A Weekly Word
January 26, 2022
This Sunday is:
4th Sunday after Epiphany
This week’s sermon will be:
Being the Church: A More Excellent Way
This week’s readings are:
Message:
Epiphany – A good time to think about sharing our faith.
- Gospel readings focus us on discovering Jesus as our Savior.
One of the Fears People Have: Resistance
- What if people push back?
- What if they have questions I can’t answer?
- What if they have arguments against the Christian faith?
Evangelism and Apologetics
- Evangelism = Sharing the Good News.
- Apologetics = Defending your faith.
o 1 Peter 3:15 - … in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect …
Apologetic Problems
- Presupposing we “prove” the faith.
- We think we are arguing people into the Kingdom.
o Too often fails to be done “with gentleness and respect.”
- Reason is treated as the reason to believe.
o
Done badly, it leaves out Jesus.
- Misunderstanding of what creates faith in someone.
Apologetic Benefits
- Opens a door to gain a hearing for the gospel.
- Shows we have nothing to hide.
o
Acts 26:26 - For the king knows about these
things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things
has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.
- Grounds the faith in Jesus.
o
Some of the things we believe come across as
strange.
§
6 Day Creation
§
Jonah and the Whale
§
Virgin Birth
§ Resurrection from the dead
Sometimes Christians are viewed as being unthinking and
overly simple.
- Perhaps, sometimes we have been.
- Perhaps, our faith deserves some deeper thought
o
Scripture – Lent
o
Catechism – with Explanation
- Study – not to win an argument, but to more deeply know the hope that is in you because of Jesus.
One more thing:
- Mark 13:11 – Do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
- The Mission of God is God’s mission. He will do the work to draw people to faith – and he just might use you to do it!
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