1 EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH What

1 EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH What does it mean? 2 explain - make clear, give details so others can understand. faith the core of what we believe.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH Peter and Paul encourage us to do this 3 Colossians 4: 5 -6 When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time. Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH Peter and Paul encourage us to do this 1 Peter 3: 15 -16 Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. 4 Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH A simple start: “We met Jesus!” Shepherds Luke 2: 20 5 As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH A simple start: “We met Jesus!” The man on the roof Luke 5: 24 -26 Jesus then said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk home. ” 6 At once the man stood up in front of everyone. He picked up his mat and went home, giving thanks to God. Everyone was amazed and praised God. What they saw surprised them, and they said, “We have seen a great miracle today!”

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH A simple start: “We met Jesus!” The demonised man Luke 8: 38 -39 7 The man who had been healed begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him off and said, 39 “Go back home and tell everyone how much God has done for you. ” The man then went all over town, telling everything that Jesus had done for him.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH Are we sure we have faith? 8 Can I be sure? Yes – faith in God not in me Have you come to the Cross? Do you know you are born again?

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH What are we explaining? euangelion good message 9 Good News! First for me – then for you! Try it out! We have something worth sharing.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH Could I do this? • Have people ever asked you about your faith? • What questions do they ask? 10 • How would I respond?

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH 11 Some Bible examples of explaining our faith Book of Acts – beginning and spread of the Church Look for two things: What they said – CONTENT Who they spoke to – AUDIENCE

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH When Who Spoke Audience Content 2 Penteco Peter st Religious Use Bible to Jews explain Joel. Jesus. David. 3 Lame man healed in Temple Council Peter Jews Miracle – OT, Jesus Messiah. Peter Leaders and Miracle –Started here because of 4 12 Acts Chapter

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH 7 Who Spoke Audience Council Stephen High Priest and leaders 8 v 26 Ethiopia Philip One man n an official interested Gentile Content History of children of Israel - Jesus. Explained Isaiah -- good news of Jesus 13 Acts When Chapte r

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH 9 10 Synagog ue in Damascu s After a vision Who Spoke Audience Content Paul – newly convert ed Peter v 34 Very big step Jews and others. Jesus is son of God, Messiah Cornelius Message for all, and Jesus, who He is. household religious. 14 Acts When Chapter

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH 13 first journey E. g. Antioch verse 14 17 Paul's second journey Athens v 16 Who Spoke Audience Content Saul and Barnabas “Would you like to speak? ” History of Jews. God's promise v 26. Jews, Gentiles "listen to this message. . . it is for everyone". Synagogue s at first, Jews and other interested people. Paul, Silas 1. Timothy Synagogue 2. Market 3. Council Idols/Temples unknown God. -- Can know him. God, Creator, Judge. 15 Acts When Chapter

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH 16 What can we learn? Audience -- changes gradually 1. Jews 2. Interested Gentiles 3. Rulers and leaders – “What is this new faith? ” 4. Gentiles are accepted too. 5. Athens – Gentile audience.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH What can we learn? The message 1. Bible is central, if already known 2. History leads to Jesus. 3. Start with some point in common. 17 The SAME message, leading to Jesus BUT a DIFFERENT starting place for different audiences.

EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH We can learn from Acts 18 How to begin to reach our world, our people. • Consider your audience – background. How much do they know? Start where they are -proceed to God and Jesus. • The Bible is very important in our message. • Miracles were a starting point