test9

Sharing Christ I

How beautiful… are the feet of those who bring good news – The Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 52:7)

Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest! – Jesus in John’s Gospel, John 4:35

9:19 For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. 9:21 To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. 9:22 To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. 9:23 I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it” – The Apostle Paul (1 Cor 9:19-23)

Introduction

We began this course talking about the Good News and what it means to enter a new life with Christ (lessons 1-2). We said that life with Christ leads to time with Him in His word and prayer (lessons 3-5). We also said that the Christian life is rooted in the complete and constant faithfulness of God, which itself calls forth a lifelong response of faithfulness to Christ – a response from us as individuals and from His church as a whole (lessons 6-8). Now, in the final two lessons, we want to explore another aspect of faithfulness to Christ, namely, sharing the Good News with our families, friends, co-workers and others God puts in our lives. Each of us, and the church as a whole, has been given a trust to make known the Good News to everyone. In this lesson, we’ll look briefly at the NT emphasis on sharing Christ and in the next lesson we’ll look at developing one important tool for sharing Christ, namely, our testimony. Before we begin it’s important to realize that as 2Peter 1:3. says Christian you have everything you need to share the good news with the world. A biblical example is the demoniac. Remember that after Christ healed the demoniac he wanted to continue with Christ but Christ said “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.” v20 So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed. Mark 5:19-20 Remember the demoniac was just saved and he was told to go home and share the good news with the people in Decapolis. If he can do it so can you!

Beginning Prayer
“Lord, Jesus: Thank you for your faithfulness to me and thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit. Please help me to learn to effectively share you with others and please grant me the strength to do it.”

Recalling the Good News

Review lesson 1 and 2. How would you summarize the Good News in four essential and related statements? This is the message we are commissioned by God to share with others.


2.

3.

4.


Jesus Calls Us to Honor the Father and Commit
to His Mission in the World

  1. What was the primary focus of Jesus’ life, decisions and ministry? What should the focus of our lives and ministry be? Read John 4:34-35 and John 8:28-30.
  1. What was the mission the Father had given Jesus and what is the mission to which He calls us?
    1. Luke 19:10 –
    2. Matthew 4:19 –
    3. John 13:34-35 –
    4. Matthew 28:19-20
    5. Colossians 4:5-6

The Power To Testify About Christ

Each of us needs the power of Christ in order to faithfully testify about Him and His atoning work (i.e., His death, resurrection, exaltation as reigning Lord, and His return to judge). This power comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit whom He has given us.

  1. Read Acts 1:1-8. What were the disciples concerned about and where does Jesus direct their attention (vv. 6-8)? What does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will give them (1:8)? What do you notice about the places that are mentioned in Acts 1:8?
  1. Read Acts 3:1-4:32 prayerfully and meditatively (see below for a quiet time outline that goes through these two chapters of Acts). Read and reread the story. How does the experience of Peter and John relate to Acts 1:8? Note as many things as you can regarding sharing Christ from this passage.

Quiet Times & Scripture Memory

  1. Continue to build daily Quiet Times into your life. Suggestion: Try reading segments of Acts 3:1-4:37 over a few quiet times, as per an outline:
    1. (QT 1-2) The Miracle & Peter’s Sermon (Acts 3:1-26)
      1. The Miracle (Acts 3:1-10)
      2. Peter’s Sermon (Acts 3:11-26)
    2. (QT 3-4) Peter & John before the Sanhedrin (The Jewish Ruling Council)
      1. The Sanhedrin Incarcerates Peter and John (Acts 4:1-12)
      2. The Leaders Threaten & Peter/John Respond (Acts 4:13-22)
    3. (QT 5-6) Peter & John Released: The Christians Pray & Grow (Acts 4:23-37)
      1. The Christians Pray (Acts 4:23-31)
      2. The Christians Grow (Acts 4:32-37)
  2. Scripture Memory. Commit Acts 1:8 to memory and review the previous passages.
    1. John 3:16
    2. Ephesians 2:8-9
    3. Philippians 4:6-7
    4. Galatians 6:7-8
    5. 1 Peter 2:9
    6. Acts 1:8