Here is the link to the booklet:  Two Ways to Live

On Sunday, May 10 we completed our five week consideration of evangelism, a topic of great importance for every

Understanding the Nature of the Gospel will assist us in how it is to be presented:

1. The Gospel is like a seed (1 Peter 1:23)…it must be planted.
2. The Gospel is an accomplished reality, there is no need to improve upon it or manipulate it.
3. The Gospel is like a light shining in a dark place (2 Peter 1:19)
4. The Gospel is like a treasure to be acquired.

Several possibilities to avoid:

1. It is possible to give the impression that you are communicating the Gospel for your own purposes.
2. It is possible to come across as an arrogant know-it-all when communicating the Gospel.
3. It is possible to “dump information” on someone and walk away feeling like you have communicated the Gospel to them, when, in fact, they are still quite confused.
4. It is possible to be sincere and well-intentioned, and still lead someone in the wrong direction.

The method of communication of the Gospel:

1. Is based on our view of God.
2. Is based on the nature of the Gospel
3. Is based on the understanding of it that the one telling it has.
4. Is based on the work that the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished in my life.
5. must take into consideration the needs of the person with whom you are dialoging.
   1. Rational (Lydia) Acts 16:11-15
   2. Shock (slave girl)  Acts 16:16-24
   3. Changed life (Philippian jailer) Acts 16:25-34

Biblically (1 Thessalonians 2:3-9)

1. The Gospel message is to be presented truthfully (we must know the facts and how they fit together!)
2. The Gospel message is to be presented with pure motives (for the glory of God, the good of the hearer and the blessing of the believer).
3. The Gospel message is to be presented with integrity (not trying to trick anyone).
4. The Gospel message is to be presented without flattery.
5. The Gospel message is to be presented without selfish-ambition.
6. The Gospel message is to be presented gently (like a mother caring for her little children).
7. The Gospel message is to be presented lovingly.

Practically

1. Industriously live your life with integrity.
2. Identify people in your life who need to hear the story of Jesus
3. Intervene for these dear people in prayer
4. Initiate contact (don’t give up if the first “touch” doesn’t go well)  a) Be patient; b) Keep your objective in mind; c) Don’t be project oriented.
5. Intentionally interact with the people the Lord brings into your life
6. Investigate interest
7. Issue the message of the gospel graciously
8. Irrigate (as the opportunity arises) regularly
9. Invite a response appropriately

Thanks you for the privilege of coming to speak with you over these past weeks about evangelism.  I want to encourage you to:

• Continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.              (2 Peter 3:18)
• Continue to pray for one another as you seek to speak to others about Jesus.
• Continue to encourage one another as you humbly tell about the doors of opportunity to “…proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  (1 Peter 2:9)

by His grace and for His glory!

Bayly, Joseph.  The Gospel Blimp.  Elgin, IL:  David C. Cook Publishing, 1983.

Blanchard, John.  Ultimate Questions.  Faverdale North, Darlington:  Evangelical Press, 1987.

Boyd, Charles F.  What God Has Always Wanted.  Little Rock:  FamilyLife Publishing, 2006.

Brain, Matthew, Matthew A. Malcom, Matthew R. Malcom and Greg Clarke.  The Bible Overview.  Matthias Media, 2001.

Carson, D.A.  The Gagging of God.  Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1996.

Dever, Mark.  The Gospel & Personal Evangelism.  Wheaton:  Crossway, 2007. For other helpful materials, you may access the website of the organization of which Mark Dever is executive director:  www.9marks.org.

Elliff, Jim.  Pursuing God.  Parkville, MO:  Christian Communicators Worldwide, 2003.  Also available read by the author on CD.  www.CCWToday.org.

Elliff, Jim.  The Eaglet.  Parkville, MO:  Christian Communicators Worldwide, 2006.

Experiencing God’s Grace.  Louisville:  The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004.  A small relatively inexpensive booklet and can be easily kept available for distribution.  E-mail:  bgschool@sbts.edu.

Jeffery, Peter.  Seeking God.  Vestavia Hills, AL:  Solid Ground Christian Books, 1980.

Jensen, Phillip D. & Tony Payne.  Two Ways To Live.   Kingsford, Austrailia:  Matthias Media, 2003.  Materials may be obtained from Matthias Media here in the United States by accessing their website:        www.matthiasmedia.com.au/usa/

Keller, Timothy.  The Reason For God.  New York:  Dutton, 2008.

Little,Paul E.  How To Give Away Your Faith.  Downers Grove:   IVP, 1966.

Little, Paul E.  Know Why You Believe.  Wheaton:  Victor, 1967.

McGrath, Alister.  Explaining Your Faith.  Grand Rapids:  Baker, 1995.

Metzger, Will.  Tell the Truth.  Downers Grove:  IVP, 2002.

Newman, Randy.  Corner Conversations.  Grand Rapids:  Kregel, 2007.

Newman, Randy.  Questioning Evangelism.  Grand Rapids:  Kregel, 2004.

Packer, J.I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.  Downers Grove:  IVP, 1961.

Peterson, Jim.  Evangelsim as a Lifestyle.  Colorado Springs:  NAVPress, 1980.

Peterson, Jim.  Evangelism for Our Generation:  A Practical Way to Make Evangelism Your Lifestyle.  Colorado Springs:  NAVPress, 1985.

Piper, John.  God is the Gospel.  Wheaton, Crossway, 2005.

Sproul, R.C.  Ultimate Issues.  Grand Rapids:  Baker, 1996.

Spurgeon, Charles H. The Soul Winner.  Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland:  Christian Focus, 1992.

Stiles, J. Mack.  Speaking of Jesus.  Downers Grove:  IVP, 1995.

Tice, Rico & Barry Cooper.  Christianity Explored.  Waynesboro, GA:  Authentic Lifestyle, 2002.          Many other resources related to this ten week course are available on the Christianity Explored website:  www.christianityexplored.org.

On Sunday, May 3rd we looked at Colossians 1, particularly at verses 6-7 examining the Characteristics of the Gospel.

• The Gospel bears fruit
• The Gospel grows
• The Gospel is heard
• The Gospel is understood
• The Gospel is learned

We also looked at verses 27-28 of Colossians 1 looking at what the Gospel requires.

• Proclamation…I love to tell the story!
• Admonishing (Warning)…showing people where they have gone wrong
• Teaching (with all wisdom)….showing people God’s way (student from Korea:  God’s way is the one and only way!)

This coming Sunday, Lord willing , we be talking about “How the Gospel is to be presented?” For preparation, I would suggest reading 1 Thessalonians chapter 2.

By way of review….

So far we have sought to explore the question

Why Don’t We Evangelize? and the corollary solution And How Can We Get Better At It!

We closed our last session (on Resurrection Sunday) with these two basic ideas about evangelism:

1. Evangelism isn’t a method
2. Evangelism is a way of life based upon God’s work in my life (theological/doctrinal)

“The way to tell whether in fact you are evangelizing is not to ask whether conversions are known to have resulted from your witness. It is to ask whether you are faithfully making known the gospel message.” J.I. Packer, Evangelism & The Sovereignty Of God, p. 41

What the Gospel is…

1. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)
2. The Gospel is a message of mercy from the Holy God to people who have violated (and are violating) His commands (Romans 5:8-10)
3. The Gospel is a message of hope to people without hope and without God in this world (Ephesians 2:12)
4. The Gospel is a message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19) to people separated from God by sin;
5. The Gospel is a message of grace toward people who deserve the righteous anger of the Holy God.
6. The Gospel is a message of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18) which is central to the Gospel.
7. The Gospel is a message which believers have been given the privilege of proclaiming.
8. The Gospel is the good news of how God reconciles His rebellious image bearers to himself by the death and resurrection of His Son. (D.A. Carson, The Gagging Of God, p. 434)
9. The Gospel is telling people the wonderful message about God, the wonderful message about Jesus. (Mark Dever, The Gospel & Personal Evangelism, p. 82)

Some General Statements about the Gospel

1. The Gospel is a message about which all Christians need to be CLEAR.
2. The Gospel is a message about which all Christians need to be COURAGEOUS.
3. The Gospel is a message about which all Christians need to be CONFIDENT

Gospel Synopsis

• God
  • Creator/Owner
  • Holy
  • Just
  • Love
  • Gracious and Merciful

• Sin … What is it?!
  • Tim Keller:  “Ministering the Gospel requires we identify and confront the idols of our day.”

• Christ
  • Came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10
  • Came to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)
  • Came to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)

• Faith and Repentance
  • In whom?  Jesus Christ
  • From What?  Sin

J.I. Packer, Evangelism & The Sovereignty of God, pp. 57-73

To prepare for Sunday,   May 3rd, please read Colossians 1.  Also, as in weeks past, we will give opportunity for you to encourage the class by sharing about the doors of opportunity the Lord hass opened to you this past week to proclaim the wonders of His name to others.

On Resurrection Sunday (April 12) we continued the study we had begun the previous week concerning the privilege and responsibility of every believer to speak about our risen Lord Jesus to those who do not yet believe in Him. For some, this is admittedly a difficult task. For others, this comes a bit more naturally. Whatever our situation, as believers, it is something in which we must continue to exercise ourselves. We must do this for the glory of God and for the compassion we should have for the lost because of the mercy and grace of which has been showered upon us in Christ Jesus.

We reviewed several points we had made concerning why we have such a difficult time talking to others about Jesus. The previous week we had presented solutions to a couple of the points, and on April 12 we concluded those before looking at the question “What Evangelism Is …and What it Isn’t”. Our text of Scripture was:        1 Thessalonians 1:1 – 2:16.

Some of the Reasons:

1. Lack of awe

2. Lack of prayer

3. Lack of knowledge

4. Lack of planning

5. Lack of confidence

a) In God

b) In the power of the Gospel

Solutions to Lack of Knowledge

1. Seriousness

2. Sacrifice

3. Seminars

4. Study

a. God’s Word

b. Good Books

5. Self-Critique

Solutions to Lack of Planning

1. Be praying

2. Be alert

3. Be intentional

4. Be prepared to listen

5. Be prepared to give an answer

Solutions to Lack of Confidence

1. Trust in the almighty power of God

a. To open doors of opportunity to you

b. To use a weak vessel like yourself to accomplish His purposes

2. Trust in the power of the Gospel

3. Trust in the purpose of God for your salvation

What Evangelism Isn’t …And What It Is?

READ: 1 Thessalonians 1:1- 2:16….so what characterized the evangelism of the Thessalonian believers?

• A work of faith
• A labor of love
• A steadfastness in hope….ALL of which should characterize our evangelism, as well! Let’s see how.

A work of faith:

• In the living God
• In the powerful message of the Gospel;
• In the work of the Spirit of God…who will use a weak vessel, like me, to deliver the message of the Gospel to do a work in the life of another fallen human being!

A labor of love

• For our Creator/Owner
• For the lost

A steadfastness in hope

• In the risen Lord Jesus Christ we proclaim!
• In the work of God (and NOT ourselves) in the salvation of His people;
• In the effectiveness of the Gospel;

Please notice…

1. The Thessalonians were….Imitators

i. Of the apostle Paul

ii. Of the Lord

2. The Thessalonians were…Examples

i. To all the believers

ii. “…word sounded forth from you…”

iii. “…your faith in God has gone everywhere…”

Two Basic Ideas

1. Evangelism isn’t a method

2. Evangelism is a way of life based upon God’s work in my life (theological/doctrinal)

As we look ahead to this coming Sunday, feel free to read Ephesians 2:1-12 and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 as we anticipate the discussion of the question:  “What is the Gospel?” Also, be prepared to encourage the class with your story of how the Lord has opened a door of opportunity to you to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to those He has placed around you.

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.

Although I haven’t been able to sit in the class for the recent series on doctrine, I believe it has given a wonderful foundation for the series we will begin this coming Sunday on Evangelism.  Understanding the rich doctrines of the faith prepares us well to be able to proclaim them with joy and confidence!

It seems from some of the things which were said during the sermon this past Sunday that Pastor Whipple is aware of an upcoming series on Evangelism in the Builders class!  Remember, one of the points he made was:  Renewing your focus on the message of the cross calls you to get serious about coming judgment.  He then spoke very clearly and passionately about the sense of brokenness this type of renewal of focus would bring in our lives…producing a compassionate heart for lost people.  He then spoke (again clearly and passionately!) about the sobriety we as believers need because the end is near!  Therefore, we need to be both clear-minded and self-controlled which will lead us to prayer…for the lost around us and for the courage and boldness we, as God’s people need to proclaim the good news as we ought.

As I have the privilege to meet with you for the first time this coming Sunday, we will talk about Why We Don’t Evangelize ? (And How Can We Get Better At It!).

To prepare for Sunday, you can pray and ask the Lord to use this series of lessons to do what Mark Dever talks about in the introduction to his book, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, “I pray that as you come to evangelize more, you will help your church to develop a culture of evangelism” (p. 17).  I won’t hide from you, this is one of my goals in the next several weeks: to continue to develop a culture of evangelism in the Builders class.

To further prepare, you can read over the following passages of Scripture:

• Ephesians 3:14-21
• Philippians 1:1-2:18
• 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
• 1 Peter 2:8-10

Looking forward to studying together with you on Sunday!

Have you ever noticed that the world of doctrine brings with it a bunch of “tion” words?  We have adoption, redemption, glorification, sanctification, propitiation, imputation, salvation, etc.  This week, we’ll be focusing on one of the most central -tion doctrines in orthodox Christianity, the amazing doctrine of justification.  This doctrine describes how we are saved.

One might say that to be justified is to be righteous-ified…that is, declared righteous.  This doctrine, in a nutshell, says that justification is a legal declaration made by God regarding a sinner.  This legal declaration decrees that the sinner is righteous, and makes the sinner righteous by counting the sinner’s sin to Christ, and Jesus’ own righteousness to the sinner.  This is what Martin Luther referred to as, “the great exchange.”  And great indeed it is!  This declaration is a one-time deal and is at God’s inititiation from start to finish and is received by faith.  We don’t even have to work at it, it’s all done for us and to us!  What great news!!

The doctrine of justification by faith alone is formed from much Scriptural bedrock, and I hope to turn to several of these passages.  It would be a great idea to review some of these passages.  As you do, think about what they reveal about us, God, the event of justification, and what outcome that has for the believer.  Also, what relationship is there between good deeds and justification?  Check out Gen. 15:1-6, Rom. 3:21-4:12, Gal. 2:15-3:14, and James 2:20-26 for starters.

My notes can be seen here.

P.S.  The books that I recommended in class are listed below:

The Future of Justification, by John Piper (a pastoral response to N.T. Wright’s new perspective on Paul/justification)
Justification, by J.V. Fesko (very accessible description of the doctrine)
Justification, by Francis Turretin  (kind of heady)
Justification Vindicated, by Robert Traill (older English, but understandable)
Justification and the New Perspectives on Paul, by Guy Prentiss Waters

No, not the Apostle Paul. Paul Briggs.

This coming Sunday is the last in our doctrine series for awhile. Starting April 5, we begin a 5 week series with Paul on evangelism.

Paul is going to be teaching from The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever. If you’d like a copy, we will be ordering a few. The price should be about $10. You can pay in class when the books come in. If you’d like us to order you a book, please leave a comment so we know how many to get.

If you know Paul, you’re already pretty excited about this series without even knowing much about it. If you don’t know Paul, then just be prepared