The Church at Ellerslie SUNDAY SERMON NOTES Eric Ludy Sunday, November 22, 2015
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The Gospel Presentation A Study in the Actual Sharing of the Gospel And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;... and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:14-15 A Marriage of Complexity and Simplicity The Strength of Ellerslie The Weakness of Ellerslie The Task 3
To Make an Easily Transferrable Model - A Gospel Delivery Vehicle That has enough complexity to bring someone to LIFE But is simple enough to be passed along by them to someone else THAT VERY DAY That includes the entire framed-in infrastructure of the Gospel LIFE But that is able to be understood without yet entering a DISCIPLESHIP process The Sub-Goals Design a way of communicating that is not dependent on expensive or unusual props Design a way of communicating that is adaptable to any age and maturity level Design a way of communicating that is not dependent on unique skills or communication talents Design a way of communicating that is able to be diversely utilized for any and all situations of Gospel expression and allow for unique emphasis without changing the overall framework Design a way of communicating that is flexible from two minutes to two hours to two-hundred and two hours. Necessity is the Mother of Invention The Ever-Growing Pressing Taking a Shot at It Introducing the Plan for Today The Relaxed Version (followed by the invitation) The Shorter Version (seed planting) 4
The Shortest Version (seed tossing) 12 Key Follow-up Questions 1. Do you see that you are cut off from God? Do you recognize the consequences of this? Does this matter to you? 2. Do you want to be restored unto right relationship with God? 3. Do you understand what Jesus did for you? Do you believe that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to that right relationship? 4. Do you believe that Jesus desires to save you personally? 5. Will you acknowledge to God that you have lived wrongly? Will you turn away from your old life, give up all other saviors? And will you place your full confidence in Jesus Christ to save you? 6. Will you put your trust in Jesus to carry you to the Father? To forgive you? To cleanse you and wash you? To reconcile you with God? 7. Do you believe that, by your faith in Jesus, that you, indeed, have been brought unto the Throne Room of Grace? 8. Do you believe that what Jesus has earned, you have access to? 9. Will you ask for the Holy Spirit, that you might have LIFE? 10. What is in your account by faith in Jesus Christ? What is it you have received due to His work on your behalf? 11. Would you confess the death of your old life and your new birth, your new life in Jesus Christ? (Would you be willing to be baptized and make a public statement of your faith?) 12. Will you share this new life with others? Would you agree with this LIFE and give it to those around you, allowing the Holy Spirit to bless and encourage others through you - forgiving those that have done you wrong, sharing this Good news with those who are dying, and practically serving those around you with the life, love, and power that God has made available to you in Jesus? 5
A''»l O Scripture References 1. The Creation: God created... For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. Isaiah 45:18... God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Ephesians 3:9 6
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27 2. He created You... for a very special reason (the body of You) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 3. He created you to live with Him, know Him, and share LIFE with Him (the Throne) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. Psalm 86:8-9 4. The Grapes - the picture of the LIFE that is found only in God He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:12 5. The Bolt - the picture of the Power to DO IT (The Grace) that is found only in God Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with 7
power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Titus 2:11-13 6. The Rumble - the understanding of the Holy, Holy, Holy nature of this Amazing God In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory Isaiah 6:1-3 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Psalm 145:17 7. The Preeminence - the understanding of the Kingship and Lordship of this Authority of all Authorities For the LORD most high is to be feared; he is a great King over all the earth.... God is the King of all the earth;... God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. Psalm 47:2, 7-8 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all 8
things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; Colossians 1:15-19 7b. The Violation of Life - the Death (The folding of the Paper) - The BAD NEWS But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2 For the wages of sin is death,... Romans 6:23 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12 8. Your Account - You must be like God to enter this chamber of Life - you must bear the evidence of LIFE - our account is empty of merit and full of Sin (the absence of righteousness); full of death (the absence of Life); full of darkness (the absence of light) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12 Follow... holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14 8b. The Giving of Life - The Good News The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 9
John 10:10 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:33 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 9. The Heart of God (He is inclined toward our benefit) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.. John 3:16 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 10. The Law - the ordinance (The Law of Sin and Death) - The Revelation of the Word - The message of condemnation and the need for a perfect atoning sacrifice The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56 Behold, all souls are mine;... the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 10
And according to the Law... all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 11. The Cross - The Prophecied Sacrifice - the One who will come and remove the iniquity of the land in one day... I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,... By which also ye are saved,... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Isaiah 53:1-12... I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. Zechariah 3:9b 12. The Man, Jesus - The Fulfillment of all Scripture - the Key to unlock the WAY to the Father, back to the Presence of God And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him,... whether things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: Colossians 1:20-22 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18 13. His Wounds - His Blood - the passageway has been opened up 11
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:8-10 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Hebrews 10:19-20 13b. In Christ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.... For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 14. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ - (Repent/Believe) - You enter into Him by Faith and as a result He carries you through the Impossible Barrier - it s not what is in your account, but what is in His - He brings you to the Father, to the Throne Room of Grace - into intimate fellowship with the Father... The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 1:15 Verily I [Jesus] say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. Luke 18:17 12
15. Removing the fold in the paper (He brings us back into right relationship - we are reconciled) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ... 2 Corinthians 5:18 15b. Christ in You - The Receiving of the Holy Spirit In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance... Ephesians 1:13-14 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:27 16. It s not just that we are have a hope of eternal life someday - but that Eternal Life has been made available to us. We must receive this Gift of Grace - the Holy Spirit - who brings the Throne, the Love, the Life, the Power into your body Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:11-12 17. The New Heart 13
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 18. Reckon the Old Man Dead (His Death, Your Death Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6:6 19. His burial, your burial Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:... Romans 6:4a 20. His resurrection, your resurrection... like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Romans 6:4b-5 21, 22. His ascension, your ascension : His seated position, your seated position The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places... far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named... and hath put all things under His feet... Ephesians 1:18-22 14
But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved); and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus... Ephesians 2:4-6 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 23. You have access unto His heart - adopted as His child For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 24. You have the Holy Spirit - the Life of God Almighty dwelling in you What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?... 1 Corinthians 6:19 25. You have the fruit of that Life, the fruit of the Spirit For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Ephesians 5:8-9 15
... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 26. You have the Power to Live this impossible Life According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: That by these ye might become partakers of the Divine nature... 2 Peter 1:3-4 27. You have access to the inheritance of God Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Colossians 1:12 THE WHOLE BIBLE 16