Monday, March 15, 2010
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“Pass It On…With Gentleness and Respect, Please”
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“Pass It On…With Gentleness and Respect, Please” by Rev Leslie Lim (07/03/2010)
“13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear[a]; do not be frightened."[b] 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:13-16 (NIV)
•Couple sending out tracts, Pastor of Lighthouse Evangelical Church warned for insensitive remarks
•Sharing with gentleness and respect - Not because of religious harmony, but as it reflects the Kingdom lifestyle.
•Sharing the Gospel is going to get harder with time. (Bu they had persecution in the past too.)
•We can turn challenges in life into opportunities to share for Christ.
•Many persecutors, seeing the hope and faith that the Christians at that time have, were converted too.
1)We should to continue to set apart Christ as Lord of our lives
•“34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34
•We shouldn’t be half—hearted Christians, nor pew-warmers.
•Dedicate ourselves to God’s will, live and die with Christ.
•We should follow Christ example. Jesus would go all out to proclaim about God’s kingdom.
2)We are to be prepared to explain our hope and faith in Christ.
•Many of us are not prepared to share, or don’t want to learn more about our faith.
•Cry for a worthy cause (like for lost souls) and not for K Dramas, etc.
•5 Reasons Why I Won’t Share My Faith: Scared of Rejection, Not legal, Don’t know where to start, Don’t know enough information, Walk doesn’t match talk.
•We should take the step to learn more about our faith.
•God is always with us. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20
•“People around me, why should I care? Because You, Lord, You care and want me to care.”
3)We must practice how to share the good news with sensitivity.
•People always turn down Christ not because the gospel is not good, but because we always talk down them.
•“"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."” John 8:11b
•Truth without grace will offend. But truth spoken with God’s graciousness will get attention from those who initially reject the truth.
•We are not there to force Christ down people’s throat, but to share Christ’s love.
•The Story of Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-6) – Let us be the Sycamore tree to let those who come in contact with us to get into a position to view Christ better.
•We are not there to convert and correct non-Christians, that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Are you prepared to share Jesus with our family and friends? If you are, pass it on with gentleness and respect, please.
aaron chua thanked jesus at10:15 AM
