SF880 - New Testament Evangelism Back to the Basics Re-Discovering the NT (Acts 5 12-42)
Acts 5:12-42
Introduction
The fivefold purpose of a New Testament church is worship, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, and evangelism. Of these five evangelism is the most difficult to maintain. Christians seems to almost naturally fellowship and minister to each other. We have set specific times each week when we focus on discipleship and worship. Yet, we often struggle with evangelism.
Indeed, evangelism seems to cause more fear and concern than any other single ministry in the church. However, evangelism was at the very heart of why our Lord Jesus came.
Luke 19:10 (NASB) 10“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
There are a multitude of approaches and training methods to help us promote and do evangelism. Our text tonight sets before us the way the early church did evangelism. Five keys…
1A. A Pure Membership (5:12-14)
1B. God requires His children be pure.
2 Timothy 2:19-21 (NASB) 19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” 20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
2B. God requires His church to be pure.
Ephesians 5:27 (NASB) 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
Jesus demands a high level of commitment.
Luke 9:57-62
Matthew 10:32-39
God has instituted church discipline in order to keep the church pure.
Ø Ananias and Sapphira are the first examples.
Ø Church discipline is an obligation not an option.
Matthew 18:15-20
2A. A Power Filled Ministry (5:12a, 15-16)
1B. Their ministry was God-centered.
2B. Their ministry was God-sized.
3A. A Persecuted Leadership (5:17-28)
1B. The Apostles were imprisoned unjustly. (5:17-18)
Ø Why they were imprisoned (5:17)
Ø Where they were imprisoned (5:18)
2B. The Apostles were set free supernaturally. (5:19-21a)
Ø By a miracle (5:19)
Ø For ministry (5:20-21a)
3B. The Apostles had escaped completely. (5:21b-24)
Ø The frustration of the Sanhedrin (5:21b-23)
Ø The fear of the Sanhedrin (5:24)
4B. The Apostles were retrieved reluctantly. (5:25-28)
Ø They were arrested quietly. (5:25-26)
Ø They were arraigned quickly. (5:27-28)
4A. A Persistent Profession (5:29-32)
1B. The question of loyalty. (5:29)
Acts 4:19 (NASB) 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
2B. The question of liability (5:30-32)
The truth about the cross (5:30)
“Put to death” = “diacherizo;” to put to death with one’s own hands.
The truth about the Christ (5:31-32)
Ø Christ is the originator of salvation
“Prince” = refers to the originator of salvation.
Ø God granted repentance and forgiveness.
Ø Obedience to Christ is the mark of the Christian.
5A. A Provocative Proclamation (5:33-42)
There are three responses to convicting preaching.
1B. Violent hostility (5:33)
2B. Tolerant indifference (5:34-40)
Gamaliel’s reputation (5:34)
Gamaliel’s reasoning (5:35-37)
Ø Be wary (5:35)
Ø Be wise (5:36-37)
Gamaliel’s restraint (5:38-40)
Ø The probability he anticipated. (5:38)
Ø The possibility he admitted. (5:39)
Ø The punishment he approved. (5:40)
3B. Saving Acceptance (5:41-42)
They went away praising. (5:41)
Matthew 5:10-12 (NASB) 10“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
They continued preaching. (5:42)
Application
The challenge before us…
Ø We must seek to have a pure membership
Ø We must seek a power filled ministry that is both God-centered and God-sized.
Ø We must not flee from persecution.
Ø We must be persistent in our presentation of the gospel.
Ø We must realize that when we proclaim the truth, we will be provocative.
NEW TESTAMENT EVANGELISM
Back to the Basics: Re-Discovering the New Testament Church
Acts 5:12-42
1A. A ___________________ Membership (5:12-14)
1B. God requires His _________________ be pure.
2 Timothy 2:19-21
2B. God requires His _______________ to be pure.
Ephesians 5:27
Jesus demands a high level of commitment.
Luke 9:57-62
Matthew 10:32-39
God has instituted church ___________________ in order to keep the church pure.
Matthew 18:15-20
2A. A ____________ Filled Ministry (5:12a, 15-16)
1B. Their ministry was ______________-centered.
2B. Their ministry was _________________-sized.
3A. A ____________________ Leadership (5:17-28)
1B. The Apostles were imprisoned unjustly. (5:17-18)
2B. The Apostles were set ____________________ supernaturally. (5:19-21a)
3B. The Apostles had ________________________ completely. (5:21b-24)
4B. The Apostles were _______________________ reluctantly. (5:25-28)
4A. A ____________________ Profession (5:29-32)
1B. The question of ___________________. (5:29)
Acts 4:19
2B. The question of ________________ (5:30-32)
The truth about the __________________ (5:30)
The truth about the ________________ (5:31-32)
5A. A _________________ Proclamation (5:33-42)
1B. Violent hostility (5:33)
2B. Tolerant ______________________ (5:34-40)
Gamaliel’s reputation (5:34)
Gamaliel’s reasoning (5:35-37)
Gamaliel’s restraint (5:38-40)
3B. Saving Acceptance (5:41-42)
They went away _____________________. (5:41)
Matthew 5:10-12
They continued _____________________. (5:42)