From: Subject: Evangelism & the Jerusalem Churc Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:57:09 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.sallisawchurchofchrist.com/Sermon%20Outlines/evangelism.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 Evangelism & the Jerusalem Churc

Evangelism & the Jerusalem=20 Church

 

-Introduction

-Matt 16:16-19; Col 1:18, Eph 5:27

         &= nbsp; =20 -We need to be the church that Jesus built.  Our souls depend upon = it.

         &= nbsp; =20 -Therefore, we must abide by the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11, Matt=20 28:20)

         &= nbsp; =20   and must follow the N.T. pattern.

-Acts 2 - the establishment of the church - From = there it=20 spread and grew.

-Today, nearly 2,000 years later, that church still = exists.

         &= nbsp; =20 -It still contains the message of the Gospel and the responsibility of = spreading=20 it.

         &= nbsp; =20 -It still contains the doctrine of Christ and the responsibility of = conforming=20 to it,

         &= nbsp; =20   defending it and enforcing it.

-So, the church of the 21st century can = be, and=20 must be, the church of the 1st century in

  terms of church authority, organization, = worship,=20 overall mission and doctrine.

 

-The Church at Jerusalem

-Acts 2:41-47

-At this time, the apostles were the = teachers.  They=20 were the leadership on earth.

         &= nbsp; =20 -They had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and were being guided = by=20 Him.

         &= nbsp; =20 -Under such guidance and Divinely inspired teaching, we find the church = in its=20 purity.

         &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; =20 -Man-made doctrines and man-made organizations were not diluting the = truth

         &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; =20   nor shadowing the identity of Christ=92s church - not yet. =20 Unfortunately, that

         &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; =20   would not be the case for very long.

-When you consider the overall work of the church - = evangelism, benevolence and

  edification - we find a wonderful example in = the early=20 church at Jerusalem.

-Tonight, let=92s focus on evangelism.

 

-Evangelism - Christ-Centered

-Acts 2 - The church was established in response to = evangelism.

-The church continued to grow through = evangelism.\

         &= nbsp; =20 -Acts 5:17-20, 25-28

-This evangelism was Christ-centered.

         &= nbsp; =20 -Acts 2:22;  3:11-19;  4:1-4,8-12;  5:28-32,40-42

         &= nbsp; =20 -Are doctrinal issues important? - Yes!  Is proper worship = important? -=20 Yes!  Is

  proper church = organization=20 important? - Yes!  Yet, this is not where the apostles

  began.  = They began=20 with Jesus - the message of the Gospel.

-I=92m afraid we sometimes talk to people about = what=20 they should do without first talking

  to them about why they should do = it. 

         &= nbsp; =20 -The message of the Gospel provides the why.

 

-Evangelism - The Truth Unchanged

-Acts 2 - the message - Jesus - Lord and Christ - = died for=20 our sins.  We must take that to

         &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; =20    heart, repent and obey.

         &= nbsp; =20 -Acts 2:36-38

-Acts 3:13-19 - (Compare Acts 2:38 and Acts = 3:19)

-In the face of persecution:  Acts 4:10-12, = 23-29

         &= nbsp; =20 -Remember, these things were taking place in Jerusalem.  This was = the=20 central

         &= nbsp; =20   location for the Jewish leadership - those who despised Jesus, = rejected=20 Him

         &= nbsp; =20   and had Him crucified.

         &= nbsp;           &n= bsp; =20 -There was going to be some resistance to the Gospel of Christ.  = There=20 was

         &= nbsp; =20             =   going=20 to be persecution brought against those who followed Christ.

-Yet, there was a = request for a=20 different message.  The request was for boldness. 

-Today, there are those who don=92t like God=92s = truth. =20 Instead of following the doctrine

  of Christ, they follow the doctrines of = men.

         &= nbsp; =20 -Due to a desire to be more acceptable to more people, some have = suggested=20 that

         &= nbsp; =20   we =93filter=94 our message a little, =93water it down=94 so that = it will appeal=20 to more

         &= nbsp; =20   people. 

         &= nbsp; =20 -We don=92t need another message.  We don=92t need to alter the = truth. =20 Perhaps, we

         &= nbsp; =20   need more boldness.

-Acts 5:27-32, 40-42

 

-Evangelism - An Individual = Responsibility

-Acts 6:7

-The Gospel was spreading.  The church was = growing.

         &= nbsp; =20 -The Gospel is a powerful message (Rom 1:16).  It can lead to = =93unexpected=94=20 results -

  i.e. the = priests in=20 Jerusalem.

-Acts 8:1-4

         &= nbsp; =20 -vs 1 - =93...and they were all scattered...except the apostles=94

         &= nbsp; =20 -There were a great number of disciples scattered.  What did they = do? - vs=20 4

-They realized their individual responsibility in = spreading=20 the Gospel of Christ.

         &= nbsp; =20 -They didn=92t depend on a select few to do it.

-Their courage in the face of difficulties = motivated by their=20 love for their Savior, set the

  church on a course of rapid and far-reaching = growth.

 

-Summary and Invitation

-We need to evangelize.  We need to be = Christ-centered=20 in our approach.  We need to

  stand boldly upon the Gospel of Christ and = realize=20 that there is no need to alter it, filter

  it or water it down.  We need to = remember the=20 power of the message and we need to

  consider evangelism on an individual, = personal=20 basis.

-If we will work at the task at hand, we will see = results -=20 some that might even surprise us.

-What about you?  Have you responded to the = Gospel of=20 Christ?

         &= nbsp; =20 -If not, Believe (John 8:24), Confess your faith (Matt 10:32), Repent of = your=20 sins (Luke

  13:3,5) Be = Baptized into=20 Christ (Acts 2:38)

-If you=92ve previously obeyed the Gospel, have you = remained=20 faithful?  If not, confess your

  faults, repent of them and pray for = forgiveness (1=20 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24)

 

 

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