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In the following outlines there are eight groups, each consisting of several topics that are suitable for special gospel preaching meetings.
Scripture: Acts 17:24-29
The main purpose of this subject is to prove that God exists.
I. Man’s origin is God because man is created by God.
II. The amazing structure of man’s body proves that man is created by God:
In passing, argue against and show the absurdity of the theory of evolution.
III. The chemical composition of the human body proves that man is created by God:
А. The Bible says that man is made of dust, and the chemical composition of the human body is the same as dust.
B. When you are speaking, mention in detail the function of different members of the human body and how they are utterly marvelous and could never have come about through mere evolution.
IV. Therefore, we must conclude that if there is man, there is God:
If you and I exist, there is God. Man’s existence proves that God exists.
Scripture: Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Rom. 7:14, 18; Gen. 8:21
I. The characteristics of man express the nature of man:
Every object has its own characteristics. Because man is living, his characteristics express his nature. What an object is depends on its characteristics; what man is depends on his nature. In other words, with an inanimate object it is a matter of characteristics, but with a living person it is a matter of nature. If we want to study the subject of man, we cannot avoid studying the nature of man.
II. Man’s nature, is it good or bad, virtuous or evil?
А. First, discuss what the sages of both the East and the West have had to say. Some have said that the nature of man is good, and others have said it is evil.
B. Then, using the Bible, prove that human nature is evil. When speaking of the evil nature of man, you should mention that the nature of man at the time of creation was good (Eccl. 7:29); but later, because sin came in causing man to fall, man’s nature became evil. The evil nature came from Satan. Satan defiled and overcame man’s good nature. So we may say that today man’s nature is evil. Use the words of the Bible to show this clearly.
III. Conclusion:
А. Man’s nature is evil beyond repair.
B. Man needs another life with another nature.
Scripture: Rom. 3:10-18
I. Man’s deeds express his nature:
А. What man does is a result of what he is; what he is, is based upon his human nature. Since man’s nature is evil, so his deeds also are evil.
B. Being in such a condition, man needs to realize that he is a sinner.
C. In speaking of man’s evil deeds, focus upon the sins mentioned in Romans, plus some others. By this, you should touch people’s feeling and cause them to realize that they are sinners. Pick out a few sins such as lying, stealing, and adultery, discussing them thoroughly and severely. First, talk about the principle, and then illustrate by examples. Do not touch the deeds of man superficially but, rather, dig out the sins that are within him. Depict man’s condition when he commits sins; do this in such a way that the audience may have the feeling of sin and be convicted.
II. How to be saved from sins:
Develop this point.
Scripture: John 3:3; Jer. 13:23; Heb. 9:22
I. Man’s need is based upon his condition:
Because man’s nature is evil and his behavior is corrupted, there is the need to deal with his evil nature and evil deeds.
II. Man’s self-improvement and good behavior:
А. Sages and human philosophers throughout the generations have discovered the corrupt situation of man and have often tried their best to help it. The result is that man tries either to correct himself or to do good.
B. To try to improve oneself is an attempt to make up for the lack in one’s nature. To do good is to try to make up for the failure in one’s deeds.
III. Man’s self-improvement and good behavior are both useless:
А. Self-improvement cannot change the evil nature of man, just as the leopard cannot change his spots and the Cushite cannot change his skin.
B. The principle of man’s living by good behavior is basically wrong. Because to do good is a fundamental duty or responsibility of a human being, it cannot be regarded as an accomplishment even if a man were to succeed in doing good. Moreover, neither could good behavior hide the sins that may have been committed previously. For example, it is futile if, by doing good, a man attempts to erase his sin of having murdered someone.
IV. Man needs a saving way that includes two aspects:
А. Man’s evil deeds need to be erased. Man needs a salvation whereby his sins may be taken away and the record of them may be erased.
B. Man’s evil nature must be replaced. Because his evil nature cannot be corrected or improved, it must be replaced.
V. God’s way of salvation:
А. The Lord Jesus shed His blood for us and ransomed us from sin. Thus, God’s salvation takes care of man’s evil deeds.
B. Through this salvation we are regenerated and receive a new life, God’s life, which replaces the original evil nature. Such a salvation also takes care of man’s evil nature.
Scripture: Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 1:15; Luke 2:10-11; 19:10
I. Man needs a Savior:
Since man needs the way of salvation (refer to Subject 214), man needs a Savior. There must be a Savior in order that the way of salvation might be accomplished.
II. The Lord Jesus is not a teacher but a Savior:
А. Throughout all the generations not one sage, philosopher, or religious person could call himself the Savior. At most, such people have been merely religious leaders or teachers.
B. Only the Lord Jesus Christ called Himself the Savior. The Bible declares that He is the Savior, and also myriads of Christians throughout the generations testify that He is the Savior. Emphasize this point.
III. He is able to save:
А. The Lord Jesus is God becoming man to be our Savior.
B. Since He is God, nothing is impossible with Him. He can both redeem man and deliver him from sin.
Scripture: Matt. 20:28; 1 Pet. 2:24; John 12:24; 1 Pet. 1:3
The subject of this message is the cross.
I. Since a Savior is one who saves man, He must accomplish redemption for man.
II. Throughout the generations no sage, human philosopher, or religious leader has ever claimed to have accomplished redemption for man.
III. The Savior is Jesus:
А. Jesus Himself said that He would accomplish redemption for man, give up His life for man, and be a ransom for man.
B. Stress the cross in this section. He hung upon the cross in order to bear our sins. The cross is the way of salvation that God prepared for man. When Jesus was on the cross, God put upon Him the sins of all men.
C. The Savior not only said that He would give up His life to be a ransom for man but also that His death would release His life. Because of His resurrection, man is able to obtain His life and be born again.
IV. Christ’s crucifixion, the shedding of His blood, and His death and resurrection are our salvation:
А. Christ’s blood takes care of our sinful deeds.
B. Christ’s life takes care of our sinful nature.
Scripture: Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; 10:43; John 3:36; 1:12; 6:51; 4:14; Rom. 10:8-10, 13
I. Both the Savior and His salvation are available.
II. The need is for man to receive:
А. If a man is to receive the Savior and be saved, he must confess that his nature is corrupt and his deeds are evil. He must repent. To repent is to turn one’s thoughts and intents to God; this includes hating, confessing, forsaking, and departing from one’s sins.
B. Once a man repents, the following step is to believe in the Lord Jesus:
1. Believing cannot be inherited. Do not think that you are saved because your father or grandfather is a pastor or an elder.
2. Believing is not joining a religion or going through a baptismal ceremony.
3. Believing is not believing some doctrine.
4. Believing is more than agreeing.
5. Believing is not merely to acknowledge. To acknowledge that Jesus is the Savior crucified for us is still not enough.
6. Believing is receiving. To receive is to eat and to drink. The Bible invites man to receive Christ by eating and drinking Him as the bread of life and the water of life. The Bible likens God’s salvation to a feast. At a feast you must use your own mouth to eat and drink in order to receive the food. Others cannot believe for you. If three generations of your forefathers believed in the Lord, or even if you yourself have been baptized and believe some doctrines, you are still not saved. You must let the Lord Jesus come into you. Merely agreeing and acknowledging are both useless. Eating and drinking the Lord Jesus as your bread and water will bring salvation to you.
III. How to receive:
А. Call upon the Lord Jesus.
B. Pray to Him according to the inner feeling. Do not compose a prayer. If you feel sinful within, just confess your sinfulness; if you are conscious of a certain sin, then confess that sin.
Scripture: 1 John 5:12-13; John 6:47; 3:18; Acts 10:43; 1 John 3:14
I. You can know that you are saved:
Every man is aware of it when he receives something important. The Savior and His salvation are exceedingly great. When a man is saved, he must not be unaware of it. It is not right for him to receive the Savior and His salvation without realizing it.
II. How can you know that you are saved? In other words, what proof is there that you are saved? There are two sides to the proof:
А. One side is God’s Word. God’s Word proves that you are saved:
1. John 6:47 says that he who believes in the Son has eternal life. Once you have believed in the Lord Jesus, you have eternal life. If you still say that you do not have eternal life, either you are lying or God is lying.
2. Furthermore, God’s Word says that once you have believed, you are forgiven. Then are your sins forgiven? You must answer this question according to God’s Word.
3. His Word also says, “He who has the Son has the life” (1 John 5:12). Do you have the Son of God? If you have the Son of God, you must have the life of God.
B. The other side of the proof is the change in your life and living. Once you receive the Lord and obtain the Lord’s life, your living must have some changes. Formerly, you loved gambling and the sinful things; now they have lost their attraction.
III. Feelings are unreliable:
Do not depend upon your feelings as they are unreliable. If you realize what God’s Word says and that some changes have taken place in your life, that is sufficient proof that you are saved. Do not emphasize feeling but rely upon the fact that you are saved. It is like having money in your pocket. Whether or not you feel it, it is a fact that the money is there.
Scripture: Matt. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:14; Rom. 12:1; Eph. 6:18; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:42
I. He needs to be baptized.
II. He needs to deal with sins.
III. He needs to consecrate himself.
IV. He needs to pray and to read the Word.
V. He needs to attend meetings regularly and to have fellowship with other Christians.
