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Week7ToLoveGodistoLoveTheLost(LearningtoproclaimtheGospelwithanyone)

DAY3

1.BibleStudy:WhatdoesGodwantmetolearnfromHisWord?

AndJesussaidtothem,“Gointoalltheworldandpreachthegospeltoallcreation.”

(Mark16:15)

Afewyearsago,twosociologistsnamedChristianSmithandMelindaLundquistDentonwerestudyingthereligiousviewsofyoungpeopleinNorthAmerica.Theycoinedthephrase“MoralisticTherapeuticDeism”tosumupthepredominantreligiousbeliefsinoursocietytoday.Asummaryoftheseviewsisasfollows:1. “AGoddoesexistwhocreatedandorderedtheworldandwatchesoverhumanlifeonearth.”Thisisthe“Deism”part.2. “Godwantspeopletobegood,nice,andfairtoeachother,astaughtintheBibleandbymostworldreligions.”Thisisthe“Moralistic”part.Inotherwords,thegoalofreligionistoliveanice,morallife.3. “Thecentralgoaloflifeistobehappyandtofeelgoodaboutoneself.”Thisisthe“Therapeutic”part.4. “Goddoesnotneedtobeparticularlyinvolvedinone’slifeexceptwhenGodisneededtosolveaproblem.”ThisbeliefnowcombinestheDeisticviewwiththeTherapeuticview.Inotherwords,Godexiststomakeushappy.5. “Goodpeoplegotoheavenwhentheydie.”Saidanotherway,salvationisaccomplishedthroughmorality.Howsad.Tragic.Catastrophic.Ifyouhavealoveforthelost,theabovefivestatementsabsolutelywreckyourheart.Infact,thesefivestatementswilllikelycauseyoutoweepforthelostjustasJesusdidinLuke19.BrothersandsistersinChrist,inresponsetoJesus’greatloveforus,thisisexactlywhywemustfollowthemissionofourShepherdandgointoalltheworldandpreachthegospel.Wearenotinneutralterritory.Weareatwar!Eternityhangsinthebalance,andrightnowinArgyle/DFW,manyofourfriends,neighbors,familymembers,classmates,coworkers,etc.,arebuyingintothefalsenarrativeslistedabove.AndthesebeliefswillleadthosearoundusstraighttohellwitheternalseparationfromalovingTriuneGod(Matthew7:21-23).SohowdowemakeitourmissiontoproclaimthegospeltopeoplewhoembraceallorpartofMoralisticTherapeuticDeism?Aswe’vecoveredpreviouslyinthisstudy,wecanshareourownstoryofhowwecametofaithinJesus.Neverunderestimatehowpowerfulyourownpersonaltestimonycanbe!Rememberthatthedemon-

127possessedmaninMark5neverwenttoseminary.Heneversatthroughlotsoftheologyclasses.HesimplytoldothershowmuchtheLordhaddoneforhim,howLordhadgivenHimmercy,andthepeoplemarveled!Similarly,wereadinActs4:13,“NowwhentheysawtheboldnessofPeterandJohnandperceivedthattheywereuneducated,commonmen,theywereastonished.AndtheyrecognizedthattheyhadbeenwithJesus.”Thediscipleswereuneducated,commonmenwhohadfalleninlovewithJesusandwerenowlivingonmissionjustasJesushadmodeledforthem.Yourpersonalstorymatters!

WecanalsoincludeScriptureaspartofourconversionstory,likethe“RomansRoad.”AnytimewecanweaveGod’s“livingandactive”word(Hebrews4:12)intoourownpersonalstory,thebetter.Therearealsosomeotherprinciplesandtechniqueswecanusewhenpreachingthegospel.Areyoureadytolearnsomeofthem?Let’ssitatthefeetoftheapostlePaul…

BibleStudy:Asyoureadthroughtheseprinciplesandscriptureverses,asktheHolySpirittogiveyouadeeperunderstandingofhowyoucangointoalltheworldandpreachthegospel.TheapostlePaulwasamastersharingthegospel.ThroughoutActs,weseehimpresentingtoBiblebelievers,peasantpolytheists,sophisticatedpagans,ChristianElders,ahostileJewishmob,andgoverningelites.Heusedhisownpersonalstory(Acts22,26),heusedScripture,andheusedothertacticsaswell.Ineachcase,whilehisapproachissomewhatdifferent,hedoesseemtoutilizesomecommonprinciples.Intoday’slessonwe’regoingtolookatfourcommonprinciplesappliedintwoverydifferentexamples:Acts13:13-48andActs17:16-32.InActs13,Paulisspeakingtobiblically-educatedJewsinAntioch.InActs17,heisspeakingtoEpicureanandStoicphilosophersinAthens.1. Paulknowshisaudienceandheisawareoftheirspiritualneeds.(Asareminder,thisprinciplewasalsolistedasastepofobedienceinDay2.)InActs13,PaulisinthesynagogueandthereadingthisparticularSabbathwastypicalinaJewishsetting–i.e.,theyreadfromtheLaw(orTorah)andfromtheProphets(13:14).AsaJewandformerPharisee(Philippians3:5),Paulisobviouslyveryfamiliarwiththisbeliefsystem.InActs17,thetexttellsusPaulwasin/aboutthecity(17:16),inthesynagogue(17:17),andinthemarketplacedaily(17:17).WealsoknowthattheprimarypeoplewithwhomPaulisreasoningareEpicureanandStoicphilosophers.Aswe’regoingtosee,Paulwaslearningtheirbeliefsandheevenquotedsomeoftheiradmiredphilosophersandpoets.Inbothinstances,Paulknownshisaudienceandheisacutelyawareoftheirspiritualneeds.2. Paulbeginswiththefamiliartoexplaintheunfamiliar.InActs13,Pauljumpsintothebiblicalnarrativebycallingthem“MenofIsrael”andacknowledgingthatthey“fearGod”(13:16).Hethenbeginstellingtheirfamiliarstory–i.e.,Egypt,wanderinginthewilderness,possessionoftheland,andthehistoryofjudgesandsomekings(13:16-22).Next,Paul

128beginsthetransitionfromthefamiliartotheunfamiliar.HeconnectsDavid(andtheunconditionalcovenantGodmadewithDavid)toJesusChristandbeginstoexplainhowJesusisthefulfillmentoftheOldTestamentpromises(13:23-42).(IfinterestedinabriefsummaryoftheentirestorylineofScripture,seeAppendixAfollowingthislessonwhereyouwillfindTheStoryofScripture:God’sKingdomandtheInvitationtoJointheKing.)InActs17,Paultakesaverydifferentapproach.Hedoesn’tuseanyBiblicalnamesortellanypartoftheBiblicalstory.Rather,hefocusesontheBiblicalthemesofGodasCreator,Sustainer,andSovereign.Paulbeginswiththefamiliar–heacknowledgesthatthepeopleareveryreligious(17:16,23).Hethenfindstheoneidolwherehecanstarttotransitionfromthefamiliartotheunfamiliar(17:23-27).Next,in17:28-29,PaulreturnstothefamiliarbyquotingEpimenidesofCrete(“Inhimweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing”)andAratusofSoliwhowrote,“Zeusfillsthestreets,themarts,Zeusfillstheseas,theshores,therivers!EverywhereourneedisZeus!Wearehisoffspring.”(EmphasisaddedtoreflectthesectionPaulquotes.)Butinbothquotes,PaulmoveshisaudiencefromthefamiliartotheunfamiliarbyattributingthetruthofthequotestotheSourceofUltimateTruth.3. Paulexplainshowtheircurrentbeliefsmayhavepartialtruth,butareinsufficient.Thisprincipleissimilartotheoneabove.AsPaulmoveshisaudiencefromthefamiliartotheunfamiliar,herevealshowtheirunderstandingoftruth,whilepartiallycorrect,isinsufficient.InActs13,PaulrevealshowtheLawandtheProphetsaretrue,butpointtoSomething(Someone!)evengreater,JesusChrist.Aspecificexampleisfoundin13:22,36wherePaulaffirmsthetruththatDavidwasagreatking,amanafterGod’sownheart,butakingwhowasflawedandcouldnotsecurepermanentblessing.PaulthenrevealsevengreatertruthbyproclaimingMessiahJesusfromDavid’slinewhoaccomplishedwhatDavidcouldneveraccomplish.

InActs17,PaulacknowledgesthatthequotefromAratusofSoli’s(“forweareindeedhisoffspring”)istrue,butinsufficient.PaulaffirmsthereisaGod(notZeus!),anditisthisGodwhomweshouldserve(17:29-31).TimKellerhasawonderfulillustrationofthisprinciple.“Weallknowthatlogsfloatandstonessink.Butifyoulashseverallogstogetherandthenputstonesontopofthelogs,youcangetboththelogsandthestonesacrosstheriver.Ifyoutrylashingthestonestogetherandputtingthelogsontop,thestoneswillsinkandthelogswillscatterandnothingwillgetacrosstheriver.Youalwaysfloatstonesonlogs,nottheotherwayaround.”Inotherwords,aswestrivetoproclaimthegospelwithothers,wecanusetheirpartiallytruebeliefs(e.g.,thelogs)tohelpteachthemgreater,morecompletetruths(e.g.,therocks)whichultimatelyleadthemintoapersonalrelationshipwithJesus.(Ifinterested,seeAppendixBfollowingthislessonwhereyouwillfindATablefromTimKellertoHelpProclaimGospelTruth.)4. Paulgivesa“gospelcall”consistingofJesus’life,death,resurrection,andman’srightresponseofrepentanceandbelief.

InActs13,Paul’sgospelcallcanbefoundin13:24,28-31;39.InActs17,Paul’sgospelcallcanbefoundin17:30-34.

129LifeLessononthenecessityofEvangelisminthedisciple’slife:- OurresponsibilityasdisciplesofJesusistobesensitivetotheSpirit’sleading,sensitiveto

knowouraudiencewhensharingthegospel,andsensitivetoknowwhenandhowtorespondtoobjectionsandhonestquestionsaboutourFaith.IfweloveGod,wewilllearntolovewhatHeloves.Godlovesthelost!MaytheLordhelpusSEEthelost,SEEK-OUTthelost,andbeapartofSAVINGthelostaswefaithfullysharethegospelandtheSpiritofGodbringslifetotheirdeadheartsandminds.OhGod,usemetobeapartoflifechangeinother’slives–true,eternalLIFECHANGE.

2.Reflection:HaveIfullyunderstoodthislessonandcouldteachittoanother?

ReflectionQuestionsforDiscipleship:

-WhohasGodcurrentlyputintoyourlifewhoseemstoembraceallorpartofMoralisticTherapeuticDeism?-Consideringthefourprinciples,howwouldyouproclaimthegospeltosomeoneembracingMoralisticTherapeuticDeism?-WhatothergospelproclamationtechniquesdoyouobservefromPaulinActs13:13-48and17:16-32?-AsyoureadActs13:13-48andActs17:16-32,didyounoticePaul’sblendofgraceandtruth(John1:17)andboldnessandrespect(1Peter3:15)?Whatspecificexamplesdidyoufind?

-Sociologistsaffirmthateverycultureassumesanswerstothesetwoquestions:1)Whathopeistherefortheworld?and2)Whathopeisthereformepersonally?WheredidyouseePaulansweringthesequestionsinActs13:13-48andActs17:16-32?

-ArethereanyspecificpartsofyourpersonalstorywhereyoucouldcounterMoralisticTherapeuticDeismjustbytellingyourstory?

3.Application:HowdoIapplythislessontomydailylife?

- ReviewthesummaryofMoralisticTherapeuticDeism.Haveanyofthesebeliefscreptintoyourown

beliefsystem?Examineyourself.Ifso,confessandrepent.(Psalm139:23-24)- Rightnow,GodhaslikelyplantedyourightwhereHewantsyou–inyourneighborhood,school,job,

etc.MakealistofthoseindividualsonyourheartandbegintoprayforGodtoshowyoutheirspiritualneeds.- Ifnotpartofyournormalrhythmoflifenow,beginengagingyourneighbors.Startlearningtheir

beliefsandpotentialmisunderstandings/objectionstoChristianity.- Divideapieceofpaperinhalf.Ontheleft,writethefivesummarypointsofMoralisticTherapeutic

Deism.Ontheright,writedownpotentialpartsofyourstoryorScripturethatyoucoulduseconversationallytogentlyconfrontwhilesimultaneouslysharingthegospelwithgentlenessandrespect.- Startpracticing.Forexample,roleplaywithyourchildrenandspouse.Practicesharingthegospel

withthemandhavethemofferobjectionsthatyoupracticecountering.

1304.WhatisMYnextstepofObedience?ActionPoints-GOandSHAREthegospelthisweekwithastranger.Askotherstoprayforyouasyougo.BEprayedup.Becommitted,nomatterhownervousyouare.Comebackandsharewithsomeone.-CallPastorMatthewandshareyourexperience.IfsomeoneacceptsChrist,thengettheirinformationsowecanfollowupwiththem.-Bewillingtogiveatestimonyatchurchoratasmallgroup/Biblestudyaboutyourexperience.-Don’tstop.Makesharingthegospelanaturalpartofyourweek.Lookforopportunitiestoshare.-PRAYthatGodwouldcontinuallyleadpeopleintoyourlifewhoneedJesus.BEREADY&remember: “ButsanctifytheLordGodinyourhearts,andalwaysbereadytogiveadefensetoeveryonewhoasksyouareasonforthehopethatisinyou,withgentlenessandrespect”1Peter3:15“Preachthegospel!Bereadyinseasonandoutofseason.”2Tim.4:2JohnWesleyonceprayedthefollowing:“Iamnolongermyown,butyours.Putmetowhatyouwill,rankmewithwhomyouwill;putmetoyourdoing,putmetosuffering;letmebeemployedforyou,orlaidasideforyou,exaltedforyou,orbroughtlowforyou;letmebefull,letmebeempty,letmehaveallthings,letmehavenothing.Ifreelyandwholeheartedlyyieldallthingstoyourpleasureanddisposal.Andnow,gloriousandblessedGod,Father,Son,andHolySpirit,youaremineandIamyours.Sobeit.Andthecovenantnowmadeonearth,letitberatifiedinheaven.Amen.”

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AppendixA

TheStoryofScripture:God’sKingdomand

theInvitationtoJointheKing(LearningtoproclaimtheGospelwithanyone)

ThestorybeginswhenalovingGodcreatesHisKingdominordertoshareHisloveandblessHiscreation.ThereispeacebetweenGodandHiscreation,andmanisinvitedtoexperienceintimatefellowshipwiththeCreator.ButtheKingdomisthreatenedwhenmanchoosestorebel(“sin”),whichresultsinjustjudgment,divorce(exilefromGod’spresence),anddeath.GodhintsatMessiahwhowilleventuallymakethingsright,butasthestorycontinuessinanddeathrunrampantandmanisobviouslyhopelessapartfromGod’sinterveninggrace.WhatwillGoddo?GodwillchooseanundeservingpeopletobecomethenationofIsrael,andtheKingdomwillrise.First,GodchoosesamannamedAbrahamandmakesanunconditionalcovenantwithhimwherebyHepromisesland,descendants,andaworld-wideblessing.(Acovenantis“alegaltermdenotingaformalandlegallybindingdeclarationofbenefitsgivenbyonepartytoanother,withorwithoutconditionsattached.”)Next,GodbeginstogrowAbraham’sdescendants(nowcalledtheIsraelites)untiltheyriseinpopulationwhilelivingasslavesinEgypt.GoddeliverstheIsraelitesfromcaptivityandprovidesthemwithlawsandasacrificialsysteminordertofacilitatecommunionwithHimandensureblessingandflourishing.(ThelawsandsacrificialsystemarepartoftheMosaicCovenant,aconditionalcovenantwherebyGodpromisedblessingsforobedienceandcursesfordisobedience.TheIsraelitesagreedtothiscovenant.)GodthengivesHispeopletheland,butthepeoplestruggletokeeptheMosaicCovenantandthepseudosavior-rulersatthetime(calledjudges)areunabletosecurepermanentblessing.Therefore,thepeopledemandaking.GodgrantstheirrequestandmakesanunconditionalcovenantwithHischosenking,David.HepromisesadescendantKingwhowillreignforeverandprovidepermanentblessing,whichisgoodnewsofgracebecauseapendingcrisislooms.DuringthereignsofDavidandSolomon,thenationrisestoprosperity.Beautifulsongs,poemsandprinciplesarewrittentohelpfosterintimatecommunionwithGodandensurerightlivingwithintheKingdom.Butthecorruptingpowerofsinissimplytoogreat,andtheMosaicCovenantisbrokenbythepeople.David’sson,Solomon,andthepeopleeventuallyturnfromtheLordandthereiscivilwar.ThenationofIsraeldivides,andtheKingdomwillsoonfall.ButGod,graciouslyandpatientlyinvitingHispeopleintoanintimaterelationshipwithHim,providesprophetswhowarnthepeopleaboutthejustjudgementthatwillcomeunlessthepeoplereturntoHim.TheprophetsalsoheraldamessageofhopeviathepromiseofamysterioussufferingandconqueringMessiahwhowillprovidepermanentblessingoneday.Sadly,thepeoplecontinuetorebel.Asaresult,God’speoplearevomitedoutofthelandanddispersedintocaptivity.AremnantofGod’speopleeventuallyreturnstotheland,butitisnotthesame.Whereistheworld-wideblessingpromisedtoAbraham?WhereisthepromisedDavidicKingwhowill

132reignforever?WhereisthepromisedconqueringMessiah?TheprophetsremindthepeoplethattheonlyhopeforsalvationandblessingremainstotrustinthefaithfulcovenantGodoflove.Afterfourhundredyearsofsilence(i.e.,noprophetsproclaimingGod’smessage),thereissuddenlyanexplosionofgoodnews:thepromisedMessiahKinghascometoredeemHisKingdom.Jesus,theSonofGod,isbornofavirgin;HeistrulyGodandtrulyman,HeisfromthelineofDavid,andHehascometosavepeoplefromtheirsin.Tohelppreparethepeopletoreceivethisgoodnewsofgrace,anewprophetnamedJohntheBaptistbeginsbaptizingpeopleandpreachingamessageofrepentance.JesusisbaptizedbyJohn(symbolicofrelatingtoHispeople)andthentemptedbySatan.However,unlikethefirstcreatedmanwhosuccumbedtothetemptationandrebelled,JesusremainsperfectlyobedienttoHisFather.HethenbeginsHisministryteachingthattheKingdomisathandandpeopleshouldbelieveinHimforthepermanentforgivenessofsinandtheonlywaytobepermanentlyreconciledtoGod.HepickstwelvedisciplesandgoesthroughoutthelandprovinghowHeisthefulfillmentofallofGod’spromisesintheOldCovenant.Ofcourse,manyofthepeoplerejectJesus’message.Theyvowtokillhimforblasphemyandtreason,eventhoughHeistruthfulandinnocent.JesushasonefinalmealwithHisdisciples,andHeisthenarrested,brutallybeaten,andcrucified.Heisburied,butafterthreedaysHeconquersdeathandrisesfromthegraveasthefirstfruitsofawholenewcreation.Asman’ssubstituteJesusfulfilledthelawofGod,boththerequirementsandthepenalty.Beforeascendingtoheaven,JesusgivesHisdisciplestheirmission:toexplainandexpandtheKingdomthroughthepowerofHisSpirit.HisdisciplesaretoteachthegoodnewsoftheKinginJerusalem,JudeaandSamaria,andthroughouttheendsoftheearthastheyinviteotherstojointheKingdom.TheHolySpirit(themarkoftheNewCovenant)comesandfillsthedisciples,givingthemboldnessandpower.Soon,thousandsuponthousandsofpeoplefromallovertheworldbeginbelievinginJesusand“thechurch”isborn.ThroughthepowerofHisSpirit,churchleadersbeginplantingnewchurchesandwritinglettersthatteachothersthedoctrineofthegoodnewsofJesus(orthodoxy)aswellasremindbelievershowtheyshouldrightlyliveintheKingdominresponsetothegoodnewsofJesus(orthopraxy).Butthestoryisn’tover.Oneday,theKingdomwillbeconsummated.TheKingwillberevealedforasecondtime.Onlythistime,Hewillnotreturnasasufferingservant.HewillreturnasthepromisedconqueringKingwhohascomeforHisbride(thechurch).Hewillbedefeatevil,vanquishdeath,restoreallofcreation,andprovidepermanentblessingforHischosenpeople.TheNewCovenantassures:toallwhoreceiveHim,whobelieveinHim,JesusputsallthingsrightthroughHisincarnation,substitution,andrestorationoftheKingdom.

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AppendixB

ATablefromTimKellertoHelpProclaimGospelTruth

(LearningtoproclaimtheGospelwithanyone)