Ephesians 3:14-22 / Paul's Second Prayer for the Ephesians / 180429AM@TBC

INTRODUCTION

1. General Overview: “Turn to Ephesians”

 Key Word:  Body building

 Author: Paul from prison in Rome

 Recipients: Saints in Ephesus and probably the surrounding cities.

 Overview: Most people divide Ephesians into two halves. The first 3 ch. are doctrine and theology.  The last 3 ch. explain how to put that doctrine into practice.

2. Review Context of Eph. 3.14-13

In chapter one was a prayer for enlightenment.

Then we have a section that it considered doctrinal and then ...

        

This second prayer for the Ephesians is in chapter A prayer for enablement.

3.     Follow with me beginning in verse 14

Note the Trinitarian nature of this prayer

4. Sermon Overview

Topic Statement: Paul prays for God’s fourfold enablement to the saint.

Outline

Note: the sandwich form of this prayer.

 I. Beginning with worship v.13-15

 II. Body of four requests  v. 16-19

 III. Benediction of Praise  v. 20-21

I. Beginning with worship

II. Body of four requests 

III. Benediction of Praise

A. For this reason

· “going back to thought of Jew and Gentile becoming one body in Christ” –Wuest

3.1-7 the mystery “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body…”

3.8-12 Paul’s preaching among the Gentiles … to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery ... so the wisdom of God will be shown to all

Paul, probably more than any of the apostles, helped the Church to understand the universality of the Church.

 · 3.13 Don’t loose heart because of Paul’s tribulation.

Paul is concerned about the Christians in and about Ephesus because they were in danger of losing heart.

“Life in this age can be tough, painful, and tiring. It is easy for us to lose sight of the central fact of our existence: that God in Christ is saving us with a love so deep that we cannot find its limits.”  —Ron Julian (McKenzie Study Center)

B. I bow my knees to

To” pros—toward  —Wuest

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

According to Tertullian, in the last half of the second century, some of the issues around prayer were whether you should

 wash your hands (representing surrender to Christ) before prayers,

 take off your coat to pray,

 sit after prayers after the example of Hermas in The Shepherd, and

 how loud to pray and how high to raise your hands.

The normal posture for prayer among the Jews of Paul’s day was standing, with hands stretched out, and the palms upwards.

After Paul’s emotional and  tearful farewell to the Ephesian Elders in Acts 20 he, “... he knelt down and prayed with them all.” (v26)

The posture of bowing here probably indicates

·     the earnestness and strong feeling of Paul ’s prayer.

·     shows a reverent and humble attitude.

C. the Father* from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 

* KJV, NKJV include “of our Lord Jesus Christ”

1) Father

Note: His Fatherhood involves both His position within the Trinity, His relationship with mankind, and sometimes His special relationship with believers. 

 As Creator He is Father to all men,

Ephesians 4:6

¹ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 but He is spiritual Father only to believers.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

(God as the “unfathered father.”)

Note: it is not a magic formula, but that this is the pattern that Jesus followed the Lord’s prayer.  We should pray

 to God the Father,  (Matt. 6.9 & Luke 11.2)

 through the enabling of the Spirit,  (Rom 8.26-27)

 in the name of the son. (John 14.13-14)

APPLICATION:

When we become too glib in prayer we are most certainly talking to ourselves." —A.W. Tozer

When we begin to pray it is important to take the time to praise God for who he is for two reasons.

1. It is right to honor Him before we think of ourselves.

2. It will set us in the right frame of mind to approach  “the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” (ESV)

Transitional Expression:

Now with the right attitude of worship and awe,

we turn to Paul’s fourfold request.

 I. Beginning with worship

II. Body of four requests

III. Benediction of Praise

The question here is are these for things a list or a progression?

“that” shows cause and effect

There is a conjunction in the Greek that leads me to believe they can be understood as building on each other.

 A. that He would grant you...to be strengthened  16

krataiovw  krat-ah-yo'-o:  to strengthen, make strong to be made strong, to increase in strength, to grow strong

1) according to the riches of His glory

according to = kata lit. according to the standard of

“If I am a billionaire and I give you ten dollars, I have given you out of my riches; but if I give you a million dollars, I have given to you according to my riches. The first is a portion; the second is a proportion.”  —-W.Wiersby

2) in the inner man

2 Cor 4.16

¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

3) through His Spirit

This enablement is not a self-effort or will power, but when the Holy Spirit does something we cannot do.

“When it gets to where only He can do it, He will.”

2 Cor 12.8-10  Paul’s thorn “strengthened”

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

APPLICATION:

“But the Spirit of God works by means, and therefore we may expect to have our spiritual faculties strengthens by the study of the Word, by communion with Christ, by listening to the earnest exhortations of our Brethren, by experience, by prayer, and by all other hollowed exertions which Divine Grace has ordained…”  —-CH Spurgeon

TE: We are empowered by the Spirit

     in order that Christ may be settled into the inner man

 B. that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 17

1) The indwelling of the Spirit at salvation = presence

John 7.37-38

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

2) This word “dwell” indicates something different. = settled in

katoikevw kat-oy-keh'-o  a superlative form of “dwell”

to dwell, settle

metaph. divine powers, influences, etc., are said to dwell in his soul, to pervade, prompt, govern it

to dwell in, inhabit God is said to dwell in the temple, i.e. to be always present for worshippers

TWO PARTS:

1. It is permanent for believers. It is not here today and out tomorrow.

2. If means “that Christ might settle down and feel completely at home in your hearts.”  —Wuest

APPLICATION: 

What kind heart can Christ settle down in? 

Is your heart a place where Christ will feel at home.

3) through faith

 faith versus your feelings,

        sometimes in spite of your feelings

 Faith opens the door to the indwelling Spirit at salvation.

Romans 10   comes by hearing the Word of God

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"  17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world."

 We continue in our walk with the Lord

        the same way we began it, by faith.

Colossians 2.6-7

⁶ As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Galatians 3.1-4

¹ O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth,* before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you+ as crucified? ² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ⁴ Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?--

“It is just a fact that faith again rests upon Jesus' promise given in the Upper Room in John 14. Do you remember how he put it to Judas, not Iscariot? Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"  {John 14:22 NKJV}. Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. " {John 14:23 NKJV}. That is what Paul is referring to. Faith is awakened now. You remind yourself that Jesus Christ lives in you. You are a believer. He has taken up his residence in you. He will not leave you. He is at home in your heart, and you belong to him. That immediately brings the third step.” 

——How Prayer Works by Ray Steadman

TE: We are empowered by the Spirit

     in order that Christ may be settled into the inner man

           in order that …

C. that you ... may be able to comprehend

                   ... the love of Christ  17b-18

1) rooted and grounded in love

 His love for us not ours for him.

 rooted  a plant’s nourishment and stability Psalm 1.1-3; Jer. 17.5-8

 grounded a building’s foundation against storms  Matt. 7.24-29  —  “If you don’t go deep, you can’t go high.” —WW

2) comprehend … with all the saints

 comprehend: to lay hold of so as to make one’s own, to seize, take possession of”  —Wuest

If we know nothing of mathematics, may we be well-tutored scholars in the spiritual geometry and be able to comprehend the breadths and lengths of Jesus’ precious love.”  —CH Spurgeon

 “God knows nothing of solitary religion”  —John Wesley

Love cannot exist in one person alone. 

“You must love or you cannot comprehend love.”  —Spurgeon

 “...to Paul it was a real, substantial, measurable fact.” —Spurgeon

the width—Extends to all ranks and races Col 3.11

and length— eternal love through all time past and future

and height—Up to the very throne of God where we through Christ have an interest in heaven and where he will present us faultless before His glory with exceeding joy.

and depth— You cannot go too deep in sin for Christ’s love to reach down to you

3) which passes knowledge

“You cannot construe that. You cannot make grammar and logic out of that. You cannot make theological science out of that. You cannot shut that up into a confession of faith, or contract it into a Church catechism.”         —-Alexander Whyte

We are empowered by the Spirit

   in order that Christ may be settled into the inner man

       in order that … we may comprehend the love of Christ

           in order that …

D. that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

There are two aspects to the “fullness of God” that fills us.

1) Its energizing force.

2)  Its affect on our disposition and conduct

1) Its energizing force.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony* of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

2)  Its affect on our disposition and conduct

 2 Peter 1.4

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 The fruit of the Spirit is the result of fullness.

APPLICATION:

1 John 4:7-13 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

We can pray imprecatory prayers against those who we think are not loving to us,

OR

We can pray Paul’s fourfold prayer and show them the width, length, height, depth.

Transitional Expression: Paul’s focus on God’s work in the believer causes him to break out into praise.

I. Beginning with worship

II. Body of four requests

III. Benediction of Praise

A. ²⁰ Now to Him who

1) is able to do exceedingly abundantly

When the massive weather front of God’s POWER,

meets the massive weather front of God’s LOVE,

in the believer’s heart energized by Christ’s abiding presence,

it produces an F-10 tornado of “doxology” or praise!

——adapted from John Piper

2) above all that we ask or think,

“we ask”  in middle voice - for ourselves  —-AT Roberts

Since God can do a thing so much bigger than we can imagine, we should focus on His objectives, and let him fill in the details.

3) according to the power that works in us,

This refers back to the power described in Eph 1

Ephesians 1

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when

He raised Him from the dead and

seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And

He put all things under His feet, and

gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

B. ²¹ to Him be

1) glory

The word we get doxology from

“...doctrine leads to doxology as well to duty.”  —-Stott

2) in the church

The world, the culture, the political systems in this world our own country are note focused on giving God glory

The church, the body of Christ, who are

·     chosen before the foundation of the world

·     redeemed by the blood of Christ and forgiven

·     sealed and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit

we are where God will be glorified.

The core trait expressed in this prayer is the same one Jesus identified as our identifying characteristic.  It is the first and most important way to show Him glory.

3) by Christ Jesus

A reminder lest we become so enthused and self-confident we forget.

4) to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Literally reads “unto all generations of the age of ages” an expression that basically means forever.  This is not just this month’s emphasis.

The first, last, longest, and shortest prayers in the Bible.

The first prayer.  It has been more difficult to isolate the first prayer in the Bible, but here are three tries.  The problem in the early chapters of Genesis is that the occasions people are recorded specifically speaking to God it is in the context of a conversation that God initiates.

1. Genesis 4:26b points out a time when men started calling upon the name of the Lord.  But this is not really a specific prayer.

25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

2.  In Genesis 19 Abraham prays for God to allow Abimelech's household have babies again.  Here the essence of the request is given, but not the words.

17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.18 For the Lord had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

3.  In Genesis 24 we find Abraham's servant praying to the God of Abraham for help locating a wife for Issac.

12 He said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; 14 now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’—may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.”


The last prayer in the Bible is pretty straightforward.  In the second to the last verse in Revelation, John prays, "Come, Lord Jesus."  And we continue to pray that prayer today.

It is very possible I have missed something in Genesis.

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The longest prayer in the Bible is found in Nehemiah 9:5-38.  Most of the prayer is recounting their history of suffering with the closing observation, "So we are in great distress."  Verse 38 says that they are signing an agreement to keep God's laws presumably so that He would begin blessing them again.

The shortest prayer may be found in Nehemiah too.  It takes place in chapter two when Nehemiah prayed a quick prayer between the king asking him a question and his answer.  However, since this reference doesn't tell what he prayed the shortest prayer probably needs to go to Peter's brief and heartfelt prayer in Matthew 14:30 as he sank into the water after he had begun to walk on the water to Jesus.  “Lord, save me!”  Now, that's a prayer ALL of us can heartily join in.

TBC MEN'S BREAKFAST CHALLENGE- Relationships

I remember a few years ago when Curt Shacklett led the elders and deacons through Kent Hughes’ book Disciplines of a Godly Man.  I was struck by the title of chapter five, “Discipline of Friendship.”  I guess that I had always thought of friends as a nice social connection.  The idea of friendship as a discipline indicated that relationships are something that I should intentionally pursue for the benefit of the church, to bless others, and for my own Christian walk. 

Relationships are also essential for discipleship, a TBC core value.  I want to challenge every man at TBC to attempt to regularly (a least once a month) meet with at least two other men.  Find a relationship with a peer so the two of you can encourage and challenge each other spiritually.  Find another relationship where you are either mentoring (discipling) or being mentored.  These relationships with men at TBC can strengthen our church and benefit you and those you meet with.

Travis Jones is an example of someone who pursues these intentional relationships.  At our men’s breakfast, he is going to share some practical principles and pointers on how to engage in relationships with other men. 

“Few of the truly valuable things in life just happen.”  --Kent Hughes

Jehovah's Witnesses

Probably the most glaring error of the JW’s is that they believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is a god not the God.  They have a works salvation scheme.  Have both doctrinal and some sociological characteristics of a cult.  I have put these links in order of priority.

GotQuestions.org—Short overview

https://www.gotquestions.org/Jehovahs-Witnesses.html

Cold-case Christianity with J. Warner Wallace: “A Brief Overview of the Jehovah’s Witness Worldview”

http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/a-brief-overview-of-the-jehovahs-witness-worldview/

Christian Research and Apologetics Ministry—Links to several resources about Jehovah’s Witnesses

https://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses

ReligionFacts: “Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs”—A non-evangelical summary of their beliefs.

http://www.religionfacts.com/jehovahs-witnesses/beliefs

ChristianAnwers.net—“How do Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teachings about Christ compare with Scriptures?”

Defense of Christ’s deity geared toward JW’s

https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-r005.html

Bible.org—This page has several good articles about Jehovah’s Witnesses.

https://bible.org/gsearch?search=Jehovah%27s+witnesses

JOURNEY: ADVOCATES – QUESTIONS by Sean McDowell

JOURNEY: ADVOCATES – QUESTIONS  by Sean McDowell

Why do we go to Google, Youtube, and other search engines to find answers to our questions?  Because we believe, at least generally, that we will find helpful, reliable answers to our questions.  In 1 Peter 3: 15, the Apostle Peter says to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts, to always being ready with an answer for the hope within and to give it with gentleness and give it with respect. Here’s a question that’s important for us to think about.  What would it take for you and me to live the kind of life that would invite questions from other people?  How do we live our lives in a certain way that others want to know the source of our hope?  And what are some questions we can ask other people to help them along their spiritual journey? 

A few years ago I co-wrote Is God just a Human Invention with a friend of mine named Jonathan Marrow.  The goal was to provide succinct answers to the seventeen biggest questions skeptics and atheists were asking about God.  Christians were reading, and I was getting a good response.  I started thinking to myself, “How can I get other non-believers to read it and engage with the ideas?”  So I called up one of the largest skeptic groups in the area where I live and said I would be happy to sit in the hot seat of your group and answer questions that people in your group would have towards a Christian.  I went up there and they had questions about God, questions about the Bible, political questions, and even specific questions about what I believed about the soul.  It was a blast.  Before the event began I had asked the leader if it was okay if toward the end I could ask them some questions.  Now I could have asked this group of skeptics how they explained the origin of information in DNA, or the origin of the universe, or how they explain the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.  While those are great questions I decided to take a different approach.  Instead, I asked the questions like, "What are blind spots to Christians have?  What bad impressions to Christians often leave?  And how can Christians improve their interactions with skeptics?"  

I’ll never forget a lady sitting right in front to my right who was 70 years old said, “Listen.” 

I said, “Tell me what you mean.” 

She said, “A lot of my Christian friends want to speak to me, tell me why I’m wrong and preach at me, and occasionally tell me I’m going to Hell, but when I want to share my beliefs, they don’t want to listen to me.  Why should I listen to them when they don’t listen to me?”

And a fellow in the back who is maybe fifty years old described himself as a former Christian.  He said, “Stop slandering atheists.” 

And I said, “That’s a pretty serious charge.  What do you mean?” 

He said, “Look, I’m an atheist, but occasionally I’ll just show up, and I’ll go to church.  People don’t know who I am, or why I’m there.   And I just listen.”  He said, “Almost every time I show up, I hear some cheap shot, often from the stage, about atheists or some other non-Christian group.”

Here’s the bottom line.  If we don’t treat non-believers the way that Christ called us to, they so often won’t even hear what we believe is true.  The Bible tells us that Jesus came in grace, and he came in truth.  He came in grace which is a loving relationship.  And he also spoke truth.  We are called to speak the truth.  We can‘t compromise truth, but we must do it in love.  If we mess up the relationship, so often people won’t even hear what we believe is true.  If we want people to ask us questions about our faith, we need to be living the kind of lives that invite inquiries.  We need to live the kind of lives that make people wonder, "What is the source of that person's hope?"  

We also need to be ready with some thoughtful questions we can ask other people to help them along their spiritual journey.  Here are some specific questions that I found helpful in my own experience and relationships. 

First, What do you believe?  It’s important to find out what the other person believes.  Proverbs 18:13 says it is foolish and shameful to answer before you hear.  To have an honest conversation with somebody you first have to understand what the person really believes.  And that person is only going to share what they believe when we ask good questions and really listen. 

Second, “Why do you believe it?”  What reason does a person have for his or her beliefs?  Proverbs 20:5 says that the purposes of a man’s heart are like deep waters, but a person of understanding is a person who can draw it out.  In other words, people have a deep reason for why they believe what they do.  And sometimes people know those reasons and sometimes they don’t.  Take my father for example.  Before he became a Christian he was an angry agnostic.  He looked for ways to shoot Christians down and prove that they were wrong.  One thing he did before he realized it at the time is he would hear people talk about a heavenly father, and he thought, "Why would I want a heavenly father?"  That idea turned him off.  Why? Because his earthly father was abusive and absent.  His relationship with his father was a deep reason that gave him some anger against God.  People have deep reasons for why they believe as they do, and it takes wisdom and listening and patience to help draw out what those real reasons are. 

The third question is “Where do we agree?”  Where can we find common ground?  Finding common ground is a powerful way to have meaningful, spiritual conversations with other people.  When we find common ground, often someone’s guard will go down, and they will listen in a way they wouldn’t have listened before. 

When I was meeting with these skeptics, they were surprised to find out that even though we clearly disagreed on a number of significant issues, how much we actually have in common. 

And the fourth questions is, “Where do we disagree?”  I’ve had at least two significant conversations with skeptics about the origins of the universe.   And each of these conversations we talk about the science and the philosophy, that points toward the universe having a beginning.  As we got back to the basis of the argument, I said to them either you have to believe that the universe can come into existence from nothing, or you believe that there is a cause outside of space and time that speaks the universe into existence.  Which do you find more reasonable?  And both of them looked me right in the eye and said a universe from nothing is most reasonable.  Now in some ways, I am not exactly sure where to take the argument from that.  So I just said back to them, “Here’s where you and I differ.  I think its more reasonable that there is a God that speaks the world into existence.  You think it’s more reasonable that something can come from nothing."  All I was trying to do is clarify the cost of being an atheist.  Now interestingly in a matter of time, one of them actually became a believer.  

In my experience, most people are willing to have genuine, spiritual conversation.  If we treat people the way they want to be treated, they will often return the favor to us.  If we really listen to people and value their opinion, most people will listen back and value what we have to say as well.  You have learned some powerful lessons in this study, and you are ready for spiritual conversations.  Now don’t think you have to have all the answers.  If someone asks you a tough question, simply say, “I don’t know,” and then go find an answer so that you’ll know next time.  If you are willing to ask good questions, listen to people, and stick with people through their journey, I think you will be amazed at how God will use you in people’s lives to make a difference with them spiritually. Go forth.

  https://awanaym.org/journey-curriculum/advocates/journey-advocates-questions

Starter questions for writing a Christian Testimony

LIFE BEFORE CHRIST

--What was your life like before you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?

--Describe two or more things about your life before you became a Christian.

--Background: did you grow up in church?  If so, what was that experience like?  If not, what was your original worldview?

--Be careful not to glamorize how "bad" you used to be.

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--What were your attitudes? Needs? Problems?

--What did your life revolve around?  What was most important to you?

--Where did you look for security? Peace of mind? Happiness? Significance?

--Where were you spiritually before receiving Christ, and how did that affect you - your feelings, attitudes, actions, and relationships?

--On what did you rely on for security and happiness?

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--What did I think of God? Of Jesus?

--In what ways was God drawing you to Christ?

--When did you begin to feel convicted about your sins?

--What circumstances caused you to think about the Lord?

--Who were the people that influenced you toward the Lord?

CONVERSION TO CHRIST

--When were you first exposed to dynamic Christianity?

--How did you learn about the gospel? Include 1 or 2 verses from Scripture.

--When / where did you first hear the gospel?

--If a church played a part in your conversion, tell how you came in contact with that church and who or what you remember from your first visits.

--What were your initial reactions to Jesus Christ?

--What were your initial reactions to Jesus?

--What feelings did you struggle with right before your decision?

--When and why did you begin to feel positively about Christianity?

--What was the turning point in your attitude?

--What motivated you to invite Christ to be your Lord and Savior?

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--How and why you became Christian

--Specifically, how did you receive Christ and His forgiveness?

--Where were you? Alone in your room? Driving in your car? At a church service?

--Who talked to you about becoming a Christian?

--What actions did you take to become a Christian?

--How did you come to accept Christ and give Him complete control of your life?

--How did you yield your life to Christ? What did you say?

--What thoughts went through your mind?

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--How did you feel after you accepted Christ?

LIFE AFTER CHRIST

--What happened after you trusted Christ?

--Did you struggle with your faith?

--What kind of problems did you face?

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--How are you different than you were before?

--How did your life begin to change after you trusted Christ?

--What changes did you see in your life? In your attitudes? In your actions?

--How long did it take before you noticed any changes?

--What area of your life has the Lord changed most significantly?

--How have the changes in your life influenced others around you?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Describe two or more things that are different about your life now that you are a Christian.

--What other benefits have you experienced since becoming a Christian?

--Why are you glad that you are a Christian?

--How did God answer prayer, or strengthen you in difficult situations?

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--What makes you excited about living for Christ today and in the future?

--What makes you sure that you are going to heaven?

--What does Jesus Christ mean to you now?

--What does Jesus Christ mean to you now?

--Finish this sentence: "My prayer is....

Hell links

• What the Bible Says About Hell  https://bible.org/article/what-bible-says-about-hell
• Content On: Hell  https://bible.org/topics/403/Hell
• A KINDER, GENTLER THEOLOGY OF HELL?  https://www.tms.edu/m/tmsj9j.pdf
• 7 Truths About Hell   https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/7-truths-about-hell/
• Articles arguing against Hell -- http://www.ukapologetics.net/2hell.htm
• 8 Real Photographs That "Prove" Hell Exists on Earth  http://www.cracked.com/blog/8-real-photographs-that-prove-hell-exists-earth/
• CARM Hell  by Matt Slick  https://carm.org/hell
• Theopedia HELL   https://www.theopedia.com/hell 
• The Doctrine of Hell Article By: Douglas Groothuis  http://www.equip.org/article/the-doctrine-of-hell/