Six Steps Six Steps to Reach the Lostto Reach the Lost

Acts 17Acts 17

The Church: The Church:

Stewards of the Stewards of the

MysteryMysteryOctober 26, 2008October 26, 2008

We suffer from a gap We suffer from a gap between…between…

knowing about evangelism knowing about evangelism

and and practicing evangelismpracticing evangelism

Acts 1

7A

cts 17

Step #1Step #1

Acts 17:16-17Acts 17:16-17

Step #1Step #1

Matthew 9:36Matthew 9:36"Seeing the people, He felt compassion "Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd."shepherd."

Step #1Step #1CARE About The LostCARE About The Lost

““Do I really believe Do I really believe that hell exists?” that hell exists?”

Step #2Step #2

Acts 17:1-2,10,17Acts 17:1-2,10,17

Step #2Step #2INITIATE with themINITIATE with them

An evangelistic life is An evangelistic life is

INITIATORY INITIATORY

We must take We must take

the first step! the first step!

Step #3Step #3

Step #3Step #3ADAPT your messageADAPT your message

–Acts 17:2-3Acts 17:2-3–Acts 17:22-31Acts 17:22-31

• Get to Know ThemGet to Know Them• Don’t “Unload” on Them

• Watch your Language

Step #4Step #4

Step #4Step #4FOCUS on the EssentialsFOCUS on the Essentials

Acts 17:30-32Acts 17:30-32

1.1. "You are a sinner""You are a sinner"

Step #4Step #4FOCUS on the EssentialsFOCUS on the Essentials

Romans 3:23Romans 3:23"For all have sinned and fall short of the "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"glory of God"

1.1. "You are a sinner""You are a sinner"

2.2. "The penalty of sin is death" "The penalty of sin is death"

Romans 6:23aRomans 6:23a"For the wages of sin is death…""For the wages of sin is death…"

Step #4Step #4FOCUS on the EssentialsFOCUS on the Essentials

1.1. "You are a sinner""You are a sinner"

2.2. "The penalty of sin is death" "The penalty of sin is death"

3.3. "Christ died for you and "Christ died for you and rose from the dead”rose from the dead”

Step #4Step #4FOCUS on the EssentialsFOCUS on the Essentials

Romans 5:8Romans 5:8"But God demonstrates His own love "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."sinners, Christ died for us."

1.1. "You are a sinner""You are a sinner"

2.2. "The penalty of sin is death" "The penalty of sin is death"

3.3. "Christ died for you and "Christ died for you and rose from the dead”rose from the dead”

4.4. "You can be saved though "You can be saved though faith"faith"

Step #4Step #4FOCUS on the EssentialsFOCUS on the Essentials

Ephesians 2:8-9Ephesians 2:8-9"For by grace you have been saved "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."works, so that no one may boast."

You are a sinner You are a sinner

and the penalty of sin is and the penalty of sin is death, death,

but Christ died for you and but Christ died for you and rose from the dead, rose from the dead,

and you can be saved through and you can be saved through faith.faith.

Step #4Step #4FOCUS on the EssentialsFOCUS on the Essentials

Step #5Step #5

Acts 17:2,17Acts 17:2,17

Step #5Step #5COMMIT for the Long HaulCOMMIT for the Long Haul

Step #6Step #6

v5 - riot in Thessalonicav5 - riot in Thessalonica

v13 - riot in Bereav13 - riot in Berea

v32 - ridiculed in Athensv32 - ridiculed in Athens

John 6:44John 6:44"No one can come to Me unless the "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..."Father who sent Me draws him..."

Step #6Step #6

Success = Faithfulness Success = Faithfulness

- to Pray- to Pray

- to Serve- to Serve

- to Speak- to Speak

Step #6Step #6PRAYPRAY to the God Who Saves to the God Who Saves

6 Steps to Reach the Lost6 Steps to Reach the Lost1.1.CARECARE about the lostabout the lost

2.2. INITIATEINITIATE with themwith them

3.3.ADAPTADAPT your messageyour message

4.4.FOCUSFOCUS on the essentialson the essentials

5.5.COMMITCOMMIT for the long haulfor the long haul

6.6.PRAYPRAY to the God wto the God who savesho saves

Recommended ReadingRecommended Reading•Finding Common GroundFinding Common Ground

Tim DownsTim Downs

• Just Walk Across the RoomJust Walk Across the Room Bill HybelsBill Hybels

•Becoming a Contagious Becoming a Contagious ChristianChristian Bill Hybels Bill Hybels