Intro to God, Man, and the Cross
God, Man, and the Cross • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsIntroducing this series of evangelisitic lessons
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I decided to share with you a series of evangelistic lessons that I learned from the writer of most of this material. He was an effective gospel preacher using this material, and I have also taught a number of people about Christ using my modification of these lessons. But, perhaps the greater benefit is how studying and teaching these lessons have inspired me to greater commitment to service in the kingdom of our Lord. Several others saints have also said the same. The gospel changes lives, and that only begins at baptism, not ends.
I) Various approaches to evangelism
I) Various approaches to evangelism
There are no fool-proof lessons: Ivan Stewart 4-lesson, Jesus, the Way 7-lesson, Big Picture 1-lesson, Muscle and Shovel book
Each person must be taught from where they are, like giving directions
This series I am teaching can be useful for someone who believes the Bible is truth, but knows little about it (those who are agnostic or think they know it all will need a different approach)
II) Design of the Bible
II) Design of the Bible
Comprised of 66 books, written by about 40 authors, over 1,600 years
Can be considered as a dictionary: faith – ; hope – ; ;; love –
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Can be considered a history book –
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
Can be considered an encyclopedia of people, places, events, activities
Can be considered as poetry – significant portions of the OT and parts of the NT are written in poetic style
But we rarely consider the Bible as a novel, written by one author with a beginning and end, with all the pages connected with a purpose and conclusion in mind, yet perhaps more than all, that is the real design
III) Purpose of the Bible
III) Purpose of the Bible
For us to know God – ; ;
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
We all desire to seek for God – – even atheists define themselves by the God they deny
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Yet, all we need to do is seek for Him –
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Well-written novels – fiction and non-fiction – develop the primary characters early and give us reason to care about them (good or bad)
This is developed through events and thoughts expressed that reveal the personalities of these characters – an important part of Bible reading is to learn what God is revealing about Himself or us in these events and ideas
Concl: With this foundation laid, I want to stimulate us to examine the Bible in a new manner. May it prove fruitful as God intended.