Who first told you about the grace of God in Christ Jesus? When was the last time you talked with someone about eternity?
We hope you’re sharing what Jesus Christ has done for you. Colossians 4:5, 6 “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Point people towards Christ, the living water. Our relationship with Him should be seen in everything we say and do.
There is truth to the old song, “They will know we are Christians by our love,” But the Word of God spreads through people who are not just demonstrating the Gospel, but proclaiming it. It is a show and tell.
WHY HELP THE LOST?
There is a tremendous need and urgency to clearly communicate the reality of sin and death and the hope of Christ and eternal life with him. There are many headed down the broad road that leads to destruction and few find the narrow road. We must faithfully tell others how to find the narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).
Reality check! How many times did you share the gospel this past week? ____ How many opportunities did you have to do so? _____ How many times do you think a New Testament Christian shared the gospel every week? _____ What happens if we don’t share the gospel? ___________
According to 1st Peter we are priests: a people chosen by God to declare His praise. What do we have most to praise Him for? The glorious gift of Jesus Christ, who received the condemnation for our transgressions. But three days later He was raised from the dead, giving us a new life of righteousness before God. Now there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ!
SCRIPTURE
- Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”
- 1 Cor. 15:3, 4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”
- Rom. 10:13-15 “for ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!’”
- 1 Pet 3:14, 15 “. . . And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”
- Col. 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
- Acts 4:19, 20 “But Peter and John . . . said . . . ‘we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
GOALS
The purpose of this ministry is for believers to learn how to share the Gospel and to encourage doing so as a habit and a lifestyle.
- To provide a means to practice personal evangelism
- To be compassionate toward the lost
- To disciple and establish those who come to Christ
THE GOSPEL
“it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” Romans 1:16
The Bad News
In Romans 1:18-21 (of the Bible), it says: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened”
Romans 3:10, 11 speaks of all mankind: “. . . it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God’”
Of you and I, God says, “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God” Romans 2:5
Also, “God will judge the secrets of men” Romans 2:16
The Good News
“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” Isaiah 53:5, 6
The good news of Jesus Christ is, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4
1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit”
Jesus Christ said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” John 3:16-20
Trust in Jesus to be saved from your sin; do what Romans 10:11, 13 says: “. . . ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed’ . . . ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” If you want to you can talk out loud to God, telling Him that you’ve decided to trust in Jesus Christ to be saved.
A New Life With Christ
If you’ve done this, you’ve been made a totally new person: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 5:2 says, “. . . walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us”
Be sure to join us at Maranatha Bible Church! Or, at least email or call us to let us know about the decision you made. We want to share with you more about how awesome God is! “. . . grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed be the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” Romans 12:2
Contact us with questions:
Email: evangelism@mbcmi.org
Phone (Tuesday — Friday nine to five): 616-784-5905