Sermon Notes: Witness- Your Friends
I told you Sunday morning I would post this since I went through things so fast... Not sure why it doesn't like to indent the outline but I think you can make sense of it.
I.
Overcome Image Problem
A.
I
have learned a good lesson about image.
1.
Driving
a Hummer in OK
2.
Hummer
has done a great job promoting its image.
B.
The
church has done a lousy job with its image.
Our culture is running from the church, not Jesus.
C.
Jesus
answers the question of how to earn the right to witness.
1.
Luke 10:29-37 29 But he, desiring to justify himself,
said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A
man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who
stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now
by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by
on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a
Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had
compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring
on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn
and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two
denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever
more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of
these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among
the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And
Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
D.
Too
many times the church is walking around those in need.
E.
We
are no longer relevant to many in our society.
They don't need us.
II.
Overcome Social Problem (McDowell)
A.
Sons of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32) "Of Issachar, men
who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do"
B.
3 Storms in our culture that affect the church- Josh McDowell
- OWU Conference
1.
Origin of Truth
a)
Most
of history truth was found in God.
b)
Enlightenment--
We don't need God because look how great man is.
c)
Industrial
Revolution-- Look how good man can create.
d)
Evolution--
There is no God. God is dead.
(1)
#1 Virtue of our culture= tolerance= Just because it's right
for you doesn't mean it is for me.
e)
2
Distinct cultures in America today.
(1)
Those over 40-- Believe Truth is Discovered
(2)
Those under 40- Truth is created.
(a)
It's true because they believe it. Truth is found within.
2.
Internet
a)
Internet is ethically neutral-- It's how it is used.
b)
2012 adolescence spent 18 hours a week. 2013 it is 40 hours a week.
c)
YouTube has 100 hours per second of video uploaded.
d)
We have unlimited knowledge at our fingertips.
(1)
Questions now by Middle School kids use to be what was
asked by Juniors in College.
3.
Pornography
a)
35% of internet searches are porn.
b)
25% of downloads are porn.
c)
90% of 8-16 year olds have seen porn.
(1) 91%
saw it the first time by accident.
(2) Avg
age of first time to see= 8 yrs old.
d)
38% are addicted.
(1) Harder
addiction to break than drugs and alcohol.
(2) Drugs
and Alcohol it takes more to sustain the addiction.
(3) Pornography
it takes different.
(4) Eventually
the different turns into reality.
III.
Overcome Complexity Problem
A.
We
make it too hard!
B.
Parable
of Seed and Sower-- The seed is the Gospel.
1.
Luke 8:4-7, 11-15, …he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went
out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled
underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some
fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no
moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up
with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew
and yielded a hundredfold..." "...Now the parable is this: The seed
is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who
have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so
that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the
rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these
have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And
as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on
their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and
their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil,
they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart,
and bear fruit with patience.
2.
Sower
is sharing the Gospel
3.
Result
had everything to do with preparedness of soil-- not the sower or Gospel.
C.
FAITH
evangelism- CWT- EE
1.
Abiliy
to quote verses is good but only to those whose soil is prepared.
2.
Knowing
that is good but that is not all of evangelism.
D.
Prepare
the soil=Help people in the process of realizing their need.
1.
ILL--
The bottomless pit illustration with the cross as the bridge to God.
2.
Live
in a generation that don't even see the pit yet.
E.
Alex
Himaya at Josh McDowell Institute Conf.-- 8 Steps of Process of someone being saved.
1.
They become aware of messenger
2.
They like the messenger
3.
They realize messenger is a Christian
4.
They relate to the person and realize Bible's relevance
5.
They get positive attitude toward Bible.
6.
They hear and begin to understand Gospel.
7.
They recognize a personal need. (now they are ready for
diagram)
8.
They put hope in Christ.
F.
Figure
out where those around you are in the process-- then help them get to the next
step.
G.
This
is evangelism- it's not just the person who witnesses to them the last time.
H.
You
are part of the process everywhere you go.
IV.
Overcome Ignorance Problem
A.
Ignorance
of the church.
B.
What
is the Gospel?
C.
Why
do we believe to know truth?
D.
We
must stop being scared of science.
Science just finds data. Someone
has to interpret data through their own lens.
E.
The
data of science does not point away from God.
It points directly to God.
V.
Overcome Desire Problem
A.
The
desire of Christians to tell their friends.
B.
Apathy.
We say we believe Jesus is only way and say we believe in hell but our actions
prove otherwise.
C.
We
must go with purpose of making disciples.
D.
Time
for urgency on part of the church. We
are losing the battle. War will be one
but who will be left out because we lose this battle.
Witness: Your Friends
Matthew 28:18-20
How do we
take what we have learned from all these witnessing encounters and turn it into
an encounter with our friends and family and help them receive Christ.
READ/PRAY
Going = to
go with purpose. Living with the purpose
of witnessing.
Why I'm
preaching different today. Not expositionally
through one passage. I want to give a
practical way to use all we have learned the last several weeks.
Earning the
right to witness.
Obstacles in
our way while presenting the Gospel
5
Obstacles we must overcome in order to witness to our friends.
I.
Overcome Image Problem
A.
I
have learned a good lesson about image.
1.
Driving
a Hummer in OK
2.
Hummer
has done a great job promoting its image.
B.
The
church has done a lousy job with its image.
Our culture is running from the church, not Jesus.
C.
Jesus
answers the question of how to earn the right to witness.
1.
Luke 10:29-37 29 But he, desiring to justify himself,
said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A
man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who
stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now
by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by
on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a
Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had
compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring
on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn
and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two
denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever
more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of
these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among
the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And
Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
D.
Too
many times the church is walking around those in need.
E.
We
are no longer relevant to many in our society.
They don't need us.
5 Obstacles
we must overcome in order to witness to our friends.
II.
Overcome Social Problem (McDowell)
A.
Sons of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32) "Of Issachar, men
who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do"
B.
3 Storms in our culture that affect the church- Josh McDowell
- OWU Conference
1.
Origin of Truth
a)
Most
of history truth was found in God.
b)
Enlightenment--
We don't need God because look how great man is.
c)
Industrial
Revolution-- Look how good man can create.
d)
Evolution--
There is no God. God is dead.
(1)
#1 Virtue of our culture= tolerance= Just because it's right
for you doesn't mean it is for me.
e)
2
Distinct cultures in America today.
(1)
Those over 40-- Believe Truth is Discovered
(2)
Those under 40- Truth is created.
(a)
It's true because they believe it. Truth is found within.
2.
Internet
a)
Internet is ethically neutral-- It's how it is used.
b)
2012 adolescence spent 18 hours a week. 2013 it is 40 hours a week.
c)
YouTube has 100 hours per second of video uploaded.
d)
We have unlimited knowledge at our fingertips.
(1)
Questions now by Middle School kids use to be what was
asked by Juniors in College.
3.
Pornography
a)
35% of internet searches are porn.
b)
25% of downloads are porn.
c)
90% of 8-16 year olds have seen porn.
(1) 91%
saw it the first time by accident.
(2) Avg
age of first time to see= 8 yrs old.
d)
38% are addicted.
(1) Harder
addiction to break than drugs and alcohol.
(2) Drugs
and Alcohol it takes more to sustain the addiction.
(3) Pornography
it takes different.
(4) Eventually
the different turns into reality.
5 Obstacles
we must overcome in order to witness to our friends.
III.
Overcome Complexity Problem
A.
We
make it too hard!
B.
Parable
of Seed and Sower-- The seed is the Gospel.
1.
Luke 8:4-7, 11-15, …he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went
out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled
underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some
fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no
moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up
with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew
and yielded a hundredfold..." "...Now the parable is this: The seed
is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who
have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so
that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the
rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these
have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And
as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on
their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and
their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil,
they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart,
and bear fruit with patience.
2.
Sower
is sharing the Gospel
3.
Result
had everything to do with preparedness of soil-- not the sower or Gospel.
C.
FAITH
evangelism- CWT- EE
1.
Abiliy
to quote verses is good but only to those whose soil is prepared.
2.
Knowing
that is good but that is not all of evangelism.
D.
Prepare
the soil=Help people in the process of realizing their need.
1.
ILL--
The bottomless pit illustration with the cross as the bridge to God.
2.
Live
in a generation that don't even see the pit yet.
E.
Alex
Himaya at Josh McDowell Institute Conf.-- 8 Steps of Process of someone being saved.
1.
They become aware of messenger
2.
They like the messenger
3.
They realize messenger is a Christian
4.
They relate to the person and realize Bible's relevance
5.
They get positive attitude toward Bible.
6.
They hear and begin to understand Gospel.
7.
They recognize a personal need. (now they are ready for
diagram)
8.
They put hope in Christ.
F.
Figure
out where those around you are in the process-- then help them get to the next
step.
G.
This
is evangelism- it's not just the person who witnesses to them the last time.
H.
You
are part of the process everywhere you go.
5
Obstacles we must overcome in order to witness to our friends.
IV.
Overcome Ignorance Problem
A.
Ignorance
of the church.
B.
What
is the Gospel?
C.
Why
do we believe to know truth?
D.
We
must stop being scared of science.
Science just finds data. Someone
has to interpret data through their own lens.
E.
The
data of science does not point away from God.
It points directly to God.
5 Obstacles
we must overcome in order to witness to our friends.
V.
Overcome Desire Problem
A.
The
desire of Christians to tell their friends.
B.
Apathy.
We say we believe Jesus is only way and say we believe in hell but our actions
prove otherwise.
C.
We
must go with purpose of making disciples.
D.
Time
for urgency on part of the church. We
are losing the battle. War will be one
but who will be left out because we lose this battle.
CONCLUSION
-Are you ready for your own witnessing
encounter?
SPECIAL PRAYER TIME FOR THOSE SHOWING VIDEO
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