The Plea of the Gospel: Be Reconciled to God (2Cor 5.18-20)

Evangelism Sermon 3 – The Plea of the Gospel: Be Reconciled to God (2Cor 5.18-20)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:45 — 64.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Podcast intro

If you are dealing with an unbeliever, there is one thing you know for sure before they even open their mouth: their greatest need is to be reconciled to God. No matter who they are, no matter what they are going through, no matter what their felt needs are, their greatest need is to be restored to a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That is the great unfelt need of our day. And the first step in being an effective witness for Christ is to help that person come to see that need – the greatest need of all, to be reconciled to God. I hope you enjoy the sermon. Thanks for listening. –Alan Burrow

Discussion questions

1. Have you ever been placed in a situation where you felt God was giving you an opportunity to plant a seed for Christ with someone you just met, would likely never see again, and would only have a short time to talk to?  What happened?  How did you handle the situation? What do you think are the biggest challenges to planting a seed for Christ in such a situation? What do you think would help you meet those challenges in the future?

2. Have you ever formed a relationship with an unbeliever where, over time, you were able to engage in conversation about the Christian faith?  How did the person find out you were a Christian?  How did the conversation(s) come about?  What was the nature of your conversation(s)?  Did they center around needs in the other person’s life, questions about the Bible, objections to Christianity, or something else?  Did the person become a Christian?  What was the outcome of your conversation(s)? What were the biggest challenges you faced in this situation? What do you think would help you meet those challenges in the future?

3. God made us with all sorts of personalities. We tend to think of people as either extroverts or introverts, and we tend to think of extroverts as better witnesses for Christ. Do you think this is necessarily true? Can you think of any types of people that a Christian who is more introverted might have a better chance of effectively witnessing to? Why do you think they would have a better chance?

4. Historically, the overwhelming pattern of Christian evangelism has been forming relationships with unbelievers and engaging in conversations about Christ with them over time. Regardless of your personality type, does realizing that fact make you feel more capable of being an effective witness for Christ?  How so?

5. In Acts 1.8, Jesus says, “You shall be witnesses to Me . . . .” Jesus speaks in the indicative; he is stating a fact, not giving a command. Previously, Jesus had said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you . . . .” (John 15.16.) By extension, these same things are true of us. Reflect on the fact that Jesus has chosen you in particular to be His disciple, and that He has declared that you – with your own particular personality and your own particular likes and dislikes and strengths and weaknesses – shall be His witness. Does this change the way you think and feel about bearing witness for Christ (planting a seed for Him)? How so? Does this help you feel more able to be used of Christ as a witness? How so?