Keys To Evangelism Romans 15:1-21

Theme of Romans Salvation by faith –God’s power unto salvation (Romans 1:16) –Salvation for all (Acts 10:34, 35)

Problem of Acceptance Prejudice –Jews toward Gentiles –Willing for them to be saved if they kept the Law of Moses –Accept them, but not eat with them (Galatians 2:12)

Three Ministries Jews and Gentiles (vv. 1-6, 25-27, 30-33) Christ’s (vv. 7-13) Paul’s (vv )

First Key: Unity Accomplished when we are unselfish –Christ’s example (vv. 1-3) –Willing left heaven (Philippians 2:5-11) –Any wonder He prayed for unity? (John 17:21) –Key was His unselfish attitude

First Key: Unity To be of one mind and one voice –Clear command (vv. 2, 5, 6) –Only Truth can be the cause (Matthew 10:34-36; 1 Corinthians 11:19) –Diligence necessary (Ephesians 4:3)

Second Key: Acceptance Taught by Christ and Paul –View others as having value (vv. 7-21) –No respecter of persons (Acts 10:34, 35) –Offering of Gentiles accepted (v. 16) –Universal kingdom for all (Daniel 2:44; Galatians 3:26-29)

Second Key: Acceptance Prejudice alive and well –Jesus said the fields were “white unto harvest,” not the people (John 4:35) –Preachers fired for preaching this truth –Poor are treated as second class (1 Corinthians 1:26; James 2:1-13) –Let the immoral make their own decision

Third Key: Missionary Spirit Willing to take the Gospel to the world –Paul wanted to go where Christ wasn’t named (vv. 20, 21) –Plant the seed (1 Corinthians 3:1-6) –Don’t become discouraged and quit sowing the seed (Luke 8:11-15) –God gives the increase

Third Key: Missionary Spirit Live a crucified life –A good example can interest others (Galatians 2:20) –Prepare the soil for planting –Shortcoming of some methods

Fourth Key: Kingdom Mindset Goal is not to fill the building –Leads to compromise (2 John 9-11) –Trying to persuade people to enter the Kingdom (John 3:3, 5) –“Launch out into the deep” (Luke 5:4)

Fourth Key: Kingdom Mindset Misunderstanding results in wrong actions –Institutionalism destroys individual initiative by emphasizing the collective –Accepting anyone is just swelling, not growing (Acts 9:26) –Kingdom expands when people are added by God (Acts 2:47)

Fifth Key: Service Old Testament system was different –Priests under the Old Law from Levi –All Christians are priests (1 Peter 2:9) –Reason Paul was going to Gentiles (v. 16)

Fifth Key: Service Such service is not optional –Not the exclusive work of the preacher, elders, or a few of the members –Survey: Five Mormons to “convert” one –Eighty Christians on average to convert one –“Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”

Conclusion Will we meet the challenge? Must “get the seed out of the barn”