Week Eight – Book Notes Beholding God and Evangelism
Introduction: At this point in the book, we begin to look at 3 significant ways that the church comes into contact with the world and how we are to communicate our understanding about God. [Those three are Evangelism (Chapter 8), Christian Service (Chapter 9), and Living a Changed Life (several chapters).] The majority of non-churched people will never read our books or frequent the sermons, but they will grasp our view of God in the way that we present the gospel to them.
Why would different motives and different efforts of evangelism be considered different in God’s eyes?
Proverbs 11:30
Matthew 23:15
What is the difference between these two examples that have been sighted: One is done with wisdom (Prb 11:30) and one is done with an evil motive. One desires to make disciples unto the disciple maker, and the other desires to bring others closer to healthy relationship with God. Wisdom, in evangelism, is the skillful application of the right part of the gospel to the person who is listening to you. What are the parts of the parts of the gospel?
If we are to practice wisdom in our evangelism, we must begin with the knowledge that God is the center of all evangelism. The gospel is not a sales pitch or a memorized set of questions and responses, but it is the child of God being led by the Spirit of God to minister to the soul God sends in their path at the time and circumstances God uses to prompt them to be present. As we are reforming our understanding of God, this will naturally lead us to refashion our methods based upon the real God of our redemption.
Day One: Starting with God in our Evangelism. Being honest with ourselves is the beginning to reshaping our life practices to align with the character of God. If we want to engage in evangelism that pleases God and rescues souls, we must be biblical in our approach. We must build our efforts in evangelism upon a clear view of God’s character and ways.
Begin with this basic truth: Who God is will affect what we say and how we say it. We often forget that God is the author of evangelism. It is God who brings forth witnesses, equips them, sends them out and guides them to the person prepared to hear. But oddly enough, it is God who has been violated by the sinner. It is as though you built something in your garage and after you were done, it wanted to up and walk away. Would it hurt, of course it would. Deeper than any scar any ex has ever left on any heart, but then, when that thing that you built has an opportunity to come back to you, you do everything possible to provide a path or a way. You and I would say, HeY That Thing was mine already – why should I have to kill my son to get back what was created by Me? But those were the rules ordained since time began. Never doubt that all creation belongs to God. But He has permitted mankind to make certain choices, and those choices can not be overlooked.
Snyder writes about God’s Unalienable Rights. There is a degree in my own heart where I wonder why we as humans must make sense of why God has rights. It reflects again how small a view of God we actually have. Colossians 1:16-17: For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. God is the only ‘thing’ in all the universe that doesn’t owe His existence to anyone or anything else.
Romans 14:7-9 speaks not just to believers but to non-believers. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
The Nature of Sin:
Read Psalm 2: Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall shatter them like earthenware.’”
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
Notice what the author has to say about sin? Notice Who is the target of sin? Who is afflicted when sin is committed? What is the common perspective about sin in our own minds? Of course our lives are damaged and wounded but look at David’s perspective when he committed the sins surrounding Bathsheba. Psalm 51:3-4 For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
Let’s answer some of the questions put forth by the author –
- Have you ever considered the need for people to recognize God’s rights over them or have you skipped this truth and moved directly to “God loves you!?
- Where do you and I usually start with a person when witnessing?
- Can you see the importance of beginning with who God is and what we owe Him?
- Can you see the danger of asking people to trust in God when they have not yet been taught who this God really is?
- Can a person be saved who is trusting in a God that exists only in his imagination?
Day Two: The Ultimate Goal of Evangelism
What God’s motives in His desire to bring everyone to a saving knowledge of Himself? Is His just trying to gather the better team? Since He doesn’t need anyone else’s approval, why should He care about us?