Personal evangelism is one of those difficult responsibilities that all Christians know they need to do more regularly, but often we become distracted or make excuses that help us procrastinate fulfilling this great and needed work. This examines many of these excuses, answers them, and helps us overcome.
Ambassadors For Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) Bible StudyDanny Scotton, Jr.
Christians are called to be ambassadors -- authorized agents of the message of reconciliation to God through Christ. In this (updated) Bible Study, based on a sermon previously shared on 9.29.19.
For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/C4C-Ambassadors-Study
For the sermon video, outline, text, bibliography and more, please visit: http://bit.ly/C4C-Ambassadors-Sermon
The devil is crafty but we know how he operates. He sets snares in which to trap us in sin. In this lesson we examine in depth how satan operates. Both slides and audio can be viewed together at www.cmcoc.org
Sermon by: Brian Birdow
Ambassadors For Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) Bible StudyDanny Scotton, Jr.
Christians are called to be ambassadors -- authorized agents of the message of reconciliation to God through Christ. In this (updated) Bible Study, based on a sermon previously shared on 9.29.19.
For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/C4C-Ambassadors-Study
For the sermon video, outline, text, bibliography and more, please visit: http://bit.ly/C4C-Ambassadors-Sermon
The devil is crafty but we know how he operates. He sets snares in which to trap us in sin. In this lesson we examine in depth how satan operates. Both slides and audio can be viewed together at www.cmcoc.org
Sermon by: Brian Birdow
A verse by verse commentary on Ephesians 5 17-33 dealing with avoiding living a foolish life of getting drunk, but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit and sing with joy because you know the will of God. Paul then goes on to deal with the relationships of husband and wife.
Prepare to stand before church and statehowdynaija
All through the ages of this earth's history, God's people have always faced persecutions. The children of Israel faced persecutions from heathen/gentile nations each time they forsook the Lord God almighty, some of those persecutions came from within the nation when apostate kings killed their own people such as in the cases of Manasseh and King Ahab and her wife Queen Jezebel who killed the prophets of God. Jesus Christ while on earth was persecuted by His own people and finally crucified by the approval of relegious/church leaders and Pilate (church & state) . In the same vein, the followers of Jesus were persecuted during the dark ages when the Roman church (catholic) ruled the world with iron fist for 1260 years. This same Roman empire is today mobilizing apostate protestant churches, political leaders and nations together so that she could control the world again as she did from 538 AD to 1798 AD (1260 years). When she shall have such power which she has already succeeded, those who keep all of God's commandments including the fourth commandment (the Sabbath Day - Saturday) would face severe persecution from Church & State, precisely, Papacy and the United States of America. Read more about this here: www.666truth.org.
Go through this powerpoint presentation prayerfully and God will bless you richly.
Please feel free to share your comments and questions below.
Jesus was always honored by the holy spiritGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being always honored by the Holy Spirit. If there is any dishonor of His name, you know it is never of the Holy Spirit. Any dishonor is of an evil spirit.
Mark 3, Hardness of heart, healed many, the Son of God, the Twelve, beside hi...Valley Bible Fellowship
Mark 3, Hardness of heart, healed many, The Son Of God, The Twelve, beside himself, He’s Nuts, Beelzebul, Lord of the flies, Jesus About Satan, Blaspheme Of The Holy Ghost, Unforgivable Sin, Unpardonable, Eternal, Ss
What you need to know about Returning Catholics. How do you help them? Smile. Listen. Then listen some more. Remember, Pope Francis said, "Do not forget that God forgives all, and God always forgives."
A verse by verse commentary on Ephesians 5 17-33 dealing with avoiding living a foolish life of getting drunk, but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit and sing with joy because you know the will of God. Paul then goes on to deal with the relationships of husband and wife.
Prepare to stand before church and statehowdynaija
All through the ages of this earth's history, God's people have always faced persecutions. The children of Israel faced persecutions from heathen/gentile nations each time they forsook the Lord God almighty, some of those persecutions came from within the nation when apostate kings killed their own people such as in the cases of Manasseh and King Ahab and her wife Queen Jezebel who killed the prophets of God. Jesus Christ while on earth was persecuted by His own people and finally crucified by the approval of relegious/church leaders and Pilate (church & state) . In the same vein, the followers of Jesus were persecuted during the dark ages when the Roman church (catholic) ruled the world with iron fist for 1260 years. This same Roman empire is today mobilizing apostate protestant churches, political leaders and nations together so that she could control the world again as she did from 538 AD to 1798 AD (1260 years). When she shall have such power which she has already succeeded, those who keep all of God's commandments including the fourth commandment (the Sabbath Day - Saturday) would face severe persecution from Church & State, precisely, Papacy and the United States of America. Read more about this here: www.666truth.org.
Go through this powerpoint presentation prayerfully and God will bless you richly.
Please feel free to share your comments and questions below.
Jesus was always honored by the holy spiritGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being always honored by the Holy Spirit. If there is any dishonor of His name, you know it is never of the Holy Spirit. Any dishonor is of an evil spirit.
Mark 3, Hardness of heart, healed many, the Son of God, the Twelve, beside hi...Valley Bible Fellowship
Mark 3, Hardness of heart, healed many, The Son Of God, The Twelve, beside himself, He’s Nuts, Beelzebul, Lord of the flies, Jesus About Satan, Blaspheme Of The Holy Ghost, Unforgivable Sin, Unpardonable, Eternal, Ss
What you need to know about Returning Catholics. How do you help them? Smile. Listen. Then listen some more. Remember, Pope Francis said, "Do not forget that God forgives all, and God always forgives."
Introduction to the question of properly interpreting God's silence in Scriptures. See also:
http://www.insearchoftruth.org/articles/silence_of_the_scriptures_intro.html
Getting Digital Webinar 2: Talking Online from Chris McGuire, Occupancy Marke...Hannah Rudman
This slide presentation was part of a webinar masterclass exploring how organisations successfully talk online; why there needs to be different styles of writing; and what different online channels are for suitable for which messages. Occupancy Marketing highlights some good and bad practices, then show you some Search Engine Optimisation tools that will help your messages stand out from the noise so that you can talk effectively online.
Many people doubt that the Bible can be understood, and even if they accept that we can gleam broad principles from it, they may doubt that we can ultimately understand it well enough to draw lines of fellowship. This examines this practical question of faith, assuring us that we can understand the Bible and even understand it alike!
Paul summarizes the first part of his letter of correction before heading on to other issues in the church at Corinth. Godly leadership as well as godly followers are needed both then and today. This is the last in the series Build in Right.
God's wrath, God's Will - Jesus Christ, God's Will - Church God's Will - The...franktsao4
The descent of the plague this time was large, violent, and wide-ranging, showing the wrath of God, but why is God so wrathful? If we put ourselves in the perspective of God, He sent Jesus Christ to pave the way for us to live a true and living eternal life. The price is the life of His single beloved Son. He established the church. He hope the church can continue to carry out this mission. However, is the church obeying God's command? And does the church interpret the Bible in accordance with God's will? Do those who participate in the church have salvation? If the answer to the above is no, it is no wonder that God is so angry.
In this lesson we define knowledge and how to obtain it. We discuss the necessity of biblical knowledge and the perils of being ignorant or lacking knowledge. Both slides and audio can be enjoyed together at www.cmcoc.org
Sermon by: Brian BIrdow
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
Homily: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday 2024.docxJames Knipper
Countless volumes have been written trying to explain the mystery of three persons in one true God, leaving us to resort to metaphors such as the three-leaf clover to try to comprehend the Divinity. Many of us grew up with the quintessential pyramidal Trinity structure of God at the top and Son and Spirit in opposite corners. But what if we looked at this ‘mystery’ from a different perspective? What if we shifted our language of God as a being towards the concept of God as love? What if we focused more on the relationship within the Trinity versus the persons of the Trinity? What if stopped looking at God as a noun…and instead considered God as a verb? Check it out…
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
2. Introductory Thoughts
• Is there a need?
• I am no expert.
• “It’s a secret to everybody … ???”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God to salvation for everyone who
believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
(Romans 1:16; see also, II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:3)
If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength; But wisdom
brings success. (Ecclesiastes 10:10)
3. “Pins in the People”
A company hired an efficiency expert to train its sales force to be more productive. The
“expert” set up a meeting with all the sales people and enthusiastically presented his plan –
complete with organizational charts and a territorial map. He carefully placed map pins
representing the salespersons. He gives his estimate of a great improvement in sales over the
next few years. Most of the sales people were sitting with mouth open and hanging on every
word. He then asked for feedback from those present. After different ones had expressed their
thoughts on “the plan,” an older fellow, who had been with the company for years and one of
their top salespeople, was seated near the rear of the conference room. One of those present
turned and asked the man, “What do you think of this plan?” The expert echoed, “Yes, we
would like to hear what you think.” The older gentleman looked up over his glasses, “Well, since
you asked, I think you should take all those pins out of that map and stick them into the
sales people.”
Over my years of preaching, I have observed a good many “evangelism experts” come up with
a multitude of “sure fire” plans and gimmicks virtually guaranteeing more baptisms and hence
church growth. They make themselves available for churches to have them in to present their
super-duper plans. Some of these have even put together kits that they will sell for a nominal
fee. For the most part, I think these men are sincere in their belief that they found “the solution”
and want to share it with their brethren. But, after evaluating the real results [from] most of
these “plans,” my conclusion is pretty much like that of the old salesman – take the pins out of
the map and put them into the people. No amount of organizational planning can be as
effective as instilling knowledge and conviction (the pins) into the hearts of individual
members through effective edification for the whole church. -- Edward O. Bragwell Sr.,
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=633029786740115&id=100000992998139
6. The Great Commission
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature.” (Mark 16:15)
• Given to apostles? Yes, but was it limited to them?
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
… teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20)
• Does their responsibility not generally pass onto us?
• Ultimately, whose disciple are we? Who are we
following?
• Are we not Christians and disciples of Christ?
7. Christ’s Mission on Earth
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do
not know what manner of spirit you are of. “For the
Son of Man did not come to destroy men‟s lives
but to save them.” And they went to another village.
(Luke 9:54-56)
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to
this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for
the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that
which was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, of whom I am chief. (I Timothy 1:15-16)
8. My Mission on Earth?
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I
who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20)
• Do we have any responsibility to work toward the
primary goal of our Master, Redeemer, and God?
• Does His love for us not demand the same from us?
• Does His love for our fellow man not demand the
same from us?
• If we are truly Christians, should our mission not be
the same as His, “to seek and save that which was
lost”?
10. “Not my talent!”
• True, some people are more skilled at various tasks
than others:
For in fact the body is not one member but many. … If
the whole body were an eye, where would be the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the
smelling? But now God has set the members, each
one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if
they were all one member, where would the body be? But
now indeed there are many members, yet one body. (I
Corinthians 12:14-20, 29)
“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who
hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold,
some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:20)
11. Why not my talent?
• Lack of knowledge?
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject
you from being priest for Me; Because you have
forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your
children. (Hosea 4:6; Romans 11:20-22)
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you again the first principles of
the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and
not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that
is, those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:12-14)
• Is this from a lack of time in Christ or lack of diligence?
12. Why not my talent?
• Lack of opportunity?
Then Esther spoke ... “any man or woman who goes into
the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he
has but one law: put all to death, except the one to
whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may
live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the
king these thirty days.” … And Mordecai told them to
answer Esther: … “For if you remain completely silent
at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the
Jews from another place, but you and your father's house
will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to
the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:10-14)
• Sometimes, opportunity must be created, even forced!
13. Why not my talent?
• Can we be trusted with a true opportunity?
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much;
and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in
much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the
unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the
true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11)
• What might be some of the “lesser opportunities” that we
have shirked?
• What “beams” prevent us “seeing clearly” (Mat. 7:5)?
• Have we been “faithful” in learning God’s Word?
• Have we been “faithful” in purifying our own hearts?
• Have we been “faithful” in pursuing existing opportunities
through family, work, and our community?
14. “But, I can’t persuade others!”
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always
be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks
you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear; (I Peter 3:15)
• If we are unable to “give a defense”, we need to get
able!
• It naturally follows from “sanctifying the Lord God in
our hearts”.
• How???
15. Sufficiency of Scriptures
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may
be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high
thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience
of Christ, (II Corinthians 10:3-5)
See also: Ephesians 3:3-5; II Timothy 2:15; II Peter 1:211; 3:15-18; I John 1:3-4
16. Sufficiency of God’s Design
Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me
understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
(Psalm 119:73)
Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not
eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to
Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of
tongue.” So the LORD said to him, “Who has made
man‟s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the
seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now
therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you
what you shall say.” But he said, “O my Lord, please
send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”
(Exodus 4:10-13)
• Will the union of God’s Word and His creature not
perform as He designed and planned?
17. “But, I don’t have time!”
• Does God understand when we truly don’t have
time?
• Yes! (Luke 14:5; Hebrews 10:25; II Cor. 8:12)
• But, why do we not have time for evangelism?
And the things that you have heard from me among
many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also. You therefore
must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles
himself with the affairs of this life, that he may
please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (II Tim.
2:2-4; see also, Heb. 12:1-3; Eph. 6:10-18)
18. What bank do you use?
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in
and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of
the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your
whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your
whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light
that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No
one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the
one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one
and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
mammon. … But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you.” (Matthew 6:19-33)
19. “It’s the preacher’s job!”
• aka, “We need a program!”
• What was the “program” used in the 1st century?
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering
every house, and dragging off men and women,
committing them to prison. Therefore those who
were scattered went everywhere preaching the
word. (Acts 8:3-4)
• Do not dismiss “programs” or “preachers”, but …
• Only preachers?
• What about Andrew (John 1:40)?
• What about Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:26)?
• If they could do it, why not me?
20. “But, nobody will listen!”
• Some generations are worse than others. Compare:
For if God … did not spare the ancient world, but
saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world
of the ungodly; (II Peter 2:4-5)
• Is our generation that bad?
• Noah still preached during this time – maybe for as
much as 120 years (Genesis 6:3-9; I Peter 3:20)!
• Can we make somebody listen?
• What is required of us?
21. What does God ask of us?
Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and
speak with My words to them. … But the house of Israel will
not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all
the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. Behold,
I have made your face strong against their faces, and your
forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant
stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be
afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they
are a rebellious house.” Moreover He said to me: “Son of
man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to
you, and hear with your ears. And go, get to the captives, to
the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them,
„Thus says the Lord GOD,‟ whether they hear, or whether
they refuse.” (Ezekiel 3:4-11)
• Whether they “hear” or “refuse” is not our concern – just
“plant” and “water” (I Corinthians 3:7; Matthew 13:3-9).
22. “For how long?”
• As long as there is people to hear:
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I
send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I!
Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: „Keep
on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but
do not perceive.‟ Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see
with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand
with their heart, And return and be healed.” Then I said,
“Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities
are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are
without a man, The land is utterly desolate, The LORD
has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are
many in the midst of the land.” (Isaiah 6:8-12)
• Again, what is our responsibility? Our place to despair?
23. “We’ll be rejected by men!”
• Whose rejection is worse?
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I
will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also
deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think
that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to
bring peace but a sword. For I have come to „set a man
against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law‟; and „a man‟s
enemies will be those of his own household.‟ He who
loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not
worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and
follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his
life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake
will find it.” (Matthew 10:32-39)
24. To Be An Innocent Watchman
“When I say to the wicked, „O wicked man, you shall
surely die!‟ and you do not speak to warn the wicked
from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity;
but his blood I will require at your hand.
Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his
way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in
his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”
(Ezekiel 33:8-9)
“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent
of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to
declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts
20:26-27)
25. “We’ll be persecuted by men!”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness‟ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and
persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you
falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly
glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
(Matthew 5:10-12)
• If we are committed to faithfully speak the truth of
God, will men be able to ultimately prevail against
us (Ezekiel 2:3-11; Jeremiah 1:17-19; Hebrews
13:5-6; Matthew 10:21-31)?
27. Have we endured? Why not?
• Fear of punishment failed (Matthew 10:28-33).
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot
kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell. … whoever
denies Me before men, him I will also deny before
My Father who is in heaven. … He who loves father
or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not
worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross
and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who
finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for
My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:28-39)
28. Have we endured? Why not?
• Fear of punishment failed (Matthew 10:28-33).
• Knowledge failed (I Corinthians 8:1-3; Mat. 23:1-4).
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His
disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in
Moses‟ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to
observe, that observe and do, but do not do
according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay
them on men‟s shoulders; but they themselves will
not move them with one of their fingers.” (Matthew
23:1-4)
29. Have we endured? Why not?
• Fear of punishment failed (Matthew 10:28-33).
• Knowledge failed (I Corinthians 8:1-3; Mat. 23:1-4).
• Faith failed (II Corinthians 4:3).
And since we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, “I believed and
therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore
speak, (II Corinthians 4:13)
30. Have we endured? Why not?
•
•
•
•
Fear of punishment failed (Matthew 10:28-33).
Knowledge failed (I Corinthians 8:1-3; Mat. 23:1-4).
Faith failed (II Corinthians 4:3).
Love failed (John 10:11-13).
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd
gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who
is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep,
sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees;
and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
The hireling flees because he is a hireling and
does not care about the sheep.” (John 10:11-13)
31. The Supremacy of Love
• Greater than fear (I John 4:18).
• Transcends knowledge (I Corinthians 13:8, G2L).
• Outlasts faith and hope (I Corinthians 13:13).
“Love never fails.” (I Corinthians 13:8)
We love Him because He first loved us. If someone
says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for he who does not love his brother whom he has
seen, how can he love God whom he has not
seen? And this commandment we have from Him:
that he who loves God must love his brother also.
(I John 4:19-21; see again, Galatians 2:20)
32. Where is our compassion?
And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to
a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were
many coming and going, and they did not even
have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted
place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes
saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran
there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before
them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when
He came out, saw a great multitude and was
moved with compassion for them, because they
were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He
began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:31-34)
• Love transcends self (I Corinthians 13:1-8).
33. To Love Jesus Is …
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me
more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You
know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My
lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon,
son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes,
Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him,
“Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was
grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do
you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all
things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him,
“Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15-17)
• … even mildly, is to love and care for His sheep!
34. Otherwise … Hate
But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so
damaged the plant that it withered. And it happened, when the sun
arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on
Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for
himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” Then God
said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he
said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!” But the LORD
said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not
labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in
a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which
are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who
cannot discern between their right hand and their left - and
much livestock?” (Jonah 4:7-11)
• Sometimes, we are more merciful toward that which is less
valuable and worthy. We can be very inconsistent and blind.
• God can use us, wherever our heart lies, if we will just open our
eyes, listen, and think.
• Atheist: “If Christians really believed in hell, they would crawl on
glass to share the gospel … Why do you hate me?”
36. Conclusion
• Wisdom can help us be more effective (Ecc. 10:10).
• Recognize our responsibility owed and defined by the
redemption of Christ (Luk. 9:54-56; Gal. 2:20).
• Immerse ourselves in God‟s Word (II Tim. 3:16-17).
• Develop ability continually (Hebrews 5:12-14).
• Seek, create, and seize opportunity (Est. 4:10-14).
• Do not despair!
• Pray for Boldness, Reapers, Wisdom, & Open Doors
(Eph. 6:18-19; Acts18:9-10; Lk. 10:2; Jm.1:5; I Kn.
3:5-12; Rev. 3:8)
• Trust God’s design, judgment, and preservation.
“Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” (John 2:17)
“the man will not rest until he has concluded” (Ruth 3:18)
37. “Feed My Sheep”
Do I truly love Jesus and His sheep?
Or, am I a hireling?
Editor's Notes
See also: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (II Timothy 2:2) “Faithful men” should be able to teach others also. If they are unable, then their “faithfulness” may be in doubt.