DISCOVERING DISCOVERING JESUS!JESUS!

How Christians can help a How Christians can help a dying world discover the dying world discover the Bible’s greatest mystery!Bible’s greatest mystery!

WE LOVE MYSTERIES!WE LOVE MYSTERIES!

Sherlock Holmes

Nancy Drew

Scooby Doo!

The Bible shows us the The Bible shows us the REAL mystery.REAL mystery.

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. - Colossians 4:2-3

We want to answer this We want to answer this morning…morning…

• How do we prepare to share the How do we prepare to share the mystery?mystery?

• How has God opened the doors in How has God opened the doors in my life to share the mystery?my life to share the mystery?

• What is the mystery I am supposed What is the mystery I am supposed to share?to share?

• How does Paul address here how we How does Paul address here how we should share it?should share it?

How do we prepare How do we prepare to share the to share the

mystery?mystery?

It begins with PRAYER!It begins with PRAYER!

Mark 11:24Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 7:7-8Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be

opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who

seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be

opened.

John 16:23-24John 16:23-24

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

John 14:12-14John 14:12-14

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

SHARING THE MYSTERY SHARING THE MYSTERY MUST BEGIN IN PRAYER!MUST BEGIN IN PRAYER!

Prayer gives us authority to go about doing God’s will and

the power to do it!

How has God opened How has God opened the doors in my life to the doors in my life to

share the mystery?share the mystery?

By providing you with gifts, By providing you with gifts, talents and abilities which talents and abilities which you can use to help people you can use to help people

understand the gospel understand the gospel message!message!

Ephesians 2:10Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 4:11-12Ephesians 4:11-12

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…

1 Corinthians 9:211 Corinthians 9:21

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

1 Corinthians 9:22-231 Corinthians 9:22-23

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

What is the mystery I What is the mystery I am supposed to am supposed to

share?share?

It is the gospel of Jesus It is the gospel of Jesus Christ!Christ!

1 Timothy 3:161 Timothy 3:16

Beyond all question, the mystery of Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:godliness is great:

He appeared in a body,He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit,was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.was taken up in glory.

Ephesians 3:2-5Ephesians 3:2-5Surely you have heard about the Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to will be able to understand my understand my insight into the mystery of Christinsight into the mystery of Christ, , which was not made known to men which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. holy apostles and prophets.

Ephesians 3:6Ephesians 3:6

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

What is the mystery?What is the mystery?

• The gospel is open to everyone The gospel is open to everyone who desires to receive it.who desires to receive it.

• The gospel involves the coming The gospel involves the coming together of everyone as part of together of everyone as part of one body…The body of Christ.one body…The body of Christ.

• The gospel is the promise of The gospel is the promise of eternal life that comes through eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

How does Paul How does Paul address here how we address here how we

should share it?should share it?

Colossians 4:4-6Colossians 4:4-6

Colossians 4:4-6Colossians 4:4-6

Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

What will you do What will you do with the Mystery?with the Mystery?

Will you share it with the Will you share it with the world or keep it to yourself?world or keep it to yourself?