Personal Evangelism How to Lead People to Jesus Christ - Evangelism Helping People Follow Jesus Christ Discipleship Teaching a new Christian to think more and act more like Jesus Christ GOAL: By integrating evangelism and discipleship, with proper theology, I will become a disciple-maker for Jesus Christ. Chapter 2 Thinking Biblically About Witnessing developing a biblical mindset for witnessing 1
To evangelize means to proclaim the good message Rom. 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 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? 2
Introduction cont d. telling someone that Jesus Christ died for his sins and wants him to repent and of sin and put his faith in Christ alone (be saved) to show HIS power in the midst of human weakness 3
Introduction cont d. reject it accept it II Cor. 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 4
Introduction cont d. 1. Fear hinders our witness II Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2. Being rejected hinders our witness Luke 9:26 - For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 5
Introduction cont d. I Pet. 4:14 - If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. Conclusion: accepting the reproach of the gospel is an essential part of being a faithful believer. 6
I. The Importance of Witnessing A. Making a diligent effort to reach God s treasure the souls of men 1. The Example of Mel Fisher 2. A.W. Tozer: Men are lost but not abandoned; every Christian is commissioned to carry the gospel of Christ to the unsaved [lost]. 7
The Importance of Witnessing B. Jesus Christ set the example for us 1. Christ came to seek and to save the lost Luke 19:10; Matt. 18:11; Gal. 4:4-5 2. Christ commanded His disciples to reach the lost Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16 :15 a. He promises His presence and authority to us b. He commands us to spread the gospel around the world c. He allows us identification with Him through baptism d. He prioritizes His redemptive plan of salvation as being first 8
The Importance of Witnessing 3. Christ sent the Holy Spirit to empower believers to reach the lost Acts 1:8 a. Rom. 8:14 the Spirit of God leads the believer b. Eph. 3:16 the Spirit of God strengthens the believer 4. Christ expects us to witness as part of our worship to Him Rom. 15:16 (ministry) 5. Christ views witnessing as evidence of the genuineness of our salvation a. Matt. 10:32-33 confessing Christ before others b. Rom. 10:10-11 being an unashamed witness 9
II. Various Responses to Witnessing Matthew 13 (The Parable of the Soils/Sower) The seed falls: A. The Hard-Hearted Hearer v. 19 1. The wayside well-worn, hard path 2. Hearer has a hard heart and refuses to hear B. The Impulsive Hearer vv. 20-21 1. The stony ground shallow roots 2. When persecution (hard times) arrives, he withers and dies 3. Does not demonstrate, true, saving faith 10
II. Various Responses to Witnessing C. The Unproductive Hearer v. 22 1. The thorny ground some growth, but fruit is not visible 2. They are carnal Christians or lost people only God knows D. The Genuine Hearer v. 23 1. The good ground growth and fruit visible 2. An abundant harvest receives the Word, obeys it, and begins to bear fruit 3. Are you a genuine hearer? 11
III. The Right Attitude for Witnessing Luke 15 A. Christ s Example in the world, but not of the world Jn. 17:14-16; 15:19 1. He ate meals in sinners houses 2. He talked with sinners, both privately and publicly 3. He went to where they were, but He did not participate nor condone their sin B. Christ s Aggressive Approach Luke 15:4-20 1. His persistence v. 4 a. He searched until He found the lost sheep b. The woman swept her house until she found the lost coin v. 8 c. The father ran and met his [lost] son v. 20 2. His preoccupation (with the lost) - each parable emphasizes the one who is lost
III. The Right Attitude for Witnessing Luke 15 3. His Compassion (for the Lost) - v. 5, 20 both the lost sheep and the prodigal son were compassionately welcomed back 4. His Encouragement (for us) we have every reason to be optimistic! a. The lost were found! b. The rejoicing followed c. The numbers are up to God v. 7, 10
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Salvation is a supernatural event in the life of a sinful man; no amount of human effort alone can save a lost man. IV. God s Part in Witnessing pp. 28-29 A. His Answering Our Prayers 1. Pray for the salvation of the lost II Pet. 3:9 2. Pray for those who witness to others Col. 4:2-3 B. His Working Through the Spirit 1. The natural man I Cor. 2:14 2. The Spirit s work convicts, enlightens, and draws men to Himself John 12:32 C. His Working Through Us John 17:15-18
John 17:15-18 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Review for the test tomorrow Basics for Believers lessons 1-4 Personal Evangelism Chapters 1 and 2 Look at the notes online for chapters 1 and 2 Study from the book as well! New assignment sheet tomorrow