22NDND August, 2009 August, 200988thth Sunday after Trinity and 9 Sunday after Trinity and 9thth after Pentecost after Pentecost

214 :151214 :151

GREETINGS: Church(project 333)+Bible graduate

27th July – 2nd August, 2009

Theme : Redemption for sinners

Topic : Evangelising the Faith.

11stst Lesson: Lesson: Hosea 14:1-7Hosea 14:1-7

22ndnd Lesson: Lesson: St. Mark 2:13-17St. Mark 2:13-17Our Mission (Matthew 20:28)Our Mission (Matthew 20:28)

TOPICTOPIC: : EVANGELISING THE FAITHEVANGELISING THE FAITH

WHAT IS EVANGELISMWHAT IS EVANGELISM

ANDAND

WHAT IS FAITHWHAT IS FAITH

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

DefinitionDefinitionEvangelism is co-operating Evangelism is co-operating

with the Holy Spirit to help with the Holy Spirit to help

people take steps towards people take steps towards

faith in Christ.faith in Christ.Lorne Sanny, the Chairman of the Board of the

Navigators, says: 

Evangelism is taking a good look at Jesus Christ

and then telling someone what you saw.1 John 1:3

What does theWhat does the “faith” really mean? “faith” really mean?

In the case of In the case of “faith” or emunah in Hebrew“faith” or emunah in Hebrew, we, we

find it first in Exodus. You don’t see the wordfind it first in Exodus. You don’t see the word

““faith” you say? It is translated as “faith” you say? It is translated as “steadysteady” in ” in

Exodus 17:12. Moses’ hands were emunah until the Exodus 17:12. Moses’ hands were emunah until the

sun went down, and so Israel prevailed. The coresun went down, and so Israel prevailed. The core

meaning of the Hebrew word for faith, emunah, is meaning of the Hebrew word for faith, emunah, is

firmness, firmness,

steadfastness, steadfastness,

and fidelityand fidelity. In a word, faith essentially is . In a word, faith essentially is

faithfulness in Jesus’ Hebraic vocabulary.faithfulness in Jesus’ Hebraic vocabulary.

FAITHFAITHFaith is a Faith is a complete trustcomplete trust, , confidenceconfidence and and

reliance in Godreliance in God. It is a firm belief without . It is a firm belief without

proof, a Yearning from the bottom of one’s proof, a Yearning from the bottom of one’s

heart for God’s kingdom to come. It means heart for God’s kingdom to come. It means

Absolute allegianceAbsolute allegiance, , loyaltyloyalty and fidelity and fidelity toto

God no Matter under what circumstances.God no Matter under what circumstances.

Even demons believe in One God Even demons believe in One God (Jam(Jam

2:19) but they do not have faith2:19) but they do not have faith

Matthew 17:20 Matthew 17:20

When he speaks, for instance, of theWhen he speaks, for instance, of the

““faith of a mustard seed” hefaith of a mustard seed” he

is alluding to that little seed’s persistenceis alluding to that little seed’s persistence

and determination to grow even in the mostand determination to grow even in the most

barren of climes. The mustard seed prevailsbarren of climes. The mustard seed prevails

by faithfulness. The literal meaning of theby faithfulness. The literal meaning of the

text he cites from text he cites from Habakkuk Habakkuk is: “Theis: “The

righteous shall live by his faithfulness” righteous shall live by his faithfulness” (2:4).(2:4).

TopicTopic : Evangelising the : Evangelising the Faith.Faith.

Lokede ohun ti o gbagbo Lokede ohun ti o gbagbo WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LOKEDE REWHY DO YOU HAVE TO LOKEDE RE

A Man in the Gap:Just as Christ is the mediator between man and God, so redeemed man is the ‘gap’’ between the lost and Christ. The believer is the only person on earth to represent God before others. This is our responsibility—our calling as ‘‘ambassadors “

II Corinthians 5:20

Christians Mission StatementChristians Mission Statement Matthew 20:28Matthew 20:28

Condition of the mission Condition of the mission statement statement

Acts 1:8 Acts 1:8 But you shall receive But you shall receive powerpower when the when the Holy Holy

Spirit Spirit has come has come upon youupon you; and you shall be ; and you shall be witnesseswitnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

You have to Pray that the Holy You have to Pray that the Holy Spirit should come upon youSpirit should come upon you

John 4:5ff :John 4:5ff :Prophetic Prophetic EvangelismEvangelism

John 4:5-19John 4:5-19 John 4:28-30John 4:28-30

John 4:39- 42 John 4:39- 42 – Many of the – Many of the Samaritans from that town Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did”me everything I ever did”

One revelation resulted in a One revelation resulted in a whole city becoming discipleswhole city becoming disciples

NOW HOW DO YOU NOW HOW DO YOU SHARE YOUR FAITH SHARE YOUR FAITH

WITH OTHERS WITH OTHERS

• Select the field• Prepare the

ground• Sow the seed• Water and

cultivate• Harvest the

seed• Conserve the

fruit

• Find a person• Pray for the

person• Present the Gospel• Friendship and

help• Lead person to

Christ• Follow-up

Now the Holy Spirit will help you to locate the field. Luke 19:1-10

5 PRINCIPLES OF 5 PRINCIPLES OF WITNESSINGWITNESSING

Many Christian feel a passion to share their faith with Many Christian feel a passion to share their faith with others, but many are fearful of how their friends, family, others, but many are fearful of how their friends, family, and even strangers will react if they try to share their and even strangers will react if they try to share their Christian beliefs. Sometimes even the term "witnessing" Christian beliefs. Sometimes even the term "witnessing" brings up anxiety or visions of people shouting Christian brings up anxiety or visions of people shouting Christian tenets on street corners. tenets on street corners.

While there is no one right way to spread While there is no one right way to spread the Gospel, the Gospel, there are five principles of there are five principles of witnessing that can help you share your witnessing that can help you share your faithfaith in ways that will ease your anxiety and in ways that will ease your anxiety and plant seeds of faith in others.plant seeds of faith in others.

       

1. Understand Your Own 1. Understand Your Own FaithFaith

Understanding the Understanding the basics of your Christian faith

. . Before you start witnessing to others, Before you start witnessing to others, be sure be sure you know what you believe and why you believe you know what you believe and why you believe it. it. Sometimes even writing it down can make it all Sometimes even writing it down can make it all clearer.clearer.

Mo gba Olorun Baba Olodumare gboMo gba Olorun Baba Olodumare gbo Eleda orun ohun aiyeEleda orun ohun aiye Mo gba Jesu Kristi gboMo gba Jesu Kristi gbo Omo Re ni kan sosoOmo Re ni kan soso Mo gba iku ati Ajinde Re gboMo gba iku ati Ajinde Re gbo Mo si gba Emimo gbo peluMo si gba Emimo gbo pelu

2. Other Religions Aren’t All 2. Other Religions Aren’t All WrongWrong

Some Christian think that witnessing is about Some Christian think that witnessing is about disproving other people's faiths and religions. disproving other people's faiths and religions. However, that isn't necessarily true. There are However, that isn't necessarily true. There are inherent truths in other religions that are also inherent truths in other religions that are also present in the Christian faith. For instance, present in the Christian faith. For instance, doing good things for the poor is a part of many doing good things for the poor is a part of many religions around the world. Don't be so focused religions around the world. Don't be so focused on proving their beliefs wrong. Instead, focus on proving their beliefs wrong. Instead, focus on showing how Christianity is right. Show what on showing how Christianity is right. Show what your faith does for you and talk about why you your faith does for you and talk about why you believe it is the truth. This way you'll keep believe it is the truth. This way you'll keep people from getting defensive and allow them people from getting defensive and allow them to actually hear what you have to say.to actually hear what you have to say.

3. Know Why You're 3. Know Why You're Sharing the GospelSharing the Gospel

Why do you want to evangelize to others? Why do you want to evangelize to others? Often Christian witness to others because Often Christian witness to others because they sometimes have an internal counter of they sometimes have an internal counter of how many people they "convert." Others how many people they "convert." Others feel they are above non-Christian and feel they are above non-Christian and witness from a point of arrogance. If your witness from a point of arrogance. If your motivations are not coming from a place of motivations are not coming from a place of love and patience you could end up relying love and patience you could end up relying on manipulation to "get a result." Try to on manipulation to "get a result." Try to know why you are sharing the gospel and know why you are sharing the gospel and don't feel pressured to get a decision. Just don't feel pressured to get a decision. Just plant a seed. plant a seed.

4. Set Limits4. Set Limits

Again, planting a seed is an important part of Again, planting a seed is an important part of witnessing. Avoid being a Christian that has to witnessing. Avoid being a Christian that has to see a result, because you could become one of see a result, because you could become one of those argumentative witnesses that thinks they those argumentative witnesses that thinks they can "debate" someone into the Kingdom. can "debate" someone into the Kingdom. Instead set goals and limits for your discussion. Instead set goals and limits for your discussion. It helps to know your audience or practice It helps to know your audience or practice conversations. This way you will know how to conversations. This way you will know how to answer tough questions and be prepared to answer tough questions and be prepared to walk away from a discussion before it becomes walk away from a discussion before it becomes a shouting match. You will be amazed at how a shouting match. You will be amazed at how many of those seeds you plant flourish over many of those seeds you plant flourish over time.time.

5. Be Prepared for What 5. Be Prepared for What You May FaceYou May Face

Many non-Christians have a vision of Many non-Christians have a vision of witnessing and evangelism that involves witnessing and evangelism that involves Christians "in your face" about faith. Some Christians "in your face" about faith. Some will avoid any discussion of religion, because will avoid any discussion of religion, because they have had some very bad experiences they have had some very bad experiences with "forceful" Christians. Others will have with "forceful" Christians. Others will have misconceptions about God's nature. By misconceptions about God's nature. By practicing your evangelistic techniques you practicing your evangelistic techniques you will find that talking to others about the will find that talking to others about the Gospel will come easier over time.Gospel will come easier over time.

John 4:40 NathanielJohn 4:40 Nathaniel

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

My vision for you is that you My vision for you is that you learn how learn how the power of God can move through you the power of God can move through you and make a difference in this world. and make a difference in this world. I I have seen God do many things in my have seen God do many things in my years as a Christian, He has been years as a Christian, He has been gracious enough to use me to gracious enough to use me to demonstrate His power in the most demonstrate His power in the most amazing ways and I know that it was amazing ways and I know that it was God moving through me and all I had to God moving through me and all I had to do was be obedient to what he was do was be obedient to what he was saying to do.saying to do.

Prophecy can provide Prophecy can provide evangelistic breakthroughsevangelistic breakthroughs

The scenario in 1 Corinthians 14:24—25 is The scenario in 1 Corinthians 14:24—25 is something to which every church should aspire: something to which every church should aspire: ‘‘But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or a ‘‘But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or a ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of this heart called to account by all; the secrets of this heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.”among you.”

Imagine a nonbeliever walking into a meeting Imagine a nonbeliever walking into a meeting where there are several prophetic utterances in where there are several prophetic utterances in turn. The result of prophecy can be dynamic and turn. The result of prophecy can be dynamic and dramatic. Prophecy is revelatory. By inspiration, dramatic. Prophecy is revelatory. By inspiration, God can reveal all things, even innermost secrets.God can reveal all things, even innermost secrets.

Hosea 14:1-7Hosea 14:1-7

St. Mark 2:13-17St. Mark 2:13-17 Matthew 28:16Matthew 28:16 1 John 1:31 John 1:3 Exodus 17:12.Exodus 17:12.

Jam 2:19Jam 2:19

Matthew 17:20 Matthew 17:20

Habakkuk 2:4Habakkuk 2:4

John 4:39John 4:39

Acts 1:8 Acts 1:8

Luke 19:1-10Luke 19:1-10 John 4:40 NathanielJohn 4:40 Nathaniel 1 Corinthians 14:24—251 Corinthians 14:24—25