Transforming Ordinary People into Extraordinary Followers of Christ

The Church Has Left the Building – Part 4 of 6 – Be Bold & Clear About the Gospel

SERMON SUMMARY

We’ve been looking at Scripture’s “Great Commandments” and “Great Commission”. The Great Commandments of Scripture are that we love God and others. The Great Commission is that we share God’s love with others around the globe. Jesus linked love, outreach, and prayer (Luke 10:2).

What happens next is informative: Jesus told his followers to pray for laborers—and then in the very next verse he sent them out to be those laborers! God wants to use us as part of the answer to our own prayers (Luke 19:10 & John 20:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). And we’re to be bold and clear in our witness (Ephesians 6:20 & Colossians 4:4). Clarity is a skill, but boldness is a choice.

Boldness is the biblical manner in which God wants the gospel to be shared. Boldness isn’t the same thing as being obnoxious. Boldness can be very gentle and kind. It’s not mean or pushy; it’s just convinced— convinced that people need salvation, convinced that God loves the lost, and that Christ is the only way. Love is critical to biblical boldness. It is love for Christ, who died to make salvation available, and love for the lost, who are perishing, which compels us to boldly speak up.

Not everyone, of course, will welcome our message (2 Corinthians 2:15-16; Acts 13:48). Wanting to be liked and embraced by others stifles biblical boldness. Yet, knowing that the gospel message has inherent power gives us boldness and confidence to share it (Romans 1:16). One of the keys to biblical boldness is seen here in Acts: “be with Jesus” on a daily basis (Acts 4:13). Another thing that helps us be bold is knowing what to say when we have opportunity to share the gospel.

Being prepared with what to say enhances both clarity and boldness (1 Peter 3:15). Today’s Talking Points, Walking Points include instructions on how to share your faith effectively using the booklet, “Would You Like to Know God Personally?” There is specific content of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-6) and this booklet helps you share it. There are other benefits of this booklet: it speaks even when you’re not present. It helps you stay on track and call for a decision.

Your personal “testimony” also is powerful. A witness gives testimony of something he’s experienced first-hand. Today’s Talking Points, Walking Points also contain instructions on “How to Write Your Five- Minute ‘FaithStory’.” You can learn how to tell others about Christ, with boldness and clarity.

APPLICATION CHALLENGE

  • Invite a neighbor, friend, or co-worker to join you for church this holiday season. Urge those who are hurting to take advantage of TCC’s free biblical counseling.
  • Each day this week pray for boldness and clarity in representing Christ.
  • Write a draft of your personal “FaithStory” and ask a friend to edit it for you.
  • Ask a neighbor, friend, co-worker, or family member: “At church we’re learning how to explain the essentials of Christianity in a simple, straightforward way, and I have the assignment of getting someone’s opinion of this presentation. Would you be willing to give me your thoughts? It takes about fifteen minutes.”
  • If you don’t know Christ, we’d love to talk with you – get in touch with us here to learn how to know God personally.
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