What does the Bible say about sharing your faith with others?
2. Philemon 1:6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 3. 1 Peter 3:15-16 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.
Does every Christian have a responsibility to share their faith?
This jump could be the result of many factors, including poor ecclesiology (believing “the local church” is somehow separate from the people who are a part of it) or personal and cultural barriers to sharing faith. Yet the most dramatic divergence over time is on the statement, “Every Christian has a responsibility to share their faith.”
What was expected of Christians in the early church community?
In this brief excerpt we have preserved a magnificent description of Christian living in what was expected in the early church community. For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe.
How did the early Christian church change the world?
Staff. The early Christian church in the first three centuries after Jesus’s resurrection brought about the most amazing transformation of diverse social and religious cultures ever achieved by peaceful means in the history of the world.
A.D. The Bible Continues
A.D. the Bible Continues is a TV show produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the couple responsible for the 2013 record breaking miniseries “The Bible.” “A.D.
1. Messy New Testament
Yes, the testament is sometimes messy, and gory. Contrary to what you may have inferred from your pastor’s sermon or even from the Bible, the New Testament isn’t all rosy and void of war and violence. Just like the Old Testament, the new has its fair share of bloodshed.
2. Persecution Portrayed Like Never Before
If you faced death because of your beliefs would you still shout from the rooftop? Would you still believe? The disciple’s faith, doubt, and struggle while facing persecution is inspiring. I loved that they took time to put into picture what persecution may have felt like during the early days of the Church.
3. Subtle Diversion but nothing to be mad about
While a lot of the events in the New Testament are accurately depicted, there are a good number fictitious tales that A.D dramatises. The show tells the story of the early Christians in a remarkable way that Christians today can relate to, while keeping non-believers entertained and engaged.
4. Moments of Cinematic Bliss & Remarkable Acting
There are scenes that are just indescribable. Sometimes it is the acting, other times it is the visuals and editing. There is the scene at the cross where darkness covers the earth – I literally felt an avalanche of God’s power when I first watched it.
5. Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
What does Matthew 28:18-20 mean?
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.
What does Jesus say about the way?
22. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life . No one comes to the Father except through me.
What does Matthew 5:11-12 say about evil?
21, Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Who said "When a man is filled with the Word of God you cannot keep him still"?
George Whitefield. “The greatest way we can show love to another person is by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.”. “When a man is filled with the Word of God you cannot keep him still, If a man has got the Word, he must speak or die.”. Dwight L. Moody.
Objectives
The student will be able to quote the great commission according to Mark 16:16.
Preparation
Have a chalkboard, marker board, overhead, or PowerPoint ready. (You may download the PowerPoint to make overhead transparencies. When you do, click “Pure Black and White” on the print dialog box.)
Theme
Since the early church is our model for the church today, it is important to know the marching orders Jesus gave the early church and how they carried out those orders.
Introduction: (about 15 minutes)
Call the roll, welcome visitors, and make any necessary announcements.
Learning Experiences: (about 24 minutes)
Ask the students to open their Bibles to Mark 16:16. Explain the setting for this passage. Jesus was in that period between His resurrection and His ascension and was giving final instructions to his apostles.
Applications: (about 5 minutes)
How important was it to early Christians that they share their faith? (So important that they would not be scared away by threats, by jail, even by death to their members. They were very determined.)
Assignment: (about 1 minute)
Memorize Mark 16:16 and be able to write it on a piece of paper at the next class meeting.
Why should non-Christians not share their faith?
Six out of 10 say a person must not share if their religious beliefs are “disrespectful or judgmental ” (61%). Beliefs perceived as disrespectful or judgmental are the top reason sharing views on religion would be uncalled for: about half of all adults agree (48%). This is the case for all faith categories, including Christians, but they are less likely than non-Christians to say so. Practicing Christians seem to be more concerned than other groups about what’s going on inside the person who is sharing; 41 percent say talking about faith in anger makes sharing unacceptable. Other common barriers are when “someone has asked you not to” and “if the timing is inconsiderate.”
How many Christians say evangelism is the local church’s responsibility?
Twenty-five years later, three in 10 Christians who have had a conversation about faith say evangelism is the local church’s responsibility (29%), a nearly threefold increase.
Why is it uncalled for to share views on religion?
Beliefs perceived as disrespectful or judgmental are the top reason sharing views on religion would be uncalled for: about half of all adults agree (48%). This is the case for all faith categories, including Christians, but they are less likely than non-Christians to say so.
What percentage of Christians shared their faith in 1993?
In 1993, 89% of Christians who had shared their faith agreed this is a responsibility of every Christian. Today, just 64% say so—a 25-point drop. Click To Tweet. What and When They Share. From 1993 to today, the content and approaches of faith conversations have also changed.
What percentage of Christians in 1993 said evangelism is the job of the local church?
Just 10 percent of Christians in 1993 who had shared about their faith agreed with the statement “converting people to Christianity is the job of the local church”—as opposed to the job of an individual (i.e., themselves). Twenty-five years later, three in 10 Christians who have had a conversation about faith say evangelism is …
What is the sample error for the 1993 survey?
The sample error for this data is plus or minus 4.5% at the 95% confidence level.
When did Barna partner with Lutheran Hour Ministries?
In 1993, Barna partnered with Lutheran Hour Ministries to research reasons why people did and did not engage in intentional outreach. A lot has changed since that initial study, so 25 years later we asked follow-up questions to see if talk of faith has become labored in a culture that is more digital, secular and contested than ever. The resulting report, Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age, is now available for purchase.
What is the biblical evangelism?
Biblical evangelism is bearing witness to Christ in 3 ways: through who we are, what we do and what we say. All three are required. Our evangelistic witness must be visual (engaging in acts of compassion and caring about justice) but primarily it must be verbal, and this is where we are so weak in the West.
What I am seeing and what I am hearing, not just in America, but from other parts of the world, is?
Becky: What I am seeing and what I am hearing, not just in America, but from other parts of the world, is that many unbelievers are asking questions and re-examining their own beliefs. And churches are reporting that their online services have increased dramatically.
What is the second thing I hear in Stay Salt?
The second thing I hear is: "I just don’t know enough, I don’t understand the Gospel well enough, I don’t know how to defend it.’ That’s why the second section of Stay Salt is: The Message. What is the gospel? What kind of pushback might we hear from sceptics and how do we answer them? How do we help them see that their longings are so beautifully met in the gospel?
What is the greatest opportunity for Christian witness since the time of Jesus and the apostles?
Despite all our cultural challenges, I believe our age is the greatest opportunity for Christian witness since the time of Jesus and the apostles.
Is empowered a video?
Empowered isn’t a video for unbelievers – it’s training Christians who usually feel totally inadequate when it comes to evangelism. CT: We live in such a technologically equipped era and have so many tools at our disposal and yet at the end of the day, evangelism is something more simple. It’s just sharing our faith.
Is evangelism easier than I thought?
Becky: First: evangelism is easier than I thought, especially when we follow Jesus’ way of witness. People are often more open to having a spiritual conversation than we assumed, and we have the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. Second: evangelism is harder than I imagined!
Does secularism address human longings?
We also need to remember that secularism doesn’t really address or answer our deepest human longings. God has placed a longing for identity and meaning and purpose in all human hearts. Even when unbelievers can’t quite articulate what they feel they’re missing, the longings are there.
Why is sharing important?
Sharing is a recognized virtue in most civilized cultures because we understand instinctively that selfishness and a lack of sharing are wrong. Whether we acknowledge God or not, we are still created in His image and are more like Him than any other created being ( Genesis 1:27 ). Because of this, we recognize that other people are important, too. Most civilized people groups gravitate toward similar laws in response to God’s moral law written on our hearts ( Romans 1:20, 32; Ecclesiastes 3:11 ). We each have a God-given conscience. Since part of God’s nature is to share with us ( 2 Corinthians 8:9 ), people naturally know that sharing is good.
Why do people gravitate toward similar laws?
Most civilized people groups gravitate toward similar laws in response to God’s moral law written on our hearts ( Romans 1:20, 32; Ecclesiastes 3:11 ). We each have a God-given conscience. Since part of God’s nature is to share with us ( 2 Corinthians 8:9 ), people naturally know that sharing is good. However, due to the sinful natures we all …
What does the New Testament say about sharing?
The New Testament equates sharing with real faith. In his explanation of how faith is to be lived out in good works, James says that true religion is “to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” ( James 1:27 ).
What did the first century church do?
The first-century church set the bar high when they demonstrated biblical sharing. As the church grew rapidly, many new believers from other regions lingered in Jerusalem, hungering to be near their new brothers and sisters in Christ.
What did Caiaphas’ wife tell Joseph of Arimathea?
The high priest Caiaphas’ wife rudely tells Joseph of Arimathea (another council member) to hush up and often rebukes him harshly (as he cowers and submits to her), though this kind of behavior is considered highly inappropriate for women of this time, and an especially vulgar behavior for a wife of a priest;
What does the apostle John say about Jesus?
The apostle John says in one scene after Jesus’ crucifixion, "He [Jesus] understood our weaknesses. He loved us for it. He died for it." This preposterous and heretical statement completely denies why Christ came and what He died for and what He loved. Jesus loves the Father, He loves the holy commandments, He loves righteousness and He hates sins. But He loves those He came to save, so He took on what He hated in order to save those He loved.
Why do producers have to decide to stick with the facts?
Because television shows and movies have to tell their story in an established period of time (between one to two hours, generally) producers have to decide to either stick with the facts, or interject their own interpretations of what they’d like to see happen in each scene. If the makers of a movie decide to interject their own interpretations, for time-keeping sake, they must remove some truth.
Where did Roma Downey go to college?
Roma Downey graduated in 2010 from the University of Santa Monica , a private, New Age, unaccredited graduate school where she received her master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology. She’s also proudly connected with necromancer John Edward, who, to her joy was able to "channel" her dead mother so she could talk to her on February 3, 2002 of "Crossing Over With John Edward".
Is Mark Burnett a Christian?
Though there’s a grave misconception in the Christian community, the truth is, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett are not Christians. They don’ t even profess to be true Christians. They profess to be a mix of New Age and Roman Catholic religions—by their own words and by the rituals they choose to follow.
Who is the author of the Holy Bible?
The holy Bible is authored by God Almighty , and He has unequivocally denied anyone "artistic license" concerning His Word. In the holy Scriptures, God reveals Himself as—Savior to those He graciously and mercifully grants the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ alone , and the Righteous Judge who will forever cast into Hell, all those who disobey and deny Him.
What did Christianity offer to the homeless?
To cities filled with newcomers and strangers, Christianity offered an immediate basis for attachment. To cities filled with orphans and widows, Christianity provided a new and expanded sense of family.
What is the meaning of "every foreign land is to them as their native country"?
Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all others; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh.
What is Tertullian’s observation about Christians?
But most significantly, Tertullian preserves the amazing pagan observation of the Christians: "See how they love one another .". "We are a body knit together as such by a common religious profession, by unity of discipline, and by the bond of a common hope.
What was Pliny’s problem?
Pliny, the Roman governor in Bithynia, in present day Turkey, had a problem. What was he to do with the Christians who were spreading rapidly? He wrote to his emperor Trajan in Rome, seeking advice. He describes the Christian problem and shows how some under pressure were willing to renounce their faith and others were not. He then gives valuable description of Christian life, practice and worship at that time.
What would happen if you did so?
If you did so, you would be harming yourselves in governing affairs by emotions rather than by intelligence. . . . It is our task, therefore, to provide to all an opportunity of inspecting our life and teachings. . . . It is your business, when you hear us, to be good judges, as reason demands.
What was the impact of the early Christian church in the first three centuries after Jesus’ resurrection?
The early Christian church in the first three centuries after Jesus’s resurrection brought about the most amazing transformation of diverse social and religious cultures ever achieved by peaceful means in the history of the world.
Who wrote the first apology to the Roman emperor?
From the First Apology of Justin Martyr (AD 150) First, an early philosopher, Justin Martyr, wrote to the Roman emperor, Antonius Pius around AD 150 to defend the Christians. The "apology" was not saying "sorry" but was a defense of a viewpoint. In the excerpt below we see how the believers were eager to invite the most intense scrutiny …