Final Exam Flashcards
Who were the predominant evangelists to early Christians?
- Apostles
- Wandering evangelists
- Theologians and Philosophers.
What are three reasons why the concept of conversion would have seemed foreign to the ancient world?
1) hellenistic men and women did not regard belief as necessary for the cults
2) they did not regard ethics as part of religion
3) the exclusive claims christianity made on it’s devotee’s were surprising to Hellenistic people. Christians were expected to belong, body and soul, to Jesus, who was called their master, and was said to have redeemed them from alien ownership into his own.
Christianity flourished best in the ________ class
Working class
What sort of traits marked early Christians?
They were expected to share their faith. They they were to confess Christ and back it up with their lives.
How did fellowships of believers behave toward one another?
Socioeconomic and cultural boundaries were broken down. Concern for the poor. Purity. Love for each other and enemies.
What is plerophoria?
The assurance (conviction) in preaching of the gospel that was displayed in word and power in the Holy Spirit.
What were notable characteristics of the first evangelists?
The quality of their fellowship. Transformed characters. Their joy. Their endurance. Their power.
What were three motivations of early Christians to share the gospel?
- A sense of gratitude
- A sense of responsibility
- A sense of concern
Who wrote Protrepticus, and what was it about?
Written by Origin, it is a book designed to make winsome pleas and arguments for unbelievers to follow Christ
Why was preaching important?
It taught, evangelized, and offered testimony
What were some forms (methods) of public evangelism?
Synagogue preaching
Open air preaching
Prophetic preaching
What were advantages to household evangelism?
Real, informal interchange
No artificial isolation as in preacher in preaching
No hecklers could “play the gallery” and sway people by persuasive acts
Hospitality was a benefit
What are the spiritual characteristics of an evangelist (the messenger)
- CONSTRAINING / COMPELLING LOVE (2 Cor. 5:14, 1 Cor 13:2, Rom. 5:5)A. Supreme love for Christ (Matt. 22:37:40)B. Love for the lost people (Acts 20:19,31, Jeremiah 9:1, Luke 13:33-35)C. Love in action / compassion (Matt. 14:14-15)
- FULL COMMITMENT-UNDIVIDED HEART (Rom. 12:1, Ps. 86:11)
A. Commitment demands total surrender to the Lordship of Christ. (Rom. 1:1)
B. Commitment to the fullness of the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)
C. Commitment demands dying to self (Matt 16:24-28)
D. Commitment to one’s family - 1 Tim 3:5 - if anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?
E. Commitment to the Evangelistic Call - 2 Tim. 4:5 - But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
F. Commitment to godly living and integrity - 1 Peter 1:15 - But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all your do;
G. Total commitment without any reservation - Phil 1:21 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain
Richard Foster says the purpose of spiritual disciplines is…
“…to bring us to a place where we will be transformed in our inner man and be enabled to have a fresh and continuous flow of the Holy Spirit…”
Anointing helps to:
- Have power of God in order to be effective witnesses
- To proclaim freedom for the prisoners
- To bring recovery of sight for the blind
- To release the oppressed
- To be benefactors, doing good to needy people
- To break the devil’s eke in the live of bound-up people
- To teach and help to discern truth versus error, Spirit of God versus demonic spirit
