Lesson 2: WHY-WHO and HOW

WHY-WHO-HOW

Of Sharing The Gospel

Everyone---Please Turn Off Your Cell Phones.

Today we are going to teach you how to tell the Good News (Gospel) about Jesus to others.  We will help you overcome any fear you may have.  Using the ‘Good News For You’ presentation will make it simple to share with others.

• Jesus was very concerned that the whole world hears the Good News.

John 4:35-36, 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest. ‘But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! NLT

Matthew 24:14 And the Good News about Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. NLT

• Three questions that every Christian must answer: Why should I tell others? Who should I tell? How do I start?
• Jesus gave us the Great commission (Matthew 28:18-20) which contains 5 KEY CONCEPTS for reaching the lost.

Matthew 28:18-20, 18 Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” GNT

1. Jesus assured His disciples that He had All authority in heaven and on earth and that He would ALWAYS be with them. V 18, 20b

• • Jesus has All authority not the devil, this is proved by His death for our sin and His resurrection from the dead.
  • Jesus will never leave us. Because of these two promises, we do not have to fear and can boldly share the Good News.

2. WHY should we present the gospel to everyone? Jesus commanded it! He said to His follower’s; Go— He did not teach us to ask the people to come to us. He said, GO, NOT COME. V 19

• • When we read Jesus’ Great Commission in the Bible, we see that Jesus has already given us an action plan
  • Often we say to people, “Come to our church, the doors are open.” We pray for lost people to come. But Jesus said, “GO!” It is very difficult for the lost to come to church- most don’t have an interest in church till after they are saved. They get very nervous coming to a church meeting. Instead of inviting people to come, we need to go out and find them and share the gospel where they are at.
  • Remember, Jesus said the harvest is RIPE NOW. “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest?”

 I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35. NIV

Say it together 3 times:  “Go-Not Come.  Go-Not Come.  Go-Not Come.”

Discussion Question:  Take turns explaining to your neighbor what “Go not Come “means.

3. WHO do we share the Gospel with? Share the Good News with EVERYONE not just some.

Jesus said: “… make disciples of all nations, …” Matthew 28:19a. NIV

• • This means we take the Gospel to Everybody, Not Just Some few people.
  • We often choose the people we want to go to and excuse ourselves from going to others.

We think one person is very scary, so we don’t want to share the Gospel with that person.  Another person “seems nice” and easier to approach. What we are doing then is choosing who we think will respond to the Gospel, instead of relying on God.

• • Jesus said: Go to every nation and tribe; not just our people group.
  • Jesus said, “Don’t just choose some. Go to everybody.”

Jesus gave the example of a farmer planting seed:  A farmer went outside to sow the seed [the Word of God]. As a farmer, he knows which soil is good and which is bad. But this farmer is different from others. He throws the seeds everywhere. Some of the soil is very shallow, some of the soil is very hard, and some of the soil is choked with weeds. However, some of the soil is good, and God multiplies the fruit 30, 60, and 100 times (from Mark 4:3-8). Sowing the seed is our responsibility. Only the Holy Spirit can make the seeds grow. So don’t miss anybody. Right now, the soil may not be good. But one day, God can change the soil; we never know. When it comes to human hearts we can’t tell who is “good soil” and who is not, so share the Gospel message with everyone.  We can’t miss any chance. (T4T) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, …” Matthew 28:19a. NIV Jesus wants every person to become His disciple.

Let’s say together: “EVERYBODY, NOT JUST SOME,” “ALL NOT SOME”.

Discussion question:  Take turns explaining what “Everybody not just some” means to your neighbor.

4. Make disciples who are trainers. A disciple is an obedient follower of Jesus, who obeys His command to train other obedient followers. Jesus said, Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, … Matthew 28:19a. NIV

• • Disciples are NOT JUST Church Members but obedient followers of Jesus— Don’t assume that everyone who claims to be born again is actually saved.

You can be a church member and not go to heaven when you die.  A lot of church members will attend church only on holidays or if they are having a difficult time. Others attend church but give little thought to obeying the teachings of Jesus.

• A disciple hears the Word, OBEYS, and passes on what his Master teaches.
• Therefore, a disciple should be a trainer of others.

Let’s all say “TRAINERS, NOT JUST CHURCH MEMBERS. 

Discussion Question:  Take turns explaining what it means to be a trainer to your neighbor.

5. Jesus called us to baptize everyone who believes and begin teaching them to become obedient followers of his Word.… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them …. Matthew 28:19. NIV

• • Baptism is the first step in disciple making.
  • In the book of Acts, every example of baptism happened the same day the person received Christ.
  • When a person is water baptized they are taking on a new identity in Christ.
  • Baptize those who profess to believe and help them become obedient disciples.
  • Jesus teaches us to obey, then to teach other disciples to obey also.
  • They must obey all the commands, including the Great Commission.
  • Baptism, without delay, is the first indicator that the new disciple is willing to obey Jesus.

Let’s all say: BAPTIZE them and TEACH them to OBEY God.

Let’s repeat All 5 key concepts:  1. He has All authority and is ALWAYS with us. 2.  GO to the lost, don’t just ask them to come to us. 3. Share the Gospel with ALL not some.   4. Make Disciples who are Trainers.

5. Baptize and Teach them to Obey Jesus.

Discussion:  Which one of these concepts speaks most to you right now? and  How can you begin obeying this command today?

6. HOW do I get started sharing the gospel with others is ALWAYS the big question on Peoples’ minds.

• • Prepare and practice your TESTIMONY: 1. What my life was like before Christ. 2. What led me to turn to Christ. 3. My salvation event. What my life is like since I became born again.
  • Make a list of your “CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE.” That would be your relatives, friends, neighbors, work and classmates and people that you see often in your day by day life.

Ask God to bring to your mind those who should be on your list; try to think of at least 25 people.

Ask God which five of those people you should go to this week.

Keep this list in your Bible and pray for those people. Each week ask who you should share with.

7. Practice sharing the Gospel with someone now. All you have to do is read through it, be sure you understand it.

Tell your practice partner who you are going to share the gospel with this week.

8. Get in groups and pray that God will help you minister to those people and that He will prepare them.

• • Then Jesus said, “I will be with you until the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20b This is a promise!
  • As we step out in faith and obey the Great Commission, Jesus will be with us and we will become effective trainers of others.
  • Remember, a disciple hears, obeys, and passes on what his Master says; therefore, a disciple should be a trainer of others. Tell someone in your group who you will share with this week. Be prepared next week to report to someone here how the sharing went with those five people.

“Are you ready to become an obedient disciple and a trainer of others?”