South Texas Bible Ministry Training Center MIN 123 Evangelism and Discipleship in the Local Church T Week 5 Ricky Joseph, Ph.D.
Telling Good News Introduction We Are like the Lepers 2 Kings 6:25-29 Evangelism Is Sharing Good News Evangelism Is One Beggar Telling Another Beggar Where to Find Bread The Bible and Sharing Good News We Must Share the Good News
Telling Good News Evangelism Is Meaning One beggar telling another beggar where to get bread Actively believing that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation Sharing the gospel or good news. Telling the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins
Helping People Become Good Enough Introduction 2 Cor 5:21 The Goal of Evangelism Lost People Need a Relationship with God Lost People Lack Righteousness Before God
Lost People Lack Righteousness Before God The Issue Is Righteousness Their Own Righteousness Missing the Mark How Good is Good Enough God s Righteousness God s Accounting Book
Lost People Lack Righteousness Before God Evangelism Is Helping people realize they are not good enough for God without Jesus Helping people become good enough for God through faith in Jesus
God s Accounting Book US My Righteousness +SIN Isa 64:6; Rom 3:10; 3:23 DEATH Rom 6:23a Christ s Righteousness 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 3:18 JESUS -SIN 1 John 2:1; Heb 4:15 LIFE Rom 6:23b
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit Introduction : the key to being effective in evangelism is simply learning to cooperate with what the Holy Spirit is already doing and saying to the person we are trying to reach. Meet the Most Important Person in Your Spiritual Life, the Holy Spirit Although the Bible speaks more about God the Son and God the Father, it also has much to say about God the Holy Spirit
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is God When the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit, He is describes as having attributes that are only found in God. The Holy Spirit is everywhere present (Ps 139:7) He is all knowing (1Cor 2:10-11) He is all powerful (Gen 1:2. Luke 1:35) He eternal (Heb 9:14} He is holy (Luke 11:13) Referred to as God (Acts 5:3-4, 2Cor 3:18, Gen 1:1-2; Luke 4:18) He is equated with the Father and the Son (Matt 28:19-20)
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is a Person: the Holy Spirit is every bit as much a person as is God the Father or God the Son He has intellect (1Cor 2:10-11; Eph 1:17, Rom 8:27) He has emotions (Eph 4:30) He has a will (1Cor 12:11) He has creativity (Gen 1:2) He has love (Rom 15:30) He is referred to with a personal pronoun (John 15:26; 16:13-14
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is Primary in God s Work on Earth Today The application of the gospel to the heart of the unbeliever is the work of the Holy Spirit In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Cooperating with the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the Primary Player in bringing a Lost Person to Salvation Convincing of the Need 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. Giving New Life Entering a Life
The Holy Spirit is Essential in Helping a Saved Person Grow and Serve The work of the Holy Spirit does not end when a person gets saved Primary Comforter and Teacher Our Life Changer Our Spiritual Gift giver Our Guide Our Power Giver The Holy Spirit is the most important person in your ministry life.
The Holy Spirit Partners with a Believer in Effectively Sharing the Gospel 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. If you want to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit; make disciples. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit
Jesus Promised the Enabling Empowerment of the Holy Spirit The First Evangelist relied on the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Evangelism is Recognizing that anytime a person gives his or her life to Jesus Christ it is never a solo operation. At least three persons are always involved: the non believer, the person who shares the gospel and he Holy Spirit Valuing the Holy Spirit as the person of the Godhead who is primary in God s work today on Earth Cooperating with what the Holy Spirit is already doing and saying to the person you are trying to reach Relying on the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and guidance your could never have on your own
Washing Feet For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 Servant Evangelism (story of Quan) The Towel and Basin Jesus, the Servant
The Power of Servant Evangelism Opens the door to share the Gospel I Low-Risk Evangelism Is Effective at reaching people in today s Culture Provides the opportunity for personal evangelism in a natural mode of fellowship and community Is fun Creates a lifestyle that permeates every aspect of a Christian s life Exemplifies the ministry model and passion of Christ
Evangelism is: Washing feet Love in action Humbly serving and intentionally sharing Communicating the nature and message of Christ As much being as it is doing. It is both!
Spiritual Warfare For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12 Introduction The Boils
We are the Battleground We are God s weakness Why did you never tell me this before if our Gospel be hid We are the Battle Ground Put on the whole armor of God The Devil hates you
The Devices of the Devil 1. Denunciation/Accusation/Condemnation (1Pet 5:8: Zech 3:1; Rev 12:10; Job 1:9-11) You cn t co it No one will listen to you Your don t know what you are talking about God won s use you You aren t good enough to share your faith
The Devices of the Devil 2. Defilement (1Thess 3:5; Matt 4:1-11; Gen 3:1-6) Satan is the original tempter. He strives to tempt us into sinning so we will feel too guilty to share the gospel with anyone else.
The Devices of the Devil 3. Deception (John 8:44) The enemy will lie to us constantly with the goal of putting us in bondage and causing us to be inactive in sharing the gospel Those people don t need God Why tell them? It won t make a difference anyway It s not your job to win the world for Christ There is plenty of time to do evangelism later If you tell them about Jesus, they will never talk to you again People will think you are some religious nut
The Devices of the Devil 4. Distraction The enemy is content with our doing almost anything other than evangelism. He will persistently attempt to get our focus on non-eternal things.
The Defeat of the Devil Jesus is Victorious Prayer is Powerful The Word of God Gives Us Power to Overcome The War Can Be Won Today! A demon possessed woman Get those knives out of here! Evangelism is: Spiritual warfare Often a battle fought on our knees
Praying Prodigals Home My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20 NIV)
Praying Prodigals Home (Luke 15) Lord please Bring them to a place of famine and need Create within them holy hunger and homesickness Cause them to come to their senses Drew them home Give them the gift of repentance Give us welcoming grace
Guide for Praying for the Lost and Backslidden 1. Lord, pour out Your Spirit upon and 2. Convict him/her of sin, lack of righteousness, and deserved judgment 3. Open their hearts 4. Reveal to him/her who You are and what Christ has done for him/her 5. Open the eyes of his/her understanding and remove the spiritual blindness. Let there be light 6. Draw him/her to Yourself in a powerful fashion