1. WHAT GREAT COMMAND HAS JESUS GIVEN TO ALL CHRISTIANS?
Mark 16:15 — He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Matthew 28:19 — Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.
Christians are to spread the gospel.
2. WHY ARE CHRISTIANS EXPECTED TO DO MISSION WORK?
1 Peter 2:9 — But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Acts 4:20 — For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.
Those who have eternal life in Christ are best equipped to witness for him.
3. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ALL THE WORLD?
Mark 16:16 — Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Romans 10:14 — How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
Acts 4:12 — Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 1:8 — You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
There is no salvation for those who do not know and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin.
4. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL THAT THE UNBELIEVER NEEDS TO HEAR?
1 Corinthians 2:1,2 — I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 3:23,24 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
The unbeliever needs to hear that Jesus died for his sins.
5. WILL IT DO ANY GOOD TO WITNESS?
Romans 1:16 — I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
With the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit can accomplish more than we dare hope for.
Luke 8:4-15 — The Parable of the Sower (a summary):
The seed on the path represents those who reject the gospel and lose it.
The seed on rock represents those who accept the gospel but lose it because they don’t take it seriously.
The seed among the thorns represents those who accept the gospel but never do anything with it because they are too busy with other things.
The seed on good soil represents those who accept the gospel and put it to work in their lives.
For various reasons many will reject the gospel, but some will accept it and live by it.
6. HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN DO MISSION WORK?
1 Peter 3:15 — Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
He simply shares his faith whenever the opportunities appear.
Ephesians 4:11,12 — It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
God gives him a pastor to teach him the skills needed to serve the Lord. He may also train to become a Christian pastor, teacher, or missionary.
Matthew 9:37,38 — Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
He prays far more missionaries for the Lord’s work.
Galatians 6:6 — Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
With his offerings of money and time he makes it possible for pastors, teachers, and missionaries to bring the gospel to others.
Matthew 5:16 — Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
He demonstrates his Christian faith by his Christian life.
SUMMARY: Jesus has commanded all Christians to spread the good news (the gospel) about the salvation he has won for all men. He has given this job to Christians because they are born again, remade into God’s holy people who are glad and grateful for their salvation.
It is most important that this job gets done, because no one can go to heaven unless he hears the gospel and believes it. It is not enough to tell the unbeliever about church or God or the Commandments. He must learn that Jesus Christ, true God and true man, has suffered and died to pay for his sins.
Many who hear this truth will reject it, but the Holy Spirit has the power to make people believe it. Therefore the Christian works at witnessing, in his daily contacts with others, by his personal example, through his mission offerings, and by serving as pastor, teacher, missionary or lay evangelist. Christian witnessing is an important and essential part of a Christian’s life. But forgiveness and salvation come only because Jesus died for our sins.
QUICKIE QUIZ (T or F)
- ___ Every Christian should take part in mission work.
- ___ The main reason for witnessing is to get more members for the church.
- ___ It does no good to witness to some people.
- ___ It is bad manners to argue about religion.
- ___ It is better not to witness at all unless you’ve had the proper training.
- ___ One good example of Christian living is worth more than a thousand words of witnessing.
- ___ With their offerings Christians can send the gospel to all parts of the world.
- ___ We should not witness to people from other churches.
- ___ Not everyone should try to be a lay evangelist.
- ___ One good pastor will win more souls for Christ than a dozen well-trained laymen.
WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY
-
Mark 16:15 — He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
-
Acts 4:12 — Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
-
Romans 1:16 — I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
-
Ephesians 4:11,12 — It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
-
1 Peter 3:15 — Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
For more information you can watch this lesson presented as a Bible study HERE. Please click HERE to find the complete series of Bible studies.
Previous Lesson – #18 Using God’s Gifts
Next Lesson – #20 Historical Review