Victory Church

Habakkuk 2:2 NCV) “Write down the vision; write it clearly on clay tablets so whoever reads it can run to tell others.”

Victory Church exists to …
help people take the NEXT STEP in their journey of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Mark 16:15 NCV) Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.”

This church exists for those who are not here yet.

(2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT) We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.

(Colossians 4:5-6) Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

How Do I Share My Faith?

(1 Peter 3:15) Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
(NS)

1. Connect with people.

(Luke 19:10) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

(Luke 19:1-10) – Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,
I will pay back four times the amount.”9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

2. Share my story with people.

(Matthew 5:16) “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

(Acts 1:8 NLT) “You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.”

3. Invite them to a place where they can experience God.

(1 Corinthians 2:1-5 MSG) You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy.

I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did--Jesus crucified.

I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate--I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—

and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway.

God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

The Four Pictures of God

(Mark 8:27-29) Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

1. A locked gate.

Myth: God can’t be reached.

(Acts 17:27 MSG) He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; He's near.

2. A pile of luggage.

Myth: God doesn’t want me.

(Romans 5:8 NLT) But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

3. An endless ladder.

Myth: God requires a lot from me.

(John 6:28-29) Then they asked Him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.”

4. A free gift.

The true picture of God.

(Ephesians 2:8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.
(NS)
(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.