Credibility Practiced
Notes
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How can you ensure that you are a credible disciple.
Intro
Intro
Illus: Legion of Brothers - a documentary on the war in Afghanistan
Different in the sense that it did not have a journalists perspective on the war.
Right after 9/11 President Bush sent a task force of less than 100 men to battle the Taliban. They are known as Delta Force. Various teams.
This movie is their story of then and now. But, what makes it credible in my mind is the words and stories are those of the men who were there. They lived it. They make each story credible.
What makes a credible disciple?
will people listen to what you have to say about the gospel?
We can’t prove anything that Jesus did. We were not there and cannot say we saw it with our own eyes.
In order for the world to take us seriously we must have credibility.
We live in a world where no one needs credibility. Everyone has a voice and can comment on anyones vocation.
Definition: The quality or power of inspiring belief.
Drama
Drama
Pau comes to Lystra - modern day Turkey
Introduced to Timothy, son of Jewish woman and Greek Father
Paul desired to keep from offending the Jews. No one could enter the synagogue who had not been circumcised. Even though Paul was free to not circumcise Timothy it was prudent to acquiesce to this right.
Circumcision:
Abrahamic covenant -
Joshua’s covenant Renewal -
Now Jerusalem Counsel has proclaimed that this sign is no longer necessary. This right was good as a sign of faith, but now is an undo burden on new believers.
The gospel message - good news was that the only requirement for salvation was faith
Now, God is using disciples like Paul and Silas to go around and strengthen his church.
Doctrine
Doctrine
God uses credible disciples to strengthen his church:
A disciple’s actions accompany his beliefs
Paul’s decisions are based off of his belief about Jesus
Free from rights and OT requirements, but am also free to do them
A disciple’s actions are motivated by faith
Paul’s faith that he cannot lose his salvation
Paul’s faith that salvation is God’s grace
A disciple’s actions are outward focused
Paul knows that serving others is a way to be a credible witness
Jesus served
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Paul is willing to take on the culture of the people in order to have credibility.
A disciple’s actions are gospel centered
Paul still remains grounded in the gospel
These liberties did not lead him to sin
A disciple’s actions are edifying to the fellow believer
Doxology
Doxology
In order to be a credible disciple we must first stand in God’s grace
Paul’s decision to circumcise Timothy may seem to be contrary to what he was actually conveying - The gospel is not about circumcision.
For Paul the act of circumcision was not fro any other reason than to prepare the way fro credibility!
Calvin says that Paul did so to give no offence
“All thing to all men”
English Standard Version Chapter 9
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Paul here is saying that if you attempt to be a disciple without credibility you
All of these actions are based off of God’s grace
The gospel actually frees us up to do these things in order to go into mission fields we may not have the chance otherwise.
We must be impacted by the gospel so to experience it as if we were at the cross. It must be real in our life.
We cannot speak if the gospel if it is not something we have heard and replay in our head and heart.
This is how a disciple stands in God’s grace and becomes a credible witness to the gospel.
In order to be a credible witness we should be willing to
2. In order to be a credible witness we should be willing to get out of our comfort zone
We have to be with the people we are trying to reach with the gospel
Illus: Hudson Taylor 1800s- CIM China Inland Mission - 51 years as a missionary. He was one of the only missionaries who dressed in Chinese clothing in order to serve others and have the chance to share the gospel.
Today: we cannot just walk in and expect people to have the same base line of understanding.
People are unchurched. They don’t know the Sunday School stories.
The people that need the gospel will need to hear it from a credible disciple.
To be a credible disciple you must believe the gospel and love your life in light of God’s grace. Then you will need to get out of your comfort zone and build relationships with those who need Jesus. This is the scary part.
Let us seek ways to serve others so that we may be a credible witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.