1. Nelson Chapel
Church of Christ

2. Making Christianity
Attractive

3. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16
Light shine
See your good works
Glorify your Father
“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” Titus 2:9-10

4. “Adorn the Doctrine”
“so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (NIV)
“Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way” (NLT)
“Then they will show the beauty of the teachings about God our Savior in everything they do” (GWT)

5. “Adorn the Doctrine” Adorn = Kosmeo - English “cosmetic”
to make attractive
to decorate
to make orderly
The idea of arranging something in proper order so as to give it symmetry, comeliness, and beauty.
“In this way they will make people want to believe in our Savior and God” (TLB)

6. Attractive That which attracts or draws attention
Alluring, inviting, pleasing
Pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm.
Having power to arouse interest; "an attractive opportunity"; "the job is attractive because of the pay"

7. The product attractive
Advertisements make
The product attractive
Liquor
Industry

8. Satan makes sin look attractive
Gen. 3:5 “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
Gen. 3:6 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

9. God wants to attract us
John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
He would attract both Jews and Gentiles
Death and Resurrection attracted people to believe He was the Son of God

10. The early church grew by making Christianity attractive
“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47
Favour = graciousness, gratifying, acceptable, pleasure
Wives can influence Husband
1 Peter 3:1 “they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”

11. Dirty Hands for Mechanic
Clean Hands for Waitress

12. Truth Greatest feast in the world to offer to people
We must make it attractive to those looking for the truth!

13. Making Christianity Attractive
Good Works
“they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:12
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

14. Making Christianity Attractive
Love
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

15. Making Christianity Attractive
Speech
Col. 4:6 “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,…”
Eph.4: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

16. Making Christianity Attractive
Unity
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Jn. 17:21
Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: …”

17. Making Christianity Attractive
Peace of Mind
Phil. 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Peaceful happy life will be attractive to those lost in sin

18. Making Christianity Attractive
Honest
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim.4:12
“add luster to the doctrine of God” Tit. 2:10 NEB
People are watching us !

19. Making Christianity Attractive
Consistency
The inconsistency of the Jews made Judaism unattractive to the Gentiles Romans 2:17-24
In the Great Commission some reject baptism.
Are we consistent when we reject the “Go” ?
Attendance - some do not attend all services
Matt. 6:33
Heb. 10:25

20. Making Christianity Attractive
Dedication
Ruth 1:16-17 “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
Naomi was consecrated and devoted

21. Making Christianity Attractive
Doing our Best
Half-hearted Christians never made Christianity attractive to anyone.
Who would buy a car that just hit on half of its cylinders?
Mary - “She has done what she could” Mk. 14:9

22. What must we Do ?
Recognize the importance of making Christianity attractive.
“adorn the doctrine” Tit. 2:10
“add lustre to the doctrine of God our Saviour” NEB
Minimize the obstructions to faith
God's goal is that everyone be saved and come to a knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (and it is see 1 Tim 2:4) then we should make Christianity attractive.

23. What must we Do ? Jesus called us to be salt and light in the world
So it is our mission to make Christianity attractive.
Go forth and be attractive - the 11th commandment !

24. Making Christianity
Attractive

26. Nelson Chapel Church of Christ
5039 Six Mile Road
Maryville, Tn
April 23, 2017
Sermon by Arthur Pigman
2705 Druid Hill Dr.
Maryville, Tn