God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Evangelism

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereignty and Our Role in Evangelism

God's sovereignty does not eliminate the need for missions and evangelism; rather, it affirms that God uses these means to accomplish His purposes. Our role is to be faithful in sharing the gospel, trusting that God will work through our efforts to bring about His will. This understanding encourages believers to engage actively in evangelism, knowing that their efforts are part of God's divine plan. The assurance that God is in control should not lead to passivity but to a greater commitment to participate in His mission. [01:27]

Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Reflection: Who is one person you can share the gospel with this week, trusting that God will use your efforts for His purposes?

Day 2: Embracing the Mystery of God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

The mystery of God's sovereignty and human accountability calls for humility. While God controls the believing process, humans are still responsible for their response to the gospel. This paradox invites us to trust in God's wisdom and embrace the mystery of His ways. It challenges believers to live in the tension of divine control and personal responsibility, recognizing that both are true and essential aspects of faith. [03:56]

Job 42:2-3 (ESV): "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to trust God's wisdom, and how can you begin to embrace the mystery of His sovereignty today?

Day 3: Prayer as an Acknowledgment of God's Sovereignty

Prayer reveals our inherent belief in God's sovereignty. When we pray for the salvation of others, we acknowledge God's power to change hearts and lives, demonstrating our reliance on Him to accomplish what we cannot. This understanding of prayer encourages believers to intercede for others, trusting that God hears and responds according to His will. It is a powerful reminder of the partnership between divine sovereignty and human action in the realm of prayer. [04:44]

Ephesians 1:17-19 (ESV): "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."

Reflection: Who is someone you can commit to praying for daily, asking God to work in their heart and life?

Day 4: Commitment to Foundational Truths Amidst Challenges

J.I. Packer's commitment to the Anglican Church, despite its challenges, exemplifies a dedication to foundational truths and a desire for renewal from within. His influence in America, particularly through "Knowing God," underscores the importance of understanding who God is. This commitment serves as an example for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to seek renewal and reform within their own communities, even when faced with difficulties. [06:30]

2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV): "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."

Reflection: What foundational truth do you need to hold onto more firmly in your life, and how can you seek renewal in your faith community?

Day 5: The Role of Theologians in Maintaining Biblical Purity

Theologians play a crucial role in the church by ensuring that biblical truth is rightly explained and applied. Packer's analogy of theologians as plumbers and sewage disposal agents highlights the importance of maintaining the purity of biblical teaching amidst false doctrines. This analogy encourages believers to value sound theology and to be vigilant in discerning truth from error, recognizing the vital role that theologians play in preserving the integrity of the faith. [11:19]

Titus 1:9 (ESV): "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

Reflection: How can you support and encourage those in your community who are dedicated to teaching and preserving sound doctrine?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the profound insights of J.I. Packer, we delve into the intricate relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, particularly in the context of evangelism and missions. The question often arises: if God is sovereign and predestines who will be saved, why should we engage in missions or evangelism? The answer lies in understanding that God uses these very means to fulfill His divine purposes. Packer's work, "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God," is highly recommended for those grappling with these questions, as it provides a robust defense of a biblical, evangelical Calvinism that is both warm-hearted and mission-oriented.

The tension between divine control and human accountability is a recurring theme. The Bible clearly states that while God is in control, humans are still accountable for their choices. This paradox is not a contradiction but a mystery that calls for humility and trust in God's wisdom. When we pray, especially for the salvation of others, we inherently acknowledge God's sovereignty. Our prayers often reflect a Calvinistic understanding, as we ask God to intervene and change hearts, demonstrating our reliance on His power to effect change.

J.I. Packer's influence extends beyond his theological insights. His decision to remain within the Anglican Church, despite its challenges, highlights his commitment to foundational truths and his desire for renewal from within. His seminal work, "Knowing God," has profoundly impacted countless individuals and groups, emphasizing the importance of understanding who God is. Packer's humility and self-understanding as a theologian underscore his role in ensuring that biblical truth is rightly explained and applied, likening theologians to plumbers and sewage disposal agents who maintain the purity of biblical teaching.

Key Takeaways

1. The sovereignty of God does not negate the need for missions and evangelism; rather, it affirms that God uses these means to accomplish His purposes. Our role is to be faithful in sharing the gospel, trusting that God will work through our efforts to bring about His will. [01:27]
2. The mystery of God's sovereignty and human accountability calls for humility. While God controls the believing process, humans are still responsible for their response to the gospel. This paradox invites us to trust in God's wisdom and embrace the mystery of His ways. [03:56]
3. Prayer reveals our inherent belief in God's sovereignty. When we pray for the salvation of others, we acknowledge God's power to change hearts and lives, demonstrating our reliance on Him to accomplish what we cannot. [04:44]
4. J.I. Packer's commitment to the Anglican Church, despite its challenges, exemplifies a dedication to foundational truths and a desire for renewal from within. His influence in America, particularly through "Knowing God," underscores the importance of understanding who God is. [06:30]
5. Theologians play a crucial role in the church by ensuring that biblical truth is rightly explained and applied. Packer's analogy of theologians as plumbers and sewage disposal agents highlights the importance of maintaining the purity of biblical teaching amidst false doctrines. [11:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - The Question of Sovereignty and Evangelism
[00:55] - J.I. Packer's Impact on Evangelism
[01:27] - The Role of Missions in God's Plan
[02:34] - Divine Control and Human Accountability
[03:39] - The Paradox of Belief and Responsibility
[04:11] - Prayer and God's Sovereignty
[05:29] - Praying for Change
[06:13] - Packer's Commitment to the Anglican Church
[07:24] - The Influence of "Knowing God"
[08:45] - Packer's Self-Understanding as a Theologian
[10:42] - The Role of Theologians in the Church
[11:19] - Maintaining Biblical Purity
[12:46] - Addressing False Doctrines
[13:54] - A Prayer for J.I. Packer's Continued Influence

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Acts 13:48 - "When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed."
Proverbs 21:1 - "In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him."
Ezekiel 36:26-27 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

Observation Questions:

According to the sermon, how does J.I. Packer address the question of why missions and evangelism are necessary if God is sovereign? [01:27]
What analogy does Packer use to describe the role of theologians in the church, and what does this imply about their responsibilities? [11:19]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between prayer and God's sovereignty, particularly in the context of praying for someone's salvation? [04:11]
What was J.I. Packer's stance on remaining within the Anglican Church despite its challenges, and what does this reveal about his commitment to foundational truths? [06:13]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the paradox of God's sovereignty and human accountability challenge or affirm your understanding of free will and divine control? [03:39]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that prayer inherently acknowledges God's sovereignty, and how might this influence one's approach to prayer? [04:11]
How does Packer's analogy of theologians as "plumbers and sewage disposal agents" reflect the importance of maintaining doctrinal purity in the church? [11:19]
What might be the implications of Packer's decision to stay within the Anglican Church for those facing similar denominational challenges today? [06:13]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt tension between God's sovereignty and your personal responsibility. How did you navigate that situation, and what might you do differently now?
Consider your current prayer life. How can you more intentionally acknowledge God's sovereignty in your prayers, especially when praying for others' salvation? [04:11]
Think about a theological issue or false doctrine you have encountered. How can you apply Packer's analogy of theologians to address this issue in your community or church? [11:19]
If you were in Packer's position, would you choose to stay in a denomination facing challenges, or would you leave? What factors would influence your decision? [06:13]
Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to trust God's wisdom and sovereignty. What steps can you take to cultivate humility and trust in that area? [03:39]
How can you actively participate in missions and evangelism, trusting that God will use your efforts to fulfill His purposes? [01:27]
Choose one aspect of Packer's influence, such as his book "Knowing God," and consider how you can incorporate its teachings into your personal study or group discussions. [07:24]

Sermon Clips

if you believe God is Sovereign and calls people that he Wills to come to himself and predestines who will be saved then what's the need for Missions and what's the need for evangelism and of course the simple answer is God uses missions in evangelism to bring about what he ordains to bring about it's just there [00:01:18]

the issue of saying that to believe that kind of Doctrine makes you non-Evangelistic or non-m missions oriented is just contradicted by many many many many missionaries and many great evangelists including Packer now the other issue in that book is how can God be in control of life and man be still held accountable for his choices which the Bible makes patently clear is true [00:02:25]

the Bible holds man accountable for his choices even ultimately and the Bible says the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like a river he turns it wherever he wills and yet he's responsible Armenians are often saying Calvinists are governed by Logic that's just the opposite I'm convinced Armenian logic or human logic comes in in and says you can't have accountability where God controls the will [00:02:50]

I say here's what I come to the Bible I say okay here I see that uh as many as are ordained unto eternal life believed so God controlled the believing process and then I see he who does not believe is damned so you're responsible to believe and God controls the believing process what are you going to do with that [00:03:40]

he extols the power of the Holy Spirit and he shows the utter essentiality of prayer he says in fact everybody's a calvinist on his knees meaning that if you don't believe when you're theorizing that God has the right and the sovereignty to intrude into someone's will and situation and take over and get done what he wants done if you don't believe that's right when you get down on your knees and start praying for God to do things you start talking like a calvinist [00:04:07]

all prayers are about the changing of will the changing of human will the prayer that count I mean you might pray for a clear day someday when you have a picnic but main prayers are we want people changed new habits I pray for my sons all my prayer for my sons except for a little teeny bit that has to do with their health has to do with the change of their Wills [00:05:26]

he chose not to follow many and leave a mixed and partially heretical denomination because the 39 articles he believed that are the basis of the Anglican Church are true and even though many have departed from them and are wrongheaded and the Anglican Church has many false ideas running through it he simply says I'm going to stay here be faithful to the founding documents be faithful to the Lord work for Renewal [00:06:16]

the thing that made his reputation most widespread in America was the book knowing god and how many how many have read knowing god okay a good many I I just recommend it above all the others that I've recommended they're all good fundamentalism in the word of God evangelism in the sovereignty of God and now knowing god is just a solid Blockbuster of an introduction to who God is [00:07:22]

the church lives through the potency of preaching the mystery of God's spirit applying God's word to God's people through God's spokesmen so the primary function of theologians is to ensure so far as human beings can that the Bible is explained right and applied properly I think I only give the film version of your thought he's talking to Calvin now [00:10:38]

theologians are the church's plumbers water engineers and sewage disposal agents back room boys whose crucial though unspectacular job is to secure for the pulpits a flow of pure unpolluted Bible truth that's vintage Packer he he knows he has a key role to play namely uh in the church where the water flowing is the Bible truth he's a plumber trying to fix the pipes if they come loose [00:11:14]

the sewage disposal agents I like that one especially because it's not really a happy job to have to deal with all the crap that's taught in the world excuse the phrase there there is just a lot of biblical baloney let's just pull it up a rank there's a lot of baloney that is taught now you can say say well ignore it and it'll go away Paul didn't do that [00:12:06]

all of our Epistles exist because Paul was a sewage disposal agent you just go right through take every epistle they I think almost all of them were triggered by some sewage in the church that had to be cleaned out and we have the New Testament because he was sewage disposal agent and in the church today there are people writing books defending homosexuality for example [00:12:39]

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God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Evangelism

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereignty and Our Role in Evangelism

Day 2: Embracing the Mystery of God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

Day 3: Prayer as an Acknowledgment of God's Sovereignty

Day 4: Commitment to Foundational Truths Amidst Challenges

Day 5: The Role of Theologians in Maintaining Biblical Purity

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Evangelism

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