Bible Study October 4, 2012

Hey Gang,

Last week was another challenging lesson on the importance of the church to the Christian life. A thought was whether or not we are "doing" church the way God intended us to. Think about it, have we forgotten what makes our faith so radical and replaced it with something that's simply comfortable? Why do we go to church? Do we go because we are hungry to learn and grow in our relationship with Christ? Do we go because we want to worship a Holy God and be with other believers that love us as God does? What is most important to God about how we do church?


This Thursday we will complete our 13-week series on Apologetics and the Christian Hope, Faith, and Life - it's been quite a journey. Our final lesson is entitled "Life Worth Sharing" and yes it's on sharing the faith you have been learning to defend. December is only two months away and we all will be making a list of some sort whether it's for gifts or just things we need to get done before Christmas.

When was the last time you made a list of the people you know that need to know the Lord?

The image at the top of the page is from the movie Schindler's List - we'll be watching a segment from the movie this week as we consider those on or not on "Our List." This part of the movie has always made me wonder if this is the way I will feel when I go to heaven and God shows me those I could have saved, but didn't while I was here on earth. You know something, witnessing is often a series of encounters - maybe a conversation you have with someone, maybe someone observing your behavior, or maybe someone seeing how you handle a difficult situation in life. One thing is for sure - Everybody needs Jesus - give some thought this week to who you will put on your list this season.

Click Here to Watch - Shindler's List

Three questions this morning to really think about:

1. Are you convinced of the gospel's power?
2. Should you be concerned about the lost?
3. Are you doing anything about it?

Let's see what Paul has to say to each of these questions...

 

I. ARE YOU CONVINCED OF THE GOSPEL’S POWER? – ROMANS 1:14-17

14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Paul said that the reason he was so eager to preach the gospel was that he was obligated to the Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

• Paul was referring to those of the Greek culture and those not of the Greek culture. The wise and foolish refer to the educated and the uneducated people. What was Paul’s obligation?
• After his experience with Christ on the road to Damascus, his whole life was consumed with spreading the Good News of salvation. His obligation was to Christ for being his Savior, and he was obligated to the entire world. He met his obligation by proclaiming Christ’s salvation to all people – both Jews and Gentles, across all cultural, social, racial, and economic lines.
• We are also obligated to Christ because He took on the punishment we deserved for our sin. Although we can’t repay Christ for all He has done, we can demonstrate our gratitude by showing His love to others. (v.14)
• Paul was not ashamed because his message was the gospel of Christ, the Good News. It was a message of salvation, it had life-changing power, and it was for everyone.

Which of your obligations are you eager to take on? Do you feel obligated to share the gospel?

• Serving friends and family because we love them
• Compare this to witnessing to the lost

Why might Christians be ashamed to share the gospel?




4 Reasons Christians Avoid Sharing:

1. Fear I’ll make things worse – what should I do? (You worry you’ll bumble things; when a listener knows you’re uneasy, he relaxes.)
2. Don’t know what to do – what should I do? (Go with a partner)
3. Don’t have opportunity – what should I do? (see every encounter as a potential witness)
4. Messed up before – what should I do? (It’s a skill to keep practicing)

What could free us to be convinced of the gospel’s power?

• Paul seemed so bold throughout his ministry. But he was careful to testify that any power to be faithful was not his own strength but was from God. Paul wanted the Romans to get that message and the power behind it. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

 

II. SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOST? – ROMANS 9:1-3; 10:1

Paul’s Anguish over Israel

1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,

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1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.


The header says that Paul anguished over Israel – why?

• The gospel brings both joy and anguish – joy because of the life it gives and anguish because many will refuse this life.

Why did Paul have an overwhelming concern for the Jewish people who did not believe in Christ as the Messiah? How would this relate to you?

• They were his own people.
• Our burden for the lost tends to begin at home and with people we see daily.
• Who is a particular person or people group you have a heart for?
• How concerned are you for those who don’t know Christ?
• Are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, energy, comfort, and safety to see them come to faith in Jesus?

What inconceivable thing was Paul willing to do for his countrymen to be saved? How does this strike you?

• Paul expressed concern for his Jewish brothers by saying that he would willingly take their punishment if that could save them. While the only one who can save us is Christ, Paul showed a rare depth of love. Like Jesus, he was willing to sacrifice for others.
• As boomers, we may have become jaded about people who ignore God. What might stir compassion again? How can we develop a heart for the people of our nation?

What will happen to the Jewish people who believe in God but not in Christ? Since they believe in the same God, won’t they be saved?

• If that were true, Paul would not have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to teach them about Christ.
• Because Jesus is the most complete revelation of God, we cannot fully know God apart from Christ, and because God appointed Jesus to bring God and man together, we cannot come to God by another path.
• The Jews, like everybody else, can find salvation only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
• Like Paul, we should wish that all Jews might be saved. We should pray for them and lovingly share the Good News with them.

III. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? – ROMANS 10:14-15; 15:17-20

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

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17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.


According to Romans 10:14-15, what must occur if the lost will be saved? Which is more important: living the gospel or speaking it?

• They must hear and believe in Christ 

• We must take God’s great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News. How will your loved ones and neighbors hear it unless someone tells them?
• Is God calling you to take part in making His message known in your community?

If you were to make a list today of those you know that need to know the Lord – who would be on it? Shouldn’t you be concerned about them? Are you convinced of the gospel’s power? What are you going to do about it?



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Start with 5 people and begin to pray about each one and how God might open up an opportunity for you to share the gospel in some way. Consider inviting them to the Bible Study!

Remember 1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.



Final points of Apologetics:

1. Make Christ Lord in your heart.
2. Be gentle and respectful.
3. Find common ground with the person you are talking to.
4. Tell your story in a winsome way.

Practice explaining what you believe and why you believe it. Be sure to include how you came to know Jesus but focus on how He guides your life today.

I hope you have enjoyed this 13 week series on Apologetics. Be in prayer this week on how God has spoken to you over the last 13 weeks about your faith and the need to share it with someone today.

Hope to see you on Thursday!

In His Love,

David