Text: 1Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"
Lesson outline:
• Objectives of the lesson
• Definition of key words
• A Case Study
• Introduction
• The Nexus between Readiness, Study and Evangelise
• The Benefits of Readiness to Study the Word
• The Motivations for Readiness to Study and Evangelise
• Identifying hiccups to Readiness to Study and Evangelise
• Summary/Conclusion
This lesson sets out to achieve the following objectives:
• To reactivate or rekindle the spirit of readiness to study and evangelise.
• To help us cultivate evangelistic zeal, spirit, or passion.
• To also remind us that we are Christ's ambassadors on earth to carry out the Great Commission, serving as His feet, mouth, eyes, and hands.
Definition of key words:
Readiness:
It is the willingness and determination to carry out a specific task or duty.
For instance, Isaiah was ready and willing to go for God - Isaiah 6:8.
Ananias was willing to go for God - Acts 9:10 -17.
Study:
It is a conscious and determined effort to investigate, research, and learn so as to discover new knowledge and ideas.
It is to acquire knowledge with the intention of applying it.
It is the quest for knowledge which fuels study.
For instance, Paul, at a younger age, studied at the feet of Gamaliel - Acts 22:3.
Timothy was encouraged to study the scriptures - 2Tim. 2:15.
Evangelise:
It has to do with spreading the word of God wherever man is found.
It is about taking the gospel of Christ to the doorstep of the lost world.
Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost - Luke 19:10.
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance - Matt. 9:13.
The Apostles evangelised - Acts 4:1-13, 13:4-5.
The early persecuted christians went about evangelising - Acts 8:4.
A CASE STUDY: 2Timothy 2:15
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"
'Study to shew thyself approved - to be tested by trial. Be zealous, make haste, or give diligence.
'A workman that needeth not to be ashamed' - who faithfully does his work; he is not put to shame on account of unfaithfulness, unskillfulness, lukewarmness or negligence.
'Rightly dividing the word of truth' - rightly handling or administering the word with sincerity and faithfulness, preaching the whole counsel of God - Acts 20:27; with courage and boldness - Jeri. 1:17, Acts 4:13; with meekness and gentleness - 2Tim. 2:24-25; and with power and authority - Matt. 7:29.
In rightly handling the word of truth, christians will be versed with knowledge of different religious dispensations in the Bible.
Young Timothy was a gospel preacher with the Church at the ancient city of Ephesus, but before then, he studied at the feet of his grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice, 2Tim. 1:5, at which point he became a valuable companion of Paul in the ministry.
To function effectively as an evangelist (2Tim. 4:5), Paul charged Timothy not to neglect the study of the scriptures, but to devote himself wholly to studying the word.
In studying the scriptures, Timothy would measure up to the task of evangelism, and become an effective worker for God.
Introduction
This lesson may have been conceived to rekindle interest in studying the word of God so as to proffer solutions to endless excuses by most christians to justify their lack of interest or participation in Church evangelism.
It serves as a wake-up call for brethren to revive or renew their spirit and passion for evangelism in order to eliminate a cold or lukewarm attitude toward evangelism in the brotherhood.
The general, common excuses in the brotherhood regarding evangelism include, but not limited to the following: or the reasons we don't want to evangelise.
''I don't know how to preach or evangelise!"
"I don't always remember verses in the scriptures to back up what I preach to others!"
"I don't know how to defend what I preach!"
"I don't want to embarrass myself before unbelievers!"
"I don't know how to answer questions arising from my preaching!"
"I can't talk to people!"
"I'm not a Preacher or Evangelist!"
''Evangelism or preaching is a call, so I have not been called!"
"I don't necessarily have to join evangelism team, after all I can support evangelism with my resources!"
"I will still make heaven if I don't evangelise or win souls for Christ in all my life on earth!"
"God loves all humanity!"
"God will save all good, sincere and honest people!"
Given the above scenarios, church evangelism suffers setbacks as most brethren stay away from Church on second Sundays of the month.
In an attempt at providing solutions to countless excuses by most brethren regarding evangelism, and improve attendance and participation in evangelism, the Church, through the Edification Committee, is coming up with the lesson, "The Readiness to Study and Evangelise"
The Nexus between Readiness, Study and Evangelise:
Readiness, Study and Evangelise are interwoven.
No one can study except something pushes one to do so.
First, there must be willingness or readiness or conscious effort to study.
Hence, readiness fuels study and study makes evangelism easy or simple.
Study will enhance evangelism in the long run.
To overcome all the hurdles, excuses or phobias towards evangelism, the Christian has no other option but to commit himself to studying the scriptures.
The Benefits of Readiness to Study and Evangelise:
-We will be approved of God - 2Tim. 2:15.
- Understanding God - it is through studying His written word.
-Armed with scriptural facts to rightly handle the word of truth - 2Tim. 2:15.
-Evidence to defend our faith - 1Pet. 3:15.
-Escape self-destruction - 2Pet. 3:14 -16.
-Eliminate ignorance - Acts 17:11.
-Bolster boldness and confidence to speak the word without fear - Acts 4:13.
-Spiritual enlightenment - Psalms 119:105.
-God's will - John 5:39.
-Studying in the general sense furnishes us with knowledge about other religions if we are to be able to share the gospel of Christ with other people.
Motivation for Readiness to Study and Evangelise:
★ The Love of God: "For the love of God constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" 2Cor. 5:14-15.
★ The Compassion of God: "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee", Mark 5:19.
★ Growing denominationalism: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement" 1Cor. 1:10.
★ The Imminent Final Judgement: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad", 2Cor. 5:10.
★ The Dread of Hell Fire: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire", Rev. 20:14-15.
★ The Fate of the Lost World: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned", Mark 16:15-16.
★ The Uncertainty of Life: "Go to now, ye that say, today or morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow . ..", James 4:13-14.
★ The Certainty of Death: "Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not", Job 14:1-2.
★ The Reality of Everlasting life in Heaven: "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life in heaven", Matt. 25:46.
★ The End of the World: "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and authority and power", 1Cor. 15:24.
Identifying hiccups to Readiness to Study and Evangelise:
• Cooking up endless excuses and laziness- Matt. 25:24-29.
★ Shifting or avoiding responsibility: Most christians tend to forget that their salvation carries responsibility - Acts 8:4.
★ The wrong notion that soul-winning is the Preacher's sole responsibility - Acts 8:4.
★ Misplaced priority: - Most christians place their business first before God's business. But Jesus' foremost business was to seek and save the lost - Luke 19:10; it was to call sinners to repentance - Matt. 9:13.
★ Time Factor: Often we complain of not having time - Eph. 5:16.
Summary/Conclusion:
This lesson had set out to reactivate or rekindle the spirit of readiness to study and evangelise; help us cultivate passion for evangelism; and to also remind us that we are Christ's representatives on earth to carry out the Great Commission on earth.
To accomplish the set objectives, this lesson had a case study, closely examined the nexus between readiness, study and evangelism, benefits of studying the scriptures, motivations for readiness to study and evangelise, and hiccups to readiness to study and evangelise.
In the final analysis, no serious endeavour can be accomplished without adequate preparation.
Therefore, we should study the word if we want to overcome our excuses for failure to participate in evangelism.
Studying the scriptures is to prepare us to carry out the Great Commission.
To overcome all the hurdles to evangelism, and preach with boldness without fear, there is no substitute for studying the word of God.
Sadly, how frustrating it must be for Jesus when we forget why we are in the world, when we are unconcerned about lost souls!
Thank you for your undivided attention and God bless.
Posted by Bro-Edet-Dickson
Aug. 11, 2024, 7:51 p.m.