Evangelism = the good message

1. Evangelism must be Biblical. (3-4)
The message we bring to the world must be without error, impurity or deceit.
Real evangelism happens outside the doors of the church.


2. Evangelism must be authentic. (5-6)
It means nothing to know every word of the Bible if you can't explain what Jesus means to you.
Evangelism is initiated by the believer.


3. Evangelism must be gracious. (7-11)
I Peter 3:15- “give an answer to everyone but do so with gentleness and respect.
The message of the gospel is all about grace, so it must be delivered with graciousness.


4. Evangelism must be relevant. (12-13)
In the Bible, evangelism is connected to another event or experience in the lives of individuals.


Objectives of the Church
Worship                      depth of
Instruction                  the Church
Fellowship                    breadth of
Evangelism                the Church

Kinds of peace
a. peace with God
b. peace of God
c. peace on earth

1. Only when there is submission to the authority of Jesus can there be peace of any kind.
When the truth of the gospel of Jesus penetrates, it divides. (Hebrews 4:12)

Kinds of conflict
a. between Jesus and his human opponents
b. between Christ and the devil
c. between angels and demons
d. between Christians and the non-believing world
e. even among loved ones

When there is conflict, somebody's wrong.
Jesus and His Word accentuates the conflict.
​

2. Christians can expect to suffer. (17-22)
Life with Christ, even in the midst of persecution, is better than life without Christ. (26-31)


3. Sooner or later, if Christ is your Lord, division will happen in your family.
This division is a good and necessary thing, even though it makes life hard.


4. “Take up your cross” means to understand and accept that difficulty will accompany the life of faith and  obedience to God.
This is when you find your life. (39)

Blasphemy= to speak against something sacred.
The fear of committing this sin is the proof that you haven't.


1. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is your heart's rejection of the the Spirit's work.

It will come out in your words. (vs. 34)


​2. (John 16) The Spirit's work is to convict the world in regard to:
a. Sin
b. Righteousness
c. Judgment


3. The Bible is also the work of the Holy Spirit.
(II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)

Rejecting the Bible as absolute truth is also rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit.


4. One more sign would be given to prove who Jesus was: the Resurrection.


5. There is a division to be made- those who are with Jesus and those who are against Him. (30)

If you have been born again, you never have to worry about whether you've done something God's can't forgive.

1. The Old Testament makes the symbolism of this  parable clear. (Isaiah 5:1-7)
landowner= God
vineyard = Israel
wall= God divine protection over His people
wine press = law and sacrificial rites
tower = temple
tenants = priests, scribes and Pharisees

2. God sent the prophets to the leaders of Israel to  make them accountable for the work that had been entrusted to them.

3. Jesus is the Son sent by the Father to reap the harvest of righteousness.

4. Jesus was rejected because He didn't fit into the plan of those who thought they had God all to themselves.

Application to us
1. God is the owner of everything we have.
2. He has entrusted to us a vineyard to cultivate.
3. The means by which we bear fruit is the sacrificial death of Jesus.

Everything comes down to how we have responded to the authority of Jesus.

Isaiah 8:14 – “He will be a stone that causes men to stumble.”

Being “broken by the Rock” may be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Better to be broken than to be crushed.

Responding to Jesus' “hard” sayings can change our spiritual lives.

The rich young ruler
1. It took courage for this rich young man to show reverence to Jesus. (Mark 10:17)
2. The man was making an assumption that the kingdom of heaven had something to do with goodness. (16)
3. His most important question was “What do I still lack?” (20)
4. Jesus loved him enough to challenge him.
5. It is hard when you place your trust in anything but God to enter the kingdom of heaven.


Possible interpretations of the camel and the needle
1. It is easier for a rope to go through the needle.
2. nickname given to a small gate in the wall
3. hyperbole- outrageous exaggeration
All of us are stuck in the eye of the needle.


Four demands
1. We must take Jesus seriously.
2. W must be willing to forfeit all of our material possessions.
3. We are incapable to fulfill the totality of God's law.
4. We must move forward in the area of financial responsibility.

The Christian life is like an uphill climb.

1. Sometimes it is long and difficult.
Two words from Paul: Press On!
The call of the Christian life is to follow the Leader. (II Corinthians 5:7)

2. The more baggage you take, the harder it is to climb.

3. You need to have a sufficient food supply. (Hebrews 12:12)
Don't wait until there is trouble in your life to start thinking about getting spiritual food.

4. Do not go alone. (I Thessalonians 5:11)
No matter how strong you are, it is not wise to go it alone.

5. Look behind you to see how far you've come.
Identify what God has done in your life.

6. Stay on the alert. (I Corinthians 10:12)
Our enemy is trying to make us fall.

7. Stop along the way. (Psalms 16:11)

1. The perfect law of the Lord converts the soul.​

The only way to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is through what has been revealed to us in God's law. (I Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:23-25; II Timothy 3:14-15)


2. The sure testimonies of the Lord make wise the simple.

The wisest question anyone could ask is: What must I do to be saved?
(I Corinthians 1:21)


3. The right statues of the Lord are that which rejoice the heart.

You will never be happier or more contented than if you follow in the follow in the pathway of the Lord and
are obedient to your Creator.


4. The pure commandments of the Lord enlighten the eyes.

God's commandments are the keys to freedom, cleansing and purity.
His commandments are not a burden; they are a treasure.

vs. 10 God's Word is more desired than gold.
God's Word is sweeter than honey.

 Elements of the Bible (nouns)
1. The law of the Lord
a. law of nature
b. law of Moses
​b. law of grace

2. The testimony of the Lord
the doctrinal part of God's Word.

3. The statutes of the Lord
guidelines that clarify the law

4. The commandment of the Lord
direct orders that you obey without questioning or hesitating


The Character of the Bible (adjectives)
1. The law of the Lord is perfect.
If God's written Word was anything less than perfect, then what about His Living Word?

2. The testimony of the Lord is sure.
The Bible passes any test you can put before it.

3. The statutes of the Lord are right.
straight- as in not being crooked
smooth- as in not being jagged
(J.I. Packer)

4. The commandments of the Lord are pure.
His commandment are for our own good.


Why we believe this (Harold Lindsell)
1. witness of the Holy Spirit
2. witness of the prophets
3. witness of the apostles
4. witness of fulfilled prophecy

1. Making salvation as complicated as possible (13)
Hypocrites leverage people into religion and out of that personal relationship with Jesus Christ.


2. Using people in the name of God (15)
Hypocrites hurt people. They don't help them.


3. Squirming out of promises you don't want to keep (16-22)
I doesn't matter how good your intentions are if you can't follow through and keep your word.


4. Making a big deal out little things and ignoring things  of critical importance (23-24)
It's not the amount you put in; it's the condition of your heart as you put it in.
​

5. Exhibiting laziness in all matters of the heart (25-26)
Your obsession with how things look on the outside is going to come back and bite you!


6. Looking good to others, no matter what the cost (27-28)
Jesus points out the irony of sprucing up the outer appearance of your life, when all the while inside your heart, there is wickedness, and malice and hatred.


7. Pretending to be better than others, no matter what the evidence (29-36)
Failing to identify your actions as sin and trying to to pretend you are something you are not is indeed hypocrisy.

The Positive Side of the Pharisees
1. They were a separated people.
They separated themselves from the pagan influences of another culture.

2. They were men of God's Word.
They recognized the authority of Scriptures.

3. They were men of the people.
They represented the man on the street.

4. They were men of tradition.
Much of the Old Testament was carried on through oral tradition.

5. They were men of great detail.
They were absolutely specific about the carrying out of the law.


The Dark Side of the Pharisees.
1. Separation led to hypocrisy and externalism. (Vs. 39-41; Matthew 23:25-28)

2. Allegiance to Scriptures led to legalistic oppression. (Vs. 46; Matthew 23:13-19)

3. Being from among the people led to self-righteousness and selfish recognition. (vs. 43; Matthew 23:5-7)

4. Love of tradition led to vain worship. (Matt. 15:1-9)

5. Obsession with detail led to reversed priorities.​ (vs. 42; Matthew 23:23-24)