What Should We Do When People Reject The Gospel? The Scriptures reveal how we should respond when people choose to reject the gospel

2 We Are Commanded To Preach The Gospel To The Lost Mar 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mar 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

3 Introduction There will be some who make the choice to obey the gospel With God and the angels of Heaven, we should rejoice when someone becomes a Christian Sadly, many we try to teach will not even want to hear the gospel or if they listen, they choose not to obey it When this happens, what should we do?

4 Do Not Be Surprised Luk 8:11 "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Luk 8:12 "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.

5 Do Not Be Surprised Luk 8:13 "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. Luk 8:14 "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

6 Do Not Be Surprised Luk 8:15 "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

7 Remember It Is Each Person’s Choice Jos 24:14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

8 Remember It Is Each Person’s Choice Jos 24:15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

9 Remember It Is Each Person’s Choice Act 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"

10 Remember It Is Each Person’s Choice Act 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Act 2:40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"

11 Remember It Is Each Person’s Choice Act 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

12 Grieve Over Those Who Are Still Lost Rom 9:1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, Rom 9:2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. Rom 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

13 Continue To Pray For The Lost Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. Rom 10:2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

14 Continue To Pray For The Lost Rom 10:3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

15 Check That We Are Preaching Only The Gospel With Right Motives Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

16 Check That We Are Preaching Only The Gospel With Right Motives Php 1:12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, Php 1:13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,

17 Check That We Are Preaching Only The Gospel With Right Motives Php 1:14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Php 1:15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;

18 Check That We Are Preaching Only The Gospel With Right Motives Php 1:16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; Php 1:17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.

19 Check That We Are Preaching Only The Gospel With Right Motives Php 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

20 Check That We Are Preaching Only The Gospel With Right Motives 2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 2Co 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

21 Check That We Are Living In Harmony With The Gospel 1Pe 3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 1Pe 3:2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

22 Check That We Are Living In Harmony With The Gospel 1Pe 3:3 Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 1Pe 3:4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

23 Check That We Are Living In Harmony With The Gospel 1Pe 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 1Pe 3:16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

24 Check That We Are Living In Harmony With The Gospel Act 8:22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

25 Find Others To Hear The Gospel Act 28:23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

26 Find Others To Hear The Gospel Act 28:24 Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. Act 28:25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

27 Find Others To Hear The Gospel Act 28:26 saying, 'GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

28 Find Others To Hear The Gospel Act 28:27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'

29 Find Others To Hear The Gospel Act 28:28 "Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

30 What Should We Do When People Reject The Gospel? 1.Do not be surprised 2.Remember it is each person’s choice 3.Grieve over those who are still lost 4.Continue to pray for the lost 5.Check that we are preaching only the gospel with right motives 6.Check that we are living in harmony with the gospel 7.Find others to hear the gospel