Follow Up and See How They Are

INTRODUCTION

In today’s text, Paul, as was his habit, had a desire for he and Barnabas to go back to the towns where they proclaimed the Gospel and baptized believers. The importance of following up with visitors and babes in Christ is vital to their spiritual wellbeing.

Today’s lesson will focus on WHY follow up is essential

1. BECAUSE SATAN IS BUSY

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1

Luke 8:4–8 ESV

And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 8:

2. THE WORLD WILL NOT REINFORCE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The information given in our Eternity Workshop will not be reinforced on the evening news

There are worldly elements that get in the way of God’s message

Indifference

Romans 1:

Romans 1:28 ESV

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Do not allow indifference to snuff-out your passion to proclaim the word

Romans 8:38 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:

Romans 8:

Being Too Busy

If you’re too busy too pray then you’re too busy

If you’re too busy to study the Bible, then you’re too busy

If you’re too busy to follow-up with the guest you invited, then you’re too busy

Luke 10:40–42 ESV

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Acts 24:25 ESV

And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Acts 24:

Luke 10

2 Corinthians 11:24–28 ESV

Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Dissapointment

2 cor. 11:24-28

There were only 3,000 souls out a possible million that obeyed the Gospel in

1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

John 3:7–8 ESV

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

3. SHOW THEM THAT YOU CARE

There is a lot of competition for a person’s affection out in the world

Great opportunity to see if they have concerns or questions

Acts 8:30–31 ESV

So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.