“How Shall They Hear?”

Dr. David Sillshttp://www.reachingandteaching.org

• If we did not have the Bible, what would we know about God?

o There is a Creator Psalm 19:1-4a, Romans 1:18-20

o That we are sinners Romans 2:14, 15

o That we need to restore the relationship with our Creator that our sin has destroyed

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Every culture has invented some system of religiono Sacrifices initiated by meno Only in Christianity do we have a relationship initiated by Godo The religions of man do not save anybody (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)o Many have still not heard (Joshua 13:1)

“How Shall They Hear?”

• What is the Gospel?o God is holy

Who God is and what He is like Leviticus 19:2 Isaiah 6:3 Revelation 4:8-11

“How Shall They Hear?”

• What is the Gospel?o Man is sinful

It tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God The result=we are guilty, filthy, powerless to change ourselves, & deserve the wrath of God Psalm 14:1-3 Isaiah 53:6 Romans 3:23 70,000 The soul that sins, it shall die. . .

“How Shall They Hear?”

• What is the Gospel?o Jesus is the answer

John 3:16, 5:24 Romans 5:8, 6:2-5 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 Peter 3:18 1 John 5:12

o Two important points: We should talk about what Jesus has done We should talk about who Jesus is

“How Shall They Hear?”

• What is the Gospel?o You must repent and be born again

Repentance includes: • Recognition of specific sins• Recognition of your sinful nature• Recognition that sin is rebellion against a holy God• Turn around and walk the opposite direction

“How Shall They Hear?”

• What is the Gospel?o You must repent and be born again

Prior to being born again, all your good works are like deposits without an account When we are born again, we are adopted into the Father’s family A relationship that can never be lost Fellowship agrees with walking with Him.

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Missionary matho 1/3 of the world’s population has not heard of the Gospel (2 billion)o Every day 50,000 of these dieo There are 27,000 ethnic groups in the worldo 14,000 are “reached” and 13,000 are unreachedo Every day 40,000 children die of starvation and hunger-related diseaseso 6,000 persons die from the lack of clean drinking water

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Missionary matho Of our seminary graduates, 95% remain in the USA and only 5% go to the worldo Of the 6,813 known languages, only 411 have a Bible, 1,700 have a NT, and many have only portionso More than 70% of the world are oral learnerso 75-80% of Evangelical churches are located in the 20% of the world that is most highly literate

“How Shall They Hear?”

• God has a missionary hearto Genesis 3:15- The protoevangeliono Genesis 12:1-3- all the familieso Psalm 67o Isaiah 37:20, 49:6o There are non-Jewish persons in the OT who are included in the people of Godo Jesus’ lineageo Jonah’s story

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Our responsibilityo Jesus’ command: panta ta ethneo Jesus’ provision: The churcho Jesus’ promise: That He will be with us

• Coca-Cola vs. the Church• Need vs. Call• Call vs. Guidance

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Who should be a missionary?o Those cognizant of the needo Those concerned about the needo Those committed to do God’s willo Those called and commissioned by Godo Those who have the desire to go- Psalm 37:4

• Knowing God’s willo Is God’s will a tiny dot on a huge football field?o God’s will is not a tightrope, it is the wide-open field

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Knowing God’s will1. Know God- Some believers are so concerned

with knowing the will that they miss the Source. Proverbs 1:7, James 1:5

2. Know God’s Word- The Bible gives assurance of God’s promises to His children- Proverbs 3:5-6

3. Pray- Helps us to know God more fully and see our situations as He sees them

4. Seek Counsel- Turn to those who know you well & have shown wisdom in their own choices- Proverbs 11:14, 24:6

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Knowing God’s will5. Examine life experiences: God knows what you

need in order to do what He has made you to do.6. Consider your circumstances: Consider your

circumstances in light of what you know of God and His Word

7. Consider God’s timing: We should consider practical realities related to the decision Ecc. 3:1-11

8. Identify the desires of your heart: Psalm 37:4 & Proverbs 4:23

“How Shall They Hear?”

• Key Questionso “What is it that’s not being done, that ought to be

done, that I could do, and that if it were done would result in greater glory to God and the advance of Christ’s Kingdom?”

o How can you glorify God? “By loving Him and doing what He command

s.”o “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you

the desires of your heart.” –Psalm 37:4 What are the desires of your heart?

“How Shall They Hear?”