Be prepared to share
Notes
Transcript
Handout
I am not ashamed!
I am not ashamed!
Paul says “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (see Rom1:16) and if we are honest we may not be ashamed of it, but feel ill-prepared to proclaim, share the gospel. But statistically speaking, we can grow in preparation and proclamation.
(Statistical facts picture inserted here)
Barna Institute Survey (2016)
Church attendance is on great decline in last 30 years
The millennials have a greater skepticism and cynicism toward institutions, especially the church.
in a survey that was similar to that of the Institute for American Church Growth, we looked at that previously, but here are the statistics again by them and then I will give you the survey from Barna Institute.
American church growth statistics on why people came to church and came to the Lord. (2017 survey 10,000 church members)
Urgent need -3%
Walked in - 3%
Minister - 6%
Travelling - 1%
Bible classes, studies - 5%
Gospel meeting 0.5%
Programs offered - 3%
Invited by friend, relative - 79%
Bottom line of that survey is people became Christians in large part because friends, relatives invited them to come to the assembly. Opportunities created to hear, believe and obey the gospel.
In the 2016 Barna Institute survey of 10,000 Americans get ready for these statistics
73% of polled claimed to be Christians
20% of polled claimed no faith at all
6% identified with Islam, Buddhism, Judaism or Hinduism
1% did not know where they stood
Shocking fact
73% claimed Christian faith is important to them
only 31% of that 73% attend services on regular basis
In the Barna Survey it asked about Church size.
46% like small church (100 or less)
37% like regular church (100-499)
9% like large church (500-999)
8% like a mega church (1000+)
(You are needed picture inserted here; already in Proclaim, just insert here)
So, Westside church of Christ, where do we fit in the small church inspiring to grow to regular church. How did the churches grow according to the statistics, personal invitations
Just like mentioned in increasing opportunities message a few weeks ago, I cannot emphasis enough, YOU ARE NEEDED!
(Transition) Today we are looking at how can we prepare to share. I will offer you three simple methods to help us to be prepared to share.
Let your actions speak
Let your actions speak
What you do means more than what you say at times, and Jesus set a great example of acting then speaking.
Jesus went and did good (Act10:38)
38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Jesus did good and preached and taught (Mt4:17; Mt4:23)
23 Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
and the gospel Jesus preached had this in it
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus had a mission to seek and save the lost (Lk17:10); in the house of Israel according to (Mt15:24)
(Transition) Then you can know:
When you do good, word spreads (Mt4:24-25)
24 The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
When you do good it creates opportunities for people to ask about your hope (1Pt3:15-16; Mt5:16)
(transition) - our focal scripture today is found here in context
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
when we do good, the results are it encourages people to glorify God as noted in (Mt5:16) but also makes opportunities for people to ask about the hope that is in us.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
(This little light of mine-2 picture inserted here)
Either sing some of it or expand on it (1-2 minutes)
When you do good it is seen and encourages others to glorify God (Mt5:16)
Isn’t encouraging one of the things that we are to do? Isn’t that one of the purposes of the church? But look at the results that happen when we let our light shine
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
(Transition) Scripture still has more to say regarding good works, or in other words good deeds.
Be Zealous for them (Tit2:14)
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Redeemed by the precious blood of the lamb, from every lawless deed, so we could be God’s people and be zealous for good deeds.
Be ready for them (Tit3:1)
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,
Be engaged in them (Tit3:8)
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
Be careful to engage in them, so be prayerful, be ready, be doing, for it is profitable and good for men.
Be confident that they meet a need (Tit3:14)
14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
(Transition): Engaged in good deeds to meet. One of the needs we need to meet, can meet, should meet is pray for one another, not just the believers, but the unbeliever too, prayers can be a great evangelism tool.
Be prepared through prayer
Be prepared through prayer
Be prepared through prayer, prayer is a mighty tool that is available to all and should be used as we prepare to share the gospel message.
A godly “to do list”
OK, in the world there are to do lists, for us there can be, should be a godly to do list regarding prayer
Pray for the sick
Pray for the fallen
Pray for the unresponsive
Pray for the lost
In our preparing to share may we:
Pray for boldness (Eph6:18-20)
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
(expand on this) make it personal
Pray for open doors, opportunities (Col4:3-6)
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.
You pray for me to have open doors and I pray for you that God may open doors before you too.
Pray that our speech may be filled with grace, knowing how to respond to people.
pray for open ears, open hearts, and for us, open hands and open mouths.
I think it is important in our prayers to ask for the hearer to be prepared too. To hear the Good News, the Gospel, after seeing your good deeds and seeing the difference God has made, is making in your life so that they may inquire about the hope that is in you!
Prepare to share through invitation
Prepare to share through invitation
Remember the statistics we started this series with and the ones we mentioned earlier in this lesson? May we get to some application section as we prepare to share.
Prepare by inviting people to assembly or functions
Inviting people is inviting people to see our love
Inviting people gives opportunity to hear the gospel
Inviting provides opportunity to believe and respond to the gospel message
Inviting can help restoration of a fallen or inactive believer.
Invite the fallen
Invite the unchurched
Invite the asleep in Christ
remember 73% claim they are Christians but only 31% attend the assembly on regular basis
Prepare to receive those who come
Be hospitable to all - they came, show willingness to listen and learn from them too.
Be welcoming - Have a heart of compassion and reception when people come
Be willing - Be willing to listen more than talk. Hear where they are and what is going on with them.
Be willing to pick up and bring to assembly
Prepare to follow up after assembly or functions
Take to lunch, go to lunch, invite to fellowship together.
Make phone calls thanking and inviting again
Prepare to invest in discipleship
Discipleship is teaching, be willing to be a disciple maker by example, older women to younger women as Paul told Timothy. That is just an example given. What can you do to invest in discipleship?
Be Prepared to Share
Be Prepared to Share
To share by your good deeds
To share by letting your light shine
To share by your prayers
To share by your invitations
To share by your investment
(Invitation/encouragement slide - heart of compassion) Be willing to with loving heart, a heart of compassion to love in action and in truth, the gospel truth that is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe and obey. (expand on this)
(Invitation slide 2) song, (prayer) (Exit slide)