Continuing Christ’s Mission: You Too Can Spread God’s Word

By Robert S. Chambers

Go into all the world and preach the Gospel. That was the Great Commission of 2,000 years ago, but is it still viable in today’s politically correct world of religious diversity? In Continuing Christ’s Mission, author Robert S. Chambers makes the case for Christian evangelism in the twenty-first century addressing obstacles and outlining new opportunities for sharing the Gospel and equipping Christians to become ambassadors for Christ. It:

uncovers the distinction between a Christian’s mission and works;
teaches what it means to be an ambassador for Christ;
shows how mission fears can be overcome by examining the call of Moses;
identifies many ways every Christian can help spread the good news of Jesus;
shares how to initiate and conduct successful Bible studies; and
explains how the complementary website can serve as a trainer, teacher, and mentor for those interested in evangelism.

Continuing Christ’s Mission prepares every Christian to share God’s message.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664255715

Robert S. Chambers

Robert S. Chambers, PhD, is the founder of the website at www.TheTruthTransforms.com that provides multi-media resources for evangelism and Christian edification. His previous book, A Debt I Cannot Pay, is a study of God’s plan of salvation. He and his wife reside in New Mexico with their two daughters and four grandchildren and enjoy fishing and kayaking in Arkansas.

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Copyright © 2022 Robert S. Chambers.

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WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

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and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New

American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman

Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

Additional scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible,

English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing

ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Additional scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5572-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5573-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5571-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022900945

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/09/2022

To my daughters, Ashley

and Ivy, blessings from God.

You have changed my life and made me realize

the awesome responsibility of sharing the gospel.

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 Of Men or of God?

Chapter 2 Jesus: the Messenger and His Message

Chapter 3 Jesus: His Mission

Chapter 4 Christian Works

Chapter 5 The Christian Mission

Chapter 6 Evangelism

Chapter 7 Fulfilling the Christian Mission

Chapter 8 The Obstacles

Chapter 9 The Challenge

Chapter 10 Lighting Up the World

Chapter 11 Making Disciples

Chapter 12 Website Evangelism

Chapter 13 Using the Website TheTruthTransforms.com

Chapter 14 How to Initiate Bible Studies

Chapter 15 Often Missed Opportunities

Chapter 16 Recommendations for Bible Study Leaders

Chapter 17 A Teaching Template

Chapter 18 The Good News of Jesus Christ

Chapter 19 The First Christians

Chapter 20 Now I’m a Christian, What Next?

Chapter 21 Transforming Lives with the Truth

Chapter 22 Some Closing Thoughts

Preface

As the apostle Paul was counseling young Timothy, he offered these words of advice.

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Tim. 4:12–16)

What is it that strikes my heart? It is the steadfast, endless commitment inspired by Paul’s exhortation to show yourself an example, give attention to, not neglect, take pains with, be absorbed in, pay close attention to, persevere in—with what result? You will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

With these very convictions, I write this book. Whereas my first publication, A Debt I Cannot Pay, was a thorough study of the gospel message, this second book, Continuing Christ’s Mission, is all about preparing Christians to spread that message. The fruit born from what Jesus accomplished is found in the growth of the Body of Christ as new Christians are added to His Church. With the goal of Continuing Christ’s Mission, I am committed to doing my part to motivate and equip fellow Christians for the task of sharing the good news of Jesus in the twenty-first century.

I addressed these issues previously in a thirteen-week Bible class called Evangelism and the Gospel of Jesus. Three essential elements drove the subject matter.

1. The Message: the gospel, the good news of Jesus, God’s plan to save humankind

2. The Messenger: Jesus Christ, the Word, the Son of God

3. The Messaging: evangelism, the act of sharing the good news of Jesus with the world

These are the topics that spawned the writing of this book. In fact, this is essentially the second volume in what could be seen as a two-volume series designed to equip every Christian with the background, knowledge, and resources needed to spread the good news of Jesus.

Taken together, these two books, A Debt I Cannot Pay and Continuing Christ’s Mission, provide individuals and congregations with the instructional content needed to support the work of evangelism. Moreover, these books are ideal for use in classes aimed at recruiting and equipping members to take on a larger role in sharing the gospel with others.

It is my sincere hope and prayer that this book will equip and encourage Christians to make, foster, and grow disciples of Jesus by continuing Christ’s mission bringing peace and comfort to struggling souls.

Acknowledgments

I cannot think about evangelism without having the names of George Carman and Tyrone Mynhier pop into my mind. Both are faithful Christian men who have dedicated their lives to spreading the good news of Jesus. By their teaching and example, they have each had a profound impact on my life as a Christian. I am especially indebted to George for reviewing the manuscripts of both books I have published and to Tyrone for his suggestions about how to initiate Bible studies.

I would also like to acknowledge my wife, Janet, who helped me edit and proofread the text of this book, and my daughters and sons-in-law, Ashley and Keith Guerra and Ivy and Ruben Baca, for serving as sounding boards for ideas involving the work in progress.

Finally, my sincere thanks go to Ruben for all the expertise, creative development, and support he has provided for my website at www.TheTruthTransforms.com.

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Of Men or of God?

A FTER FIGHTING THIS MOVEMENT FOR THREE YEARS, THE religious establishment had orchestrated the death of the ringleader, and now life would finally get back to normal—or would it? Such was the hope of the Jewish council, but that was not to be. When the apostles refused to stop teaching, the Jewish leaders were prepared to put them to death until one of their own, Gamaliel, offered stark words of warning:

And he said to them, Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God. They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. (Acts 5:35–40)

The rest is history. Christianity spread throughout the world as faithful disciples devoted themselves to continuing Christ’s mission according to God’s plan.

But if Gamaliel were alive today, might he see things differently? Would he witness an apathy among church members content to warm the pews in weekly services, and conclude that perhaps Christianity is simply an action of humankind destined to fade with time? What has changed? The need for the gospel has never been greater, and yet recruiting members to engage in evangelism seems to get harder and harder.

To many, evangelism is the job of the pastors and deacons, and indeed it is. However, it does not stop with them. Church leaders are not member proxies, nor were they ever intended to be. The church is made up of many members, and its growth depends on the contributions of each individual in the body (Eph. 4:14–16).

Although every Christian is to have a role in continuing Christ’s mission, some struggle to find it, and others are content to sit on the sidelines. If the church is to be the salt of the earth and the light of the