Learning To Share Your Faith

1 Peter 3:13-17

Many Christians believe Preaching, Teaching & Church – most important

If preaching could change the world– WORLD WOULD BE CHANGED

Christianity— Has never had a true impact on the world

Too busy attacking, condemning, judging people, rude–

I’m so sick of RELIGION— Thank GOD— THEY’RE SICK OF ME

Learning How To Share Your Faith

1. Sanctify The Lord in Your Heart- VS15

(Set Apart)

Religion is trying to Sanctify thru– Clothes, make-up, beads, hymns, ties, KJV

We don’t sanctify the LORD in those things

SANCTIFY– IN YOU HEART

Get your heart right— You can Cut hair, wear pants, throw away beads, Buy NIV--- AND BE ALRIGHT

Because then what ever you’re doing– DOING TO THE LORD

I don’t care what you look like on the outside–

I wanna see your heart

Are we sharing the – HOPE, LOVE, JOY, PEACE & LIFE– IN JESUS

The church cares more about what we look like– Than who we are

If U -Dress right, talk right, walk right, sing right, listen right— MUST BE RITE

No one CARES ABOUT THE HEART ANYMORE----

Matt 23:25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

2. Know what you believe & why–VS15

Why do you believe what you believe-- Mom and dad taugt me

What if Mama & Daddy— Buddhist, Muslim

Preacher told me – ROM 3:4– Preachers having affairs, embezz, quitting

Honor your parents-- Listen to preachers

But say, "I believe what I believe– Not because– Preacher, denom, etc.----I”M GOING TO TRUST THE WORD"

There are 2 Categories to Christian Beliefs

1. Essential Beliefs

2. Non-essential Beliefs

Some teach that they’re all essential– NOT TRUE

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel

Some matters are weightier (essentials)— Justice, Mercy, Faith

Straining out a gnat---- CAMEL

Here’s the weightier matters---- THE ESSENTIALS

* Born of a Virgin

* Lived a sinless life—

* He died for the sins of the world

* He rose again victorious over death & sin

* He ascended to the right hand of the father

* He is The WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE

* He said the true way to show who we are is to LOVE

* He did all of this– So you would have life & SO YOU COULD BE FREE

Non Essentials– These matter to people but not to God---Hair Do’s, music, instruments, eating meat, Bible translations, eating pork, earrings, getting married, divorces, Color of carpet, sprinkled or dunked, ties, tatoos

Heavier non essentials-

These matter to God, But should divide us-

Tithing, tongues, security of the believer, Rapture, Predestination, Fall out’s, runaways, Anti Christ, Manifestations, Lord supper

My goal for the church is to know—

Christ has come to SET YOU FREE

If you’re in bondage— You think it’s GOD— IT IS NOT

WHY?-- CHRIST SETS YOU FREE

3. Wait till You’re asked— VS15

If you’re showing the Love of Christ— They’ll ask you

What do you have– Why are you so nice– Where do you worship

We must love people that don’t – Think like us, look like us, talk like us

“You wanna know what I think?”— NO

“ Let me give you my opinion.” — If it’s so good--- KEEP IT–don’t give it away

4. When you’re asked– Be respectful, be loving, caring— VS15

When they ask---- DON’T JUMP ALL OVER THEM

Quoting Scriptures—

BROTHER— YOU’RE DYING & GOING TO HELL

SISTER---- THE IMMINENT RETURN OF THE LORD IS HERE

Talk to them like a Friend— Like a brother

Christians don’t wanna be friends – Unless we’re alike

Matthew 23: 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Jesus came– & DECLARED WAR ON RELIGION– Hypocrites

He didn’t declare war on

Drug addicts, harlots, homosexuals, Drunks

He said– You people that think you’re holy– CHECK YOURSELF

People go to bars---- BECAUSE THEY”RE ACCEPTED

Do less harm– Sucking down a Bud Light —

Than sucking down condemnation and guilt in the church

Christ came so that we could all be free

Free from condemnation Free from Religion Free from our past

1. Sanctify lord in heart

2. Know what & why

3. Wait till you’re asked

4. When you’re asked- respect & love