INSIGHT
 

   When the demon-possessed man was saved from the power of Satan, he desired to go with Christ. But Christ would not allow him to go with Him because He had other work for him to do: he must go home to his own and tell them what great things the Lord had done for him (Mark 5:18-19). This man was called to be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ! God’s people in the Old Testament were called His witnesses (Isaiah 43:10). This holds true for the New Testament Christian. We are called to testify about the saving grace of Christ! The apostle Peter understood this when he spoke to Cornelius and his household saying, “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10:42-43)

   It is our duty as faithful disciples of Christ to share the gospel with the lost. In Luke 12:8, Jesus said, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.” Christ assures us that those who confess Him before men, He Himself will acknowledge them as His people in that great day before the angels of God! Christ’s purpose was to save people from their sins (1 Tim 1:15). For this reason He was given the name “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21). He calls us to continue His work in bringing souls to His kingdom. This is the meaning of the parable of the ten minas in Luke 19:12-27. He calls us to occupy (KJV) or “to get busy” until He comes. Are you busy??? Remember, the gospel saves (Romans 1:16)! How can sinners believe in the gospel if the message is not told to them? (Romans 10:14) You are the light and the salt! Fulfill your purpose!
The Life in Christ
A Life of Proclaiming Christ

Key Text:                Psalm 145:10-12

“All you have made will praise you, O Lord;  your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.”

 

Theme:

Just as a beautiful building praises its builder or a well-drawn painting praises its painter, so do the saints praise their Lord! God’s people speak of the greatness of His kingdom and testify of the mighty deeds He has done through Christ! We are called to proclaim the saving message of the gospel! Have you telling others about Jesus? Have you been sharing the love of God with the lost?

 

Application:

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Carry church cards with you! Keep a

    fresh supply of church cards with your

    name, number, and church information

   on them. Invite people to church. Those

    who are opened to the invitation, give

    them a church card.

2. Carry pamphlets with you. Hand out

    Gospel pamphlets to those who are

    willing to accept them. Do not waste

    them on those who are not interested!

3. Tell others of Jesus! Share with the

    lost the saving message of the gospel!

    Let them know that Jesus loves them,

    died for them and wants to save them.

    Exchange phone numbers and set up

    studies with those interested in

    knowing more of God’s grace!

 

May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

Proclaiming Christ

 

I. A Former Lesson Of A Sinful People

 

 1. Sodom and Gomorra

    (Gen. 18:20-19:29)

 

    a. Men of Sodom were wicked

 

    b. Lord determines to destroy the city

         --Willing to spare for the sake of

            few righteous men (compassion)

         --Lord deals patiently with Abraham

 

    c. Lot was a righteous man

        (2 Peter 2:7-8)

         --Was he distressed by the

            filthy lives of the Sodomites

         --He was tormented by what he

            saw and heard

         --Did he not preach to them???

 

     d. God destroyed with fire

 

 2. Christians’ Task (2 Cor 5:10-11a)

     --Remember the judgment

     --Persuade men     

 

II. Conclusion (2 Tim 1:7-8)

 

      1. God did not give us a spirit of

          timidity

 

      2. Do not be ashamed to confess

          Jesus
Small Group Study

Warm-up:

Did you ever ignore a warning just to wind up getting into trouble or problems? Explain.

 

See To It                             Luke 17:24-30

 

 1. What is the day of Christ compared to?

     Explain this comparison?

 

 2. What happened in the days of Noah?

     What was Noah’s role? See 2 Peter 2:5.

 

 3. What was the response of the people?

     Who wound up escaping death?

 

 4. What happened in the days of Lot? What

      kind of person was Lot? See 2 Peter

     2:6-8.

 

 5. Did you think Lot shared the Lord with

     these people? Explain.

 

Seeing It Closer:

 

 1. How is the world like Sodom today? Give

     some examples of what’s going on today?

 

2. How can we make a difference in the lives

    of people today?

 

 3. How does the story of Noah and Lot

     motivate us to proclaim Christ?

 

 4. Read verses 32-33. What must we

     remember about Lot’s wife? How does

     her example apply to us today?

 

Getting To It:

 

Next time you sit in a stadium, picture how judgment will be like for all of those spectators. Be motivated to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the lost! Be the light!!!

 

This week's Quiet Times:

A Life of Proclaiming Christ

 

MONDAY

This week’s Quiet Times will touch on the need to confess Christ before men. Read Matthew 10:32-33. The word “acknowledge” is also translated as “confess.” What is your Christian duty? What assurance is Christ offering you here? Read verse 33. By not “confessing” or “acknowledging” Christ, what are you, in fact, doing? What may “confessing Christ” expose you to? What specific things has prevented you from confessing Christ to each person you meet? Have you spoken to anyone about Jesus today? Would you speak to others about Jesus more often if you were encouraged by a brother or sister? Call you discipler and ask him or her to challenge you in this area. Pray now to the Lord to empower you to the task! Write 1 John 4:15 on an index card and memorize it. Put this task to work today. Invite people to church today and tell them of Jesus!

 

TUESDAY

Read Mark 5:18-20. What kind of attitude did this man have after his deliverance? Why did Jesus object to his following Him? What did Jesus call him to do? Why did Jesus tell him to do this? What did this man do as a result of Jesus’ instructions? To whom must you confess Christ?  Read Matthew 5:13-16. Have you “salted” someone with the gospel today? How has your “light” been shining today? If we don’t confess Christ, we become as lamps under a bowl. It is a foolish thing to purchase a lamp just to hide it under a bowl. Its purpose is to give light in a dark place! Keeping the gospel hidden is like darkening a lamp! How foolish that is! Have you invited anyone to church or to a bible study today? Have you told your physical family members about the gospel? When was the last time you spoke to your family about Christ? Have you given up on them? Are you like the demon-possessed man--eager to do what the Lord calls you to do? Speak of Christ to the first lost soul you see today! Write 2 Timothy 1:8 on an index card and memorize it. Invite people to know Jesus today!

               

WEDNESDAY

It is important for the Christian to see people as they really are--walking corpses, without God, destined to burn in hell because they know not Jesus as Lord! This is a terrible image, but it is reality! When this image escapes our thoughts, then the need to confess Christ before men becomes an unimportant thing! Noah, the prophets, Christ, and the apostle acknowledged the need to tell others of the coming judgment. Read Acts 24:24-25. What did Paul speak to Felix and his wife about? What three things did his message include? Why did you think Felix became afraid? Will the gospel be accepted by everyone? What must you teach people when confessing Christ? Read 2 Corinthians 5:10-11. What must others need to know when we share the Lord with them? What is the motivation to tell others of Christ? Is it a serious matter for others to know? Why? How motivated are you in telling others of Jesus? Write James 5:20 on an index card and memorize it. Speak to someone today about the hope of  the gospel! Invite them to church!

 

THURSDAY

The Bible often describes the character of the true child of God. For example, Hebrew writer says  that those in Christ are not those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who believe and are saved! (Hebrews 10:38-39) The psalmist speaks of another characteristic of the true child of God! Read Psalm 145:8-12.  Describe the person of God as taught by the psalmist? Why are His saints excited in the Lord? What great things has the Lord done for you personally? What mighty acts has He done in your life? How has He been gracious to you? How has He been compassionate to you? How has He been patient with you today? How has He richly loved you? Why is His kingdom unlike any other? Have you shared the Lord with a lost soul today? Write Psalm 145:10-12 on an index card and memorize it. Tell someone today about the kingdom of Christ and of His marvelous deeds!

 

FRIDAY

Well, we’ve finished the segment on the Life of Christ! I hope this week has been an encouragement to share the Lord with the lost! Keep in mind: it is also important for you to keep faithful to the reading of the Scriptures. We must allow the Word of God to spiritually feed us. Encourage spiritual maturity in your life! Study the Word! Seek insight from older brothers and sisters. Participate in Bible class and pray for wisdom and understanding! The Lord is gracious! Read 1 Peter 3:15. What does it mean to set apart Christ as Lord? Notice the challenge! What should we always be ready to do? How can we prepare ourselves to answer those who question our faith? Write down some ways you can prepare yourself for this task? How should we answer everyone? Are you familiar with what to say when speaking about the gospel? Do you have a working knowledge of evidences for God and the Bible? Are you prepared to deal with atheists, agnostics, and people of other “faiths”? Are you praying for wisdom? Don’t be lazy! Be diligent! Write 1 Peter 3:15 on an index card and memorize it. Tell someone about the saving power of  Jesus today, tomorrow, and always--until He comes!!!