1. What are the challenges you face from preaching the gospel?
2. Identify people whom you want to preach the gospel to.
3. Share the gospel.
1. Pray for God to strengthen and equip you to preach the gospel.
2. Pray for the people you want to share the gospel to.
3. Pray for boldness and open door to preach the gospel.
Week 1: NO MATTER WHAT
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1. Share about the best gift you’ve ever received.
2. Share about an experience when you were asked to present something.
3. Are you more of a listener or a talkative one?
Have you ever told a story so passionately that some passerby started listening also? Stories like these are those that are usually close to our hearts. We tell the story with emotions, and sometimes with actions for added entertainment. But when it comes to preaching the gospel, we tend to hold back out of fear of rejection, mockery or offense. Today, let's look at Paul's humble beginnings and how despite all difficulties, he chose to break the silence and preach the gospel no matter what.
1. Preparation
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:19-20 ESV)
We usually spend months of practice for a five to seven minute speech in a public speaking contest. One of the most common reasons why we are afraid of preaching the gospel is because we feel unprepared. Paul, who was just some days in the faith, was unequipped like us. He preached the gospel based on his relationship with God, saying "Jesus is the Son of God". Paul understood that preaching the gospel is not about how intellectually prepared he is. It is based on his relationship with Christ. He is sharing about someone he loves greatly.
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2. Reputation
And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” (Acts 9:21 ESV)
Paul was a well-known man. He is a Pharisee and, the lead persecutor of the believers of Christ. He went to Damascus to pursue and persecute the believers but when he encountered God, he turned from persecutor to believer. When Paul stood in the synagogue, people immediately recognized him as the old Paul (the persecutor). In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul mentions “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” He understood that his past identity is gone, and it will not hinder him from preaching the gospel, because he is now the redeemed Paul. Like us, we are no longer our old sinful selves, but we are the children of God (see John 1:12).
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3. Opposition
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
(Acts 9:22 ESV)
Opposition against the gospel was very strong at Paul’s time. He, himself, used to oppose the gospel. So when Paul stood up at the synagogue and proclaimed that Jesus is the Son of God, people challenged his new found faith. Have you ever been challenged because you decided to follow Jesus? It can be discouraging to preach the gospel when we face opposition, especially from our loved ones. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Paul understood that it’s not his strength, but it is Christ’s strength that enables him to triumph against opposition. To whom do you anchor your strength, on yourself or on Christ?
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