MAKING JESUS KNOWN - FIVE APPEALS TO UNBELIEVERS
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY
Main Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17 (Acts 9)
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Pastor Ryan shared with us how our testimony is a powerful tool for making Jesus known in evangelism. A life change by Christ is another example of Christ’s grace and power in action, including today! We heard the testimony of the apostle Paul. His story is an example of the generous mercy of God and our salvation story serves as an example of God’s grace too. Pastor Ryan reminded us of the B.L.E.S.S. acronym tool we’ve learned before and then shared a practical process that could be used to share our testimony if the opportunity arises.
Notes:
Appeal: to make a serious or urgent request.
Plead: Make an emotional appeal.
There comes a time when out of love, concern, or prompting from the Holy Spirit, we make an appeal or plea to an unbeliever to turn to Jesus.
The Apostle Paul gives us an example of how his ministry did just that…2 Corinthians 5:18-21 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
It’s important to understand that making an appeal is no substitute for the conviction and the drawing presence of the Holy Spirit. We can plead, even beg, but if someone is not willing to accept the truth of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts to believe then we leave it in the hands of God and prayer.
Paul said, “My message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
Paul also said to the Thessalonians: For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance (NIV: deep conviction) that what we said was true (1 Thess. 1:5).
5 Appeals to an Unbeliever (or 5 Reasons to Believe in Jesus)
GOD CREATED, LOVES, AND LONGS TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU
We are meant to be in a relationship with God. Mankind’s Sin separated us from the fellowship we once had with God in the beginning of time. Some don’t know this so they live in ignorance. Some worsen the distance by running from God. But God keeps loving and pursuing us. Out of His great love for us, God lived in Jesus to restore and reconcile our broken relationship. Now, because of Jesus, we have spiritual fellowship with Him and with other believers. This the gospel, also known as the good news. At the heart of it is the message of reconciliation, Jesus being the bridge that reconnects us to God.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Colossians 1:19-20 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
The big questions of life find their answers in this truth. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? Who are we? What is the meaning of life? Our creator tells us these answers in the Bible. While the world scorches earth to find these answers, we have trusted God at His Word and what He reveals in the Bible.
SIN IS REAL AND DESTRUCTIVE BUT THE WORLD OFFERS NO SOLUTION.
Sin is real and we have all witnessed its effects personally or in our society.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. (Romans 3:23)
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…
We look to the world for answers to fix our brokenness, pain and sin but it has none.
The world offers temporary distractions such as wealth, power, and pleasures but they hold no redeeming qualities. In the end, these distractions are tools from the devil to keep us from seeing the true solution to the problem of sin.
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Matt. 16:26 “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”
Ignoring our sin problem or looking to the world to solve it is folly.
JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE TO SOLVE OUR SIN PROBLEM
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Of all the religions in the world, only Jesus has confronted the problem of sin and offered himself as the solution.
ONLY JESUS HAS PROVED TO BE THE SOLUTION FOR DEATH AND ETERNITY
Jesus died but three days later He rose to life.
John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The world also offers no answer for death or what happens after we die. There are no other gods or religions that bring you to God.
There’s no special serum to keep you alive forever. There’s no shuttle that Jeff Bezo’s or Elon Musk can make that will take you to heaven.
Even if we did find something that could make us live hundreds of years, Jesus is coming back and judgment on all people will take place.
Jesus makes the bold and loving plea that it’s only by putting our faith, hope, and life in Him.
TOMORROW IS NOT GUARANTEED
According to the Bible, we are in the last days and Jesus is coming back soon. But we also are not guaranteed we will see tomorrow. Unfortunate events take the lives of people every day. I know that sounds grim but it’s reality.
What we can do now is turn to God so we are ready no matter what happens. Whether Jesus comes back to gather all His believers and children of God or we die and pass into eternity.
Matthew 24:36-39; 42-44 “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes…42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready,because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Also see: 2 Peter 3:3-10)
In these five appeals, Jesus is the answer to life’s greatest questions and problems.
To the unbeliever who may be in the room or watching, these are trustworthy words and found in the irrefutable Bible. God has shown great love to us and continues to do all He wills to bring us back to Him. Admit you are a sinner, believing in Jesus for salvation from your sin, confess Jesus as your Lord and savior. Today, your life will be saved, transformed, and receive eternal life.
To the believer, I pray God will make an appeal through you and I hope these help give you some ideas and truths to lovingly share.
Discussion:
Which appeal stuck out to you and why?
Which scripture spoke to you and why?
What helped you come to believe in Jesus Christ? Was it something someone said? Was it a sermon? Was it an event? Share if you feel comfortable.
When do you think is the right moment to make an appeal to an unbeliever?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!