Are we proclaiming the gospel?
Proclaiming the gospel series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsAim: To look at what are we proclaiming, is it the gospel, the full gospel?
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Transcript
Go!
Go!
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
You know those verses they have been quoted many many times maybe even since you were little. And we know
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Previously we have established in this series.
We are not to be ashamed of the gospel. Do our actions say that we are, we were challenged to be courageous and bold in knowing then:
Preparing to share the gospel. That we know the gospel, have it written on our heart and ready to share it with others, your testimony with God’s word, all covered in prayer.
(Transition) Today we are looking at “Are we proclaiming the gospel?” and are we proclaiming the whole gospel to make disciples of Jesus.
Do you think our intentions may be good, but we may actually be misdirected in sharing (preaching) the gospel? Instead of bringing people to the kingdom, we keep close to the kingdom but not in the kingdom. We want to see how the Lord intended to be shared to accomplish its task.
Evangelistic Methods
Evangelistic Methods
Survey of the bible
God’s love story from creation until the end of time as we know it.
God’s love story that reveals through the gospels, God’s scheme of redemption is fulfilled in Christ Jesus.
Tough to do this in one lesson, some will, but this is a great way to give an overview of the bible.
New Testament church
This is a focus on the church today, what is it made up of, and not made up of. What does the Church that belongs to Christ look like, or should it look like.
The N.T. church tries to adhere to the principles of the N.T. that show the character and the nature of the church that Jesus built.
The N.T. church does show contrasts of denominations today.
What must I do to be saved
This shows proper question, response to having heard the word and being pierced to the heart (Act2:37).
It shows that there are elements to know, elements to believe, elements to obey.
Elements such as hear, belief, confess, repent and be baptized for remission of sins.
(Transition): These methods are great, but can be a little elongated and complicated at times, whereas the gospel is simple.
Evangelistic queries (this is not a slide)
Evangelistic queries (this is not a slide)
Keeping first things first
There are elementary principles of the gospel (turn to Heb5:12-6:2
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. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. 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.
Oftentimes we can make major of a minor thing.
Nature and style of worship
What does that matter if the person is not in the kingdom?
While it is important it is not the big thing.
If someone is not willing to “obey” the gospel, which is the first thing, the other things are of no significance.
The gospel in part, or in whole?
I think we know that the gospel is more than telling someone what they must do to be saved.
Yes, there are commands to obey, but also facts to believe and promises to receive.
Consider Rom2:4
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?
The fact we need to believe is the gospel itself turn to 1Cor15:1-4
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, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom1:16) and we do not want to deny or deprive anyone from knowing that. The conviction that comes from the word, the conviction of sin, that leads to repentance and baptism for remission of sins (Mt3:11; Act2:38-39; Act22:16). People need the whole truth, the whole gospel that can change the whole man and receive the promises from the Lord
Consider, is the gospel being aborted at times?
multi-lesson approaches are good for bible knowledge, or overview, but oftentimes the salvation message is kept to the end.
Circumstances, controversies, challenges often terminate studies prior to the gospel message and call for response
Do we miss opportunities when we do this? Are we aborting the simplicity of the gospel?
(Transition) Please understand I am not saying that these methods of multi part are wrong, for they are giving the right information for an informed decision to obey the gospel. But as one commentator (Copeland) put it “I wonder if I have always made the best use of my time and opportunities.” He goes on to share some evangelistic opportunities.
Evangelistic principles
Evangelistic principles
Share the full gospel
Be sure to share the full gospel of Jesus Christ, not just the commands to obey. Share the things to believe and the promises to receive.
Sharing the full gospel is the power of God unto salvation, so let God’s word, God’s power, God’s Spirit work in and through you in sharing it.
The fruit of the gospel is born when one understands the grace of God in truth (turn to Col1:5-6 may read vv.3-8 to keep in context)
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
Next, focus on the big thing, Christ and Him crucified (ref: 1Cor2:2)
We have some bible tracts that can help you if you would like them, please feel free to take them, pray about them and then share them.
Share the full gospel, the things to believe, the promises to receive when someone obeys the gospel.
Do not sweat the secondary stuff. First things first, getting someone into the kingdom.
Next, sow generously (ref: 2Cor9:6); be prepared to share the hope in you (1Pt3:15). Have some bible tracts ready, maybe a DVD, or a preset bible study plan.
Be willing to move on if not receptive.
Jesus taught that (Lk10:10-11); I know and I can struggle moving on, but we have examples of that other places too.
Paul practiced that (Act13:44-46, 18:6).
If the gospel has been rejected, if there is no interest move on and use time planting other seed. That ground you tried to scatter seed on may not be ready yet for it to grow so do not burn the field.
And another important principle is prayer
Pray for opportunities (Col4:2-6)
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 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.
Pray for wisdom (Jm1:5); boldness (Eph6:18-20)
Pray for the God to bring increase (ref: 1Cor3:5-7)
Summing things up
Summing things up
Be ready to sow the seed of the gospel
Sow the seed, sow generously
Sow the entire gospel that calls for a response.
Sow the seed that shows God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, man’s call to obedience.
Sow the seed of truth, the big thing, Christ, and not get into the minor things until people are in the kingdom, then teach them to follow the Lord’s commands (teachings).
Invitation and encouragement.
May we all “go” together and make disciples. take the message to all creation. All creation starts local, your home, your neighborhood, your community
Maybe the Lord is calling you to come. Come to Me . . . . give rest, take burdens, etc.
(Song) (Prayer)
