Preaching the Gospel I. Introduction A. We have continual commands and exhortations to preach the Gospel 1. Matthew 28:18-20 2. examples in the book of Acts 3. 2 Timothy 4:2, etc. B. While we speak much about the need to preach the Gospel, we perhaps do not provide much detail as to how we are to go out and do so! C. We could spend weeks speaking about matters regarding the preaching of the Gospel, but let us content ourselves with a few principles from the Scriptures this evening II. Preaching by Word and Deed A. When we look in the Scriptures, we see that preaching was done by word and deed 1. Preaching as speaking with others: Acts 2:14-36, Acts 7, etc. 2. Preaching as a living example: Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 2:12, 15 B. While this is the case, we must make sure to combine words and deeds in balance 1. Preaching by word without living righteously is hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-4), and such reduces your ability to witness and can turn people off to Christianity; after all, who is going to want to listen to someone who does not do what he says you should do? 2. With such, also consider 1 Corinthians 9:27 3. Likewise, while we can certainly strive diligently to preach by our deeds, but we must preach by words to guide people to the truth a. Romans 10:17: faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the Word of Christ b. people may notice that you are living righteously, and may even infer from such that you are a Christian, but how can you guide them to the truth without speaking it to them? 4. We would do well to also remember the question of the eunuch in Acts 8:31 a. while we may like to believe that if someone who had no experience with Christianity picked up a Bible, read it, and believed it, he would do as we do... b. ...and while that might be possible, many people do need to be guided, and this can only be done by showing them, from the Scriptures, their state, and the truth about Jesus Christ c. the examples of such demonstrations in preaching in the book of Acts all show speaking-- based many times directly on the Scriptures, but speaking nonetheless C. We can see, then, that our preaching ought to be by both word and deed III. Tailoring the Message A. The Gospel is a wonderful message... B. ...and, in its details, can be preached in many ways C. it is not an issue of preaching a different message-- God forbid!-- but tailoring the message to meet the needs of the people hearing the message D. Biblical example: Paul 1. Acts 17:1-4: Paul preaches to the Jews in the synagogue, proclaiming from the Old Testament that Jesus is the Christ 2. Acts 17:22-32: Paul is preaching to the Gentiles, preaching to them using the altar to the "Unknown God," proclaiming that God to them 3. The message is the same: God exists, Jesus is His Son, you are lost in your sins and require His blood for redemption... 4. ...yet Paul preached these truths in radically different ways, since Jews were familiar with the true God but not Jesus as the Messiah, and the Gentiles had no experience with the God of Israel E. Likewise, we also, when preaching the truth, must present the message to meet the needs of those hearing it 1. To those suffering, speaking in terms of Christ's suffering and the glorification to come 2. To those worried about dying, the truth that those in Christ die with hope for the future 3. To the young, the vanity of sin and the guidance Christ provides F. Those to whom we preach will always have needs that only Christ can fill G. We must not change the truth, but we must meet the needs of the people to whom we preach IV. What and How of Preaching A. It is not only what you preach, but how you preach, that is important B. You can teach someone that they are going to hell in such a way that they will love you for it, or in such a way as to make them hate you for it C. Biblical examples: Peter and Stephen 1. Peter: Acts 2:14-36: spends the majority of the preaching here speaking about Jesus being the foretold Messiah, places the burden of His death on the people, they are cut to the heart 2. Stephen: Acts 7: Goes through the early history of the patriarchs and Israel, emphasizing the sins of the people and caustically condemning them; they stone him 3. What both of them said is true, and their examples highlight the reactions that the Gospel causes D. It is not enough for us to be only concerned about what we preach; we must also be concerned about how we communicate the message 1. Colossians 4:6 2. While we are not to compromise the message, we must try to preach the message so that people will come to it, not run from it 3. if our preaching style is harsh and caustic, we can prove to be a hindrance and not a help to the Gospel E. We must, therefore, be diligent to preach the truth, and also to present the truth in such a way that communicates our love for people and that we do not want them to be lost V. Ways to Evangelize A. It is rarely an issue that people do not want to evangelize, but perhaps they don't know how to go about it B. There are many ways to evangelize; let us look at some examples C. One could make up little cards presenting the basic message of Christ and leave it with waitresses and others D. If one comes across religious conversations, one could try to become a part of it E. Statistics show that the majority of persons who change from denominations or convert do so both by friends talking with them about the truth and also by being invited to an assembly F. Many times you can get started not by some long theological discourse, but by simply inviting people to attend an assembly! VI. Christians as Evangelists A. It is important to remember that the job of preaching the Gospel belongs to all of us B. While some may be blessed to receive wages for doing this work of God, in truth, all of us need to be preaching the Gospel C. 1 Peter 2:5, 9: we are a holy priesthood 1. While the main job of the priest is to minister... 2. ...the priests were also to teach the people about God (Hosea 4:4-7) 3. We ourselves must bring people to God! D. Evangelists can only do so much and can only befriend so many...everyone must be involved in the work of bringing people to Christ to help give increase to the Kingdom E. While it is true that Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 indicate that we all have different talents, and some of us may not be the best at preaching or teaching others, all of us in some way can help bring people to the faith 1. all of us can invite people to attend assemblies 2. all of us can ask if people want to study the Bible-- and, if necessary, find a brother to help lead such a study 3. all of us can help bring people to God! F. Romans 10:14 is an exhortation to us all! VII. Conclusion A. We have seen many things regarding the need to preach the Gospel B. We are to preach by both word and deed, and neither to the exclusion of the other C. The message must be tailored to meet the need of its audience without being compromised D. How the message is presented is just as critical as what the message is E. We can do many small things that can lead to the opportunity to talk to people about Christ, even to convert them F. It is the job of all of us to talk to people about God-- not just those blessed to receive wages for doing so G. Invitation/songbook H. If you are here today, and have yet to obey the Gospel, we encourage you to obey the message that can save you from perdition I. Come to obedience in Christ today J. Perhaps you have originally obeyed, but require encouragement to be better at preaching God's message, or have some other need for encouragement K. Whatever your need, let us help you