What religion are you?What religion are you?

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Premise:Premise:

Relationships lead to following Relationships lead to following questions:questions:

What religion are you?What religion are you? Are you a Christian?Are you a Christian? What church do you go to? (attend)What church do you go to? (attend)

Must prepare to answerMust prepare to answer

1 Pet 3:15 But in your hearts set apart 1 Pet 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ...gentleness and respect ...

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Motives behind the questionMotives behind the question Casual ConversationCasual Conversation Your life or behavior has sparked Your life or behavior has sparked

interestinterest Hidden agendas such asHidden agendas such as

• They desire to convert youThey desire to convert you• They think you are narrowThey think you are narrow• They are burned by religion alreadyThey are burned by religion already

Words make believersWords make believers John 4:41 And because of his John 4:41 And because of his wordswords

many more became believersmany more became believers Acts 10:44 While Peter was still Acts 10:44 While Peter was still

speaking these words, the Holy Spirit speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.came on all who heard the message.

1 Cor 15:2 By this gospel you are 1 Cor 15:2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to saved, if you hold firmly to the wordthe word I preached to you. Otherwise, you I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.have believed in vain.

Entrusted with WordsEntrusted with Words NIV Romans 3:1 What advantage, NIV Romans 3:1 What advantage,

then, is there in being a Jew, or what then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have in every way! First of all, they have been been entrusted with the very entrusted with the very wordswords of God. of God.

What holds back your answer?What holds back your answer? 1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer 1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer

as a Christian, do not be ashamed, as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that but praise God that you bear that name.name.

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.for the Gentile.

Timid?Timid? 1 Pet 4:11 If anyone speaks, he 1 Pet 4:11 If anyone speaks, he

should do it as one speaking the very should do it as one speaking the very words of God. words of God.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…about our Lord…

Possible outcomesPossible outcomes They write you off into some They write you off into some

category in their mindcategory in their mind They consider you part of a cultThey consider you part of a cult They are left hungry for more They are left hungry for more

informationinformation• (A seed has been planted)(A seed has been planted)

Specifics about the answerSpecifics about the answer It should be pleasing, well seasoned, It should be pleasing, well seasoned,

timely, graceful.timely, graceful. It should NEVER be arguingIt should NEVER be arguing2 Tim 2:14 Keep reminding them of 2 Tim 2:14 Keep reminding them of

these things. Warn them before God these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only of no value, and only ruinsruins those those who listen.who listen.

Scriptural Examples 1Scriptural Examples 1

1 cor 10:24 Nobody should seek his 1 cor 10:24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 27 own good, but the good of others. 27 If some unbeliever invites you to a If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.raising questions of conscience.

We might react like “I cant eat with We might react like “I cant eat with filthy heathen!”filthy heathen!”

Scriptural Examples 2Scriptural Examples 2

Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.that the city was full of idols.

He could have reacted like:He could have reacted like: Jer 25:6 Do not follow other gods to serve Jer 25:6 Do not follow other gods to serve

and worship them; do not provoke me to and worship them; do not provoke me to anger..." The third commandment.anger..." The third commandment.

Instead he started “I see that you are very Instead he started “I see that you are very religious…”religious…”

Answer scenariosAnswer scenarios

Your answer must fit the settingYour answer must fit the setting I love God (With all my…)I love God (With all my…) Christian (N.T. Christian)Christian (N.T. Christian) Follow the teachings of JesusFollow the teachings of Jesus My life is hidden with ChristMy life is hidden with Christ I am a new creatureI am a new creature I am already deadI am already dead

Valid namesValid names Rom 16:16 “churches of Christ”Rom 16:16 “churches of Christ” 54 references “church at 54 references “church at locationlocation”” ““The Way” Acts 19:9; 24:15,22The Way” Acts 19:9; 24:15,22 First Christian Acts 11:26First Christian Acts 11:26 Church of the Nazarene Acts 24:5 Church of the Nazarene Acts 24:5 Acts 4:10 It is by the name of Jesus Christ Acts 4:10 It is by the name of Jesus Christ

of Nazareth… 12 Salvation is found in no of Nazareth… 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be heaven given to men by which we must be saved."saved."

Inviting to churchInviting to church More than 60 percent of the people who More than 60 percent of the people who

attend were invited by another member.attend were invited by another member. While not the preferred method of While not the preferred method of

conversion, it can work.conversion, it can work.

1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the 1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.us.

BadmouthingBadmouthing

Christ owns the churchChrist owns the church Matthew 16:18 ... built one churchMatthew 16:18 ... built one church Ephesians 5:25 ... died for one church Ephesians 5:25 ... died for one church

Acts 20:28Acts 20:28 It is his pure bride. Do your part to make It is his pure bride. Do your part to make

the Bride Attractive"…so that in every way the Bride Attractive"…so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive" (Tit. 2:10).Savior attractive" (Tit. 2:10).

Who would dare badmouth someone's Who would dare badmouth someone's bride?bride?

Pray for wordsPray for words Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all

occasions with all kinds of prayers occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,of the gospel,

Pray for wordsPray for words Col 3:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being Col 3:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being

watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer that you may know how to answer everyone.everyone.