Sermon par le Ps Philip Tse

EVANGELISM

Apologetics – Defending Christian Faith (2e partie)

Which behaviour shows a person loves God?

> The Great Commission

Matthew 28:

REACH:  19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

TEACH: 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

> Part 1. Engel Scale – 02 April 2023

Steps  Engel Scale A B C D E
10  Decision to surrender to Jesus Christ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
9  Acceptance of the implications ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
8  Acceptance of the Christian truth ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
7  Understand the implication of this ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
6  Grasp the truth about Jesus ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
5  Decide to investigate Jesus ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
4  Interest in Jesus Christ ✅ ☐ ☐ ☐ ✅
3  Contact with Christians ✅ ☐ ☐ ☐ ✅
2  Some awareness of God ✅ ✅ ✅ ☐ ✅
1  No awareness of God ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

REACH: Helping someone to take one more step toward Jesus => Successful evangelism.

> Responses and Criticisms

  1. I am not interested in God and Jesus.
  2. God does not exist.
  3. I believe more in science/knowledge than God.
  4. Doing good in life is sufficient.
  5. Christianity is not the only way to God.
  6. Christianity restricts our freedom of life.
  7. How can God allow evil and suffering?
  8. Jesus is not God, just a man.
  9. Christians are homophobic (against gay people).
  10. God cannot be a Trinitarian God (in 3 persons), etc.

> Apologetics

Christian apologetics is the act of defending Christianity. This is important for two reasons:

(1) To aid our evangelism process by removing stumbling blocks that unbelievers have;

(2) To deepen the faith of believers in God.

Ravi Zacharias: “helping the thinker believe and helping the believer think.”

> Always be prepared to give an answer

1 Peter 3:15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you.

(1) To give the reason for the hope that you have.

(2) But do this with gentleness and respect.

We should be gentle and respectful in communicating our faith and do not end up with disputes with a person with different viewpoints.

=> It is more important to win the person than to win the argument.

1. I am not interested

“Know your audience” (KYA) is the key to successful startups and effective communications, including communicating an interesting and attractive gospel.

Matthew, knowing that his audience was primarily Jewish, emphasized how Jesus fulfilled the Hebrew Scriptures.

Luke’s gospel is written for a Gentile audience.

Let’s learn from the wisdom of Paul in reaching out to different audiences.

KYA – Paul to Jews

In Acts 13:32-36, when Paul proclaimed the gospel to the Jews, he reasoned from Jewish Scriptures:

32 We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ (Ps 2:7)

34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ (Isa 55:3)

35 So it is also stated elsewhere: ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ (Ps 16:10)

36 Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

KYA – Paul to Pagan farmers

In Acts 14:15-17, when Paul proclaimed the gospel to pagan farmers, he reasoned from creation and farming: “… We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

KYA – Paul to Greek philosophers

In Acts 17:27-29, when Paul proclaimed the gospel to Greek philosophers, he reasoned from Greek philosophy and culture. He started with the ‘unknown God’ which the Greeks had in their city Athens, and linked him with the creation of the world and humanity, by using the words of Greek philosophers

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ [Epimenides] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ [Aratus] Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by human design and skill.

Know Your Audience (KYA)

  • Is the person a man or a woman?
  • Married or Single.
  • What generation? Elderly, Mid age, Young Adult, Teenager.
  • Job positions.
  • Culture (Testimony).
  • Good health or sick person?
  • And so on …

2. God does not exist

  • We can use same approach as Pagans farmers.
  • Acts 14:15-17 “… the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them… He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons (blessings); he provides you with plenty of food (material) and fills your hearts with joy (immaterial).”
  • God is a living God. He is the Creator of all things. He is a God of love, and gives material and immaterial blessings to his people.
  • Ps 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork”.
  • Faith opens the eyes of man to God’s creation.
  • Faith is higher than reason, like reason is higher than muscular strength.
  • Where does universe/life come from? What are their purposes?
  • Does evil exist? If evil exists, good also exists. Existence of evil spirits/Holy Spirit.
  • Tell of the blessings, miracles and joy you have experienced or seen.