Preparing to Proclaim the Gospel

Introduction

So we know we should not be ashamed of the Gospel or of proclaiming it. Tonight we will look at some preparation to proclaim with a little statistics along the way.

(Slide) Barna Institute Statistics from 2016

(Slide) Fewer Americans are attending church , following decline of last 30 years

(Slide) Millennials show great skepticism and cynicism toward institutions, particularly the church

(Slide) State of the Church in America

(Slide) 73% of Americans claim to be Christians

(Slide) 20% claim no faith at all

(Slide) 6% identify with Islam, Buddhism, Judaism or Hinduism and 1% not sure

(Slide) An Alarming Statistic

(Slide) 73% claim to be Christians and their faith is important to them

(Slide) only 31% of that number attend church on regular basis.

(Slide) Church Size

(Slide) 46% Like a church with fewer of 100 people

(Slide) 37% Like a church between 100 -499 people

(Slide) 9% like a church between 500-999 people

(Slide) And only 8% like a mega-church 1000 or more people

(Slide) The Institute for American Church Growth

Survey of 10,000 people

Overwhelming number 79% of people who came to Christ and are regularly going to church now is because people invited the

(Slide) So what’s the point?

(Slide) Our best effort with the most opportunities comes from individual efforts

(Slide) Just a short 3 step method that may help us to prepare ourselves for proclaiming the Gospel

I. Let your actions speak (Do good)

Jesus “went and did good” (slide)

Acts 10:38 NASB95

38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Jesus kept to His mission (Slide) - then in 4:23 it says “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom ,and healing every kind o disease and every kind of sickness among the people.” (NASB)

Matthew 4:17 NASB95

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

When you do good, word spreads (Slide)

Matthew 4:24–25 NASB95

24 The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Doing good results in good

It encourages people to glorify God (Mt5:16)

It makes people more likely to ask about the hope in us (slide)

1 Peter 3:15–16 NASB95

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

So Let your light Shine! (Slide)

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

(Slide) Be zealous for good works (Tit2:14)

(Slide) Be ready for every good deed (Tit3:1)

(Slide) Then engage in good deeds (Tit3:8)

(Slide) Finally, meet the needs (slide)

Titus 3:14 NASB95

14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

(Transition): We have a bulletin that has our sick in need of prayer list on it. but how about a prayer list for evangelism?

II. (Slide) Making use of a prayer list

(Slide) In the secular world they call it a “to do list

(Slide) This is a focused effort on those we want to reach

(Slide) Making the List

(slide) Start with your circle of influence (family, co-workers, neighbors

(Slide) Start small (keep it 3-5 names to start so you make concerted effort

(Slide) Keep the list where you will see it daily (put is where it is visible daily to you)

(Slide) Using the list (prayer time!)

(Slide) Remember God gives the opportunity and God causes the growth (1Cor3:5-7)

(Slide) So though we may work as though it all depends upon us, let us pray as though it all depends upon God! (Mark Copeland)

So though we may work as though it all depends upon us, let us pray as though it all depends upon God! (Mark Copeland) G

(Slide) Pray for God’s partnership with us as we do this.

(slide) To give opportunities

Slide

(Slide) To give us opportunities

(Slide) To give wisdom

(Slide) To give us wisdom

(Slide) To give us boldness

(Lid(Slide) To give you boldness as stated in Eph6:18-20; but how about the scriptures to go with these?

Colossians 4:3–6 NASB95

3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Colossians 4:3–6 NASB95

praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

When we pray; Pray for opportunity not only to share, but opportunity for the hearer to listen. Pray for open hearts that will be receptive to the truth of the Gospel.

III. (Slide) Invite them to Church Services/Activities

(Slide) An opportunity for them to see our love

(Slide) An opportunity to hear the gospel message

(Slide) An opportunity to regenerate a person who was formally a member of church somewhere

(Slide) Inviting people to church

(Slide) Spend time in prayer

(Slide) Seek wisdom to invite, best way, best time

(Slide) Seek boldness for opportunity to ask them

(Slide) So, who may accept, or be likely to accept?

(Slide) The unchurched

(Slide) The disenfranchised, dissatisfied with current church

(Slide) The ones you have shown love to already

(slide) So now what?

(Slide) Be hospitable - they came, shows willingness to listen, learn

(Slide) Be welcoming - so to prepare a heart for reception of the Gospel

(Slide) Be willing- to listen to their thoughts

(Slide) Know, the Lord opened this door

(Slide) Just a few more things

(Slide) Be willing to spend more time with guest than with member

(Slide) Be ready to pick them up and bring them

(Slide) Be ready to invite them for a meal afterwards

(Slide) Be ready to follow up with someone else within days of being a guest

(Slide) Preparation Summary

(Slide) Do good

(Slide) Make and use a prayer list

(Slide) Invite to service and follow up afterwards

(Slide) Do this all with a heart of conviction and a covering of prayer; Do this knowing God has equipped you, called you, commanded you to be prepared to proclaim

Do this knowing God has equipped you, called you, commanded you to be prepared to proclaim