the gospel · 2 sharing the gospel key lesson concepts healthy church draws the unsaved toward a...

Sharing the Gospel

Team Study Guide

Texas Rebuilding MinistryJanuary – March 2019

ABBREVIATED LESSONS 7-9

Table of ContentsLesson Seven Compelling Community 1 Scripture Reference: Acts 2 1 Key Lesson Concepts 2 Personal Reflection Activity 2 Hymn: “The Fellowship of the Saints” Zion’s Harp 3 Challenge Applications for Your Day 3

Lesson Eight A Culture of Evangelism 4 Scripture Reference: Acts 4:23-31 4 Key Lesson Concepts 5 Personal Reflection Activity 6 Hymn: “The Golden Harvest” Combined Hymnal 6 Challenge Applications for Your Day 7

Lesson Nine Blessings of Faithful Evangelism 8 Scripture References: I Thessalonians 1 8 I Thessalonians 2:1-2, 7-8, 13, 19-20 9 Key Lesson Concepts 9 Personal Reflection Activity 10 Hymn: “Amazing Grace” Combined Hymnal 10 Challenge Applications for Your Day 11

Prayer List 12Gospel Outlines 13

Sharing the Gospel

Team Study Guide

ABBREVIATED LESSONS 7-9

1Texas Rebuilding Ministry: January – March 2019

Compelling CommunityLesson 7

Goals

• See how God designed His church to compel the unbeliever. • Consider how a healthy church is sustained by many diverse gifts. • Recognize how your spiritual gifts enable your church family to share the gospel.

Scripture -- Acts 2 See evangelism as our healthy response.

God’s family spends time together. v42

God’s family blessed by spiritual gifts. v43

God’s family cares for one another. v44-45

God’s family is united. v46

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

PERSONAL CALL

RESULT IN SPIRITUAL FAMILY

GOD THE FATHER PRESIDES

He adds new believers to the church. v47

Belief in Christ invokes Holy Spirit. v38

God’s call is urgent. v39-40

New believers are added to the church. v41

2 Sharing the Gospel

Key Lesson Concepts

Healthy church draws the unsaved toward a new community.

God has designed and equipped His people to use His spiritual gifts to support the mission of church. All of the functions of the church work together in seeking, saving, and supporting the souls who will be saved. We all have a part!

Lesson 7 - continued

Personal Reflection Activity

For each of the following, reflect on the Spiritual gifts God has given to you. How do they support the health of your church family?

• Examples of my spiritual gift(s)

• Examples of my gift(s) supporting a healthy church

• How can I cultivate my gift(s)?

• What other gifts exist in my local church?

Compelling Community

“The Fellowship of the Saints”Zion’s Harp

As you sing, think of how the church reflects God’s love and grows.

V1 Heart with heart in love united, seek upon God’s heart repose. Let your love, to flames ignited, to the Savior upward flow. He the Head and we His members; He the light and we the glow; He the Master, we His brethren, in true fellowship we grow.

V4 Each should stimulate the other, childlike, tractable and meek, In the steps of Christ to follow, who in death our life did seek Let us ever be awakened, all our powers day by day, Willingly to give in service and His kindness to repay.

V10 Let us then be so united as Thou with the Father art, That not one of Thy weak members here on earth shall stand apart. From the flames of Thy own burning may our light partake its glow; And that we are Thy disciples all the world may surely know.


Hymn –

• Identify three attractive qualities about your local church congregation. 1)

2)

3)

How can you support these qualities?

• Spend time thanking God for the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers in your church congregation! (Eph. 4:11)

• Team up with someone with different spiritual gifts and talk about how your gifts complement each other.

Challenge Applications For Your Day

notes


Goals

• Define the phrase “culture of evangelism”. • See the culture of evangelism evident in the early church. • Identify the attributes of a church committed to sharing the gospel.

Scripture -- Acts 4:23-31 Observe how the church celebrated evangelism.

23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

A Culture of Evangelism Lesson 8

Peter and John retreat and report to the church. v23

THE CHURCH RESPONDS: v24-28

With unified praise. v24

With thanks for God’s Word. v25

With thanks for protection. v26

With thanks for Jesus. v27

Acknowledging God as

Supreme. v28

The Church prays for boldness and

spiritual gifts to further the gospel. v29-30

God sends the Holy Spirit. v31

Individuals speak out with bold

courage! v31


Key Lesson Concepts

Envision and Pursue a culture of sharing the gospel in your church.

Our aim is to foster a culture of evangelism among our churches. A place where sharing the gospel is practiced, prayed for, actively engaged, and funded (when necessary). Learn to embrace the patterns of the Holy Spirit and collaborate with Him in this work.

notes


Lesson 8 - continuedA Culture of Evangelism

Hymn –

We are sowing together as a

church; God adds the increase

Let us work while we can; our day

will soon be past

We are gathering all together; if we

don’t, who will?

Personal Reflection Activity – Consider your part in the missionPrayerfully consider ways that your church congregation currently participates as a body in practicing or supporting evangelism. For example, some churches intentionally outline the gospel for unbelieving visitors during baptism or wedding services.

• What is one thing that you can do through the church congregation to further the gospel?

• How can you encourage growth in evangelism in your church congregation?

• What concerns might others have and how can those concerns be addressed with love and esteem?

“The Golden Harvest”Combined Hymnal

When we all work together in Christ, God will add the increase. As you sing, think of how the harvest is accomplished by many hands doing different tasks.

V1 Seeds of goodness we are sowing in the hearts of man today.

Bless it, Lord, that it may prosper, and bear fruit for harvest day.

V2 Children come the grain to gather, while the morning sun doth shine;

And ere long, beloved brethren, it will be your harvest time.

V3 Now the field is ripe for harvest; let us then all garner in;

For if we should stand here idle, who would bring the sheaves of grain?

Chorus Hasten gladly to the labor. Consecrate to God your heart. Say this day unto your Savior, “Lord I’ll gladly do my part.”


Challenge Applications For Your Day

Making yourself accountable to others helps foster a culture of evangelism. Try this and see how it affects your sharing the gospel today. Ask someone else to check up with you at the end of the day about where you had an opportunity to share the gospel.

• Was it easier or harder to speak when you knew someone would be asking for a report?

• How might you move this expectation from a place of fear to one of rejoicing?

notes


Goals

• Define “Blessings of Faithful Evangelism”. • Learn from Paul’s experience with the Thessalonian church. • Recognize blessings for the individual, the church, and the community.

Scripture -- 1 Thessalonians 1Consider the benefits that both Paul (the evangelist) and the Thessalonians (recipients of the good news) experienced because they shared and accepted the gospel.

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in

power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Blessings of Faithful Evangelism Lesson 9

Grace and Peace with God. v1

Thessalonians’ Faith and

Example. v2-10

Faith, hope, and love. v3

Intimate knowledge of

God’s Word. v5

Worthy to suffer persecution for the sake of the

gospel. v6

Healthy culture of evangelism in our churches. v8

Deliverance from the wrath

to come. v10


Scripture Continued -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2, 7-8, 13, 19-20 1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance

in unto you, that it was not in vain:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully

entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

20 For ye are our glory and joy.

Boldness and joy in the face of suffering. v1-2

Increased love for God and the brotherhood. v7-8

Sanctification by the truth of God’s Word. v13

Fond expectation of Heaven. v19

Joy when a sinner believes unto repentance. v20

Key Lesson Concepts

God is glorified when sharing the gospel generates the blessings of:

• Greater love for God and neighbor.• Greater joy when souls repent.• Greater dependency on God’s Word.

• Greater spiritual depth from persecution.• Greater church family health.• Greater longing for heaven.


Lesson 9 - continuedBlessings of Faithful Evangelism

Love for God and all His benefits

Dependency on God through persecution

Our hearts are drawn to the glory of Heaven

“Amazing Grace”Combined Hymnal

Allow the vision of this hymn to catch your imagination, and think how great the heavenly reward will be for those who respond to the gospel!

Personal Reflection Activity

What rewards have you experienced in sharing the gospel? Share one example of evangelism increasing fruit in your life.

V1 Amazing Grace! how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found Was blind but now I see

V2 Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home

V3 When we’ve been there ten thousand years Bright, shining as the sun We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we first begun

Hymn –


Challenge Applications - Encouragement for all to Share the Gospel

Let us, therefore, run with joy the race that is set before us. Do the work of an evangelist. Let us share the gospel with the people in our Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances and Neighbors (FRAN) and enjoy not only the earthly joys but also look forward to those heavenly joys that await for the true and faithful. May God grant us grace and be glorified in all!

notes


Prayer List When you return home, HarvestCall asks that you continue to pray for the homeowners and those in the communities of Hardin County, Texas. Please list the names of those you will plan to pray for and/or stay in contact. Include any specific prayer requests.

HarvestCall would like your FeedbackWere these spiritual lessons helpful in learning more about “Compelling Community”, “A Culture of Evangelism” and “Blessings of Faithful Evangelism”? We would enjoy hearing your feedback to continually improve. Share your comments onsite in the “Suggestion Box” or e-mail them to [email protected]

Images utilized in this brochure (and video) remain the copyright of the copyright holder (Sparkol Limited) and should not be used for other purposes.


Gospel OutlinesRomans RoadRomans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

God, Man, Christ, Response*God - God is the creator of all things (Gen. 1:1) and made us in his image to know him (Gen. 1:26-28). He is perfectly holy, loving, worthy of all worship, and will punish sin (1 John 1:5, Rev. 4:11, Rom. 2:5-8).

Man - All people, though created good, have become sinful by nature (Gen. 1:26-28, Ps. 51:5, Rom. 3:23) and by choice (Rom. 2:4-6, Rev. 20:12). As a result, all people are alienated from God, contrary to God, and subject to the wrath of God (Eph. 2:1-3).

Christ - In his great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law himself and taking on himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in him. He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ’s sacrifice and that God’s wrath against us had been exhausted (John 1:1, 1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 7:26, Rom. 3:21-26, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Cor. 15:20-22).

Response - He now calls us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God (Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21, Rom. 10:9-10).

*A simple and memorable summary of the gospel to help you with sharing God’s good news with people. Adapted from The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever.

Apostolic Christian HarvestCall PO Box 3797

West Lafayette, IN 47996HarvestCall.org

Texas Rebuilding Ministry

January – March 2019

WALKING in the

LIGHT 1 John 1:7

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