-As a church, we teach our students to be involved in STL, we teach our children to be involved in BGMC.
-River of Life’s roots are deeply in missions.
ILLUS.: Southeastern Assemblies of God University conducted a study that looked at church growth within Pentecostal denominations. (Before 2020)
-It showed that only 6% of Pentecostal churches are growing through evangelistic conversion.
Another study states that 78% of evangelical churches, representing the entire protestant community, have plateaued or are in decline. Of the 22% that are growing, 11% of that growth is through the transference of membership.
Only 11% of evangelical churches across the board are growing through conversion. However, 8% of that number is biological growth— meaning children being discipled in the home.
- The kingdom is not growing as it
- There is a lot of re-arranging of the kingdom.
- Sadly since 2020, that rate of Church closure has increased from 20 churches per day to 80.
-We have a lot of work to do.
-It is imperative that we speak to people regarding their eternal soul.
-How shall they hear unless they are told? John 3:16
-The answer for the world’s ills is not better universities, the answer for the world’s poverty is not more charity programs, the answer for the world’s problems is not more conferences and treaties, but the answer for the world is the Salvation of Mankind.
-God is not interested in His church just having a crowd; God is not interested in His church just having a budget, God is not interested in His church just having nicer facilities, but God is interested in His church becoming an influence, a force, a change agent for the community through the salvation of souls.
Text: Proverbs 11:30
AMPLIFIED: “The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men—he gathers and receives them for eternity].”
How many want to be wise? We want to be a SOUL WINNER.
*STL is all about WINNING SOULS to Jesus Christ. It is letting other people “in” in what you and I have received from God. We have received forgiveness, we have received the abundant life of Jesus Christ. We have been given “Freedom from guilt, Freedom from shame, and Freedom from Condemnation.” Isn’t that wonderful?
When we win souls then we are wise! We are not supposed to keep it to ourselves.
1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SPEED THE LIGHT?
-Context of sharing the gospel. -Our testimony alone will not save people.
-A power encounter alone will not save people.
A. Sharing the gospel is not...
- Praying for someone
- Inviting someone to church
- Living a godly life in front of people
- Giving a prophetic word
- Healing the sick
- Simply getting someone to recite the sinner’s prayer
- Sharing your testimony
-In most cases, evangelism requires a process.
-It takes the average person 7 to 10x’s of hearing the gospel before they respond.
-You may # 3/8 or #1/10
-One plants, one waters, one cultivates, and one harvests.
-There are many activities we call evangelism that is in actuality just part of the process, which should be known as pre-evangelism.
The importance of pre-evangelism cannot be stressed enough. Please do not stop doing these things.
-To understand what constitutes sharing the gospel, we must clarify the difference. Salvation requires submission to the gospel.
-We live in an extremely broken world with broken people.
-In Genesis 3, humanity became broken, people are broken spiritually which has cause brokenness in their personal lives, their families, and in their emotional being.
THE ONLY ANSWER IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
Jesus commanded us to be ACTIVE in preaching the good news. Jesus told us to go, He told us to be active, not passive.
He didn’t tell us to wait till someone asks us. He said, “Go be involved in other people’s lives.
ILLUS.: There was a time when people came home you would say hi to your neighbor. Now we just drive into our garages, and the door closes behind us. There was a time when we were much more involved in our neighbors’ lives. Now we screen out calls using CALLER ID, and voice mail.
-We are to preach, actually PROCLAIM the word of God. We are all called to evangelism. We are called to share the good news, not just the preacher.
ILLUS.: I recall being a youth pastor and challenging our youth to preach and invite friends to church. This shy – quiet, awkward young girl, just happened to believe that she could make a difference. She was mostly deaf. She felt very unusable, but she knew that God called her to make a difference.
-I watched as one week she brought 2 friends to Youth Group, then eventually 4,5, 8, 10, 12.
-One Wednesday night she walked in with 20 friends following her. She brought half of them to Sunday School, and many of those students made a decision for Christ.
B. SHARING THE GOSPEL IS…
- Jesus is the promised Messiah-King (John 1:35–41). There is no other name under heaven whereby that man can be saved.
- The cross (Acts 2:23). That old piece of wood is where Jesus died. It is a relevant message.
- The resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15). Jesus was raised from the dead so will we. “We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye.”
- The repentance (Acts 20:21). “Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- The gospel should get a response, not just (Acts 17:16–34)
- Live a life of continued repentance through holiness. (Colossians 3:5)
-In a day of easy grace and gospel lace, God tells us to live a life of dedication.
**You can’t live like hell and call yourself a Christian.
2. THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NEEDED FOR SPEEDING THE LIGHT.
-We cannot be effective without the Power of the Holy Spirit.
ILLUS.: I remember when I was filled with the Holy Spirit; it made a difference in my ability to share the gospel. I immediately felt a boldness and change in my persona, my confidence, and my vocal ability.
-Jesus revealed the promise of the Holy Spirit after His death and resurrection.
(Acts 1:8)-“But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”
A. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is POWER. (Acts 2:1–13)
- Along with the physical evidence of speaking in tongues, there is also continuity in Luke’s theological premise: “Power follows an individual who is filled with the Spirit.” (Acts 2:16–17)
- This is a new dispensation of the kingdom of God being made known for all believers. Now, not only would Elijah, Moses, and the Old Testament prophets be given prophetic utterance, but all believers could be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- This empowerment would bring about an effectual gospel proclamation.
B. The Apostles spread the gospel because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit.
1. Peter
- Before Peter preached to the crowd in Jerusalem, he was filled with the Spirit (Acts 2:1–4).
- Peter had cowered at the crucifixion of Christ. (Luke 22:54–62).
- Now, he preached boldly the need for repentance and the truth of the resurrection.
This is the New Testament pattern.
2. Stephen
What was Stephen known for? Powerful speech, and signs and wonders (Acts 6:8).
- Now we see the gospel spreading to other regions around Jerusalem.
- Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed the gospel empowered to move in signs and wonders (Acts 8:4–8).
4. Paul
- Paul is converted on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–7).
- Paul receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17–19).
- Throughout Paul’s missionary journeys, we see him proclaim the gospel message empowered by the Holy Spirit with evidence of miraculous signs.
POINT: The Holy Spirit empowers us today as his witnesses.
- If you are filled with the Spirit, you have everything you need to share the gospel.
- We are not filled with the Spirit simply to be depression-free or feel good or feel an emotional high.
- The infilling of the HS is for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel to the lost.
- It is not based on our persuasive abilities.
- It is not based upon our particular evangelism style.
- The power is in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
3. SHARING THE LIGHT.
HOW TO LEAD SOMEONE TO CHRIST.
1. God loves us and offers a wonderful plan for our life. John 3:16; John 10:10
- God’s Love: It always starts with God’s love. John 3:16
- God’s Plan: Only God’s plan is life to the FULL. John 10:10
Q-Why are people not living LIFE TO THE FULL?
2. People are SINFUL and SEPARATED from God.
Therefore, people cannot know and experience God’s plan for their lives.
Man is Sinful- Romans 3:23
Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his own stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken.
This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
Man Is Separated – (Romans 6:23).
▲ – Holy God | ★ – Sinful Man
God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows illustrate that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion, but he inevitably fails. The third principle explains the only way to bridge this gulf…
3. Jesus Christ is God’s ONLY provision for man’s sin.
Through Him, you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life.
He Died in Our Place – (Romans 5:8)
He Rose from the Dead – (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
He Is the Only Way to God- (John 14:6).
God loves us | We are separated from Jesus |Jesus is the only provision for Man.
God has bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
4. We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Then- we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.
1. We Must Receive Christ- (John 1:12) . 2. We Receive Christ Through Faith – (Ephesians 2:8-9) 3. When We Receive Christ…….We experience a new birth. (John 3:1-8) 4. We Receive Christ Through Personal Invitation (Revelation 3:20) Receiving Christ Involves … … turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be.
Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.
The Christ-Directed Life Vs. The Self-Directed Life
Romans Road: Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10
Other: Rom. 3:23; Romans 6:23; I John 1:9-10; Revelation 3:20.