12th Feb 2020 - ”Evangelism” - Big Night In #5

2020-02-13

Training for Godliness: 5. Evangelism Jan-Feb 2020 A. The Commission “16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 ESV Structure of the Commission:...

Training for Godliness:

5. Evangelism

Jan-Feb 2020

A. The Commission

“16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20 ESV

Structure of the Commission:

a) Preamble (v18)

b) Command (vv19-20a)

c) Promise (v20b)

i) A Sure Foundation (v18)

Jesus: Descendant of Abraham (Matthew1:2)
Jesus: Immanuel – God with us (Matthew 1:23)
Jesus has all DOMINION (cp. Genesis 1:28)

ii) An Enduring Command

Going: A radical approach – going out, not sitting in.
Baptising:
- Into the NAME
- Represents a new identity
Teaching (come back next week!)

A commission given to eleven men…

…passed on to others….

…passed down to us.

B. In Your Group – What is Evangelism?

i) A Definition

“Evangelism is teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade”

Mack Stiles

Think through this definition – are there approaches to outreach that strictly speaking are not ‘evangelism’? What do they tend to miss?

Let’s think biblically about some of the terms in this definition:

ii) The Gospel

a) In your own words, what is the gospel? What does a sinner need to know to be saved?

b) Consider the following Scriptures, which offer something of a definition of the Gospel. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Luke 9:23-24. Based on these (and any others) what are the key points of the gospel message?

iii) The Aim

This part of the definition challenges our motives –

a) Read Philippians 1:12-18 – what are the differing motives for preaching the Gospel that Paul highlights here? What bad motives can drive us to share the gospel? What good motives should inspire us?

b) The aim of evangelism should be to persuade. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (esp. take note of vv11, 14-15 & 20). What reasons does Paul give for trying to persuade people with the gospel?

c) Turn back to 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 – from this, what do we need to always bear in mind about persuading people to become Christians? How should this affect our evangelism?

C. Carrying Precious Seed

“22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains for ever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:22-25 ESV)