AIC 9: Investing My Life as an Ambassador for Christ
AIC 9: Investing My Life as an Ambassador for Christ
Embedded Files
Objectives
Objectives
Explain why every Christian has a responsibility to share the Gospel with others.
Define the ministry of reconciliation.
Make a list of 3 people to share during the coming week.
Conduct follow-up material #1 (Beginning Your New Life in Christ) with a new believer.
Look Up
Look Up
Bible Study
Bible Study
A DOCTOR AND HIS ASSISTANT
A medical doctor had dedicated his entire life to finding a cure for a rare disease that was killing millions of people. Many others in the medical field were also searching for a cure, but this doctor was using very different methods from the rest. Often others would simply laugh at him, for this research seemed quite unusual.
Toward the end of this doctor’s life, to his great joy, he was able to discover the cure. He had also been training a young assistant during the research, whom he knew would be the one to carry on the work.
The old doctor explained to the young assistant that he was giving the full responsibility to carry out the work as there was no one else familiar with it. Even though the young assistant was overwhelmed by the responsibility of this task, he also recognized the awesome privilege he held.
Why was the task such a privilege for the young assistant?
Why was it a great responsibility?
What are some ways that this story could apply to the Christian life?
Observation/ Interpretation
Observation/ Interpretation
2 Corinthians 5:6-21
What will happen someday to every believer? (v.10)
In light of the coming judgment, what was Paul’s attitude? V.9,10)
What did Paul do in order to please the Lord? (v. 11)
What motivated Paul to continue persuading men? (v. 14,15)
What does Paul expect to happen when men are persuaded? (v. 17)
What important mission has God given to us? (v. 8,19)
According to verses 18 and 19, what is the ministry of reconciliation?
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:6-21
In verses 20 and 21, Paul calls us ambassadors for Christ. Listed below are a few duties of a modern-day ambassador. Think of parallel responsibilities for the Ambassador for Christ.
Ambassador for a Government
Represents home government in a foreign country
Communicates messages for the home government
Carries out homeland’s conviction and commands
Lives in the host country, but does not consider it home
Has all of his needs provided by the home government
Carries the delegated authority of the leader being represented
Application
Application
What changes in personal ambitions and in your daily habits would help you to keep an eternal perspective?
In 2 Corinthians 5:16, we saw that Paul was not intimidated by a person’s status, position, etc. What types of people are you sometimes afraid to share the Gospel with?
Why do you think you are afraid?
Paul saw that it did not matter if a person was of high status or not - they still needed to hear the Gospel.My responsibility as an ambassador:
By God’s grace, I will fulfill my role as an ambassador of Christ by praying for, and actively pursuing opportunities to share Christ with these people:
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Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
What is meant by the ministry of reconciliation?
Why does every Christian have a responsibility to share the Gospel with others?
Look Forward
Look Forward
Training
Training
An overview of the Follow-Up (FU) Series:
FU #1 “Beginning Your New Life in Christ” - This gives the new Christian a basic understanding in the area of assurance and forgiveness.
FU #2 “Beginning Your New Life of Fellowship with Christ” - This covers our relationship with God and how to maintain consistent fellowship with Him.
FU #3 “Beginning Your New Life in the Holy Spirit” - This covers how to be filled with the Holy Spirit and how to live the Spirit-filled life.
FU#4 “Beginning Your New Life of Growth in Christ” - This emphasizes the importance of prayer, Bible study and obedience.
FU#5 “Beginning you New Life in God’s Word” - This acquaints the new believer with the importance of the Bible. It also contains guidelines on how to study the Bible.
FU#6 Beginning Your New Life in Prayer” - This defines prayer and discusses 5 elements of prayer.
Tips as you conduct Follow-up #1
Tips as you conduct Follow-up #1
It is important to make sure that the new Christian knows for sure that Christ is in his life. Without this assurance, it is impossible to grow.
Build rapport. Ask the new believer how he has been. Tell something about yourself and how you're doing.
Ask if he has read the Four Spiritual Laws and has thanked Christ for coming into his life.
Ask if he has read John 1-3.
Ask if he has any questions.
Go through FU#1 Material. Let your contact read the question, look up and read the verse, and answer the question. Have him write his answer and discuss if necessary.
How to close the follow-up appointment.
a. Be relaxed and sensitive.
b. Let him know that you enjoyed being with him and that you desire to meet him again.
c. Set and write down a specific time and place for the next appointment.
Assignments and Reminders
Assignments and Reminders
Complete Lesson 5, Lesson 6, and Lesson 7 of Ten Basic Steps to Christian Maturity Step 1 (The Christian Adventure).
Read Transferrable Concept #5 (How to be a Fruitful Witness) and Transferrable Concept #6 (How to Introduce Others to Christ) and take note of the main points.
Show your leader your list of three people you desire to be an ambassador to within this coming week.
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