Telling God’s Story Speaker: Cass Tompich 2 nd April 2006

Understanding Spiritual Gifts… Ephesians 4:7 (LB) Christ has given each of us special abilities – whatever he wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of gifts. 1 Peter 4:10;11b (NLT) God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another…with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts… Matthew 25:29 (NLT) To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 1 Timothy 4:13-15 (NIV) Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them so that everyone may see your progress.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts… 2 Timothy 4:5 (NIV) …do the work of an evangelist…

Understanding the Mission of the Church… Love God; Love people Make God’s love known to all people “If you ever neglect the work of evangelism, as a church or as an individual, your life starts this death spiral into self-obsession that ends in a place you don’t want to be.” – Bill Hybels

2 Corinthians 5:19 (NLT) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.

Jesus’ Church is called to do the work of evangelism… 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) All of you together are Christ’s body and each one of you is separate and necessary part of it.

The difference between doing the work of evangelism and operating the spiritual gift of evangelism… Spiritual Gift of Evangelism Instinct Feel natural/comfortable when engaging in spiritual conversations with seekers Keen awareness of people who might be far from God when you walk into a room Supernatural sense of urgency for people to hear God’s story before it’s too late Higher intensity in prayer for others’ salvation Romans 1:16 (NLT) - “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…” - is a strong conviction Look forward to the opportunity to tell your story

By contrast… Work of Evangelism Learned Feel awkward / uncomfortable when engaging in spiritual conversations with seekers Often focused on something other than who might be far from God when you walk into a room Don’t experience a sense of urgency for people to hear God’s story before it’s too late Don’t often spend time praying for others’ salvation Romans 1:16 (NLT) - “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…” - challenges you to see the saving power of God’s story Aren’t sure if you are going to get your story ‘right’ or what to do if the conversation goes off on a tangent

Telling God’s Story… Work of evangelism Panic when someone asks, “What’s Christianity all about?” and there’s an opportunity to tell God’s story Spiritual Gift of Evangelism Experience wonderful moment of joy & anticipation when someone asks, “What’s Christianity about?” and can discern which method to use when telling God’s story

Some Illustrations for telling God’s Story… Do Vs Done 4 R’S – Rules, Rituals, Resolutions Vs Relationship

The Scale As a follower of Jesus you are a spiritual resource provider, not a salesperson…