Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Engaging Culture IV: Clearly Christian*
*1 Peter 3:15-16; Romans 10:9*
*/January 23, 2011/*
* *
*Prep: *
· 140, 141, 142
· Facebook
*Scripture reading: Matt 5:13-16*
Intro
Thank you to all of you who kept the *Seahawks* score *secret*, though it was not worth the wait.
Prayer
engaging culture
We are in the final week of our *4 week series* on evangelism, reaching out and sharing the Gospel and bringing people into God’s kingdom.
· This is to launch The Gathering’s emphasis on “*Engaging* *Culture*” in *2011*.
Here is the *MOdel *for effectively engaging our culture: S+C+X=EC
· S: *Striving* –We live a *Gospel* *Perspective*; acutely aware of our desperate need for God’s grace, humble and confident.
· C: *Community *– *Develop* *relationships* with non-Christians so you can *share* the Gospel in the *context* of *relationship*.
· X (abbr.
for *Christ*) – This sermon has *one* *goal*: Help you to *clearly* *express* your *CHRISTIANITY*.
Not the only show in town
· Turn to 1 Peter 3...
*Evangelism* in the NW today is *more* like it was in the *early* *church* than *50* *years* ago.
Then Christianity was the main show in town and everyone went to church making it hard to know who actually followed Jesus.
· But now there are *many* *options*, and “*none* of the above” and “*all* of the above” are the most popular.
This was pretty much the *situation* when the *NT* was written.
There were at least as many religious choices then as now.
*1 Peter 3:15-16 * 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect,
Q Why is this command so frequently *ignored*?
I know I frequently knock “Chick Tracts” but it is because they so blatantly ignore this.
They are *anything* but *gentle* and are *insulating* (and they insult a non-Christian’s *intelligence*).
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Our “*good* *behavior*” is non-negotiable element of our message, “...let your *light* *shine* before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”
(Matthew 5:16).
· “Preach the Gospel at all times; use *words* when *necessary*” (incorrectly attributed to St. Francis).
I appreciate the *sentiment*, especially in light of all the *hypocrisy* (my old pastor used to say, “If you *need* to tell people you are a Christian, *please* *don’t*.”)
· But at the same time, words are *very* *necessary*.
first aid evangelism
The *driving* *point* of this passage is “*Be* *ready*.”
When it comes to evangelism, *some* *churches* take the approach that it is *your* job to get them in the church and *ours* to share the Gospel with them – we are the *specialist*.
· I respectfully disagree.
While we are always here to *help*, I don’t see that as a *Biblical* *model* (cf.
Acts 18:24-28), and it’s not what *Peter* says here.
· I think that, with a *little* *training*, every one of you capable of *sharing* the *basics* of your faith.
It’s like this: Say you are walking in the *mall* and someone *collapses* in front of you.
You look around waiting for someone to *step* *it*, *no* *one* does.
Q Would you *know* what to do?
If you have taken *first* *aid* and *CPR*, you would.
Not everyone can be a *doctor* or *medic*, but anyone can take first aid.
*Everyone* one of you can know *enough* to *save* a *life*.
· And even *infinitely* *more* *important*, everyone of you can know enough to save a *soul*.
Don’t need to be an expert
Not all of you need to be *experts*.
You don’t need to be able to *answer* *every* *question*, that’s what I am here for.
· If some asks, “Isn’t the *Bible* *unreliable*, copies of copies?” talk to me (BTW: No, it’s the most reliable ancient book.)
But *every* *one* of you must be *prepared* to “give an *answer* for *reason* for the *hope* inside of you.”
· Also like CPR, this takes *ongoing* *preparation* – your card is supposed to be renewed annually.
Don’t worry before hand?
Now before we *start* *getting* *ready*, I need to *complicate* thing just a little – doesn’t all this *contradict* what Jesus said?
*Mark 13:11 * 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say.
Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
I have to admit, growing up *Pentecostal*, I’ve had an *uncomfortable* *relationship* with this verse – it’s been used to *justify* (and *spiritualize*) *failing* to *prepare*.
· I knew of one pastor who wouldn’t *prepare* a *sermon*, just read the Bible and “listen for the Holy Spirit.”
Here’s the *context*: The disciples are common folk; they have their *GEDs* or high school *diplomas*.
Jesus is tells them they’ll have to debate the *atheist* *Richard* *Dawkins* (author of “The God Delusion”) on The *Daily* *Show*.
· They are a little *intimidated* (BTW: That’s a true equivalent to what they were facing).
Jesus is saying, you’ve spent that last *three* *years* leaning from me, I have been *teaching* you.
When the time comes, the *Holy* *Spirit* will take what I have *taught* you and *direct* it.
Spirit-guided conversations
Q Have you felt the Holy Spirit *guide* *conversation*?
It’s not like *takes* *over*.
He takes what I *learned* and *studied* and *directs* it, *arranges* them just right.
It’s *really* *cool*.
You must be *preparing* yourself, as Peter said, and then *live* a life of *dependence* on God and the Holy Spirit as Jesus said, and he will *direct* you in ways you *can’t* *imagine*.
Years ago, *Cecil* said something to me that *radically* *impacted* my life.
The funny thing is *didn’t* *realize* the Holy *Spirit* was speaking through him; he doesn’t even *remember* *saying* it.
· He didn’t have an *agenda* or *worry* beforehand, but the Spirit *prepared* *me*, the *situation*, and *directed* the conversation.
I say all that to say this: When you *obey* God and make yourself *available* to share the Gospel with others, you have no idea what *situations* he might *bring* *your* *way*.
· Don’t *worry* about it, *prepare*, and *trust* the Holy Spirit.
But give him *more* that *John* *3:16* to work with, which is the point of this sermon.
Also, you may only be called to *plant*, or *water*.
You need to be listening to what the Spirit is calling you to do at that point.
Our Message
So let’s get to *preparing*.
There are *two* *things* you need to know: The *Great* *Story* of the *Gospel* and *Your* *Story* of how the *Gospel* has worked *in* *you*.
· I will first *summarize* the Great Story of the Gospel with a *short* *version* and then the *very* *short* version.
I am sure you would *prefer* just the “very short version,” but *each* has its *place*.
The short version answers more of the *whys* and the very short version the *personal* *experience*.
· The *Spirit* will *direct* you to use *each* *one* at different times.
This will be a *lot* of *info*, so I have also printed it on the back of the *sermon* *notes*.
There will be a *quiz* at your community group and you *can’t* *eat* if you don’t get a passing grade.
The Great Story – the short version (four parts)
*/1.
/**/God created everything and it was good/**/.
/*
*Genesis 1:1, 31 * In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
The *key* *points* here are 1) God *created* everything and is therefore its *rightful* *master*, and 2) he created it *good* (he is the *source* goodness), and this *current* *mess* is not his design.
Here’s something I *hesitate* to bring this up for fear that it might *derail* some of you, so hang on: The key point is not *how* God made the universe, nor how *old* it is.
· *God*-*fearing* and *Bible*-*believing* Christians *disagree* on these things, so don’t make them an *unnecessary* *obstacle*.
*/2.
/**/Each of you is rebellious, sinful, and broken, you can’t fix yourself/**/./*
When we hear “*sinful* and *broken*,” our mind goes to the office *philandering* *alcoholic*, but it equally applies to *Mr*.
*Nice* *Guy*.
*Romans 3:23 *...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...
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