Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century Jesus’ “Mission Statement” The apostles...
-
Upload
mark-cooper -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century Jesus’ “Mission Statement” The apostles...
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Intro
Mt. 28:18-2018. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth.19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age."
Lk. 19:1010. "For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save that which was lost."
Jesus’ “Mission Statement”
The apostles were teaching
the gospel all over the world!
(Col. 1:3-6)
Jesus told His apostles, “Go” & “Teach”
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
IntroEven though saints today do not live in the 1st
century,we are also to “Go” and “Teach”
II Tim. 2:22. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses,
entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
“Men” = anthropos (G444): mankind, human being (both male and female), man.
II Tim. 2:24-2624. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but
be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,25. with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,
if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
26. and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
“Able” = didaktikos (G1317): apt, or skilled, instructive
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
IntroPeter said saints must be “ready” to teach
I Pet. 3:1515. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to
everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Paul says all saints are to be “able
to teach” and Peter says all saints
are “always” to be ready to give a
defense (that is an answer) for the
hope within us!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
IntroNot all saints have the ability to or should publicly
teach! Paul made a distinction of positions within the church! (I Cor.
12:28-29) He also told the Ephesian saints that the ability to teach was from
God (Ephesians 4:11) James warned that not all Christians should be teachers for there
is a stricter judgment (James 3:1) The ability to teach comes in many forms…one can teach by
example and, when the opportunity arises, to boldly give an answer for our faith!
The command to study and grow is for all saints, lest we become like the Hebrews’ writer’s audience, who had need of the basics to be taught to them again (Hebrews 5:12-14). The responsibility to “Go” and
Teach”was not just to the 1st century
saintsbut that we have a charge still
todayin the 21st century to share the
gospeland bring mankind closer to God!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 1st CenturyOver time as technology advances, so do
conveniences!Two ways technology always change conveniences:
Travel and Communication
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 1st Century“Go” Walking (perhaps most common method) Ride: Various animals (donkeys, horses, camels,
elephants, etc.) Ride/Drive: Wagons, chariots, carriages/coaches (for those
who could afford it) Water Travel: Boats, ships (could cover greater distances)
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 1st Century“Teach” One on one studies Group studies Public places (Synagogues, Mars Hill in Acts 17, etc.) House to House Letters: Personal and general (gospels and epistles), in
wide circulation Visual Aides/props: On Mars Hill Paul pointed to their
many idols in Athens Debates
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 1st Century
“Go” Walking Ride/Drive Water Travel
“Teach” One on one studies Group studies Public places House to House Letters Visual Aides/props Debates
Saints used what they had to cover ground and teach others the gospel!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 21st Century
Saints over time have used the technology of their day to
get God’s word out to others, from having to copy the
gospels and epistles of the New Testament by hand to
mass printing on the printing press, to being able to send
a document or file at the touch of a button!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 21st Century“Go” Walking (still an effective method of transportation) Ride: Various animals (still used in many areas) Ride/Drive: Wagons, carriages/coaches (used in many
countries) Water Travel: Boats, ships (more advanced, still available) Ride: Public Transportation (buses, subways, trains, etc.) Ride/Drive: Bicycles, Automobiles (cars, trucks,
motorcycles, etc.) Air Travel (Fly): Planes, helicopters, etc. (most drastic
change) Phones: Landlines, cell phones – can connect long
distances Internet: Blurs the lines between “Go” and “Teach” (can
connect people all around the world with the touch of a button)
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 21st Century“Teach” Preaching and teaching: One-on-one studies, group
studies, public places, house to house Letters: Personal and general in wide circulation (still
available) Visual Aides/props: Overheads and PowerPoint Debates and gospel meetings Print: Various publications (books, tracts, magazines,
articles…) Internet:
Blogs, websites, resource websites, church websites, etc…
Video (insert-your-preference-here) Social Media (insert-your-preference-here)
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Evangelism in the 21st Century
“Go” Walking) Ride/Drive:
Various means
Water Travel Air Travel
(Fly) Phones
Internet
“Teach” Preaching and
teaching: Various ways
Letters Visual Aides/props Debates and
gospel meetings Print
(Publications) Internet
Modern day saints are without excuse if they are not
utilizing these tools in evangelism to “Go” and “Teach!”
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Just because all these tools exist today, it doesn’t mean
one has to use them all!
Two ways all saints can use the various tools available:
Our Example and Teaching
Example: When using the internet, be careful that your influence isn’t
harmed in the process. When using social media, other people who we may or may not
know observe our likes and dislikes, our interests and the way we communicate with others
Don’t associate yourself with things not becoming a child of God! Our presence online can say a lot about who we are (Eph. 4:1) Saints need to remember that whether we are face-to-face with
people or online, we are called to be lights in the darkness! (Phil. 2:15)
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Teaching: Whether face-to-face or on the internet we are to speak “the truth
in love” (Eph. 4:15) and “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification” (Eph. 4:29).
Teaching online: “Is there an app for that?” Bible apps Hebrew and Greek with Strong’s Dictionary Dictionaries Concordances Commentaries The works of Josephus and others Many other features far too numerous to count!
Technology has literally brought a library of reference material to your fingertips!
Yes! There are many!
Let us spread the gospel, using the technology at hand to
“Go” and “Teach” the lost of the world!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Be Not Discouraged!Like the Sower in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 13; Mark
4; Luke 8) you will sow the seed through as many
necessaryavenues as you can find: You may send out tracts, articles and sermons via email, social
media sites, or even a blog and reach people all around the world, and still not know if you reached a soul!
The “Parable of the Sower”
is really the “Parable of the Soil”
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Be Not Discouraged!
Downside to mass media evangelism: Someone around the world may be interested & you may never
know. They may obey the gospel and you may never know. Someone may have questions & could ask someone else! Not being there to help one obey the gospel. You can spend a lot of time online and personal work can go
ignored. Easy to feel you put in your time online so the work is done.Remember the personal
work!Don’t be discouraged!
Be the Sower and sow the seed, and
trust that God’s word will work in
the lives of those who have a heart
for the truth!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Into Our Hands the Gospel Is Given
I Thess. 2:44. but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we
speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
Jesus commissioned all Christians to teach the gospel to
those lost in sin (Mt. 28:18-20): Rom. 10:14-15: This task will never be achieved; the lost will
never hear unless it becomes personal to us – that we care to teach!
The gospel is given into our hands first to obey, then to teach to others (II Tim. 2:24).
Mt. 13:44-46: The “kingdom of heaven” is like a great treasure and a pearl of great price!
For those who have obeyed the gospel and have found such treasure, it ought to be with joy we share it with others!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Into Our Hands the Gospel Is Given
How do we use the moments and opportunities God has
given us? Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5: KJV says, “Redeeming the time.” We are to
make “the most of our time,” “opportunity” (NAS). I Pet. 3:15: We are to always be ready to give a defense (answer) of the hope within us! That requires study (II Tim. 2:15) and practice in teaching (Heb. 5:12-14).
The gospel is entrusted to us – “How are we using God’s golden
moments?”
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
ConclusionThe gospel is “entrusted” to us as it was to saints
past: Are you using your time wisely, making the most of the
opportunities God provides to sow the “seed” and teach others the gospel that can save their souls (James 1:21)?
Technology has changed over time, and with it the modes
of communication and travel that were available to 1st
century saints, but the responsibility to “Go” and “Teach”
has not changed, thus the need is still there!
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Conclusion
No matter how wonderful the advances made, it will still
take willing saints to use what we are given to spread the
word of God!With information sent at the touch of a
button we ought to be using it to the glory of God to reach as many
people as we can! As we use the modern
tools that make our lives
better remember your influence and example
inall that you do!
(I Cor. 9:27)
Focusing on the Future: Evangelism in the 21st Century
Conclusion
Don’t think of the “Great Commission” to bring the gospel
“into all the world” as a “Mission Impossible” but like the
saints of old, use the modern conveniences at hand and
make it a “Mission Possible!”
Focusing on evangelism in the 21st century and with all
the tools available, let us “Go” and “Teach!”