ECYC 2012

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Eastern Canada Youth Conference

ECYC 2012: Bible Boot Camp

Jean Ross

Preaching for Decisions

The Evangelism Cycle

Characteristics of a Healthy Church, Part 1

Characteristics of a Healthy Church, Part 2

Being Effective in Evangelism

Father, once again, we do pray that you continue to give us wisdom and guidance as we talk about how we can be more effective to do the work you've called us to do.

This is 1 of my favorite passages as it relates to evangelism.

It says, when Jesus came into the cult of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples saying, whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?

Now why did Jesus ask his disciples that question?

Didn't he know what the people were thinking about him?

Do you think he knew what people thought about him?

Yes he did he wanted his disciples to think about it.

Jesus would often ask questions to get people to think and so they said to him some say that you're John the Baptist.

Now why do people say that Jesus was John the Baptist?

What had happened to John the Baptist by now?

Yeah he was whatever he was beheaded right?

And so people looked at Jesus and the work that Jesus was doing they say man this is John the Baptist resurrected from the dead.

Others said no no no he's not John the Baptist They said he is Elias or Elijah.

Why did people say that Jesus was Elijah?

All right, what about the prophecy in the book of Malachi that says something about Elijah?

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, right?

Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and the return of the hearts of the fathers to the children, and so on and so on.

People looked at Jesus and said, well, this is Elijah come down from heaven, preparing the way for the Messiah.

Others, no, no, no, no, it's not Elijah, he's Jeremiah.

Now I don't know why Jeremiah, I mean, why not Isaiah?

Others said, no, he's not Jeremiah, he's 1 of the prophets.

Then Jesus said to them, He said unto them, but whom say he that I am?

In other words, Jesus said, I know what the people are saying about me, but who do you think I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

There are many times Peter would just say whatever came into his mind.

On the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus appeared, where Jesus was on the mountain and Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, remember that?

And it says Peter, James, and John who were there, they were overwhelmed by this.

Peter was afraid and he didn't quite know what to say, so he said, Lord, it's good for us to be here, for now we can build 3 tabernacles, 1 for you, 1 for Moses, 1 for Elijah.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them, and God said, this is my beloved son, hear him.

In other words, God said, Peter, this is not the time to talk, it's time to be quiet.

Often Peter would first speak and then he would think.

In this case though, Peter answers and says, you're the Christ, the Son of the living God, and he answers correctly.

And then Jesus goes on to make this incredible prediction.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood is not revealed as to thee, but my Father which is in heaven." For a person to come to correct understanding of who Jesus is, it's more than the acceptance of a set of intellectual facts.

It's more than believing that yes, Jesus is the Christ and he's the fulfillment of prophecy.

To really know who Jesus is, the Holy Spirit has to move upon the heart.

You can know about Jesus here, but that won't do anything for you.

It's not until you know about Jesus in your heart, until he changes your life, that it'll mean anything for you.

Then Jesus goes on and he says, I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Now, we all understand that Peter is not the rock upon which the church is built.

The word Peter here in this verse means a pebble or a stone.

Jesus is saying Peter the declaration you just made that I am the Christ, that's the rock that I'm going to build the church on.

In other words, the church is built upon Jesus, not built upon Peter.

Peter never acknowledged to be the foundation of the church.

Actually, Peter said, Jesus is the cornerstone.

Peter never said I am the rock upon which the church is built.

But then Jesus does go on to make this prediction.

He says I'll build upon, upon, sorry, and he said to the thou art Peter a stone, but upon this rock, that's the declaration that he just made, "'I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'" Who's the it in the verse?

So Because Jesus is the foundation of the church, Jesus says the gates of hell won't prevail against the church.

Now what's interesting is it's not the devil breaking down the gates of the church, but it's the church breaking down the gates of hell.

In other words, it's not the church coming and busting through into the church, but it's the church, empowered by Jesus, that enters into the stronghold of Satan and sets sins captives free.

In other words, it's not the church trembling at the presence of the devil, but it's the devil trembling at the presence of the church, because Jesus is the Christ and Christ has already overcome the world.

And so as a church we might only have 15, 16 people in our church, small church let's say, and we might feel as though you know what we're losing this war, the devil is winning, no, no, no.

We can gather together and say you know what Jesus is the Christ.

And because Jesus is the Christ, we can go up against the enemy and be victorious.

We can enter into Satan's stronghold and set sin's captors free because Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus said, all things are given unto me.

Now trusting me, move forward, and we'll tear down the gates of hell and we'll set Sinscaptus free.

That's the power of evangelism, trusting in Jesus.

Now here's an interesting statement, Testimonies Volume 5.

It says, the church is to conduct an aggressive warfare to make conquest for Christ, to rescue souls from the power of the enemy.

She goes on, God and holy angels are engaged in this warfare.

Let us please Him who has called us to be what?

You know in the Bible there's a lot of reference to the Christian being a soldier.

Why do you think there is a connection between being a soldier and being a Christian?

What do you think are some of the similarities?

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Series

ECYC 2012: Bible Boot Camp

Being Effective in Evangelism

Transcript

Parent Series

Parent Conference

Sponsor

Recorded

Experiencing Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

5. The Mind of Christ and the Impending Conflict

59m

Encounters With Jesus

Jesus’ Encounter with the Demoniacs of the Gadarenes

47m

Plenary

Why Was Jesus Always Talking About Plants?

48m

A Strange Request

1h 2m

By Whose Power

36m

Walk in Love: Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself

38m

The REBELution

1h 9m

Dave Fiedler: Thoughts on Thinking - A Brief History of Adventist Thought

Picking Up the Pieces: Learn the Lessons, Get it Right

1h

God's Ordained Order

God’s Ordained Order - Part 3

1h 4m

Revelation of Jesus Christ

1h 17m

Erosion of the Separation of Church and State

1h 3m

Sound Doctrine