Read the text – 1 Peter 3:8-22
Suffering is an unfortunate but common fact of life. And as Christians, we will at one point in our lives be confronted with suffering for our faith. In this sermon in the series ‘Stand Fast’, spoken at LMAP Glenbrook evening service, Nick Lindeback encourages use to fearlessly proclaim Christ, even with the prospect of the suffering that comes with it.
Jesus’ disciples ask of Jesus: ‘Tell us… what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?’ (Mt 24:3). His answer to the first part of the question (his coming) was answered in the rest of Chapter (see last post), the answer to the second part of the question (the end of the age) is found in Matthew 25.
Here are two Bible Talks looking at the whole of Matthew 25. Whilst both start the same way – the content of each looks at the chapter in two parts.
Talk 1 – Matthew 25:1-30. The Parable of the Bridegroom & the 10 Virgins + The Parable of the Master and the 3 Servants.
Read the text – Matthew 25:1-30
Talk 2 – Matthew 25:31-46. The Shepherd King & the Sheep and the Goats.
Read the text – Matthew 25:31-46
What Jesus teaches as recorded in Matthew 25 is not complicated, but it can be very hard to hear. What will the end of the age look like? The answer will involve a division. In these two Bible talks Ken Noakes unpacks this extraordinary chapter – to help us hear what can be very hard to hear.
Consider Colossians 4:2-6
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:2-6)
This is a call to do evangelism, that is, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
From time to time there is a little bit of discussion among Christian folk about what Paul means here. Is every Christian called to be an ‘evangelist’?
9 Tips which may help you be bold in Witness:
Why is it that Christians are often reluctant to be bold in witness? For me that is simple – it is often hard work, or I am too chicken, or I am too distracted, or I am…
I know the excuses, because I have used them all. I am the reluctant evangelist.
It is not uncommon for me to be standing on the sidelines of a soccer pitch watching my sons play football. Alongside, stand the other parents. A perfect opportunity to speak about Jesus?
The Apostle Paul in Romans argues that a Christian cannot rightly call themselves a disciple unless they both believe and confess that ‘Jesus is Lord’.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:9-13)
Bold in Witness
What does it mean to be bold in Witness?
Jesus asked his disciples to be his witnesses. And that is what Jesus’ first disciples did.
To be a witness, you have to be willing to make a stand, to testify, to speak on behalf of the person or the event that you are bearing witness too. The aim is to provide enough reason or evidence for someone who is not a witness to ascertain the truth behind what you say.
Sermon ‘Nahum’ (Nahum 1-3) by Geoff Lin is available now in audio and video: http://bit.ly/2vAv4e0
Read the Bible text: http://bit.ly/2ubRtAK
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