Blog Archives

"EFFECTIVE PRAYER"

10/27/2024

James 5:13-16

The most important thing about prayer is that it is genuine.

Keys to Genuine Prayer
1. Confession (James 5:16)
If there is sin in your life, communication is blocked between you and God.

2. Perseverance (Luke 18:1-8)

Why would you keep praying unless you really believed God hears your prayers and has the power to answer them?

3. Agreement (Matthew 18:19-20)

When many are in agreement, then affirmation is more complete and prayer is more effective.

4. Fasting

If you are truly burdened about something, fasting can and will add to the effectiveness of your prayers.

5. Submission to God's will
That's when doors open and things change.

"STRATEGIES FOR SOUL-WINNING"

10/20/2024

Romans 1:18-20

The Romans Road to 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. 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.

"A FOUNDATION FOR EVANGELISM"

10/13/2024

I Thessalonians 2:1-13

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

"NOT PEACE, BUT A SWORD"

10/6/2024

Matthew 10:34-39

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)