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Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg

Your Un-Churched Neighbor Part 4: Teaching

Disciples make disciples.

Series Purpose:

To inform, inspire, equip and challenge us as the people of God to embrace our unique calling to be a counter-narrative people, to do His will and serve others, and to speak the truth in love, to those who are far from God, as we tell of what He has done in our lives and for the whole world.‭‭

Luke‬ ‭19:10

‬‬For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”The focus for today is: TEACHING.

Week 1 we began with the focus of UNDERSTANDING. You can’t reach someone with whom you don’t empathize, and you won’t empathize until you understand.

Week 2 we focused on PRAYING. God works through our prayers, and at the same time, God works in us as we pray. Prayer is essential.

Week 3 we focused on SERVING. Just as Jesus modeled serving others, we are also called to serve. Every opportunity to serve is an opportunity for God to work.‭‭

1 Peter‬ ‭3:13-15‬‬

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Be prepared: You are thinking and praying about this often. Your testimony is on your heart and mind.

Give an answer: This implies a discussion – a back and forth conversation about the Gospel, as opposed to a one-way lecture.

The hope that you have: It is your hope. This is personal. It is birthed from your story. It implies a positive outlook on your faith. and implies that Hell is not likely to be a significant part of early conversations.

Gentleness and respect: It implies gentleness and respect – as opposed to hammering the other person.

Gentleness and respect: You treat people this way whether or not you agree with their opinions or lifestyle.‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20

‬‬Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”-Peter declares that each and every one of us should be prepared to give an answer to everyone. And Jesus does the same.-The call of Jesus is a call to make disciples, which includes teaching them to obey what Jesus has commanded.

-The disciples took Jesus’ call literally, and the church was born through their obedience and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Bottom Line:

Disciples make disciples.-We each are called, not just to understanding, praying and serving, but ultimately, to telling others about Jesus.-What God does in and through our obedience is totally up to Him. Simply obey and let God worry about everything else.

One way to shape your story as you share:1. The ‘old me’

– What was the most important difference in your life before you came to Christ?

2. What God did – How is it that you came to believe? What was the most important truth of the Gospel that really clicked for you?

3. The ‘new me’ – How are you different? How has God restored life to you? What does that look like? Verses for further study/reflection:

1 Corinthians 3:6-8

Romans 10:10-17

Matthew 9:37-38

1 Peter 3:15

Romans 1:164

Simple Steps (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)To share the Gospel, you can follow these 4 simple steps:1. Tell them about God’s plan—peace and life.

God loves you and wants you to experience the peace and life He offers. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He has a plan for you.2. Share our problem—separation from God.

Being at peace with God is not automatic. By nature, we are all separated from Him. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God is holy, but we are human and don’t measure up to His perfect standard. We are sinful, and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

3. Talk about God’s remedy—the cross.

God’s love bridges the gap of separation between you and Him. When Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave, He paid the penalty for your sins. The Bible says, “‘He Himself bore our sins’ in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by His wounds you have been healed’” (1 Peter 2:24).4. Our response—receive Christ.

You cross the bridge into God’s family when you accept Christ’s free gift of salvation. The Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).To receive Christ, a person needs to do 4 things:

-Admit you’re a sinner.

-Ask forgiveness and be willing to turn away from your sins.

-Believe that Christ died for you on the cross.

-Receive Christ into your heart and life.

Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”Here’s a prayer you can pray to receive Christ:“

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In your name, amen.”

Church of the Nazarene East Rock

Your Un-Churched Neighbor Part 4:TeachingWhile telling someone about your faith and the Gospel might not come first, something may be wrong if it never happens.

Welcome back to our summer teaching series “Your Unchurched Neighbor”Through this series we are seeking to be more informed, better equipped, and yes, even challenged to reach the lost and seeking hearts all around us.

Today as we continue in our teaching series, it’s the moment some of you have been waiting for- and for some, it might be the moment you were afraid was coming in this series…The time when we un-pack the need to tell others about our faith and hope in Jesus.

While telling someone about your faith and the Gospel might not come first, something may be wrong if it never happens.

We can’t escape the fact that disciples making disciples was the last thing Jesus taught before ascending to Heaven.‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20

‬‬Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It’s easy for us to see the realities of declining church attendance and the ever-increasing tensions in our world and think we have no part to play in sharing the good news any moreOr maybe we think that its only for Pastors or evangelists.

The truth is- we all share in the call to tell others about Jesus.‭‭

1 Peter‬ ‭3:13-16

‬‬Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Peter highlights a few things for us to consider:

First, he assumes there will be opportunities for all believers to speak up about Jesus.

Secondly he addresses fear

Next, he moves to being prepared.

To give an answer implies a conversation or dialogue-Hope is the defining characteristic of the Christian- We have a steadfast confidence in our God and his plan- we aren’t limited to live by what we see or hear in the world.

Peter says finally that all of these interactions are to be done with gentleness and respect

Are you are part of the Kingdom of God right now, saved by faith, because someone told you about Jesus?

Whether it was a parent, teacher, pastor or friend…Your Father loved you so much that He called someone into your path…someone with the courage to tell you the Truth…And now you’re the one He’s calling.

http://bible.com/events/48941744

Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg

Your Un-Churched Neighbor Part 3: Serving
God works as we serve.

Series Purpose:

To inform, inspire, equip and challenge us as the people of God to embrace our unique calling to be a counter-narrative people, to do His will and serve others, and to speak the truth in love, to those who are far from God, as we tell of what He has done in our lives and for the whole world.‭‭

Luke‬ ‭19:10

‬‬For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

”The focus for today is: SERVING.

Week 1 we began with the focus of UNDERSTANDING. You can’t reach someone with whom you don’t empathize, and you won’t empathize until you understand.

Week 2 we focused on PRAYING. God works through our prayers, and at the same time, God works in us as we pray. Prayer is essential.‭‭

John‬ ‭13:1-17‬‬

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.“

Do you understand what I have done for you?”-Serving at the level that Jesus is asking us to serve is easy to misunderstand.-Jesus acknowledges that He is their leader, their teacher, the one in a position of authority over them and yet He serves anyways.

Many people are looking for an opportunity, even praying for an opportunity, but it’s the wrong one.

-Too often we may be looking for an opportunity to be right.

-Too often we may be looking for an opportunity to win an argument.

-But the truth is, the opportunity to reach someone will likely start with an opportunity to serve them.

Bottom Line:

God works as we serve.