Confidence is a popular subject today. We are told to think confidently, to be self-assured, to live boldly. In many ways, the theme of modern society is to be self-confident. If the Bible teaches us to be confident, what should we be confident about?

Many things in life have good news and bad news associated with them. Emphasizing one side to the exclusion of the other is not the whole truth. The same is true of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Are you an effective witness?

Effective- successful in producing a desired or intended result.

A “witness” is someone who attests to a fact, so in order to be an effective witness for Christ, one must have firsthand knowledge of Him. John the Apostle speaks of this in (1 John 1:1-3), when he says, “That . . . which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.” We who have experienced new life in Christ give an account of His love and forgiveness, both verbally and in the way we live our lives. This is witnessing.

Introduction:

How many of you are saying what’s next or now what?

Many of you have made a life-changing decision to put your faith in Jesus! “Now what?

How do I begin my journey with God?”

I have five steps below that will give you direction from the Bible.

INTRODUCTION

Things can happen in life that throw us off course. Sometimes we can’t see why things happen and how the events of life are connected.

Resurrection Sunday teaches us that Jesus enters our lives right where we are and meet us in our hopelessness.

Passion Week is the time from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday).

1. Why do we call it Passion Week?

Passion Week is named because of the passion Jesus had when he willingly went to the cross in order to pay for the sins of His people.

Introduction:

There is a lot of confusion about what happens to us after death. The Bible is clear that there are only two options for where you go when you die: Heaven or Hell. The Bible also makes it clear that you get to determine where you go when you die. It’s up to you!!!

(James 1:22-25) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

How many of you have a good understanding of past history?

1. How is the impact of Slavery affecting your life now?

In some ways enslaved African American families very much resembled other families who lived in other times and places and under vastly different circumstances. Some husbands and wives loved each other; some did not get along.

Black History Month provides a valuable opportunity to explore the connection between the Bible and the rich history of Black Americans.

Black history was as much about the retelling of American history in a culturally informed way as about revisiting the past and present accomplishments of Black peoples throughout the US and the African diaspora.

Introduction

1. Why learn about black presence in the Bible?

Gives people a divine sense of Pride.

To inform white people how black contributed to God’s kingdom program in history.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me”?

(Matthew 16:24) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

How can I know if the desires of my heart are from God or my Flesh?

Decision-a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.

Introduction:

Fasting is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, let’s begin by defining the Hebrew and Greek words:

fast =

Hebrew sum = “to cover the mouth”

Greek nesteuo = “abstain”

Both words deal with abstaining from food. Some people would insist that unless your fast consists of abstaining from food “God would not approve. a Biblical fast could involve abstaining from things other than just food

1. What is the Marketplace?

2. Why was so much of God’s activity accomplished in the marketplace?

Because that is where people lived throughout the week.