Be Devoted to Prayer – Colossians 4:2

Prayer should be a steady part of the lives of God’s people.

• Prayer expresses dependence on God.
• Prayer submits our desires to God’s will.
• Prayer keeps us watchful and thankful.
• We do not pray to convince God to be gracious. We pray because He already is.

Pray for the Sick – James 5:13–16; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10

God invites His people to bring suffering and sickness before Him.

• Ask God to heal.
• Ask God to strengthen and sustain.
• Pray for families and caregivers.
• Pray for wisdom for doctors and medical decisions.
• Trust God’s wisdom even when His answer is not the one we desire.

God can heal, and He can also sustain His people through suffering. Pray boldly while confidently submitting to God’s will.

Pray for the Lost – Romans 10:1

Paul’s desire for the lost moved him to prayer.

• Salvation belongs to the Lord.
• Only God can open blind eyes and give new life.
• God calls us to pray, go, speak, and share the gospel.
• Pray specifically for repentance and faith.

God saves sinners through the gospel. Identify people by name and pray that God would use you to bring the gospel to them.

Pray for Our Nation – 1 Timothy 2:1–4

God calls His people to pray for those in authority.

• Pray for national, state, and local leaders.
• Pray for wisdom, justice, integrity, and humility.
• Pray for the protection of human life.
• Pray for marriage, family, and biblical sexuality.
• Pray for religious liberty.
• Pray for justice and protection of the vulnerable.
• Pray for truth and character in leadership.
• Pray for churches and pastors to remain faithful to Christ.

Our hope is not in political power. Our hope is in Christ. Think biblically, pray faithfully, and trust God completely.

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Truths to Consider

• God is sovereign over sickness, salvation, and nations.
• Prayer is an expression of dependence upon Him.
• God uses the prayers of His people according to His purposes.
• Christ remains Lord regardless of circumstances or political outcomes.

Living them out

• Pray intentionally for those who are sick and suffering.
• Pray intentionally for 2–3 lost people by name.
• Pray intentionally for those in authority.

We do not need to reinvent ministry or chase the latest methods. We need to look carefully at the New Testament, see how Christ and His church lived out the mission, and faithfully follow those biblical patterns today.

In this study, we will focus on the gospel itself, our responsibility to embrace the mission, how to share Christ clearly, and how to help others begin following Him.

What did they do? Acts 2:37–41; Acts 4:29–31; Acts 17:2–4

• proclaimed Christ
• explained the gospel
• called people to repent and believe
• prayed for boldness
• trusted God to save

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Week 5: Helping others follow Christ (part 1)

The Great Commission does not end with a profession of faith. We are called to help people begin following Jesus. Acts 11:23; Colossians 1:28

Remind them of the Gospel

John 6:37; Romans 8:1; 1 John 5:11–13

• Their confidence is not in a prayer, aisle, baptism, or emotional moment.
• Their confidence is in Christ, His finished work, and His promises.
• Present faith and growing fruit help confirm the reality of conversion.

Reasons They May Need to Be Reminded

• Doubt — they question whether Christ will really receive them.
• Guilt — sin makes them feel beyond grace.
• Failure — they confuse spiritual struggle with loss of salvation.
• Fear — they worry they did not respond correctly.
• Legalism — they begin measuring acceptance by performance.
• Dryness — they do not feel close to God.
• Suffering — hardship makes them question God’s faithfulness.
• False assurance — they are trusting a past experience rather than Christ.

Paul Washer’s The Gospel of Jesus Christ is especially helpful here. Tell them to read it slowly, meditate on it, and return to it often as a reminder of the gospel… what Christ has done for you and who you are in Christ.

Encourage Them to Pursue Spiritual Growth

Philippians 2:12–13; 1 Timothy 4:7–8; 2 Peter 1:5–8

God saves us by grace, but as believers, we are to make every effort to grow in Christ.

• Conversion begins a life of discipleship. The Holy Spirit empowers our effort.
• Remind them that following Christ is ongoing growth, not a one-time decision.
• Remind them that their effort flows from God’s work in them, not from trying to earn His favor.
• Be intentional in the spiritual disciplines:
  • Scripture; prayer; worship; fellowship; evangelism; giving
• Establish a simple daily rhythm:
  • 5 minutes of Bible reading
  • 5 minutes of meditation and prayer
  • 5 minutes of a good book (biblical and theological)
• Begin to serve others
• Help them learn to fight sin, pursue holiness, and grow in Christlike character.
• Be an example of what spiritual growth looks like.
• Encourage them to share the gospel and tell others what Christ has done in their life.
• Remind them that growth takes effort, discipline, and perseverance.

God saves them by grace, and they are to “make every effort” to grow in Christ. (God’s sovereignty and our responsibility)

Our current series through 1 John is Life in the Light: Knowing Christ. Walking in Truth. Loving One Another.

These sermon notes are not a full manuscript but a listening guide designed to help our Tabernacle Church family follow along. I encourage you to add your own notes as you listen each week. The service will be available on YouTube by Sunday afternoon. You can also find sermon notes, family devotional guides, our prayer list, and other resources on our church website.

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1 John 2:15-17

Intro

• John has just reminded believers:
  • Our sins are forgiven.
  • We know the Father.
  • God’s Word abides in us.
  • We have overcome the evil one.
• Now John moves from who we are to how we should live.
• He gives a direct command: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”
• This is not simply about avoiding certain behaviors.
• The passage moves through two loves, two sources, and two outcomes.

DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD — v. 15a

“Do not love the world or the things in the world.”

• Love — what we value, cherish, pursue, and set our affection upon.
• World — the values, desires, priorities, and thinking that oppose God.
• The issue is not simply what we do, but what has our heart.
• The danger is allowing the world’s values to become our values, its priorities our priorities, and its desires our desires.
• We love the world when its values, priorities, and pleasures begin to capture the heart that belongs to God.

We must guard our hearts from loving what opposes God.

LOVE THE FATHER — v. 15b

“If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

The World or the Father

• John presents us with two competing loves.
• We cannot give our hearts to the world while claiming the Father has our highest affection.
• Christians still experience the pull of the world and battle sinful desires.
• The issue is not perfection, but direction.
• What has my heart? What do I value most? What am I pursuing?

What we love reveals where our allegiance lies.

REJECT THE DESIRES OF THE WORLD — v. 16

“For all that is in the world…”

The world continually turns our desires toward self:

• Desires of the flesh — Satisfy me.
  • Pleasure, comfort, appetite, and desires pursued apart from God’s will.
• Desires of the eyes — Give me what I see.
  • We see, we desire, and we begin to believe we need what we see.
• Pride of life — Make much of me.
  • Possessions, accomplishments, recognition, status, power, and position.

Yet the Father Changes Our Desires

Because we know and love the Father, we increasingly desire:

• To please Him.
• To obey His Word.
• To pursue holiness.
• To love others.
• To live for His glory.

The world teaches us to desire what pleases self. The Father changes our desires so that we increasingly want what pleases Him.

LIVE FOR WHAT LASTS — v. 17

“And the world is passing away along with its desires…”

Passing Away or Abiding Forever

The world has a fundamental problem:

It cannot last.

• Its pleasures are passing away.
• Its possessions are passing away.
• Its accomplishments are passing away.
• Its recognition is passing away.
• Even its desires are passing away.

“But whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

• The world → passing away.
• God’s will → abiding forever.
• Obedience does not earn salvation; it demonstrates the direction of a life that knows God.

Why give your heart and your life to something you already know will not last?

Do not give your life to what cannot last.

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THE WHAT NOW

Live With Eternity in View

Ask yourself:

• What has my heart?
• What is shaping my desires?
• What am I living for?

We can live for what we want now, or we can live for what God wants forever.

We can invest our lives in what is passing away, or we can live for what has eternal significance.

Love the Father. Reject the desires of the world. Live for what lasts.

In our LET’S DO WHAT THEY DID study, we are looking at how the early church actually lived out the mission of Christ. One important part of that is understanding what the New Testament means when it speaks about preaching the gospel.

When we hear the word preach, we often picture a pastor standing behind a pulpit delivering a sermon or someone publicly preaching to a crowd. But the New Testament uses several different Greek words for announcing, proclaiming, and teaching God’s truth. Sometimes the setting is formal preaching. Other times it is simply believers making Christ known wherever God gives them opportunity.

That distinction matters because evangelism is not limited to preachers, pulpits, or public crowds. The early believers carried the good news of Jesus into everyday life.

If we want to do what they did, we need to understand both the message they proclaimed and the way they made Christ known.

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Euangelizō — εὐαγγελίζω

To announce good news / evangelize.

This word comes from the same family as euangelion — gospel, good news. The emphasis is on communicating the good news, not on a particular posture or setting.

• Luke 4:18 — Jesus was anointed to proclaim good news.
• Acts 5:42 — they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
• Acts 8:4 — scattered believers went about preaching the word.
• Acts 8:35 — Philip told him the good news about Jesus.
• Romans 1:15 — Paul was eager to preach the gospel.
• 1 Corinthians 1:17 — Christ sent Paul to preach the gospel.

Acts 8:4 — the scattered believers were not all “preachers”. They were announcing the good news wherever they went.

Euangelizō means to announce the good news.

Kēryssō — κηρύσσω

To proclaim / herald.

This word emphasizes the act of proclamation. The picture is of a herald carrying a message that must be announced openly and clearly.

• Matthew 3:1 — John the Baptist preaching.
• Matthew 4:17 — Jesus began to preach.
• Mark 5:20 — the healed man proclaimed what Jesus had done.
• Acts 8:5 — Philip proclaimed Christ.
• Acts 9:20 — Paul proclaimed Jesus.
• 1 Corinthians 1:23 — “we preach Christ crucified.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:5 — “we proclaim … Jesus Christ as Lord.”
• 2 Timothy 4:2 — “Preach the word.”

Kēryssō can describe pastoral preaching, public proclamation, missionary preaching, speaking to a group, or openly declaring what Christ has done. It is not limited to the pulpit.

Kēryssō means to herald or openly proclaim the message.

The Difference

There is overlap, but a helpful distinction is:

• Euangelion = the good news.
• Euangelizō = announce the good news.
• Kēryssō = proclaim or herald the message.
•  Euangelizō emphasizes the message being announced. Kēryssō emphasizes the act of proclaiming it.

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The What Now

When our English Bibles say “preach,” we should not automatically think “delivering a sermon.” Sometimes that is the setting. Other times, it simply means announcing the good news of Jesus Christ.

If the early believers made Christ known wherever they went, we should be ready to do the same.

• Know the gospel clearly.
• Look for open doors.
• Speak naturally about Christ.
• Trust God to use His Word.

Evangelism is not reserved for a pulpit or a gathered crowd. It is the church carrying the good news of Jesus into everyday life.

We do not need to reinvent ministry or chase the latest methods. We need to look carefully at the New Testament, see how Christ and His church lived out the mission, and faithfully follow those biblical patterns today.

In this study, we will focus on the gospel itself, our responsibility to embrace the mission, how to share Christ clearly, and how to help others begin following Him.

What did they do? Acts 2:37–41; Acts 4:29–31; Acts 17:2–4

• proclaimed Christ
• explained the gospel
• called people to repent and believe
• prayed for boldness
• trusted God to save

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Week 3: Share Christ Clearly (part 1)

Intro

• Before we ever speak, two convictions must be settled in our hearts:
• The gospel really is the power of God for salvation.
• People apart from Christ really do need to be saved.
• If we lose either conviction, our evangelism will lose urgency.
• We are not simply helping people become more religious, moral, or fulfilled. We are speaking the message God uses to save sinners.

Pray for Open Doors – Colossians 4:2–4

• Ask God for opportunities to speak about Christ.
• Depend on Him for courage, wisdom, and clarity.
• Pray believing that God can truly save the person in front of you.
• We pray because salvation belongs to the Lord, and we trust Him to work through the gospel.

Begin with Genuine Conversation – John 4:7–26

• Meet people where they are. (goal is not staying where they are)
• Ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully.
• Look for natural opportunities to move toward spiritual truth.
• Remember that behind every conversation is a person who needs Christ.
• People may have different struggles, backgrounds, and questions, but their deepest need is the same: reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.

Share Christ (The Gospel) Clearly – Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

• Keep the gospel centered on Jesus, His death, and resurrection.
• Speak simply and clearly about sin, grace, repentance, and faith.
• Trust the message God has given us.
• We do not need to improve the gospel, soften the gospel, or make it more powerful.
• The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Romans 1:16

Call for a Response – Mark 1:14–15; Acts 20:21

• Eveyone makes a decision of who Christ is… to them.
• The gospel calls sinners to repent and believe.
• Our goal is not merely agreement, but trust in Christ.
• We do not manipulate or pressure, but neither do we avoid calling someone to respond.
• If we really believe people are lost without Christ, we will not be satisfied merely to have a pleasant spiritual conversation. We want them to know Christ.

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Before asking, “Am I ready to share?” ask…

• Do I really believe the gospel saves?
• Do I really believe people need to be saved?
• Do I trust God to work through His Word?
• Am I willing to speak when God opens the door?

Believe the gospel. See the need. Trust God. Speak of Christ.

Digging Deeper into Sunday’s Sermon

At the end of yesterday’s message from 1 John 2:3–6, I briefly shared several blessings of obedience. I want to dig a little deeper into those truths and expand on them just a touch.

Obedience does not save us, but it gives evidence that we know Christ and brings real blessing as we walk with Him.

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Assurance

Obedience strengthens our confidence that we truly know Christ.

“By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” — 1 John 2:3

• Obedience is not the basis of salvation.
• It is evidence of a changed heart.
• Growing obedience gives assurance that our profession is real.
• The question is not, “Am I perfect?” but, “Is Christ changing the direction of my life?”

Fellowship

Obedience deepens our daily walk with Christ.

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” — 1 John 2:6

• To abide in Christ is to live in ongoing dependence upon Him.
• Obedience brings our lives into greater alignment with His will.
• We do not obey to earn His love.
• We obey because we know Him and love Him.

Freedom

Obedience protects us from the destructive patterns of sin.

“For sin will have no dominion over you.” — Romans 6:14

• Sin promises freedom but produces bondage.
• God’s commands are for our good.
• Obedience guards our hearts from patterns that enslave and destroy.
• Saying yes to Christ means learning to say no to sin.

Joy

Obedience brings the joy of walking in a way that pleases the Lord.

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love… that my joy may be in you.” — John 15:10–11

• There is joy in a clear conscience.
• There is joy in knowing we are walking in God’s will.
• Obedience does not produce pride in our performance.
• It produces joy in pleasing the One we love.

Fruitfulness

Obedience produces a life that increasingly reflects Christ to others.

“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” — John 15:5

• Christ changes our words, attitudes, priorities, and relationships.
• Genuine faith becomes visible in everyday life.
• Our influence is strengthened when our walk supports our witness.
• A Christlike life points others to Christ.

Stability

Obedience anchors our lives in the truth of God’s Word.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24

• Feelings change.
• Circumstances change.
• Culture changes.
• God’s Word does not change.
• Stability comes from hearing Christ and doing what He says.

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The What Now

We do not obey Christ to become His. We obey because we are His.

• Know Christ.
• Keep His Word.
• Walk as Jesus walked.
• Confess quickly when you fail.
• Press on in faithful obedience.

Our current series through 1 John is Life in the Light: Knowing Christ. Walking in Truth. Loving One Another.

These sermon notes are not a full manuscript but a listening guide designed to help our Tabernacle Church family follow along. I encourage you to add your own notes as you listen each week. The service will be available on YouTube by Sunday afternoon. You can also find sermon notes, family devotional guides, our prayer list, and other resources on our church website.

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INTRO

• Last week: Christ’s work for us.
• This week: Christ’s work in us.
• John gives us a test of genuine faith: obedience.
• Obedience does not save us; it gives evidence that we truly know Christ.
• The question is: How do I know that I know Him?
• Knowing Christ is evidenced by a life of obedience that deepens our love for Him and shapes us to walk like Him.

To Know Jesus is to Obey Him — vv. 3–4

“By this we know… if we keep His commandments.”

• Knowing Christ is more than knowing about Christ.
• To “keep” His commands is to value, guard, and obey His Word.
• A profession without obedience is empty.
• John is not describing perfection, but the direction of a changed life.

Look Within

• Is God’s Word actually shaping the way I live?
• How do I respond when Scripture confronts me?
• Is obedience becoming the pattern of my life?

To Obey Him is to Truly Love Him — v. 5

“Whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.”

• Love for God and obedience to God belong together.
• “Perfected” means brought toward its intended goal or maturity.
• As His Word increasingly shapes how we live, our love for Him matures.
• Obedience becomes more than duty; it becomes the desire to please the One we love.

Look Within

• Am I obeying only because I have to, or because I want to please Christ?
• Is my love for Christ becoming more visible in my choices?
• Is His Word becoming more precious to me?

To Love Him is to Abide in Him and Walk Like Him — v. 6

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

• To “abide” is to remain, stay, and continue in Christ.
• To settle/anchor our life in Him.
• To “walk” describes the normal pattern of daily life.
• Jesus is not only our Advocate and sacrifice; He is also our pattern.
• As we remain in Him, His life increasingly shapes ours.

Look within

• Does my daily life increasingly look like Christ?
• Do my words, relationships, and priorities reflect Him?
• Am I continuing to depend on Christ as a way of life?

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The What Now?

• This is not about legalism or asking, “What do I have to do?”
• Obedience is the response of a heart that knows and loves Christ.
• Legalism asks, “What do I have to do?” Love asks, “What would please the One I love?”

The Blessings of Obedience

• Assurance – obedience strengthens confidence that we truly know Christ.
• Fellowship – obedience deepens our walk with Christ.
• Freedom – obedience keeps us from the destructive patterns of sin.
• Joy – obedience brings the joy of pleasing the Lord.
• Fruitfulness – obedience produces a life that reflects Christ to others.
• Stability – obedience anchors our lives in God’s truth.

We do not need to reinvent ministry or chase the latest methods. We need to look carefully at the New Testament, see how Christ and His church lived out the mission, and faithfully follow those biblical patterns today.

In this study, we will focus on the gospel itself, our responsibility to embrace the mission, how to share Christ clearly, and how to help others begin following Him.

What did they do?

Acts 2:37–41; Acts 4:29–31; Acts 17:2–4

• proclaimed Christ
• explained the gospel
• called people to repent and believe
• prayed for boldness
• trusted God to save

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Week 2 – Called to Go

Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:1–8

Intro

• We have been saved and sent.
• We have been sent by the risen King with a life-changing message. The gospel that has changed our lives is the gospel we have been commissioned to take to others.
• Jesus has not saved us simply to sit, listen, and receive. He has called us to follow Him, make disciples, and be His witnesses wherever He has placed us.
• Jesus is risen and reigning. We go under His authority.
• Jesus has given His church a mission. The Great Commission is not just for pastors and missionaries; it belongs to the church.
• Jesus sends us as His witnesses. We go with the gospel to make disciples.

We are saved by His grace, sent under His authority, and empowered by His Spirit.

We Go with His Authority

• Jesus is risen, reigning, and has all authority.
• Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God—His saving rule and reign.
• Christ reigns now, and we await the full consummation of His kingdom when He returns.
• We go because our King has sent us.

We Go with a Mission

• Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
• We go with the gospel, baptize believers, and teach them to obey Christ.
• Evangelism is not merely about making a decision; we desire to see people know and follow Jesus.
• Making disciples means helping others grow as faithful followers of Christ.

We Go in His Power

• Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would empower His people to be His witnesses.
• We cannot change hearts or save sinners—God saves.
• Our responsibility is to faithfully speak about Christ and trust God to work.
• We are His witnesses wherever He sends us—from those around us to the ends of the earth.

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The What Now

Jesus has placed us where we are for a purpose. We are called to live as His people, committed to His mission and dependent upon His power.

• See yourself as sent. The Great Commission is not only for pastors, missionaries, or evangelists. As followers of Christ, we are part of His mission.
• See where God has placed you. Your home, workplace, neighborhood, school, and relationships matter. These are places where you can faithfully represent Christ.
• Remember whose mission it is. We go under the authority of the risen King. We are not creating our own mission; we are joining the mission Christ has already given His church.
• Depend upon His power. We cannot change hearts or save anyone. Our responsibility is to faithfully bear witness to Christ while trusting the Holy Spirit to do what only God can do.