Evangelism – Good News is a fun study of something happy you had to share with a friend.
Have you ever had some news that you just HAD to share. This is where we’re at in our study of Evangelism. The wrinkle is that in the early Christian church there were some who didn’t know that they could share the good news of Jesus with Gentiles. These non-Jews had every right to hear about Jesus, their Savior from sin.
New News
I think that if you’re a Christian in the United States of America, you would never deny that the gospel is good news, but the wonder may have worn off. You’ve been a Christian – most likely – for some time now. You are comfortable with knowing your Savior, AND (this is the bad part) you’re comfortable with others not knowing their Savior. This is where the Jews were in the early New Testament church.
Crossing Lines
If you were a Jew, you weren’t supposed to associate with Gentiles. This was God’s command. That command had expired with Pentecost. This abrupt change after 2000 years of Mosaic law wasn’t easy for many Jews to take, but it was happening slowly. The best way was through sharing the good news! The Apostle Peter showed up at a house and baptized everyone, sharing the good news. This caused the Spirit to be poured out in the hearts of the people in the house. This still happens today when God’s Spirit goes with his Word and Sacrament.
Stupendous
What is striking is that the Jews who were present were astonished. I have to admit that when I share the gospel of Jesus, and then someone believes the word of the Lord, I’m pleasantly surprised too! So many these days want nothing to do with my God. Yet, God’s Spirit still goes with his word. He still changes hearts that they might believe the good news about Jesus.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s study, Evangelism – Good News.
Please click HERE for the Bible class slides.