How did the gospel spread in the 1st century?

1. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • God had a plan that was implemented through the apostles.(Mk 16:15-16; Mt 28:19-20)

2. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV) - And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

3. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

4. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • How could a group of Galilean fishermen accomplish this?

5. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • How could a group of Galilean fishermen accomplish this? • They understood that “go ye means go me!”

6. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • How could a group of Galilean fishermen accomplish this? • They understood that “go ye means go me!” • Where do we fit in this work? (Acts 5:42)

7. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • Acts 5:42 (NKJV) - And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

8. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • The early Christians used their homes to powerfully teach individuals.

9. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • The early Christians used their homes to powerfully teach individuals. • How many of you have ever been in a home study?

10. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • The early Christians used their homes to powerfully teach individuals. • How many of you have ever been in a home study? • If you had to suddenly move and completely start over, would you have time to tell others about the Lord? (Acts 8:3‑4)

11. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • Acts 8:3-4 (NKJV) - As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

12. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • There is a reason why these Christians could do this! The gospel was a part of them – if you came to know them you would hear the gospel!

13. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • How many of you see this work as yours? Some hear lessons like this as I would listen to teaching on cooking or home decorating.

14. How did the gospel spread in the 1st century? • How many of you see this work as yours? Some hear lessons like this as I would listen to teaching on cooking or home decorating. • Have you built a biblical faith in your life?

15. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • The issue is not just how much knowledge and experience I possess.

16. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • The issue is not just how much knowledge and experience I possess. • Where does successful teaching come? It comes from a heart of faith.

17. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • The issue is not just how much knowledge and experience I possess. • Where does successful teaching come? It comes from a heart of faith. • Many have great knowledge, but that does not assure one that he will have a strong faith! (1 Cor 8:1-2)

18. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (NKJV) - Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

19. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Consider two examples during the ministry of Christ.

20. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Would you have sent a previously maddened, demon possessed man back to the people to teach having almost no knowledge? (Mk 5:17-20; Lk 8:40)

21. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Mark 5:17-20 (NKJV) - Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

22. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

23. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Luke 8:40 (NKJV) - So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

24. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • What made this man successful? How many of you have greater knowledge than this man?

25. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • (John 4:25-30) – Again, would you use this woman in evangelism?

26. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • (John 4:25-30) – Again, would you use this woman in evangelism? • In both of these cases these people served to open doors for further teaching by someone more capable. There is not a Christian among us who cannot be as effective as these if we would have the same measure of faith!

27. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • The resurrection of Christ was the foundation of evangelism for the 1st century church.

28. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • The resurrection of Christ was the foundation of evangelism for the 1st century church. • They heard the evidence and were changed! (Acts 2:32; 3:14-15; 13:27-31)

29. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Acts 2:32 (NKJV) - This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

30. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Acts 3:14 through Acts 3:15 (NKJV) - But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

31. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Acts 13:27-31 (NKJV) - For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

32. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.

33. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • This was not just a social event where people followed what they had always seen! Genuine faith is never a blind faith. (Heb 11:1)

34. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

35. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • The resurrection of and thus the judgment of all men is assured. (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Cor 4:13-14)

36. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV) - Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

37. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • 2 Corinthians 4:13-14 (NKJV) - And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

38. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • We too are “raised” because of our faith in the resurrection. (Col 2:12-13)

39. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Colossians 2:12-13 (NKJV) - buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

40. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Could you teach someone who is not sure the Bible is from God the evidence that Jesus is the son of God? (1 Pt 3:15)

41. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

42. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • We must have a clear understanding of the grace of God.

43. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • We must have a clear understanding of the grace of God. • What ultimately are we teaching? We want others to trust in God.

44. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • We must have a clear understanding of the grace of God. • What ultimately are we teaching? We want others to trust in God. • It is the love of God that brings men to God. (Psa 36:7; 1 Pt 2:1-3; 1 Jn 4:19)

45. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Psalm 36:7 (NKJV) - How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

46. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV) - Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

47. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • 1 John 4:19 (NKJV) - We love Him because He first loved us.

48. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • More specifically we must center on the cross of Christ. (Gal 6:14; Phil 3:7-9)

49. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Galatians 6:14 (NKJV) - But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

50. We must be committed to building a strong foundation for our own faith. • Philippians 3:7-9 (NKJV) - But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ