No Excuses 2008

Watersource Ministries

Spiritual Fire Academy Pt I

Welcome to the Spiritual Fire Academy

If you could choose for your family and friends... Where would you send them? Everyone will ultimately go to one of these destinations.

I can now walk in the light, as He is in the light, because someone told me about the light...

Why Do We Witness?

Paul LeFleur witnessing at Pridefest 2005

How Do You Witness?

Steve Bauer witnessing in Old Town

Friendship Evangelism • “I like to let people see Jesus in me…” • Truthfully…how many times have people walked up to you and said – “You have something…what is it?”

The “Gift” of Evangelism… • 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – Is Bible reading a gift? – Is prayer a gift? – Is witnessing a gift? • None of these is a gift, they are all a matter of obedience • The Ephesians “411” • “Why do you call me Lord and not do the things that I tell you?” Luke 6:46 • The Parable of the Fire Captain Denver Pridefest 2005

From “have” to “get” • We need to change our mindset “I have to worship…” “I GET TO WORSHIP!” “I have to go to church…” “I GET TO GO TO CHURCH!” “I have to witness…” “I GET TO WITNESS!”

3 Requirements for Preaching • The three requirements for witnessing: – Weakness – Fear – Much trembling • 1 Cor 2:1-5

2 Seasons for Preaching • The two times we should preach the Gospel: – In season – Out of season • 2 Tim 4:2

What is there to fear?

Rick Busch witnessing at Pride in the Park

SCARED TO GET REJECTED • What are we more worried about? • What man thinks about us OR • What God thinks about us??

• What is the worst thing that can happen to us when we share our faith? They can kill us and send us to Heaven! Is that such a bad thing?

ACCEPT

GOOD

WINNING

PLANT SEED

GOOD

WINNING

REJECT

BAD

LOSING

LUKE 6:22-23 “BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN MEN HATE YOU, WHEN THEY REJECT YOUR NAME AS EVIL, BECAUSE OF THE SON OF MAN. REJOICE IN THAT DAY AND LEAP FOR JOY! FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN Heaven…”

ACCEPT

GOOD

WINNING

PLANT SEED

GOOD

WINNING

REJECT

BAD

LOSING

ACCEPT

GOOD

WINNING

PLANT SEED

REJECT

GOOD

WINNING

LOSING

ACCEPT

GOOD

WINNING

PLANT SEED

REJECT

GOOD

GOOD!

WINNING

LOSING

ACCEPT

GOOD

WINNING

PLANT SEED

GOOD

WINNING

REJECT

GOOD!

ACCEPT

GOOD

WINNING

PLANT SEED

REJECT

GOOD

GOOD!

WINNING

WINNING!

Tips for Witnessing

Christine witnessing in Old Town

A Blind man cannot see

Witnessing Should Involve Teaching

Avoid Rabbit Trails

Aim for Repentance (not decisions…)

Sow Seeds in Tears • If they can’t see tears in your eyes, let them hear tears in your voice…

Earn the Right to Witness

If God has Saved Someone… Let GOD tell them!

Make Grace Amazing

Ten Common Objections And their Scriptural Response

We are all forgiven… • Argument: Because Jesus died on a cross, we are all forgiven… • Response: John 3:18, Luke 13:2-3 – “He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son.” – And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” – A Christian will no longer walk the ways of the world, because s/he will be too busy living for Jesus. The Cross is not a license to sin… (1 John 2:1-6, Romans 6:1-4)

Who made God? • Argument: If God made everything, then something had to have made Him… • Response: Psalm 90:2 – “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.”

A perfect God…Angry? • Argument: How can a perfect God be angry? • Response: Nahum 1, Job 38-39 – God has anger not as humans do (ungoverned passion, unbridled emotion), but as a perfect, holy, righteous anger at sin and unrighteousness.

Hell • Argument: My God would never create a place like Hell… • Response: Matt 18:9 – “And if your eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: it is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into Hell-fire.” – It is the sin of idolatry, creating a god to suit yourself. (Exodus 20)

Suffering • Argument: If God is so good, why does He allow suffering? • Response: Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” – Suffering is the very reason we need to flee to God. It is the testimony that mankind has fallen and thus we have a sinful world and need a Savior.

Justification of self • Argument: God made me this way. How can I be responsible for that? • Response: 1 Tim 1:8-10 – The Law of God reveals our unrighteousness. It shows that we are sinful to begin with. It is our nature. The Law points out that we sin with the knowledge that it is wrong – and thus, we are responsible for our own actions.

Intolerance • Argument: Aren’t you being a little intolerant saying that Jesus is the only way? • Response: John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father, but by me.” – You are not intolerant, God is. The Bible is the standard.

Thou shalt not judge… • Argument: You aren’t supposed to judge others… • Response: John 8:10-11 – When Jesus had lifted Himself up and saw none but the woman, he said to her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?” She said, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you: go and sin no more.” – The Christian is not condemning anyone. The Christian is simply warning of the wrath to come and the judgment bar of a Holy God. If the woman did not repent, she would perish.

The Bible has changed • Argument: The Bible has been changed over all the years. • Response: Psalm 119:160 – “Your word is true from the beginning: and every one of your righteous judgments endure forever.” – The Dead Sea Scrolls

An eye for an eye • Argument: The Bible teaches revenge • Response: Matt 5:38-39 – You have heard it said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth: But I say to you, that you resist not evil: but whosever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him your other also.” – The statement, “eye for an eye” was a guideline for civil law, set up in the Torah. If someone committed murder, the Law required the authorities to put that person to death.

I am still not sure… "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that."

- Charles Spurgeon

What would you say?

April 16, 2007

What Will You Say?

Every Second Counts… •

Every second, 7 people die… – An important question…

•

Before you go to sleep tonight, 600,000 people will step off to eternity… – An even more important question…