GCS Podcast

Most Christians seem to find Evangelism a very hard thing to do. Even the people who seem to excel and have the gift of evangelism readily confess their weakness. So, why is it so universally difficult?  

Differing world views can be substantial and reaching across them is not an easy task. But do you ever wonder if reaching across those barriers is even possible in todays society. In an age where predominant thinking is becoming increasingly hostile towards the Christian worldview, how can Christians bridge the widening gap and reach out across the barriers? Can we still communicate the Gospel in today’s world - and if so, what obstacles do we need to overcome?

Let's join Tony as he explores five main problems that Christians face in seeking to reach the lost and shares effective Bible principles to tackle them. 

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How do we explain the gospel to children in a way they can understand? How do we explain their need for a Saviour without watering down the details? How can we hold their attention long enough to explain what the Bible is all about? How can we be accurate yet sensitive to the fact that they need simpler explanations?

Today’s presentation is broken down into 10 parts, and starts with the creation of the universe, and explains key biblical concepts: Who is God? What is God like? What is sin? Where did evil come from? Why do we need a Saviour? This presentation concludes with a clear explanation of the identity of Jesus and his amazing provision as our Saviour. The graphic details surrounding the story of salvation are handled sensitively but not watered down. At the end, children will have an explanation of who God is and what he did for mankind on the cross. It is a message of hope every child should hear. 

Let's join Tony as he presents the Gospel from an angle you may never have considered.

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The world has 195 countries with thousands of ethnic sub-groups, that bring both challenges and opportunities for evangelism. What key questions should we be asking when considering cross-cultural evangelism?

In the past it was only Christian missionaries going overseas to preach the gospel who had to understand cross-cultural evangelism, but today most of us do not have to go that far to encounter other cultures. While the Christian message does not change, the methodology for evangelism must change from culture to culture in order for the message to be clearly communicated. This raises some important questions. Can we do evangelism without understanding the culture, and what do we need to understand about a person’s cultural background to communicate the Gospel with them in a meaningful and relevant way? 

Let’s join Tony as he examines the way cultural background impacts our understanding of the Gospel and shares how we can cut through all manner of cultural and religious barriers.

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Jesus Christ continues to be the most significant figure in history. We know how he is viewed today, but how was he viewed in his culture. His words and his methods were unlike any others, both then and now. What was it that made him so different? How did he challenge the views and the values around him?

As Jesus taught the tax collectors and sinners gathered around Him, the Pharisees began to mutter to themselves about His open association with those deemed “unclean” according to the Jewish religious code. The parable of the lost sheep was Jesus’ response.

The religious leaders of the day had been indifferent toward people who were lost. Jesus used the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin to illustrate how their response was wrong, especially when compared to how they would have responded toward recovering something of far less value. 

Jesus pointed out that the one thing that matters most to God is the lost, and when the lost are found, even one of them, all heaven rejoices and throws a party! There is more joy over one sinner coming to Jesus that over ninety-nine people being right where they’re supposed to be with God. If people matter this much to God, shouldn’t they matter this much to us? Shouldn’t we be willing to give everything needed in order to reach them? What is needed to reach the lost?  

Let’s join Tony as he takes a closer look at the way God responds and searches for the lost and examines how we might gain the right perspective on evangelism.

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A vast majority of churches go for years without seeing even one person coming to Christ in faith. By almost any metric, churches across the world are much less evangelistic today than they were in the recent past. Do you ever feel the church has let the world down? 

The apostle Peter told believers to always have a ready answer for the hope that we have, but in these changing and very strange times that directive can be difficult. 

We see the pattern in the early church where every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. Yet, in too many churches today, our congregations are reaching no one for Christ in the course of an entire year. What can we do differently to better reach the unsaved in our community? How do we respond to a generation that is lost, and appears to enjoy its quandary? Many of us know of friends or loved ones who seem so hard to reach with the Gospel because they enjoy their lives. How can we properly approach these friends?

Let's join Tony as he exposes some of the key reasons why churches are not reaching the lost with the Gospel and shares how we might gain the right perspective on evangelism.

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Today, there are many who would identify themselves as Christians, yet the Christian life for so many is rooted in convenience rather than Biblical convictions. Convictions are an expression of faith, and Christians often talk about a sense of conviction that grows when God’s word does its work.  But what does it mean to be “convicted” of something?

The Oxford English dictionary defines the word ‘conviction’ as “a firmly held belief or opinion”, something you cling to so strongly that it impacts the way you think and the way you live your life. Someone has put it this way, “a belief is what you hold, but a conviction is what holds you”. 

Conviction is an incredibly valuable yet increasingly rare trait that the early Christians appeared to have a lot of. First century Christians had a difficult life, but through conviction and faith they spread the Gospel across the known world. Conviction is a powerful motivator, and it is what is needed today in a world filled with difficult questions and very few answers. But can the conviction of Christians conquer the world again? How can we cultivate a strong Biblical conviction? What kind of process is needed to bring a person to faith in Christ?

Let's join Tony as he shares a powerful testimony that will encourage you to cultivate the habit of anchoring your convictions in the Bible.

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In an age where almost anything goes, without careful attention churches can easily drift from their founding mission. How can we prevent this from happening, and how can we equip and empower the church to evangelise?  

Jesus was clear that our job as Christians is to proclaim the Gospel and disciple those who are saved, and yet so many churches fail to carry out their founding mission. Perhaps the greatest danger is when a Church doesn’t realise this has happened. Why is “mission drift” so common among Christian ministries? How does it happen, and how can it be prevented? How can we reach people with the message of Jesus Christ and prepare them to further the spread of the Gospel?

Let's join Tony as he shares a practical strategy to guard both you and your church from “mission drift”.

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For the first time in our lives, churches around the world will be celebrating Easter this weekend by not gathering together. It’s a tragic picture of these sad and scary days. Yet it’s similar in several ways to what happened on the very first Easter.

The scientific community is racing to find a COVID-19 vaccine to give a vague promise to humanity of immortality based upon chemical changes and formulas, but until science can find a solution for the problem of sin, it will not find a solution for the problem of death. 

Every Religion and Philosophy in the world agrees that their founders have never come out of death in the resurrection! It is only Christianity that finds hope in an empty tomb! Is there any hope for us today? Did Jesus rise from the dead? Does it really matter if Jesus was raised from the dead or not? What evidence is there and why is the resurrection so important? 

Let's join Tony as he examines the compelling evidence for the resurrection and explains why it is relevant for us today.

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In many places the Bible describes the fate of the unsaved in terrible, fearful terms. Yet, when we speak to others about what it means to be a Christian, our tendency is to shy away from mentioning what the Gospel compels us to accept as truth.

Laws protect our general safety and ensure our rights as citizens against abuses. While some laws might give us pause, most people understand and uphold laws, and would have no hesitation speaking about them. Some Christians feel that using the Law in evangelism can be harsh and unloving – but is it right to feel that way? Is there a way to speak to the lost in a friendly way that’s non-intimidating, to reason with people by addressing the conscience, rather than addressing the intellect – a place of contention.

Let's join Tony as he shares the conclusion of his message entitled “A Run on the Roman Road”.

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As Christians, we know we should share our faith with others and communicating our faith in Christ should be the most natural thing in the world. However, many people feel very intimidated at the thought of sharing the Gospel with a stranger. What has caused this dilemma, and how do we overcome it?

Sometimes we forget that Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” We often live as if the labourers are plentiful, but the harvest is few. Evangelism is a spiritual discipline, and we need to be intentional and deliberate in seeking ways to share the Gospel with those who don’t know Jesus. But, what do we need to do to prioritise evangelism and how do we go about practicing it?

Let's join Tony as he explores how we can pursue evangelism and missional living with joy and intentionality.

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