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    Understanding the Gospel starts with Understanding OurselvesByTed DuncanTaggedevangelism Gospel John In studying John 3:1-21 this week, I was intrigued by this quotation from Thomas Constable, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. 

    Much of modern man's problem with the gospel is anthropological. It arises from a faulty view of himself. Fallen man generally views human beings as neutral if not good. Therefore the fact that God sent Jesus and Jesus came to save sinners seems only interesting at best. If man is good and not in need of salvation, we can applaud God's love as admirable. If man is neutral, we can take salvation or leave it. If we leave it, God appears unfair for condemning us. However man is not good or neutral but bad. He already stands condemned and destined to experience God's wrath. Therefore faith in Jesus becomes a necessary way of escape from that dreadful destiny.


    http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/john.pdf
     (page 60)

    ...but I don't have the Gift of Evangelism!ByTed DuncanTagged4 pillars evangelism As I was preparing for the sermon last Sunday, I came accross these encouraging words from Don Whitney for those who think they can't share their faith effectively because they don't have the gift of evangelism.

    "some Christians believe that evangelism is a gift and the responsibility of only those with that gift. They apeal to Ephesians 4:11 for support: "It was he who gave some to apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers." While it is true that God gifts some for ministry as evangelists, He calls all believers to be His witnesses and provides them with both the power to witness and a powerful message... Just as each Christian, regardless of spiritual gift or ministry, is to love others, so each believer is to evangelize whether or not his or her gift is that of evangelist".
    (Don Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1991. page 101)

    In this way,  the church is kind of like a National Leage Baseball Team. In the National League, there are no designated hitters, every player has to go to bat. Sure, different players may specialize in specifice areas in the infield or outfield like shortstop, catcher or centre field, but everyone, even the pitcher, has to go bat. In the same way different people in the church are gifted in different ways as encouragers, teachers, helpers etc, which means we serve in different ways, but their is one area of service that no one is exempt from and that's sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others.



    So just like Paul (Ephesians 6:19-20), we all need to be praying for and expecting opportunities to share our faith with boldness "as we ought". So step into that batter's box and swing away.
    The Great CommissionByTed DuncanTagged4 pillars evangelism

    Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is not optional. We have all been commissioned by Jesus to get out there and tell people about Him. This is not the Great Suggestion, it’s the Great Commission, and just incase you didn’t catch it the first time, in the book of Matthew, God inspired other versions of this solemn charge from His son in four other places.

     

    Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

     

    Mark 16:15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

     

    Luke 24:46-48   and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.

     

     

    John 20:21  Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."

     

    Acts 1:8   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

     

    In many ways God has brought “all nations” reaching “to the ends of the earth” here to the city of Brampton. Today, you have been sent as a missionary by simply showing up at work or by walking your child to school or going to the mall. I’m praying for you today that God would give you an opportunity to share your faith with courageous clarity today.

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