Why is this “history’s greatest question?” The answer will impact all of your life. Is Jesus a MAN, a MYTH, or THE MESSIAH?

The Point: When Christ Followers have confidence in the Good News, the lives of many will be changed. Five decisions will insure this:

1.CERTAIN THAT THE GOSPEL IS TRUE… “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31 NIV

Did the Disciples steal the body of Christ? Did the Romans move the body of Christ?

How do we know the Gospels are truth? Had to be written by EYEWITNESSES Recognized as AUTHORITATIVE early on Conform to teaching of APOSTLES

2.CLEAR IN EXPLAINING THE MESSAGE… The Gospel is the good news that God became MAN in Jesus Christ. He lived the life WE should have lived and DIED the death we should have died…

Three days later He ROSE from the dead, proving He is the Son of God and offering SALVATION and FORGIVENESS of sins to everyone who believes in Him.”

(1)God became MAN in Jesus Christ (2) He lived the life WE should have lived…

(3) He DIED the death we should have died…in our place. (4) He ROSE from the dead (5) He offers SALVATION to all

3. CONVICTED THAT THE GOSPEL SHOULD BE SHARED… “You are the SALT of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor…It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Matthew 5:13

START a conversation ASK questions - Two diagnostic questions LISTEN to their answers TELL the story

1.God LOVES you (John 3:16) and had a wonderful PLAN for your life (John 10:10). 2.Man is SINFUL (Romans 3:23) and is therefore SEPARATED from God (Romans 6:23).

3.Jesus Christ is the ONLY ANSWER for this DILEMMA John 14:6. 4.You must RECEIVE Christ by a personal invitation. Romans 10:9,10

4.COMPASSIONATE IN TELLING OTHERS. Unbelievers and skeptics are not our enemies. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

“Instead speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 NIV

Why do people RESIST Christ? Pride Hurt Guilt Pseudo-Salvation Secret Sin

5.CONNECTED TO THE LOCAL CHURCH. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other…” Hebrews 10:25 NLT

God’s Plan… ”I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH 1.EVANGELIZE the unbelievers Matt. 28:19,20; Luke 19:10 2.EDIFY the believer Acts 2:42

3.EQUIP the believer for ministry – Ephesians 4:11 4.EMPOWER Disciples – John 14:12

ACTION POINTS: 1.The Gospel is clear…are you clear about the Gospel. 2.Do you have the confidence to STAND UP… SPEAK UP …and SHOW UP on behalf of the cause of Christ?