Evangelism

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Community Bible Institute

CB

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Evangelism

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A Spiritual Growth Course

What is CBI?

Community Bible Institute is a Christian studies school designed “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12)

To learn more about How CBI works, get a copy of the CBI Handbook at the CBI desk in the church lobby, at the CBI desk in the Tara Center lobby, or by requesting one by email at stvrust@insightbb.com.

Home Study courses for CBI may be obtained in a hard copy format or may be requested by and delivered as an email attachment.

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Community Bible Institute is a ministry of Community Family

Church.859-356-8851

1Taking Care How You ListenLuke 8:1–21

Purpose: To know the kind of followers God gives more of himself to.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the West rejoiced. For Christians it symbolized evangelistic opportunities in East Europe. At first we heard much of “tremendous openness,” “thousands accepting Christ,” “demand for Bibles.” This was probably true. Then we began hearing about growing materialism and power struggles among some Christian leaders. Journalists began to report that many who came to meetings were mainly eager for Western contacts to worldly opportunities.

Wherever the Gospel is preached results vary, because people have different motives for listening and responding. Jesus knew this about his contemporary audience, and he dealt with it in a graphic way.

1. What were the two most significant factors that influenced your response to the Christian gospel?

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2. Read Luke 8:1–21. Luke's description of the women followers in verses 2–3 is unique among the Gospels. What do these verses tell you about the changing nature of Jesus' ministry?

3. The reason for Jesus' telling the first parable is implied in verse 4. What danger in Christian ministry does this reason suggest to you?

4. In Jesus' first parable the seeds sown are the same, but the soils are different. How are they different?

5. Jesus himself interprets this opening parable. What is his main point (vv. 11–15)?

6. As the crowds grow, Jesus increasingly teaches in parables. He gives his reason for this in verses 8b-10. How is the use of parables effective in testing a listener's sincerity?

7. Jesus' second parable of the lighted lamp on a stand reinforces his teaching in the first (vv. 16–18). Consider your habits of listening to God's truth. What helps you to retain it and persevere in it?

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8. Luke uses the family episode as a live illustration on listening to God (vv. 19–21). What does Jesus highlight by this illustration?

9. Home is a hard place to put God's Word into practice, as Jesus well knew. Share an experience of putting into practice a specific biblical truth in your family and what happened.

10. Think over 8:15, where Jesus spells out what good soil is. How do you aim to cultivate your good soil?

2Training for the TwelveLuke 9:1–50

Purpose: To learn from Jesus how to train ordinary people to form an extraordinary team of coworkers.General note: Jesus' instructions can be better understood if one bears in mind that this was a short-term mission in home territory. Their two previous years of training had been intensive. After this it will become even harder! These questions aim to help the group to probe the helpful topic of Jesus as a leader of leaders, a trainer of trainers.

“It has been my experience that superior people are attracted only by challenge. By setting our standards low and making our life soft we have, quite automatically and unconsciously, assured ourselves of mediocre people” (Ambassador MacWhite in The Ugly American, referring to his observations in the diplomatic corps).

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Looking at Jesus' diplomatic corps of twelve, we might wonder about his standards. The Gospels tell us little about their backgrounds, but they tell us much about how Jesus trained them. This is useful for us.

1. How do you react to the quote above?

2. Read Luke 9:1–9. For two years Jesus has been teaching, training and testing the Twelve. In what important ways has Jesus prepared them for this first short-term mission without him? first mission only now?

3. Which parts of Jesus' commission and instructions do you think are especially relevant for world mission today? Why?

4. Read Luke 9:10–17. The apostles have just returned from an intense and successful evangelistic mission. Their reluctance to help the crowd is understandable. But Jesus is insistent. What progressive steps do you see him take to involve them in feeding the people?

5. Read Luke 9:18–43a. Peter's “Great Confession” of Jesus' true identity is followed by two hard teachings—the first prediction of his ignominious death (vv. 21–22) and the costs of commitment to him as Lord (vv. 23–27). But what does Jesus say are the long-term benefits of these short-time costs?

6. Luke links Jesus' transfiguration to his final trip to Jerusalem, where death awaits (9:30–32; 9:51ff.). How then is the transfiguration important to Jesus himself and to the disciples?

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7. On the plain with the mixed crowd we can sense Jesus' deep feelings. How can he be at once both compassionate and impatient?

8. Share an experience when you felt both God's compassion and impatience.

9. Read Luke 9:43b-50. The Twelve have learned much in the past two years. Yet here we see their continued lack of understanding of Jesus' prediction and their immaturity in two other areas. Based on Jesus' answers to the two latter problems, what do you think is the cause of each problem?

10. What is one blind spot, or area of spiritual immaturity, that you need to work on?

3God Has the Last WordLuke 24:1–53

Purpose: To move us out into the world in obedience to Jesus' resurrection commission.

How can you destroy Christianity? Explain away Jesus' resurrection.

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For instance, you could say the overemotional women at the tomb were deluded. Or argue that they went to the wrong tomb. You might insist that the resurrection was spiritual not physical, or that the disciples had hallucinations.

From that first Easter till now the enemies of the Church have tried to get rid of the historical facts (Mt 28:11–15). None has succeeded.

1. Which do you like to celebrate more—Christmas or Easter? Why?

2. Read Luke 24:1–12, sensing the change of emotions from verse to verse. The women are a personal link between the cross and the empty tomb. Suppose you are one of them. How do you feel when the men respond with “Nonsense!”? How do you feel as you watch Peter running to the tomb?

3. Read verses 13–35 for the longest resurrection encounter preserved for us. What kind of people do the two disciples appear to be?

4. What strikes you about the stranger's dialog with them?

5. We can sympathize with the disciples' struggle between despair and hope. In his rebuke Jesus identifies the cause of their despair—reluctance to believe the Scriptures about the Messiah (v. 25). Share an experience of how the Scriptures moved you from despair to new hope.

6. Read Luke 24:36–53 as a seeker inquiring about Jesus' resurrection. Which facts and implications help you to believe his personal reality?

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Which puzzle you?

7. For three or so years Jesus has been preparing his disciples to carry on his world mission. He climaxes this mission training by stressing systematic, in-depth Bible understanding (vv. 25–27, 32, 44–47). In what ways can you testify to this importance?

8. Verse 49 is expanded in Acts 1:4–5 and John 14:16. Why are both Bible study and the Holy Spirit necessary for effective evangelism?

9. We have been carefully studying the life and mission of Jesus. What would you say are your three greatest incentives to be his “witness of these things”?

10. What a message we have! The Lord Jesus has come to bring new hope and new joy to the world! How can you (and your church or fellowship group) take Jesus' message of new hope and new joy to your community?

4Soul & Body—Saving & HealingJohn 4:1–54

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Purpose: To equip us to minister effectively to people that God brings into our lives every day.

“I love humanity; it's people I can't stand!” Those well-known words from a member of the “Peanuts” gang still make us chuckle. But our smiles hide the fact that we sometimes feel exactly like that. John says very little about Jesus' contact with the multitudes. But long sections of the Gospel are devoted to conversations Jesus had with individuals. Jesus was open, warm and vitally interested in people.

In John 4 we see Jesus reach out first to a woman, then to his disciples, and finally to a grieving father. Watching Jesus give himself to people with love and compassion will help us care for those God puts in our paths.

1. When have you been able to turn an ordinary conversation into a discussion about Christ?

2. Read John 4:1–26. Why do you think Jesus “had to go through Samaria” on his way to Galilee (v. 4)? (Jews normally went around Samaria to avoid contact with the hated Samaritans.)

3. What is surprising about Jesus' question to the Samaritan woman (vv. 8–9)?

What present-day situations might arouse the same racial, religious and sexual prejudices?

4. How does Jesus' offer of “living water” contrast with what the woman thinks he means (vv. 10–15)?

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What does this offer of “living water” mean in your life and experience?

5. Why do you think Jesus brings up the woman's long list of past marriages and her present adulterous relationship (vv. 16–18)?

6. Why does the woman suddenly change the subject and begin talking about the controversy over the proper place of worship (vv. 19–20)?

7. How does Jesus handle her question about this Samaritan-Jewish controversy (vv. 21–24)?

8. What principles can you draw from Jesus' conversation with the woman to help you in discussing the gospel with non-Christians?

9. Read John 4:27–42. From your reading of this passage, do you think the Samaritan woman genuinely believed? What do you see in the passage that supports your position?

10. How is the disciples' confusion about food (vv. 31–33) similar to the woman's confusion about living water?

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11. After his encounter with the Samaritan woman, what specific lessons does Jesus apply to his disciples and to us (vv. 34–38)?

12. Read John 4:43–54. How does the royal official's attitude toward Jesus differ from the response Jesus had already anticipated (see v. 44)?

13. What does this “second miraculous sign” Jesus performed (v. 54) reveal about him?

14. What has Jesus taught you in this chapter about meeting the specific needs of those around you?

5Jesus, the Light of the WorldJohn 8:12–59

Purpose: To demonstrate how the claims of Jesus divide people according to the response of their hearts.

Jesus never spoke in public without creating controversy. In fact, he was constantly in trouble! Rather than retreating behind the safety of a pulpit, Jesus spoke in settings where people were bold enough to talk back. In this portion of John's story, Jesus makes a series of claims about himself. Each claim is met by a challenge from his enemies. Each

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challenge is then answered and the answer leads to the next claim. Throughout this interchange, Jesus shows us how to speak the truth in the face of hostility. He also reveals some amazing things about himself.

1. Have you ever tried to talk about Christ with a family member or coworker who was hostile to your message? How did you feel at the time?

How did you try to penetrate that person's spiritual barriers?

2. Read John 8:12–30. Jesus' first claim is: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” What does it mean to walk in darkness (v. 12)?

How has following Jesus brought light into your life?

3. The Pharisees challenge the validity of Jesus' claim (v. 13; see Deut 19:15). How does Jesus answer their challenge (vv. 14–18)?

4. Jesus' reference to his Father leads to his second claim—that he came from God. How does this claim heighten the tension between Jesus and the Jews (vv. 19–30)?

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5. It seems as if Jesus is deliberately provoking the Jews by what he says. Why do you think he is being so blunt?

6. Read John 8:31–59. Jesus makes another startling claim in verses 31–32: “If you hold to my teaching … then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Why does holding to Jesus' teaching lead to true knowledge and freedom?

7. Those who had believed interrupted to say that they were already free. What analysis does Jesus give of their “freedom” (vv. 34–36)?

8. Jesus' opponents also claim to have both Abraham and God as their father. According to Jesus, how does their conduct contradict their claim (vv. 39–47)?

9. Why is our conduct the truest test of our beliefs?

10. What is it about Jesus' statements that make his enemies want to stone him (vv. 48–59)?

11. Summarize the various attacks voiced against Jesus in this chapter and explain how Jesus' example will help you face spiritually hostile people.

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12. In what ways does your lifestyle validate (or invalidate) your claim to be a follower of Christ?

6You Will Be My WitnessesActs 1

Purpose: To understand the task of the church of Jesus Christ and his promise to equip us for that task.

I remember telling a friend, “If I were dying, what I would most need would be confidence that all I believed about Jesus were true. I would want you to read Scripture to me, pray with me, and talk to me about Jesus and heaven.” This confidence is not only what I need most when I am dying, but also when I am living.

During the days between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus built the confidence of his disciples. He demonstrated and spoke truth about himself. And then he left them with a clearly defined task and the promise of the power to carry out that task. Thus, Luke was able to write with confidence to Theophilus about Jesus.

1. When has your faith in Jesus Christ been encouraged by the words of others?

2. Read Acts 1:1–11. What did Luke, the author of Acts, report to Theophilus about Jesus' last days upon earth?

What gives credibility to this report?

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3. How is your hope and confidence in Jesus affected by what you learn of him in the passage?

4. Put yourself in the shoes of the apostles. How would you feel if you were the first to be given the task described in verse 8?

5. How are we equipped for this task, according to the passage?

6. Imagine that you were there, looking into the sky. How do you think the followers of Jesus were affected by the promise that he would return?

7. How are you affected by that promise today?

8. Read Acts 1:12–26. How did the disciples respond to all that they had seen and heard?

9. Why was it important for them to be together?

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10. How are you affected when you pray with other believers in this way—especially as you consider your part in this task (v. 14)?

11. Peter comes forth as the leader of this group. He goes to Scripture immediately when he speaks. How do these words of David affect their confidence as well as give them direction?

12. In summary, how does this passage define your task, equip, motivate and give you confidence to complete the task?

7Receiving the PowerActs 2

Purpose: To begin to understand the power of the Holy Spirit and his equipping us for the task of being witnesses throughout the world.

At my school of nursing, a group of upperclassmen wanted to communicate the message of Jesus to the incoming class of freshmen. They realized that there was only one source to accomplish this task—the power of the Holy Spirit. So they decided to pray for each new student by name weeks before they arrived on campus. As a result, many who did not know Jesus when they arrived graduated as maturing Christians.

1. What do you think it would be like if the Holy Spirit were suddenly withdrawn from the church?

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2. Read Acts 2. Imagine that you were there on the Day of Pentecost. What do you think it would have been like for you as one of the crowd looking on?

3. How do the Jews respond to the power of the Spirit which they witness? Why do you think they react this way?

4. Here, we see Peter as a dynamic leader and preacher. It is the power of the Holy Spirit which has changed this man who was once a coward that denied Jesus three times. Scripture, again, is the foundation of Peter's proclamation of truth. What message does the book of Joel have for the bewildered crowd?

5. In our study of Acts we will see Peter's perception of evangelism broaden. In this chapter why do you think there is a difference between the people Luke mentions as being present (vv. 9–11) and Peter's address, “Fellow Jews” (v. 15)?

6. What is there in Peter's sermon that would reassure Theophilus about his faith and help him “know the certainty of the things” that he'd been taught?

7. What does Peter have to offer to those who are responsive to his message (vv. 37–39)?

8. How has your life been affected by the gift of the Holy Spirit?

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9. Describe the fellowship of the believers in this young church (vv. 42–47).

10. What were their priorities?

11. How does the life and purpose of your church or Christian fellowship group compare to that of this group?

12. In summary, what are all the ways you see the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrated throughout the chapter?

13. How does your church or fellowship group need to change in order to see the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrated in these ways?

8Paul's First Missionary JourneyActs 13–14

Purpose: To examine Paul's personal qualities that made him effective in the task of worldwide evangelization.

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Peter has disappeared. We do not know where he is hiding. Luke is ushering Peter from the stage, while Paul steps to the forefront. Peter, the apostle to the Jews, has played his part well and prepared the way for Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas have completed their mission of mercy in Jerusalem on behalf of the church at Antioch (11:29) and have returned to Antioch with John Mark. In this study we will look at Paul's first missionary journey—the beginning of his master plan of evangelism.

1. Think of someone you know who effectively shares the gospel. What qualities do you see in that person?

2. Read Acts 13–14. Antioch was the second great metropolis of the church and the mother of Gentile Christianity. What role did the church of Antioch play in Paul's first missionary journey (13:1–3; 14:26–28)?

3. In missionary outreach how do churches today compare and/or contrast with those of Antioch?

4. Review Paul's message in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch (13:16–41). What truths of the gospel are communicated?

5. How does Paul's message show sensitivity to his audience and the context?

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In what relationships and situations do you need this same sensitivity?

6. List the different responses to the gospel (13:7–8, 13, 42–45, 48, 52; 14:1–5) that you see throughout this passage.

7. How did Paul respond to those who rejected the gospel (13:9–11, 46, 51)? to those who believed (14:9–10, 21–23)?

8. In this passage the response to the gospel by believers was to be filled with “joy and the Holy Spirit” (13:52). How prevalent is this in the life of our church today? Explain.

9. People today are not apt to offer sacrifices to those who bring the good news of Jesus. However, in what ways are we faced with the temptation to be “god” in another's life or to take credit for what God has done?

10. How can we help one another when in the midst of such temptations?

11. As you look over these two chapters and Paul's first journey, what qualities do you see in him and in Barnabas that made them effective in their ministry?

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12. Which of these qualities do you want God to develop in you to make you more effective in communicating the gospel?

9A Church Is BornActs 16:6–40

Purpose: From Acts 16 we can learn that God chooses people from many different backgrounds and builds them into one church. This study is intended to give an understanding of the people to whom Paul was writing. It also illustrates how God's Spirit and God's servants work together in evangelism.

William Carey the father of modern missions, once proposed to a group of ministers that they discuss the implications of the Great Commission. One minister retorted: “Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid or mine!” Fortunately, Carey did not share this man's imbalanced perspective. He believed we should expect great things from God but also attempt great things for God. This was also the view of Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke. In this passage we see them working together with God in founding the Philippian church.

1. In what ways did God and people work together in your own conversion?

2. Read Acts 16:6–40. What do verses 6–12 reveal about the way God guided these missionaries to Philippi?

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3. In verses 13–15 we are introduced to Lydia, the first convert. What human and divine factors led to her conversion?

4. Imagine that you had been present during the events described in verses 16–18. How would they have affected your view of these missionaries end Jesus Christ?

5. Verse 19 tells us that “the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone.” What did they fail to realize about the significance of this event?

In what sense were the owners the real slaves in this story?

6. Imagine that you are imprisoned with Paul and Silas (vv. 22–24). What sights, sounds and smells would you be experiencing? How would you feel?

7. How would your response to these circumstances compare with that of Paul and Silas (v. 25)?

Why do you think they responded as they did?

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8. God not only caused an earthquake but also caused the prison doors to fly open and everybody's chains to come loose (v. 26). In what sense were these events an object lesson of the power of the gospel?

What effect did these events, together with the example of Paul and Silas, have on the jailer (vv. 27–34)?

9. How do Paul and Silas react when they are offered freedom (vv. 35–40)?

How might God have been using their imprisonment to help the new church?

10. This passage is a beautiful example of how the Spirit of God and the servants of God work together in evangelism. What specific principles of evangelism can you learn from this passage?

How should these principles affect your evangelism?

10Paul's Thank-You NotePhilippians 4:10–23

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Purpose: This passage teaches that missions-giving is of greater benefit to the giver than the receiver. Therefore, the study should prompt people toward greater support of missions.

We've all written thank-you notes for gifts received for a birthday or for Christmas. Such notes usually include rather conventional phrases about the thankfulness of the recipient and the thoughtfulness of the giver. In Philippians 4 Paul thanks the Philippians for a gift of money they sent. However, it is a most unusual thank-you note. First he breaks the conventional rules by waiting until the very end of the letter to say thank you. Then he writes as though he didn't really need the gift!

1. Most Christians are strongly in favor of sending missionaries to other countries. Yet many missionaries have a difficult time raising their support. How would you explain this paradox?

2. Read Philippians 4:10–23. Paul thanks the Philippians not for the money but for the concern they have shown (v. 10). Why would this have been more important to Paul?

3. Many people believe they can only be content once they have reached a certain level of economic prosperity. How does their view differ from Paul's secret of contentment (vv. 11–13)?

To what extent have you learned to apply this secret?

4. How had the Philippians helped Paul both in the past and the present (vv. 14–18)?

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5. What opportunities do you have to meet the needs of those whose ministries require special support?

6. What benefits does Paul expect the Philippians to receive from their giving (vv. 17–19)?

7. How can the promise of verse 19 encourage us to give to the needs of others?

8. Many people complain that missionaries are always asking for money. How does this passage provide a model for both missionaries and those who support them?

9. How will this passage affect your giving?

11Gentle Evangelism1 Thessalonians 2:1–16

Purpose: To encourage group members to share their faith with others.

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What thoughts come to your mind when you hear the word evangelism? Pushy people trying to get you to see things their way? Guilt for not saying enough about your Savior? People swarming down the aisles at a gigantic rally? Or friends sharing the excitement of good news with each other? For Paul, evangelism was always delightful and exciting. In this passage he tells us why talking about Christ is such a positive experience for him.

1. Has telling others about your faith been a positive or a negative experience? Explain.

2. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1–6. What excuses might Paul have had not to preach to the Thessalonians (vv. 1–2)?

3. What attitudes enabled Paul to continue preaching despite opposition (vv. 3–6)?

4. What does this teach you about proper and improper reasons for witnessing to others?

5. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7–16. How was Paul “like a mother caring for her little children” (vv. 7–9)?

6. In what specific ways can gentleness and caring become more a part of your evangelistic efforts?

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7. Paul claims to have been “holy, righteous and blameless” (v. 10) among the Thessalonians. If this is important, how can imperfect people dare to do evangelism?

8. How is a father dealing with his children a good example of an evangelist (v. 11–12)?

9. What difficulties did the Thessalonians face in sharing their faith with others (vv. 14–16)?

10. What encouragement does Paul give them not to give up?

11. In what ways have you found evangelism to be difficult?

12. What ideas and encouragement from this passage can help you to overcome these difficulties?

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