Overcoming Barriers to Boldly Share the Gospel
Summary
In today's gathering, we began by lifting up our sister Jane Holstein in prayer, asking for God's healing and strength for her and her husband, Steve, during this challenging time. We then moved into a series of announcements, including our upcoming annual chili cook-off and baptism Sunday, encouraging everyone to participate and celebrate these community events. We also discussed the potential need for two services due to growing attendance, seeking feedback on service times to ensure a balanced attendance.
Our focus today was on understanding why many Christians hesitate to share the gospel. We explored three main reasons: short-sightedness, fear, and ignorance. These barriers often prevent us from fulfilling our calling to spread the good news. We are reminded that the gospel is not just a message but the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Through the words of Paul in Romans 1:1-17, we are encouraged to be eager and unashamed in sharing this powerful message.
Paul's letter to the Romans highlights his eagerness to preach the gospel, despite the challenges and potential ridicule he might face. He was not ashamed because he understood the transformative power of the gospel. This same power is entrusted to us, and we are called to share it with the world. The gospel is the righteousness of God revealed, offering justification and salvation to all who believe. It is a message that transcends our abilities and relies solely on God's power to effect change in people's lives.
As we continue this series, we will address the barriers of short-sightedness and ignorance, equipping ourselves to share the gospel effectively. Today, we focused on overcoming fear by remembering the gospel's power. We are called to be bold and unashamed, knowing that the message we carry is the most powerful in the world. Let us be eager to share it, trusting in God's ability to work through us.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Prayer and Community Support: We began by praying for Jane Holstein, emphasizing the importance of community support and the power of prayer in times of need. This reminds us that as a church, we are called to lift each other up and trust in God's healing power. [00:00]
- Understanding Barriers to Evangelism: Many Christians struggle to share the gospel due to short-sightedness, fear, and ignorance. Recognizing these barriers is the first step in overcoming them. We must shift our focus from the immediate concerns of life to the eternal significance of the gospel. [43:19]
- The Gospel's Transformative Power: The gospel is not just a message but the power of God for salvation. It offers justification and righteousness to all who believe. This transformative power should embolden us to share the gospel without fear or shame. [50:44]
- Our Calling to Preach the Gospel: Like Paul, we are called to be eager and unashamed in sharing the gospel. This calling is a privilege and a responsibility, entrusted to us by God. We must embrace this calling and be willing to share the good news with those around us. [59:17]
- Overcoming Fear with Faith: Fear often holds us back from sharing the gospel. By focusing on the gospel's power and God's ability to work through us, we can overcome this fear. We are encouraged to be bold and unashamed, trusting that God will use our efforts to bring others to salvation. [01:07:32]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Prayer for Jane Holstein
- [03:00] - Announcements and Community Events
- [14:14] - Discussion on Service Times
- [19:31] - Introduction to the Gospel Series
- [43:19] - Barriers to Sharing the Gospel
- [46:21] - Overcoming Fear with the Gospel's Power
- [50:44] - Paul's Eagerness to Preach
- [59:17] - Our Calling to Share the Gospel
- [01:02:17] - The Blessing of Church Community
- [01:05:01] - Facing Challenges in Evangelism
- [01:07:32] - The Gospel's Power for Salvation
- [01:10:09] - Justification and Righteousness Through Faith
- [01:15:09] - Encouragement to Preach Boldly
- [01:28:18] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 1:1-17
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the three main barriers to sharing the gospel mentioned in the sermon, and how do they affect Christians' willingness to evangelize? [43:19]
2. How does Paul describe his eagerness to preach the gospel in Romans 1:1-17, and what reasons does he give for not being ashamed of it? [50:44]
3. What role does community support and prayer play in the life of the church, as illustrated by the prayer for Jane Holstein? [14:14]
4. How does the sermon describe the transformative power of the gospel, and what is its significance for believers? [01:07:32]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest overcoming the fear of sharing the gospel, and what role does faith play in this process? [46:21]
2. In what ways does the sermon highlight the importance of being unashamed of the gospel, and how does this relate to Paul's message in Romans 1:16-17? [59:17]
3. How does the sermon connect the concept of justification and righteousness with the power of the gospel, and why is this important for believers? [01:10:09]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of community in supporting and encouraging believers to share the gospel? [01:02:17]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when fear held you back from sharing the gospel. What specific steps can you take to overcome this fear and be more bold in your witness? [46:21]
2. Consider the barriers of short-sightedness and ignorance mentioned in the sermon. How can you shift your focus from immediate concerns to the eternal significance of the gospel in your daily life? [43:19]
3. How can you actively participate in your church community to support others in their spiritual journey, similar to the prayer and support for Jane Holstein? [14:14]
4. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear the gospel. What practical steps can you take this week to engage them in a spiritual conversation? [01:07:32]
5. Reflect on the transformative power of the gospel in your own life. How can you share your personal testimony to encourage others to believe in the power of the gospel? [01:10:09]
6. How can you cultivate a sense of eagerness and lack of shame in sharing the gospel, as Paul did, in your own context? What specific actions can you take to embody this attitude? [59:17]
7. What role does prayer play in preparing you to share the gospel, and how can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your evangelism efforts? [01:28:18]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Prayer and Community Support
In times of need, the strength of a community is often revealed through the power of prayer and mutual support. When we lift each other up in prayer, we are not only asking for divine intervention but also reinforcing the bonds that hold us together as a community. This collective act of faith can bring comfort and hope to those who are struggling, reminding them that they are not alone. As we pray for Jane Holstein and her husband Steve, we are reminded of our role in supporting one another through life's challenges, trusting in God's healing power and the strength of our community. [00:00]
"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community needs your prayers and support today, and how can you reach out to them in a meaningful way?
Day 2: Recognizing and Overcoming Barriers to Evangelism
Many Christians find it difficult to share the gospel due to barriers such as short-sightedness, fear, and ignorance. These obstacles can prevent us from fulfilling our calling to spread the good news. By recognizing these barriers, we can begin to address them and shift our focus from the immediate concerns of life to the eternal significance of the gospel. Understanding that the gospel is the power of God for salvation can embolden us to overcome these challenges and share the message with confidence. [43:19]
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)
Reflection: What specific fear or barrier is holding you back from sharing the gospel, and what step can you take today to begin overcoming it?
Day 3: Embracing the Gospel's Transformative Power
The gospel is not merely a message but the power of God for salvation, offering justification and righteousness to all who believe. This transformative power should inspire us to share the gospel without fear or shame, knowing that it has the ability to change lives. As we reflect on Paul's eagerness to preach the gospel, we are reminded that this same power is entrusted to us. We are called to be bold and unashamed, trusting in God's ability to work through us to bring others to salvation. [50:44]
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16, ESV)
Reflection: How has the gospel transformed your life, and how can you share this personal testimony with someone who needs to hear it?
Day 4: Our Calling to Preach the Gospel
Like Paul, we are called to be eager and unashamed in sharing the gospel. This calling is both a privilege and a responsibility, entrusted to us by God. As we embrace this calling, we must be willing to share the good news with those around us, regardless of the challenges we may face. By focusing on the eternal significance of the gospel, we can overcome any fear or hesitation and fulfill our role as messengers of God's love and salvation. [59:17]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel, and what practical steps can you take to share it with them this week?
Day 5: Overcoming Fear with Faith
Fear often holds us back from sharing the gospel, but by focusing on the gospel's power and God's ability to work through us, we can overcome this fear. We are encouraged to be bold and unashamed, trusting that God will use our efforts to bring others to salvation. As we continue to grow in our faith, let us remember that the message we carry is the most powerful in the world, and we are called to share it with confidence and love. [01:07:32]
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to be more courageous in sharing your faith, and how can you rely on God's strength to do so?
Quotes
"We are your church. All right, some of you are getting really good at this. Good morning. It is great to see you guys. I have several announcements, but before we get to announcements, I want to do the most important thing we can do, and that is pray. One of our sisters in Christ, long time part of Connection Church, long before I got here, yesterday had a heart attack. And if you know Miss Jane Holstein, she's in the hospital. little right now." [00:10:46] (31 seconds)
"Father, we have been learning through your word the beauty and the blessing of lament we've been learning how important it is for us to turn to you in prayer in our times of needing help we as a body are doing that today for one of your children one of the Saints our sister in the name of the Father we pray for healing for her I know doctors have decisions to make processes and procedures they use God you can use them or you can choose not to the cool thing is you can heal regardless because you have that power we are lifting her up to you today and asking for healing God help heal her heart heart and heal her head." [00:11:40] (64 seconds)
"God, we lift up our brother Steve, pray for strength for him. As any spouse can attest to, it is never easy to watch the one you love suffer, go through things. It's never easy to stand by helplessly and wonder what the outcome will be. But, God, he knows you, she knows you. And, God, we pray for you to strengthen him. We pray for you to give him that peace that we talk about that surpasses all understanding." [00:12:57] (41 seconds)
"Pray that he will, as we know that he will, and she as well, will continue to trust in you in the midst of this trial. As we've learned from Psalm 44, we're asking you this morning, Lord, to come to their help. And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Continue to pray for them as I will find out a little more this afternoon. But keep praying for them. A couple announcements." [00:13:36] (35 seconds)
"Through Paul's letter to the church in Galatia, we were reminded that there is only one gospel. But almost since the beginning of the church, there have been those who have been preaching, distorting, and preaching different gospels that are no gospels at all. Last Sunday, we learned about these counterfeits and how to deal with them as Christians. So we looked at gospel counterfeits." [00:44:02] (24 seconds)
"Next Sunday, through God's word, I'm going to kind of work on our short-sightedness. I'm going to take our focus off the here and now and focus our attention on the there and then of eternity, hoping that God will cure our short-sightedness. So I'm going to remind us of our confident hope that we have in the gospel, the hope that we have and we look forward to that we read about in Revelation." [00:44:39] (24 seconds)
"My prayer is, if fear is your reason that you're not preaching the good news, that God will remove that fear this morning by reminding you of the power of this gospel that we preach. And I could think of no better passage to remind us of that power than a passage that Paul wrote to the church in Romans. So if you have your Bible, open them to Romans chapter 1, verses 1 through 17." [00:46:21] (26 seconds)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith. Father, this morning, through these words written by your apostle, remind us of the power of this gospel." [00:49:14] (34 seconds)
"Help us to remember the power of this message. What you do, what you effect through it doesn't depend on our power. It doesn't depend on our depend on our persuasion tactics. This gospel is powerful. Help us to be eager and unashamed in preaching it. We pray this in Jesus name Amen." [00:50:44] (34 seconds)
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