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God’s People Have Responsibility Teach The Gospel To The Lost. Great Commission. Matt 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
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God’s People Have Responsibility Teach The Gospel To The Lost • Great Commission Matt 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mark 16:15-16 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
God’s People Have Responsibility Teach The Gospel To The Lost • Great Commission • Church is Pillar & Ground of Truth 1 Tim 3:15 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
God’s People Have Responsibility Teach The Gospel To The Lost • Great Commission • Church is Pillar & Ground of Truth • Early Disciples Spread the Word Acts 8:4 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Acts 5:28 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us
Acts 11:19-20 19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
God’s People Have Responsibility Teach The Gospel To The Lost • Great Commission • Church is Pillar & Ground of Truth • Early Disciples Spread the Word We Ought To Be Working To Convert The World!
Ways We Can Reach The World • Gospel Meeting • Radio Program • Home Bible Studies • Tracts • Special Series on “Why?” • Bring Others to Regular Services
Why We Are NotConverting The World Preaching The Gospel
Why We Are NotConverting The World I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel
I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel • Why such little interest? • Cares of the world(Luke 8:14; Phil. 2:21) • Gospel demands changes – love darkness(John 3:19) • False sense of security(Jer. 6:14; 8:11) • Not popular(Matt. 7:13-14; John 1:11-12; 6:66)
I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel • Why such little interest? • Our job – not to convert, but teach • Command is to teach (Mark 16:15) • Even if don’t listen – done our job (Ezek. 3:16-21) • Jesus taught many turned away(John 1:11-12) • Crowds rejected the apostles (Acts 13:45; 17:32)
I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel • Why such little interest? • Our job – not to convert, but teach • The “unlikely” just may listen & obey • Religious – Cornelius (Acts 10) • Non-Religious – Simon (Acts 8:9-13) • Worldly – Corinthians( Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 6:9-11) • Ignorant – Jews (Acts 2:23; 3:17) • Mean & Hateful – Saul (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2; 1 Tim. 1:15) • Political – Jailor (Acts 16:31-33)
Why We Are NotConverting The World I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel II. Don’t View The World As Lost
Any One Who Has Not Obeyed The Gospel Is Lost & Needs The Gospel II. Don’t View The World As Lost • World is lost in sin • All men are sinners (Rom. 3:9, 23; 1 Jn. 5:14) • Sin separates from God (Isa. 59:1-2; Jas. 1:15) • If die in sin – hell fire (Rom. 6:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9) • Reason Jesus came to earth (Matt. 18:11; Lk 19:10)
II. Don’t View The World As Lost • World is lost in sin • How we view people of the world • Good people • Believe different than we do • Focus on friendship, likeable, good moral qualities • Little or no attention to the fact – they are LOST! May be because our focus is on the here and now!
II. Don’t View The World As Lost • World is lost in sin • How we view people of the world • Motivated to greater evangelism • If viewed the people from - spiritual condition • If view them without hope(Eph. 2:12) • If view them on road to hell (Rev. 21:8)
Why We Are NotConverting The World I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel II. Don’t View The World As Lost III. Message Preached Is Not Redemption
III. Message Preached Is Not Redemption • Gospel Message – Redemption / Salvation • Power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16-17) • How we are saved (1 Cor. 15:1-4) • 1st Gospel sermon – salvation from sin (Acts 2) • Sermon on Mars Hill – salvation (Acts 17:22-31) • 1st Sermon to Gentiles (Acts 10:34-48) • Sermon in Antioch on 1st Journey (Acts 13:16-41) • Books like Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, etc. have themes about salvation.
III. Message Preached Is Not Redemption • Gospel Message – Redemption / Salvation • Gospel Demands Change of Life • Repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31) • Stop & cease sin (Rom. 6) • Give up old religion (1 Thess. 1:9) • Start doing things to serve God (Acts 26:17-20)
III. Message Preached Is Not Redemption • Gospel Message – Redemption / Salvation • Gospel Demands Change of Life • Message Has Shifted - Social • More on relationships • How to be a better person • “Feel Good” preaching • Topics: Depression, Coping, Aging, etc.
Why We Are NotConverting The World I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel II. Don’t View The World As Lost III. Message Preached Is Not Redemption IV. Content To “Keep House”
IV. Content To “Keep House” • What mean by “keeping house”? • Assemble, worship – do little more • Maintain “status quo” • Thinking: We have a church – place to worship – so we meet Sunday & Wednesday do nothing more. • No effort to reach the lost • Have Gospel Meetings – little advertising – expect world to come – if brethren from other places come - success
IV. Content To “Keep House” • What mean by “keeping house”? • Why are we content? • Don’t want to grow – don’t like “big” churches • Think our mission to mere show up at worship • Don’t worry about growth if numbers stay about same • View church as a religious club
IV. Content To “Keep House” • What mean by “keeping house”? • Why are we content? • A Church that didn’t keep house Church at Antioch Acts 13
Why We Are NotConverting The World I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel II. Don’t View The World As Lost III. Message Preached Is Not Redemption IV. Content To “Keep House” V. Fear Of Offending & Alienating Others
V. Fear Of Offending & Alienating Others • Fear of offending • Gospel will offend (Luke 12:53; Acts 13:45-48) • Gospel is distinctive & narrow (1 John 4:1, 6) • Gospel convicts world of sin (John 16:8; Acts 2:37) • Fear of making folks mad – upsetting them • Uncomfortable when bring a friend and sermon deals with…. • Afraid “turn them off” or they will dislike us • Many have been converted – first got mad!
V. Fear Of Offending & Alienating Others • Fear of offending • Fear of Alienating a friend • Gospel will alienate people(Luke 12:53) • If try to convert friend or family – could cause a strain • So, deem it not worth the risk(cf. Lk 16:28)
Why We Are NotConverting The World I. World Is Not Interested In The Gospel II. Don’t View The World As Lost III. Message Preached Is Not Redemption IV. Content To “Keep House” V. Fear Of Offending & Alienating Others
What Can We Do? • Become more of an evangelist church • Try to reach family, friends with gospel • Tell others about radio program • Set up Home Bible Studies • Bring someone to a Gospel Meeting • Bring someone to a special service • Talk to others about Bible questions