Introduction:
1. Christians are finding it more and more difficult to evangelize. A. Consider the typical responses Christians give to this problem.
1. “I just do not know how to talk with people about Jesus.” 2. “People are not interested in Christianity anymore.” 3. “God is no longer respected or feared by anyone.” 4. “It is not my job to evangelize; it is the preacher’s.”
B. Regardless of the problems with these answers, we see the effect of the attitudes which underlie the responses. 1. Congregations across the world are shrinking. 2. Genuine Christianity is becoming obscure and unnoticed. 3. Souls are rapidly being lost.
2. In these unfortunate circumstances, we should re-evaluate our soul-saving strategies.
A. Our door-knocking …show more content…
While many passages consider evangelism, this series of lessons will look at the gospels themselves. A. The gospels all use different approaches to evangelize. B. The gospels all apply their approaches in different ways. C. The gospels all admonish us to use their approaches.
4. This series will scrutinize these points and show us why we should use the writer’s strategies for saving souls today.
Discussion:
I. The writers. A. Each of the gospel writers came from different backgrounds. 1. Matthew was a tax collector in Judea (Matt. 9:9).
a. Judging by the banquet he hosted after Jesus called him, he was probably wealthy (Matt. 9:10; Luke 5:29).
b. Tax collectors were despised individuals (not too dissimilar today).
c. He was a Jew from the tribe of Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27). 2. Mark was an early disciple of Jesus (Acts 12:12).
a. He traveled with Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5).
b. His departure from them early on may have led Paul to deny him a place on the second journey (Acts 15:36-40).
c. Later, though, he was noted for being “useful” for ministry (2 Tim. 4:11).
d. Church history associates Mark with Peter, meaning Mark may have recorded Peter’s memoirs. 3. Luke was a Gentile convert to Christianity (Col.
1. Christians are finding it more and more difficult to evangelize. A. Consider the typical responses Christians give to this problem.
1. “I just do not know how to talk with people about Jesus.” 2. “People are not interested in Christianity anymore.” 3. “God is no longer respected or feared by anyone.” 4. “It is not my job to evangelize; it is the preacher’s.”
B. Regardless of the problems with these answers, we see the effect of the attitudes which underlie the responses. 1. Congregations across the world are shrinking. 2. Genuine Christianity is becoming obscure and unnoticed. 3. Souls are rapidly being lost.
2. In these unfortunate circumstances, we should re-evaluate our soul-saving strategies.
A. Our door-knocking …show more content…
While many passages consider evangelism, this series of lessons will look at the gospels themselves. A. The gospels all use different approaches to evangelize. B. The gospels all apply their approaches in different ways. C. The gospels all admonish us to use their approaches.
4. This series will scrutinize these points and show us why we should use the writer’s strategies for saving souls today.
Discussion:
I. The writers. A. Each of the gospel writers came from different backgrounds. 1. Matthew was a tax collector in Judea (Matt. 9:9).
a. Judging by the banquet he hosted after Jesus called him, he was probably wealthy (Matt. 9:10; Luke 5:29).
b. Tax collectors were despised individuals (not too dissimilar today).
c. He was a Jew from the tribe of Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27). 2. Mark was an early disciple of Jesus (Acts 12:12).
a. He traveled with Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5).
b. His departure from them early on may have led Paul to deny him a place on the second journey (Acts 15:36-40).
c. Later, though, he was noted for being “useful” for ministry (2 Tim. 4:11).
d. Church history associates Mark with Peter, meaning Mark may have recorded Peter’s memoirs. 3. Luke was a Gentile convert to Christianity (Col.