The Gospel being proclaimed
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Gospel we proclaim
The Gospel we proclaim
The gospel we proclaim is important, not just important but eternally important, for it is heaven or hell and there is no middle ground on this. That is why we are spending time in this series in looking at the gospel, the gospel we proclaim.
(preach the gospel)
Have you heard that, seen that before, preach the gospel and when necessary, or when needed use words? They are credited to St. Francis Assisi, but like many things, taken out of context. What he said and over the years ended up what you just read was.
“No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister … All the Friars … should preach by their deeds.”
Now that saying, it is not bad, but it is not true is it?
The gospel has words, for faith comes by hearing right (see Rom10:17)?
The gospel has things to believe (Rom10:9; Jn3:16)
The gospel has commands to obey (Act2:38; Rom10:9-10)
The gospel has promises to be given (Act22:16; Jn3:16)
There is the “true” gospel and that means there are false gospels (Gal1:6-9) which are not really a gospel at all.
(Transition) We have recently looked at proclaiming the gospel, are we ashamed? Preparing the gospel we are to proclaim. And now this morning we are going to look at the gospel we proclaim, is it really the gospel
Scriptures for consideration today (Mk16:15-16 Heb6:1-2; Rom1:14-16)
Jesus gave a command regarding the gospel.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
In the NLT and a few other versions it says “the Good News” and I think we have established that the Gospel is the Good News Jesus wanted everyone to hear.
We may have a desire, we may even have a zeal to proclaim the Gospel as it says in the Great commission (Mk16:15-16; Mt28:19-20) But is it as the Lord commanded.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
(Transition) There are methods that people have developed, evangelistic methods, they can be successful, but again are they fulfilling the great commission? Let me offer them up to you.
Evangelistic methods for delivering gospel:
Evangelistic methods for delivering gospel:
I think as you look at these methods you may learn, develop some tools to help you in delivering the gospel message, the Good News that Jesus wanted everyone to hear.
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Survey the Bible - General survey of Bible and Bible story
The New Testament Church - Defining the church
Steps of salvation - what must I do to be saved
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Survey the Bible - General survey of Bible and Bible story
This is a general survey of the Bible, maybe some know it as a overview of the bible. or a look at the book, there are methods out there the Bible in 5 or Bible Project both on line
Another way with the survey is to look at God’s scheme of redemption starting at the promises and the covenant with Abraham to the fulfillment in Christ. (expand)
How about the multi lesson approach such as “The rest of the story” or “One hour from home” (expand)
Survey the Bible - General survey of Bible and Bible story
The New Testament Church - Defining the church
Who is the church? (non-denominational Christianity)
This is a look at the establishment of the church from the scripture
This uses scripture to define the church
Some will say this is pattern theology, looks at the establishment, organization and the work of worship in the church as laid out in the bible. Especially in the N.T. - - in other words how we are to do things. (expand)
Warning: when not used properly and with love and reverence it can be very divisive (expand)
Survey the Bible - General survey of Bible and Bible story
The New Testament Church - Defining the church
Steps of salvation - what must I do to be saved
Describes the things needed for salvation (hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized)
Salvation through education, this is a more in depth study to give full understanding of what it is to be a Christian, including the responsibilities and the benefits of it.
From babe in Christ to the fulness of Christ
This can point to the point of salvation- (expand) a look and focus on not just salvation but the point of salvation
(Transition) There is nothing wrong with any of these evangelistic methods , they can be effective, they can make disciples of Jesus Christ, and thus fulfilling the great commission. But Let’s continue and look at some of th questions that may arise.
What is of first importance?
What is of first importance?
There are many principles and promises in the scripture that are important. We want to prioritize or minimize the importance of things, even if just in our thinking. But what does the word say about first importance?
Elementary principles (Heb6:1-2, 5:12)?
1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
These things are very important, for we need them before we can press on to maturity, right?
Look at this
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Some get the elementary principles, the milk of the word but do not grow to solid food, the meat of the word that matures you. One thing about milk you need, more and more to be filled even temporarily, meat helps grow you and sustain you and you develop your spiritual muscles, as you mature in Christ.
Don’t get lost in secondary things such as
Identity of the church and it’s work
Proper worship
Instrumental music, marriage, divorce and remarriage
(expand on these, while these are important issues, and even hot topics they are not of first importance)
Something to remember that the epistles, which is most of the N.T. is written to believers, to the church. It is written to help us to grow from babes in Christ to the fullness of Christ.
(Keep the first thing, first!)
Something to consider if someone is not willing to respond to the gospel, to obey the gospel, which is of first importance, are we not wasting our time in trying to convince them, teach them get them to listen to secondary principles?
The gospel in part or in whole (Eph1:7; Rom2:4; 2Cor5:11, 14-15; Eph5:15-16
The gospel is more than telling someone what they must do to be saved. Yes there are commands to obey (by faith) but before that there are facts to believe and promises to received that should be motivating factors in obeying the gospel.
It is knowing the riches of His grace
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
It is having a proper perspective of the riches of His kindness
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
It is the ability to persuade men
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
It is believing that He died and rose on our behalf
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
(expand on that) - important, first thing first here that he died so we might live in Him and for Him
(point of warning)
We deprive ourselves and the person we are sharing the gospel with when we share only the Good News, the promises without there being an understanding of bad news and the need for the good news! God saves us through His promises by the power of His Spirit to the believer who knows he is a sinner separated from God due to sin.
Multi-part teachings may not get to the gospel until the end of the series
Life changes, situations, circumstances may happen and someone you were doing a bible survey with may drop the study.
(Transition) Do not miss an opportunity to share the gospel, the full gospel with someone.
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
Make the most of your time for we don’t know then number of our days, and one day may be too late. so know the gospel to be proclaimed and proclaim the gospel that Jesus wants everyone to hear.
So, the gospel being proclaimed, that which is of first importance, may we consider consider a few more things, or be reminded of a few things.
Primary, priority principles
Primary, priority principles
First things first, I think we have established that thus far. So here are some principles to consider today and each day for application.
Share the full gospel (Rom1:14-16)
Do not share only the commands to obey, be sure to share the promises to receive, the things to believe and the reason belief is needed.
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Share the fruit of the believed Gospel (Col1:4-8)
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend. pass it on, the gospel message, the power of God unto salvation. Keeping the first things first.
Christ and Him crucified (1Cor2:2, 2:1-5)
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
What a powerful verse, but more powerful when used in the context in which it was written.
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
The gospel is of first importance as Paul lays out (1Cor15:1-3)
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
Sow the gospel (Gal6:6-10)
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
Sow the gospel! Now look more what Paul had to say to the church at Galatia
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Always be ready (1Cor9:19-23; 1Pt3:15)
Paul was wiling to be all things to all men according to 1Cor9
Peter charged the disbursed believers to be ready to share the hope in 1Pt3:15, what is that hope? Jesus Christ, and He comes through the gospel message we are to proclaim.
Pray about the gospel to be proclaimed
Opportunities (Col4:2-6)
Wisdom (Jm1:5)
Boldness (Eph6:18-20)
(Transition) in closing we are messagers of the gospel message, proclaimers of it. We are not the originators of it. Consider Paul’s words
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
God causes growth, through the gospel message that is heard, believed, and obeyed. and the Lord adds to the numbers (Act2:47)
(The gospel -5) invitation (invitation slide 2 - baptism) (inviation song) (Prayer) (Exit)