUKE 10:28-29
TO CHALLENGE THINKING 28 And He said to him, You have answered correctly; do this and you will live. 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? LUKE 10:28-29
TO CHALLENGE THINKING 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: I desire compassion, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. HOSEA 6:6 MATTHEW 9:11-13
IN 2017 Spiritual conversation starters: sharing relevant personal convictions rooted in Scripture
IN 2017 Spiritual conversation starters: sharing relevant personal convictions rooted in Scripture Sharing the gospel: talking through verses that address roadblocks to receiving the gospel
IN 2017 Spiritual conversation starters: sharing relevant personal convictions rooted in Scripture Sharing the gospel: talking through verses that address roadblocks to receiving the gospel Discovery Bible Studies www.contagiousdisciplemaking.com David L. Watson, Global disciple-making www.xenos.org/teachings/?teaching=2874 Curt Stearns and Pam Stearns, Discovery Bible Studies
TO CLARIFY THE GOSPEL
TO CLARIFY THE GOSPEL 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. PSALM 146:6 ACTS 14:14-15
TO CLARIFY THE GOSPEL 16 In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. ACTS 14:16-17
TO CLARIFY THE GOSPEL 46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth. ISAIAH 49:6 ACTS 13:46-47
TO CLARIFY THE GOSPEL 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. ACTS 13:48
IN 2017 Gospel explanation Roman s Road: 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10 Titus 3:3-7 Col. 2:13-14 John 3:16-17 Share Jesus Without Fear Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:3, John 14:6, Romans 10:9-11, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Revelation 3:20
IN 2017 Gospel explanation Roman s Road: 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10 Titus 3:3-7 Col. 2:13-14 John 3:16-17 Share Jesus Without Fear Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:3, John 14:6, Romans 10:9-11, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Revelation 3:20 Study the book of John together Read John 20:30-31
GLORY CONCLUSION IN GOD HIMSELF If you are using Scripture based in the Spirit s leading, have confidence!
GLORY CONCLUSION IN GOD HIMSELF If you are using Scripture based in the Spirit s leading, have confidence! Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? LINDSEY TOBIN tobinlr@gmail.com