This past week we looked at the question “Why Don’t We Evangelize?” in the hopes of getting better at it.  We didn’t get through all the material I had hoped to present, but we’ll look to finish it off this coming Sunday.  Here are my notes from what was presented last Sunday.

Why Don’t We Evangelize? (And How Can We Get Better At It!)

Some of the Reasons

1. Lack of awe
2. Lack of prayer
3. Lack of knowledge
4. Lack of planning
5. Lack of confidence

• In God
• In the power of the Gospel

Solutions to Lack of Awe

1. Gospel Understanding

“The acid test of biblical God-centeredness—and faithfulness to the gospel—is this: Do you feel more loved because God makes much of you, or because, at the cost of his Son, he enables you to enjoy making much of him forever? Does your happiness hang on seeing the cross of Christ as a witness to your worth, or as a way to enjoy God’s worth forever? Is God’s glory in Christ the foundation of your gladness?

John Piper, God is the Gospel, pp. 11-12

“In order for the Christian gospel to be good news it must provide an all-satisfying and eternal gift that undeserving sinners can receive and enjoy. For that to be true, the gift must be three things. First, the gift must be purchased by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our sins must be covered, and the wrath of God against us must be removed, and Christ’s righteousness must be imputed to us. Second, the gift must be free and not earned. There would be no good news if we had to merit the gift of the gospel. Third, the gift must be God himself, above all his other gifts.”

John Piper, God is the Gospel, pp. 14

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians (Eph. 3:14-21)

• Through the Father we have become God’s children

• Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith

• To grasp (understand) how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (V. 18)

• To know this love that surpasses knowledge

• To bring glory to God in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever!

1. Gospel Understanding
2. Gospel Belief
3. Gospel self-preaching
4. Gospel practice

· Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27)

· Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)

· As you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)

· Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure

(Philippians 2:14)

· …as you hold out the word of life (the gospel) (Philippians 2:16)

Solutions to Lack of Prayer

1. Active prayer list for unbelieving family, friends and co-workers;
2. Aggressive prayer for open doors to proclaim the Gospel (Col 4:2);
3. Aggressive prayer for self and others in church that God will fill us with the knowledge of His will;
4. Aggressive prayer for eyes to see the open doors to proclaim the Gospel
5. Aggressive prayer for courage to walk through the open doors
6. Aggressive prayer that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored (2 Thess. 3:1)
7. Aggressive prayer that obstacles to the Gospel will be removed (2 Thess. 3:2)
8. Alert praying for words to speak when the door opens (Holy Spirit will give you the words to speak) -Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11

Looking forward to this coming Sunday…Lord willing, we will finish the material we began last week…looking specifically at Solutions to a Lack of Knowledge, Solutions to a Lack of Planning and Solutions to a Lack of Confidence.

Also, to prepare for Sunday, you can read 1 Thessalonians 1:1 – 2:16 looking specifically for what characterized the evangelism of the Thessalonian believers.