1. OPTIMISM
hopefulness and confidence about the future successful outcome of something.
a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events and to expect the most favorable outcome.

2. PESSIMISM the tendency to believe that the worst will happen
the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results

3. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
FAITH IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM

4. The Pessimist Says:
How can I convert anyone? The world is SO sinful, becoming more sinful everyday.

5. Shoe salesmen go to a remote island
They find that everyone is barefoot
1st salesmen: I’m coming home. No one here wears shoes!
2nd salesmen: Send more shoes. No one here wears shoes!

6. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
Men Need the Gospel!
Sheep without a shepherd Mk 6:31-34
Fields are white for harvest Jn 4:35; Mt 9:36-38

7. The Pessimist Says:
I’ve taught the gospel before, most never obeyed those that did obeyed fell away; what the use?

8. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
Gospel Will Find Good Ground
MK 4:14-20
Found by scattering everywhere, not by picking the “most likely” person.
Can’t focus on the results from
the poor soil!

9. The Pessimist Says:
No one listens to me, why should I try? I’m just not very good at presenting the gospel.

10. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
There is power in the gospel
1 Pet 1:23-25, Rom 1:16-17; Heb 4:12
Conversion is all about the working of
THE WORD OF GOD
Acts 2:41; 6:7; 8:14; 11:1; 12:24; 13:48; 19:18-20

11. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
There is Power in the Gospel
“For this reason we also constantly thank God
that when you received the word of God which
you heard from us, you accepted it not as the
word of men, but for what it really is, the word
of God, which also performs its work in you
who believe”- 1 Thess 2:13

12. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
There is Power in the Gospel
“I did not come with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I deter-
mined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ,
and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in
fear and in trembling, and my message and my preaching
were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demon-
stration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would
not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”
1 Cor 2:1-5

13. The Pessimist Says:
No one has responded to me (or not enough people have responded to me); I am failure; I give up.

14. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
God Will Do His Part
1 Cor 3:5-9
Do our part: plant and water
God will cause the growth
We are rewarded for the labor, not the growth

15. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
Do We Have Faith That:
Men need the gospel?
The gospel will find good ground?
There is power in the gospel?
God will do His part?
We will teach with optimism-
with hopefulness and confidence,
expecting the future successful outcome of our work.

16. OPTIMISM IN CONVERTING OTHERS
FAITH WILL KEEP US OPTIMISTIC;
IF WE ARE OPTIMISTIC,
WE WILL KEEP TEACHING!