Evangelism, Missions and Objections

A. Sharing the Gospel with a Worldview Lens.

1. The Call to Share the Gospel

·      Matthew 28: 19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

·      Acts 1: 8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

·      Mark 16: 15: “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’”

·      Romans 10: 14-15: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”

2. Adapting the Message for the Audience

·      1 Corinthians 9: 22-23: “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

·      Acts 17: 22-23: “So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, “To the unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.’”

·      Colossians 4: 5-6: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

3. The Core Message of the Gospel

·      John 3: 16-17: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

·      Romans 3: 23-24: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

·      Romans 6: 23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

·      1 Corinthians 15: 3-4: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

4. Living as a Witness

·      Matthew 5: 14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

·      Philippians 2: 14-16: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.”

·      1 Peter 3: 15-16 – “But 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, having a good conscience.”

·      2 Corinthians 5: 20 – “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

5. Engaging Contemporary Issues

·      Micah 6: 8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

·      James 1: 27 – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

·      Isaiah 1: 18 – “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

6. God’s Assurance in Evangelism

·      Isaiah 55: 11 – “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

·      Matthew 10: 19-20 – “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

B. Addressing objections to Christianity through scripture.

1. Objection: “God Does Not Exist”

·      Genesis 1: 1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

·      Psalm 19: 1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

·      Romans 1: 19-20 – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

·      Hebrews 11: 3 – “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

2. Objection: “The Bible is Just a Human Book”

·      2 Timothy 3: 16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

·      2 Peter 1: 20-21 – “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

·      Psalm 12: 6 – “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”

·      Proverbs 30: 5 – “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

3. Objection: “There Are Many Ways to God”

·      John 14: 6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

·      Acts 4: 12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

·      1 Timothy 2: 5 – “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

·      Matthew 7: 13-14 – “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

4. Objection: “A Good God Wouldn’t Allow Suffering”

·      Romans 8: 28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

·      2 Corinthians 4: 17 – “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”

·      Job 42: 2 – “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

·      James 1: 2-3 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

5. Objection: “Christians Are Hypocrites”

·      Matthew 7: 3-5 – “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

·      1 John 1: 8-9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

·      Romans 3: 23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

·      Titus 2: 7-8 – “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned.”

6. Objection: “Christianity Is Intolerant”

·      Galatians 3: 28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

·      Matthew 5: 43-44 – “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

·      Luke 10: 27 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

·      Acts 10: 34-35 – “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

7. Objection: “The Bible Is Full of Errors”

·      Psalm 12: 6 – “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”

·      Matthew 5: 18 – “Until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

·      Isaiah 40: 8 – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

·      John 17: 17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

8. Objection: “Science and Christianity Are at Odds”

·      Colossians 1: 16-17 – “By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.”

·      Psalm 111: 2 – “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.”

·      Job 12: 7-9 – “Ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you … in his hand is the life of every living thing.”

·      Proverbs 3: 19-20 – “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.”

9. Objection: “Christianity Doesn’t Address Modern Issues”

·      Micah 6: 8 – “Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”

·      James 1: 27 – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.”

·      Matthew 22: 39 – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

·      Proverbs 31: 8-9 – “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

10. Objection: “How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?”

·      Ezekiel 33: 11 – “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

·      John 3: 16-18 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

·      Romans 6: 23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.” 2 Peter 3: 9 – “The Lord is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”