ii thessalonians 3:1 finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the lord may run swiftly and...

GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH

TEACHING THE GOSPEL

II Thessalonians 3:1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified,

just as it is with you,

• THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WITH THOSE WHO ARE LOST CANNOT BE OVER-EMPHASIZED

• JESUS WANTS EVERYONE TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION – MARK 16:15-16

• THE GOSPEL IS GOD'S POWER TO SALVATION TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IT – ROMANS 1:16-17

• BUT WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REACH PEOPLE TODAY?

15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. NKJV

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” NKJV

The Institute For American Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question:

"What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?"

Their replies were I had a special need – 3%

I just walked in - 3% I liked the minister - 6%

I visited there - 1% I liked the Bible classes - 5%

I attended a gospel meeting - 0.5% I liked the programs - 3%

• A FRIEND OR RELATIVE INVITED

ME - 79%John 1:41-42ff 41He first found his own brother

Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).

42And he brought him to Jesus NKJV

• WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM A SURVEY LIKE THIS? • IF CHURCHES ARE TO GROW, IT WILL BE THROUGH THE EFFORTS

OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS • PREACHERS, PROGRAMS, CLASSES MAY HELP, BUT IN MOST CASES

THEY WILL ONLY MAINTAIN THE SIZE OF THE CONGREGATION • SUCH CONGREGATIONAL EFFORTS ARE WORTHWHILE, FOR THEY

CAN REACH PEOPLE WITH WHOM WE MIGHT OTHERWISE NEVER COME IN CONTACT

• THE GREATEST POTENTIAL LIES WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME CONTACT WITH MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION

• EACH OF US HAVE DAILY CONTACT WITH DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

• IN ADDITION TO MASS MEDIA EFFORTS DESIGNED TO REACH PEOPLE WE NEED TO UTILIZE THE CONTACTS MADE THROUGH THE MEMBERS. THE GREATEST GROWTH PERIOD FOR THE CHURCH WAS IN THE 1ST CENTURY (MASS MEDIA?)

• TWO THINGS ARE NEEDED TO UTILIZE THE CONTACTS MADE THROUGH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

• CONCERN FOR THE LOST BY THOSE MEMBERS - CF. MATTHEW 9:36-38; ROMANS 9:1-3

• KNOWLEDGE OF HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THOSE WITH WHOM WE FREQUENTLY COME INTO CONTACT

• ASSUMING THAT THE CONCERN IS THERE, IN THIS LESSON THERE ARE SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS ON HOW ANYONE WHO IS A CHRISTIAN CAN INCREASE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.

6But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”NKJV

1I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, NKJV

• OUR LOVE WILL HELP PROVE THAT WE ARE WHO WE CLAIM - JOHN 13:35

• THAT IS THAT WE ARE TRULY THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

• CORRECT DOCTRINE, ORGANIZATION, WORSHIP, ETC., IS IMPORTANT

• BUT IT WILL BE OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER THAT WILL CONVINCE THE WORLD THAT WE ARE TRULY THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST!

• WITHOUT LOVE WE ARE JUST A LOT OF NOISE 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1

. 35“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another NKJV

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal NKJV

• LOVE MAKES US USEFUL TO THE LORD - REVELATION 3:7-8

• THE LORD KNOWS THE TRUE CONDITION OF HIS CHURCHES!

• IF A CONGREGATION CAN BE USED BY HIM• TO REACH OTHERS WITH THE GOSPEL • TO ASSIMILATE THEM INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD • TO NURTURE THEM IN THEIR SPIRITUAL

GROWTH -- THEN HE WILL "OPEN DOORS" !• BUT SUPPOSE THAT A CHURCH IS NOT A PLACE

WHERE NEW OR LONG TIME CHRISTIANS CAN GROW SPIRITUALLY IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE...?

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. NKJV

• WHERE DOES ONE START?• MAKE A LIST OF FRIENDS, RELATIVES

NEIGHBORS, CO-WORKERS. FREQUENT VISITORS, MEMBERS WHO HAVE FALLEN AWAY. VIRTUALLY ANYBODY YOU KNOW

• SO THAT YOU DON’T LOSE YOUR FOCUS AND BE OVERWHELMED PICK YOUR 5 T0 8 TOP PRIORITIES

• HOWEVER “15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” 1 PETER 3:15 NKJV

• PUT THAT LIST WHERE YOU WILL BE REMINDED EVERYDAY OF YOUR GOAL

• PRAY FOR THESE SOULS ON YOUR LIST DAILY THAT GOD WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU:TO GIVE YOU "OPPORTUNITIES" TO DO GOOD

FOR THEM COLOSSIANS 4:3;

2 THESSALONIANS 3:1TO GIVE YOU THE "WISDOM" TO MAKE THE

MOST OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES EPHESIANS 6:19-20

2Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; NKJV1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, NKJV19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. NKJV

THAT THOSE ON YOUR LIST WILL:HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE TRUTH

HAVE HONEST HEARTS TO BE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO THE TRUTH

REMEMBER, IT IS GOD WHO GIVES THE INCREASE

1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-7WE ARE BUT SERVANTS WHOM GOD CAN USE

IN HIS PROVIDENTIAL WORKINGS SO THOUGH WE MAY WORK AS THOUGH IT ALL

DEPENDS UPON US, LET US PRAY AS THOUGH IT ALL DEPENDS UPON GOD

5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

568 - A Soul Winner - 1.1

568 - A Soul Winner - C.1


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476 - Lead Me To Some Soul Today - Title

476 - Lead Me To Some Soul Today - 1.1

476 - Lead Me To Some Soul Today - C.1


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ii thessalonians 3:1 finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the lord may run swiftly and...

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