I mean...what is the Gospel or the Good News...Witnessing

[OneSizeFit]

So I'm trying to witness to people (close friends & family), and I look for examples in the Bible, but it seems like all the proof was in Jesus' miracles and signs (even though he said only fools need signs, all the healings etc were signs), even Paul said the proof is not in the scripture but in the power of the Kingdom of God (miracles) - so my question how can we witness to logical people in 2009? What is the good news, I can say well I had this experience my life is great I am at peace, but a Buddhist can say the same thing...help!

[Bill the Cat]

The Good News is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing more, nothing less.

[OneSizeFit]

The Good News is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing more, nothing less.

hmmm. thats great but how do you explain that in 20th century terms to people who graduated college with a MA in history, science, etc.

[Bill the Cat]

By saying that Jesus of Nazareth died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He ascended to the right hand of God and will return to judge the living and the dead.

Simple.

[OneSizeFit]

No its not that simple, the Apostles were showing great works with signs and miracles after the Lords ascent...we have nothing but a book and doctrine. my uncle has cancer he is going to die, i pray all i can, i would love to have a go at laying hands on him but i will get thrown out of the hospital. Jesus himself showed signs to prove he was the Son of God, Paul preached that he shows his truth through manifestations, and that the letter killeth, how are we as Christians supposed to manifest these things? Where is the proof in the pudding, I can relate my personal experiences but that wont convince my dying uncle or a friend who will just think I am crazy.

[Sparko]

we can't convince anyone. All we can do is share the gospel as Bill said, and explain that if they put their faith in Jesus, they can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

The rest is up to the Holy Spirit. We are just here to point out the way. God does the rest. Trust in Him.

[Bill the Cat]

No its not that simple, the Apostles were showing great works with signs and miracles after the Lords ascent...we have nothing but a book and doctrine.

And 2000 years of history.

my uncle has cancer he is going to die,

And I don't and I am going to die too. But what then?

i pray all i can, i would love to have a go at laying hands on him but i will get thrown out of the hospital.

Says who? It is illegal for a hospital to throw you out for praying for someone.

Jesus himself showed signs to prove he was the Son of God,

And that is what we point people to.

Paul preached that he shows his truth through manifestations, and that the letter killeth, how are we as Christians supposed to manifest these things?

The Apostles were special witnesses of the resurrection. We rely on the historicity of them and Jesus. We explain that Jesus really existed and really did what the book says He did. That's all we can do. The Spirit is the one who does the work.

Where is the proof in the pudding,

An empty tomb in Jerusalem. That's the entire crux of our faith. Not the miracles, not the rhetoric, not the signs and wonders. The proof is the empty tomb.

I can relate my personal experiences but that wont convince my dying uncle or a friend who will just think I am crazy.

It isn't your job to convince anyone. We are to preach the Gospel. The reality of the empty tomb is central to our belief in Jesus as the Messiah of the world. Your friend and uncle must answer the same question from Jesus that you did, I did, Sparko did, and others throughout history did... "Who do you say I am?" Nothing else matters, not experiences, speeches, or miracles.

[Obsidian]

If you really want to convince people, study some apologetics. God doesn't keep performing obvious miracles today on a regular basis because he's already given us enough. Tell people, for example, about the unlikelihood of ten disciples martyring themselves for something they knew to be a lie. Tell people that a universe (an effect) requires a creator (a cause). Tell people that the universe is fine-tuned for human existence to the point that chance could not have created things this way.

And aside from that, read to people from the Bible. It's the very words of God, and thus it has power. And live your life in a virtuous way that makes you believable. In John 15, Jesus says that if you abide in him and begin producing fruit, he himself will prune you (sanctify you) so that you will become even more fruitful. So just go for it! Don't be shy.

And like a few people have already mentioned, the gospel is that Jesus offers eternal life as a free gift to anyone who chooses to accept it.

[footwasher]

When Adam fell, the Kingdom of God left the earth.

When Jesus came, the Kingdom returned.

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Gospel message is that God has begun his work of restoration.

Jesus said the Kingdom is like a mustard seed (ie insignificant). Some people deny Jesus even existed.

But Jesus said that the mustard seed would grow into the greatest of trees.Today Christianity is the greatest of all worldviews.

Those who believe in Jesus will have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Acts 13:32 “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ 34 “As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.’ 35 “Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ 36 “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40 “Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
41 ‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH;
FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS,
A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’”

Of course, miracles are available to show people that the Gospel message is true. But
they do not believe the miracle of the mustard tree. Just as they did not believe the miracles of the sick being healed by JESUS. IOW, miracles don’t guarantee belief.

Matthew 13:58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

[OneSizeFit]

And aside from that, read to people from the Bible. It's the very words of God, and thus it has power. And live your life in a virtuous way that makes you believable. In John 15, Jesus says that if you abide in him and begin producing fruit, he himself will prune you (sanctify you) so that you will become even more fruitful. So just go for it! Don't be shy.
.

Thanks dude, thats the best advice I seen here, perhaps what I was looking for.

[OneSizeFit]

When Adam fell, the Kingdom of God left the earth.

When Jesus came, the Kingdom returned.

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Gospel message is that God has begun his work of restoration.

Jesus said the Kingdom is like a mustard seed (ie insignificant). Some people deny Jesus even existed.

But Jesus said that the mustard seed would grow into the greatest of trees.Today Christianity is the greatest of all worldviews.

Those who believe in Jesus will have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Acts 13:32 “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ 34 “As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.’ 35 “Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ 36 “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40 “Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
41 ‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH;
FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS,
A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’”

Of course, miracles are available to show people that the Gospel message is true. But
they do not believe the miracle of the mustard tree. Just as they did not believe the miracles of the sick being healed by JESUS. IOW, miracles don’t guarantee belief.

Matthew 13:58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

Another good reply, thanks!

I am not looking for a miracle necessarily (it would be nice in my uncle's case, but if the Lord wants him that is his sovereignty in motion) - but I was telling one of my buddy's about my new found or rather re-found Faith in the Lord, and he actually knows about the Bible and pointed out Mark 16:17-18 where the risen Christ says:

17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

And he jokingly asked if I could heal the sick, and cast out devils, etc...I realized I did not have an answer to his joke...

And you are right, miracles dont guarantee belief...it is troublesome in the Gospels, that here Jesus was walking on water, healing the sick, raising the dead, and his own disciples still thought he was some sort of hack job, it does not add up (was this kind of traveling Healer/Messiah thing common perhaps?)

Honestly, I am having doubts right now.

[Obsidian]

I think that passage pretty clearly suggests that some Christians will do those things, not all of them. We don't have any evidence that every single Christian was bitten by a snake, for example.

[OneSizeFit]

I think we need an accountable apology for the lack of this phenomena occurring when witnessing to a well read individual or apostate Christian, right now I am looking towards Jesus saying the ruler of this world was returning, which would make his stay here some sort of special window of time, when these things were possible...I really dont know where to go with this, without sounding loony.

[Obsidian]

There are two main explanations for why we don't see more such miracles today -- cessationism and apostacy. Cessationism is the belief that most (or all) of these miracles were meant to serve as signs to entice people to believe during the apostolic era, prior to the formation of the cannon. You might research that term. Apostacy is just a word some might use to indicate that the church has fallen away from its true potential. Thus, God wants to do more miracles, but he is hindered either because many so-called Christians are not really believers, or because many true Christians are not living holy lives.

I believe in cessationism to at least some extent. The Bible makes it clear that miracles are abnormal events, and that Israel went through extensive periods of time without much overt supernatural intervention. The Bible also states an overall principle that miracles serve the purpose of enhancing our faith and knowledge, which would mean that once we had the Bible, we had a diminished need for miracles.

1 Corinthians 13

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

The apostacy view also has some merit, though. See, e.g., the same passage I mentioned in the post above:

John 15

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Thus God will more likely answer the prayers of fruitful Christians.

Today, though, the word "Christian" has become a wide, almost meaningless term that includes not only lukewarm believers but also heretics and cultists. Much of the so-called "church" today lives in a state of apostacy.

Acts 20

28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.[a] Be shepherds of the church of God,[b] which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Thus, I would also not expect as many miracles for that reason.

[Littlejoe]

I think we often forget the greatest miracle of them all...and it has been repeated time and again in this thread...that is: Seeing dead men rise to life...I don't mean physically dead, but spiritually and mentally & sometimes emotionally dead. When I was sure there was no God, I was in the depths of depression, alone, requiring drugs and alcohol daily just to get through the day. I was spiritually, emotionally & mentally dead. But when I realized there was a God who loved me enough to die for me so that I would be forgiven....a miracle did in fact happen. Just ask my mother who prayed for me for years.

LJ