Keeping up with your spiritual disciplines is something that requires time and attention.

If you let your devotional life slide, it becomes a source of irritation, frustration and embarrassment.

Benefits of the inner garden
1. an eternal perspective on reality (Psalm 2:1-6)

God is sovereign and He has a plan

2. an intimate friendship you can develop with God (Psalm 51:10-13)

3. a fear of your accountability to God (Psalm 39:8)

Although God is our intimate friend, He is also the omnipotent God who punishes sin.

Uzziah (II Chronicles 26)

We will be humbled if we fail to stay in touch with God and keep in His Word.

4. an awareness of who we are in comparison to God (Psalm 8:3-6)

5. a spiritual reserve in moments of crisis (Psalm 119:49-52, 92-95, 141-144)

It is harder to hear God speak when you are overwhelmed by your own pain and disappointment.

The Romans Road of Salvation
1. the sinfulness of man (3:23)
2. the grace of God (6:23)
3. the work of Christ (5:8)
4. the response of man (10:9-10)

apologetics- not apologizing for your faith, but defending your faith

Empirical apologetics- presenting evidence
Presuppositional apologetics- everyone instinctively has an awareness of God

Strategy for Evangelism
1. Relationship
a. builds credibility
b. concept of acceptance

2. Reasoning

Don't stop at the head-knowledge aspect of believing.
a. talk about the benefits of being a Christian
b. share what Christ has done for you personally
c. share your own experience
d. don't be afraid to talk about eternity

3. Rebuttal
Respond to the viewpoint of the unbeliever.
Listening is as important as talking.
This stage pushes the viewpoints of the unbeliever to their ultimate conclusion.

4. Repentance
For the process to be complete, there must be a life-changing decision to follow Christ.

Evangelism = the good message

1. Evangelism must be Biblical.

The message we bring to the world must be without error, impurity, or deceit.

The main purpose has to be to get God's Word to the ears and hearts of people.

Real evangelism happens outside the doors of the church.


2. Evangelism must be authentic.

The message must come from the self.

In the Bible, evangelism is initiated by the believer.


3. Evangelism must be gracious.

(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.

In the Bible, evangelism is connected to another event or experience in the lives of individuals.


Objectives of the Church

Worship 
                            depth of the Church
Instruction 

Fellowship 
                            breadth of the Church
Evangelism 

The things we do to solidify our relationships with other people also apply to getting to know God better




Relationships  to other people                                                        Relationship to God
               (wedding)                                                                              (Baptism)

1. Share a meal                                                                          The Lord's Supper
                                                                                                     (I Corinthians 11:26)

It is a way to commune personally with God at His table.


2. Enter into conversation                                                        Prayer (Matt. 6:8)

God has chosen to root his power in our shared concern.


3. Hear stories                                                                    The Bible is the story of Jesus.

The Bible is a personal book. (II Timothy 3:14-18)


4. Get to know their family                                              If we want to love God, we must love His                                                                                                   family   (I John 4:21-5:1)

A person can never be content in his relationship with Jesus until he comes to grips with his spiritual family.


5. Learn about their work                                                 In order to get to know God better, it is                                                                                                     important to be involved in His work.

His work is to transform people into beings who will reign with Christ one day.

All these elements of relationships are connected to each other.

There always seems to be a tension between what we know is supposed to be and what actually is.


That tension should make us yield ourselves more fully to God's word, His commandments, and His presence and control in our lives.


For those who long for God, the promise will create a burning desire to grow into a deeper fellowship with Him.


The things we do as a church are to help you grow in your personal knowledge of and relationship to God.


Stages of a love relationship
a. recognition
b. relationship
c. publicly profess- wedding


Stages of relationship with God
a. recognize the price that was paid
b. not only recognize, but confess
c. publicly profess - baptism (Romans 6:3-4)