Mark 12:34

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE How was it done in the Bible?

HEAR BELIEVE REPENT CONFESS BAPTIZED “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ HEAR The gospel of Christ? BELIEVE REPENT CONFESS BAPTIZED for it is the power of God to salvation”

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE How was it done in the Bible?

“I declare to you the gospel which I 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 “I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you… CHRIST DIED The gospel of Christ!! cp. Gal 1:6-9 2 Jn 7-11 cp. Heb 9:13-15 FOR OUR SINS …by which also you are saved…”

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE How was it done in the Bible? It’s pretty obvious when observing the people of the world, they don’t have the foggiest idea of what the Bible has to say about anything. How about us, members of God’s family? Where in the Bible do you find the gospel preached and what were the circumstances that gave the opportunity to teach it? The majority of the Bible is written to correct error that was being taught, or in danger of being brought into the Church. Ask a new convert. If anyone could tell you where to find what the gospel is, or where to find it in the Bible, a new convert is the one to ask. RIGHT! MAYBE. Carl brought a lesson just recently and I appreciated it so much. I have for some time pondered, what is it that we are overlooking in being able to teach the gospel to a lost and dying world? One of his slides clearly shows what it is not. REMEMBER this slide? The five steps necessary to obey the gospel---sometimes seem to take on more importance than knowing what the gospel is and to realize I am a sinner and I need it. REMEMBER this slide? Now back to ways to tell it. Carl gave the 1st of this series for me. I could not improve on it even a little bit. Most examples of presenting the gospel in the scriptures comes from opportunities that the teacher took advantage of. Paul from conversion preached Jesus Acts 9:20 Peter preached Jesus Acts 2:22 - 36 Pentecost Peter preached Jesus Acts 9:35 Miracle Aeneas healed Peter preached Jesus Acts 9:42 Miracle Dorcas raised Ananias preached Jesus Acts 9:9 – 22 Miraculous vision Saul converted Immediately preached Jesus Acts 9:20 Peter preached Jesus Acts 10:1 – 48 Miraculous vision Cornelius converted Paul and Silas Acts 16:11 – 15 Lydia and her household Paul and Silas in prison Acts 16:20 – 34 Philippian jailer and his family Miracle chains loosed doors opened How was it done in the Bible? Acts 9:20 Acts 2:22 Acts 9:35 Acts 9:42 Acts Acts 9:9 - 22 Acts 10:1 – 48 Acts 16:11 – 15 Acts 16:20 – 34 And in our lesson this morning Acts 17:16 -31

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE How was it done in the Bible? It’s pretty obvious when observing the people of the world, they don’t have the foggiest idea of what the Bible has to say about anything. How about us, members of God’s family? Where in the Bible do you find the gospel preached and what were the circumstances that gave the opportunity to teach it? The majority of the Bible is written to correct error that was being taught, or in danger of being brought into the Church. Ask a new convert. If anyone could tell you where to find what the gospel is, or where to find it in the Bible, a new convert is the one to ask. RIGHT! MAYBE. Carl brought a lesson just recently and I appreciated it so much. I have for some time pondered, what is it that we are overlooking in being able to teach the gospel to a lost and dying world? One of his slides clearly shows what it is not. REMEMBER this slide? The five steps necessary to obey the gospel---sometimes seem to take on more importance than knowing what the gospel is and to realize I am a sinner and I need it. REMEMBER this slide? Now back to ways to tell it. Carl gave the 1st of this series for me. I could not improve on it even a little bit. Most examples of presenting the gospel in the scriptures comes from opportunities that the teacher took advantage of. Paul from conversion preached Jesus Acts 9:20 Peter preached Jesus Acts 2:22 - 36 Pentecost Peter preached Jesus Acts 9:35 Miracle Aeneas healed Peter preached Jesus Acts 9:42 Miracle Dorcas raised Ananias preached Jesus Acts 9:9 – 22 Miraculous vision Saul converted Immediately preached Jesus Acts 9:20 Peter preached Jesus Acts 10:1 – 48 Miraculous vision Cornelius converted Paul and Silas Acts 16:11 – 15 Lydia and her household Paul and Silas in prison Acts 16:20 – 34 Philippian jailer and his family Miracle chains loosed doors opened How was it done in the Bible? They had help. Had to have – Did not have the New Testament Not written yet. Miracles, and Holy Spirit as a guide John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. Are we then without advantage? We have both Old and New Testaments

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE We have both Old and New Testaments Looks like we have a significant advantage We have miracles. That’s Right we have them revealed right in the pages of God’s word. We have records of the results of their preaching Jesus. Not just one but all that the HS revealed to the writers of the NT

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE Now I want to show you one of Jesus’ examples of preaching the Truth. Mark 12:18 – 27 Jesus answers questions about the resurrection.

Mark 12:18 Then [some] Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves [his] wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 "Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 "And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 "So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 "Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife." 24 Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 "But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the [burning] bush [passage], how God spoke to him, saying, `I [am] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27 "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."

Jesus proves His argument by using the scriptures which they knew very well The Sadducees failed to trap Jesus. Mark 12:28 – 33 Another Scribe tries to trap Jesus.

Mark 12:28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" 29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments [is]: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 `And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This [is] the first commandment. 31 "And the second, like [it], [is] this: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well [said], Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 "And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.“ NOW LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAYS 34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE Jesus tells the scribe that he is not far from the kingdom of God. v34 The kingdom of God had not fully come (Jesus has not died yet) John’s disciples are pro-claiming the coming kingdom LK 3:2&3 MT 3:1 – 3 Remember the slide showing the Gospel?

“I declare to you the gospel which I 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 “I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you… CHRIST DIED The gospel of Christ!! cp. Gal 1:6-9 2 Jn 7-11 cp. Heb 9:13-15 FOR OUR SINS …by which also you are saved…”

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE Jesus’ reaction to the scribes answer Jesus knows the scribes heart – He does not condemn him for trying to trap Him

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE Jesus’ reaction to the scribes answer 34 Jesus saw that he answered wisely He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” Jesus knows the scribe cannot be in the kingdom because it has not come yet. Yet Jesus knew the scribes understanding and that he would have a chance to respond to the gospel in just a short while.

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE Look at the scribe as a prospect for the kingdom of God He is a believer. He is a Jew. He knows the scripture. Is there a lesson in this for our efforts to teach?

THE GOSPEL HOW TO EVANGELIZE Is there a lesson in this for our efforts to teach? Jesus answered a question and taught, maybe we could ask a question for an opportunity. (we recognize the question must be in keeping with the situation) Ask standing in a pouring rain? Isn’t this a beautiful day that my Father has made?

Another way of approaching the same subject. My point is, we can pick our difficulty – ie. Being very courteous and tell some half naked person that you need to cover your nakedness. Better have book chapter verse ready so that it is not you telling them but the word of God Another way of approaching the same subject.

Young lady/man do you enjoy seeing the opposite sex gawk at your exposed body or embarrassingly look away so as not to see your nakedness? Maybe a question like, “Did your mother pick out the clothes you are wearing?” Questions like these deserve Biblical answers, not your opinion or think so. You need to be as a Boy Scout and “Be Prepared” if you tackle problems like this. Not that you should never ask them but you need to study and know what God says about a subject you bring up.

Carl’s lesson “The Ten Minute Gospel” is an excellent way to engage someone where time is obviously limited. I have even been trying to put the figures and scriptures on something small enough to carry and pass to a person. Point is this is one of the best approaches I have seen. What about someone you know. Friend, Neighbor, someone at work?

Where do I start? Look to Jesus’ teaching the scribe. Do they attend church or profess to have a church that they claim as a “church home?” Do they believe in God? Do they read the Bible? Do they send their children to “Sunday school?” Are they good moral people? How long have they been married? Other questions you may think of.

Then you can tell them what you had to do to be saved. The more “yes” answers you get the more you can be thankful for. Maybe even to the point that we could say “Your are not far from the Kingdom of God” Also Acts 17:27 –though He is not far from each one of us: You can catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar. If they are regular attendees at some church, and you engage them in conversations -- that could lead to a bible study. There is one question that should bring a response and that would be “What did you have to do to be saved?” Then you can tell them what you had to do to be saved.

There will be some differences Where in the bible do you read about what you had to do to be saved? Look at what I was taught and studied in order to be saved. You see the point. You can follow the logic. If we are afraid we are not good soldiers in the Lord’s army. Cookie had a lesson about not everybody you talk to will listen. The bible confirms it Mt. 7:13f Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE NEED TO DO We need to believe we can do it with the Lord’s help. We need to pray about it and ask for faith and strength to do it. AND We need to take the first step and do it!