Evangelism / World Religions. Ambassadors for Christ 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christs ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through.

Evangelism / Evangelism / World ReligionsWorld Religions

Ambassadors for ChristAmbassadors for Christ

2 Corinthians 5:20 2 Corinthians 5:20

We are therefore Christ’s We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be

reconciled to Godreconciled to God..

PurposePurpose

EquipEquip KnowledgeKnowledge TacticsTactics

EncourageEncourage Philemon 6 - I pray that you may be active in Philemon 6 - I pray that you may be active in

sharing your faith, so that you will have a full sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.Christ.

How many times does How many times does the word “love” appear the word “love” appear

in the book of Acts?in the book of Acts?

How many times does How many times does the word “love” appear the word “love” appear

in the book of Acts?in the book of Acts?

Zero (0)Zero (0)

Historical Historical factsfacts

Historical Historical factsfacts Jesus was a real person who died on a crossJesus was a real person who died on a cross The disciples believed He rose physicallyThe disciples believed He rose physically The Apostle Paul . . .The Apostle Paul . . .

persecuted Christians then converted persecuted Christians then converted wrote at least Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, wrote at least Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians,

Philippians, Galatians and Philemon, which Philippians, Galatians and Philemon, which record key doctrines and traditions at early record key doctrines and traditions at early dates.dates.

We know the original writings of the Bible with We know the original writings of the Bible with 99.5% accuracy, and 100% on major doctrines99.5% accuracy, and 100% on major doctrines

If you get stumped . . .If you get stumped . . .

If you get stumped . . .If you get stumped . . .

““I don’t know, but I’ll find out” I don’t know, but I’ll find out” Humble responseHumble response Takes all the pressure off youTakes all the pressure off you Keeps you from giving bad answers Keeps you from giving bad answers Gives you time to prepare better answersGives you time to prepare better answers Lets you make an appointment to come Lets you make an appointment to come

back later to talk about Godback later to talk about God

Believer Believer Non-Non-believerbeliever

Believer Believer

Moving towards Moving towards Jesus Jesus

Non-Non-believerbeliever

Always seek to move Always seek to move people to the rightpeople to the right

Faith, from GraceFaith, from Grace

Believer Believer

Moving towards Moving towards Jesus Jesus

Non-Non-believerbeliever

Always seek to move Always seek to move people to the rightpeople to the right

Faith, from GraceFaith, from Grace

Discipleship Discipleship

Believer Believer

Moving towards Moving towards Jesus Jesus

Non-Non-believerbeliever

Always seek to move Always seek to move people to the rightpeople to the right

PluralismPluralism

All religions are equally All religions are equally valid paths to Godvalid paths to God

Seriously flawed thinkingSeriously flawed thinking Basic logic: Something can’t be “A” Basic logic: Something can’t be “A”

and “Not A” at the same timeand “Not A” at the same time Jesus as God / MessiahJesus as God / Messiah Reincarnation vs. die and face judgmentReincarnation vs. die and face judgment Jesus’ death on crossJesus’ death on cross

Should we sent out Should we sent out “reverse missionaries?“reverse missionaries?

If all religions lead to God and your current If all religions lead to God and your current religion involves you being persecuted, religion involves you being persecuted, you should switch, right? you should switch, right?

Reverse missionaries would convert Reverse missionaries would convert people people fromfrom Christianity Christianity toto their local their local religion.religion.

If that sounds foolish, then perhaps the If that sounds foolish, then perhaps the concept of religious pluralism is as well.concept of religious pluralism is as well.

Does Christianity allow for other Does Christianity allow for other paths?paths?

No. 100 passages note that No. 100 passages note that Jesus is the only way. One Jesus is the only way. One hundred!hundred!

Old Testament: Only one God!Old Testament: Only one God! That doesn’t prove we’re right, That doesn’t prove we’re right,

just that it is an essential just that it is an essential Christian doctrine.Christian doctrine.

The difference is graceThe difference is grace

WorksWorks JewishJewish HinduHindu BuddhistBuddhist MuslimMuslim MormonMormon Etc.Etc.

GraceGrace ChristianityChristianity

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Just the same?Just the same?

IslamIslam Bible has been Bible has been

corruptedcorrupted Jesus did not die on Jesus did not die on

the crossthe cross Allah leaves sins Allah leaves sins

unpunished (scales)unpunished (scales) Started and spread Started and spread

through violence through violence Jesus - just a prophetJesus - just a prophet

ChristianityChristianity Bible has been Bible has been

transmitted accuratelytransmitted accurately Jesus died on the Jesus died on the

crosscross God punishes all sinGod punishes all sin

Persecution for first Persecution for first 300 years300 years

Jesus is GodJesus is God

And for claiming that they killed the Messiah, And for claiming that they killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of GOD. In Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of GOD. In fact, fact, they never killed him, they never crucified they never killed him, they never crucified

him - they were made to think that they didhim - they were made to think that they did. .

All factions who are disputing in this matter are All factions who are disputing in this matter are full of doubt concerning this issue. They full of doubt concerning this issue. They

possess no knowledge; they only conjecture. possess no knowledge; they only conjecture. For certain, they never killed him.For certain, they never killed him.

Instead, GOD raised him to Him; GOD is Instead, GOD raised him to Him; GOD is Almighty, Most Wise. Almighty, Most Wise.

Koran, Sura 4:157-158Koran, Sura 4:157-158

View of the crossView of the cross

ChristianityChristianity Thorough, early Thorough, early

accounts in the Bible accounts in the Bible by many witnessesby many witnesses

Secular Secular documentationdocumentation

Historical factHistorical fact Close to the time of Close to the time of

the eventthe event

IslamIslam One sketchy One sketchy

revelationrevelation Over 500 years Over 500 years

after the eventafter the event

Just the same?Just the same?

IslamIslam Bible has been Bible has been

corruptedcorrupted Jesus did not die on Jesus did not die on

the crossthe cross Allah leaves sins Allah leaves sins

unpunished (scales)unpunished (scales) Started and spread Started and spread

through violence through violence Jesus - just a prophetJesus - just a prophet

ChristianityChristianity Bible has been Bible has been

transmitted accuratelytransmitted accurately Jesus died on the Jesus died on the

crosscross God punishes all sinGod punishes all sin

Persecution for first Persecution for first 300 years300 years

Jesus is GodJesus is God

Just the same?Just the same?MormonMormon We lived before we We lived before we

came to earthcame to earth Multiple levels of Multiple levels of

HeavenHeaven God used to be a manGod used to be a man Jesus = spirit brother of Jesus = spirit brother of

LuciferLucifer Saved by worksSaved by works Great neighbors? Yes!Great neighbors? Yes! Christians? No.Christians? No.

ChristianityChristianity God is eternally God is eternally

existentexistent Jesus is God and the Jesus is God and the

creator of the universecreator of the universe Saved by graceSaved by grace

Comments from a MormonComments from a Mormon

I can see that we do double speak, trying to I can see that we do double speak, trying to stand on both sides of the line and often feign stand on both sides of the line and often feign ignorance until called out. I found myself doing ignorance until called out. I found myself doing it . . . I fully understand that as a Mormon, I am it . . . I fully understand that as a Mormon, I am dishonest if I try to make our doctrines sound dishonest if I try to make our doctrines sound the same as yours so that we can get along the same as yours so that we can get along

better. They are different and I know that. . . . better. They are different and I know that. . . .

By definition, our church proclaims that yours By definition, our church proclaims that yours is wrong. We send out missionaries to say is wrong. We send out missionaries to say

other churches are wrong, come be baptized other churches are wrong, come be baptized here instead. here instead.

Galatians 1:6-9 Galatians 1:6-9

I am astonished that you are so quickly I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the deserting the one who called you by the

grace of Christ and are turning to a different grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. gospel— which is really no gospel at all.

Evidently some people are throwing you into Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. gospel of Christ. But even if we or an But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a angel from heaven should preach a

gospel other than the one we preached to gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!you, let him be eternally condemned!

MormonsMormons

Do they think Galatians 1 is authoritative?Do they think Galatians 1 is authoritative? Does the book of Mormon teach the same Does the book of Mormon teach the same

Gospel as Paul, or a different one?Gospel as Paul, or a different one? If the same, then stick with the Bible, as the If the same, then stick with the Bible, as the

book of Mormon would be redundant.book of Mormon would be redundant. If different, then heed warnings of the Bible If different, then heed warnings of the Bible

If they ask you to pray about the book of If they ask you to pray about the book of Mormon . . .Mormon . . .

Just the same?Just the same?

Jehovah’s WitnessJehovah’s Witness Jesus isn’t GodJesus isn’t God Not allowed to take Not allowed to take

materials materials Works basedWorks based 144,000 “anointed 144,000 “anointed

ones” ones” Annihilation instead of Annihilation instead of

HellHell

ChristianityChristianity Jesus is God – show Jesus is God – show

verses – John 1:1-5verses – John 1:1-5 John 8:58: “I AM” vs. John 8:58: “I AM” vs.

“I have been”“I have been” Test everything; hold Test everything; hold

onto the goodonto the good

John 1:1John 1:1

Real version: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

JW version: “and the Word was a God.” Contradicts monotheistic passages They don’t translate it “a God” anywhere

else.

Just the same?Just the same?

Hinduism / New AgeHinduism / New Age ReincarnationReincarnation This is an illusionThis is an illusion KarmaKarma All religions are validAll religions are valid No literal Heaven or No literal Heaven or

HellHell

ChristianityChristianity Die once then face Die once then face

judgment (Hebrews judgment (Hebrews 9:7)9:7)

This is realThis is real Heaven & Hell are Heaven & Hell are

realreal Christianity claims to Christianity claims to

be exclusivebe exclusive

New Age quotesNew Age quotes

We create our own reality.We create our own reality. This is all just an illusion.This is all just an illusion. We are all connected / the same thing.We are all connected / the same thing. There is no right or wrong.There is no right or wrong.

Just the same?Just the same?

BuddhistBuddhist Goal: Eliminate desireGoal: Eliminate desire The existence of the The existence of the

individual self is an individual self is an illusionillusion

Self-reliantSelf-reliant No creator GodNo creator God No Heaven or HellNo Heaven or Hell

ChristianityChristianity Sin is our problemSin is our problem One GodOne God Heaven & Hell are Heaven & Hell are

realreal Jesus is God Jesus is God

OtherOther Hare KrishnaHare Krishna

Jesus is not God, just an enlightened Jesus is not God, just an enlightened vegetarianvegetarian

ReincarnationReincarnation Chanting / rule following to release bad KarmaChanting / rule following to release bad Karma

WiccaWicca Jesus is rejected or just considered a teacher Jesus is rejected or just considered a teacher

of love and compassion.of love and compassion. We’re not sinful / don’t need salvationWe’re not sinful / don’t need salvation

Why I can’t be an atheist . . .Why I can’t be an atheist . . .

Something came from nothing?Something came from nothing? Life came from non-life?Life came from non-life? Evolution to everything we see today?Evolution to everything we see today? Oxymoronic fine–tuning from chaos?Oxymoronic fine–tuning from chaos? Consciousness from materials?Consciousness from materials? Morality from nothing?Morality from nothing?

SummarySummary

Be obedient – share the truth of Jesus in love Be obedient – share the truth of Jesus in love where possiblewhere possible

Faith flagsFaith flags Be equipped to tell your storyBe equipped to tell your story Understand their perspectiveUnderstand their perspective ““I don’t know, but I’ll find out”I don’t know, but I’ll find out” PrayPray Ask questionsAsk questions Proclaim the Gospel Proclaim the Gospel

Ambassadors for ChristAmbassadors for Christ

2 Corinthians 5:20 2 Corinthians 5:20

We are therefore Christ’s We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be

reconciled to Godreconciled to God..

Who’s in charge?Who’s in charge?

God is.God is.

John 6:44 John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and Father who sent me draws him, and

I will raise him up at the last day.I will raise him up at the last day.

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