How Do I Share the Gospel When I Have Social Anxiety?

Were sure the gospel when I have social anxiety. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 if you get a voicemail for you to feel free to leave your message. We try to go for a bore smells once a day.

You can also post a question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter account and you can always email us your question at questions@corechristianity.com first up today let's go to Robert calling in from Memphis, Tennessee. Robert what your question for Pastor Israel and know all Robert, thank you for that question. Sometimes you will point to Leviticus chapter 19 as a prohibition on tattoos. In verse 26 it says you shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it you shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes. You shall not round off the hair on your temples or make the edges of mar the edges of your beard and you shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or attached to yourselves. I am the Lord. Now that that would be taking that verse are those verses out of context. The prohibitions there really pertain to pagan worship and some of the practices of the people around Israel at that time I that's is being forbidden thought I would say that there isn't a you know a prohibition in the Bible against tattoos person. I think I think this would be more of an issue of Christian liberty. An individual would have the think you know just in terms of you is is is is wisdom. What might. What am I communicating a minute.

I think you know what what is what is the goal. What's the purpose behind whatever it is you're doing terms of how you dress or tattooing your body. That kind of thing but I wouldn't say that there there are inherently sinful. It could be that there are certain kinds of tattoos that you certainly shouldn't get or maybe should have removed that kind of thing but not in and of themselves. I would say there there not prohibit in the bow effect Bill I know you have several from back with a biker gang right is that is accurate. Yes, it was a Christian biker gang all that the cross is an end like that you just joking. Bill does not know you can look online they will not there's adjusters is temporary once trust me, let's let's tell you about something we have that's really cool and it's a new Bible study by that actually Israel is written himself is on the book of Galatians such an important book in the New Testament and it really digs into Paul's intent for that particular book and how to apply it to our lives today. Yes, if you're looking for a Bible study to go through yourself or maybe with a group of friends from church consider this one.

It's on Paul's letter to the Galatians. It's a 10 week study. There's a lot of practical stuff in here and just some important insights into into the ministry that Paul had their angulation particular stuff between the gospel, the law and so check this out over core, Christianity.com. It's yours for a donation of $20 or more. We also have those available for small group studies, or Sunday school. If you'd like to get several of them will offer you a discount you can find out more about that by going to core Christianity.com/studies and look for the Bible study on Galatians, we do receive emails here at core Christianity and here's one from one of our listeners and she says I know that Jesus calls us to share the gospel in the great commission. But how can I do this while struggling with terrible social anxiety and a lot of people feel really made that we all had one point or another's. As Christians, you feel discerning, guilty with the fact that we don't evangelize. Much as we'd like to or or that we feel, you know, afraid, ashamed, even.

And of course there's there's a lot there anything that with the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 1 am not ashamed of the gospel. I know it's the power of God for salvation for everybody who believes in, so you know that there is I think one. We need to grow as Christians in our understanding of the power the gospel of the importance of the gospel in our own lives in the lives of those around us.

The need of the gospel.

I think that's that's part of overcoming the fear we do have a greater fear of you know, disobeying the Lord and not being faithful to his word and we do a fear of maybe losing friends or new people looking at us like we were like were sillier were religious nuts because we talk about Jesus and the gospel know this really should be the thing that were passionate about as as Christians.

But that doesn't mean it's it's an amazing guy. I think of you know, the disciples themselves in the book of acts you think about, you know these these guys these men who would just preach the mighty sermon.

I next chapter to them thinking specifically of Peter boldly before thousands of people and many come to faith and yet still needing to pray for continued boldness to proclaim the gospel. Acts chapter 4 verse 27. This is in the middle of a prayer for truly, in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place, and now Lord look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, so I think that he wanted to recovering a high view of the gospel of the importance of the gospel in our lives, of the need of the gospel in the people around us, but it's also praying and saying, Lord, it's only by your spirit that I have that boldness that I need so give me that boldness give me those opportunities to be able to share about you and and to to boldly speak forth the truth of of what you've done for for the redemption of people the power of God, the gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, and so II pray for this person is in an anonymous email, but I but II know that so many of us can can relate with that fear, and even that that anxiety that you speak of and so may the Lord be with you granting you peace and I think for all of us, maybe just starts with the prayer to the Lord saying God, you open up the doors. I think part of the problem is we always try to force something feeling like I got I got I got a sort of steer the conversation here is of like changing that the gears in your car not smoothly, not just better try to ram it through that that sort of the thing about praying that the Lord would give you wisdom and opportunities that share your faith to talk about Jesus I think is key is so into begin praying for that and that the Lord will guide you and give you insight. Wisdom is to Windows are present in themselves so that you might you might share with the Lord is done in your life unless we also have a greater core question on this topic available on our website is called how can I share my faith. You and learn more about how to effectively share your faith in Jesus Christ. Just go to core Christianity.com/downloads that's core Christianity.com/downloads and look for how can I share my faith. Let's go back to the phones. Linda is on the phone from Missouri. Linda watch her question for pastor. Israel, yeah. Okay. My question is what Peter James and John, Jesus, when he was transfigured on the mountain and Moses and Elijah appeared and was talking with Jesus and they were in the body.

So does that mean that they bring the resurrected body are temporary body and that mainly go to heavenly get a temporary body first and resurrected body. Very thoughtful questions and you talking about Matthew chapter 17 the Transfiguration of Jesus he goes up on the mountain with some of his closest disciples, and while he's there. Verse two of Matthew 17 says he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun. His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them, Moses and Elijah talking with him and Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good that we are here if you wish.

I will make three tense here one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah and he was still speaking when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came in touch them, saying, rise, and have no fear, and when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only saw a couple of things. I don't believe that this was a this was a bodily apparition if you will of Moses and Elijah. Somehow I think the disciples were still able to identify them or see them but I don't think that they were in bodily form is prior to the resurrection. The final resurrection I don't believe that we did some sort of like temporary physical bodies when we die when we die in our spirits are perfected in holiness. We go into the presence of the Lord.

Hebrews 12 refers to the spirits of the righteous made perfect there in in heaven in the kingdom of God in the presence of the Lord. And so in some sense were going to have existence joy worshiping the Lord around his throat when I can have our bodies yet were still looking forward to and I think adding Moses and Elijah are looking forward to this as well on the final day, the resurrection of the body contemporaneous with with the final judgment that the judgment of all and so so that the text doesn't specify here that they had bodies is just as if somehow they were able to be I identified by by the disciples and and really I think. More specifically, the focus with regard to Moses and Elijah have this this this picture of the law on the prophets of Moses, the great lawgiver Elijah the prophet there meeting with Jesus. Jesus speaking about his departure.

His exit is his is you know suffering on the cross. Ultimately, his is resurrection as well. That's that's the focus. Jesus is the fulfillment of everything the scriptures point to end speak about and so I think is best way to take this Texan and again Linda thanks for that thoughtful question and may the Lord bless you your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We love to get your questions and you can call us with a voicemail 24 hours a day. We try to go through her voicemails once a day and would love to answer your question so if you got something you been wondering about about the Bible or the Christian life, or ABB some doubts about Christianity you consider yourself an atheist or agnostic and you have a question feel free to call us anytime. Here's the number it's 833-843-2673.

That's 833. The core go to a voicemail from one of our callers. This is from Viola the 16th. I used to think Joseph's brother not only about tell Joseph to give them what they had, because I thought they never depicted all the junk now I'm not so sure what yet.thank you. Yeah what an amazing section of Scripture the end of the book of Genesis and especially that scene back in Genesis 45 where Joseph is reconciled to his brothers. These brothers who had left them for dead. These brothers would sold him into slavery when he was 17 years old and for a period of 13 years.

He was a first serving as a slave essentially in Potiphar's house and then in prison sent to prison because of you know that the instance that the situation Potiphar's wife or she lied about him is a really the best years of Joseph's life have been stolen from him and somehow providentially God is at work through all of it and brings them to Egypt where he is going to be exalted eventually right after that period of 13 years and he's when he's 30 years old, he enters into Pharaoh's court and begins to serve there asserted the number two in Egypt, and as Genesis progresses there and in chapter 45. He has his brothers essentially on the hook and he could do anything he wants to them appointed to pay them back for all that they did to him. And yet, instead in chapter 45 minute Joseph is revealed.

He said with brothers come near to me, please, and they came near and he said I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt into Egypt now. Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here for God sent me before you to preserve life and talk about having a divine perspective right and then as the story continues the text that you're referencing in Genesis chapter 50 you know when when Joseph's father Jacob dies, the brothers are once again concerned.

Oh man, now that now that our father is dead is Joseph. Can it give us what we deserve for how we treated him and and the I think that they essentially they they hatched this plan to say you know dad said you gotta make sure that you're nice to us after he goes he did. He just wanted to make sure you knew the text doesn't specifically say they send this message to Joseph's and your father gave this command before he died. Say to Joseph. Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin because they did evil to you.

And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father Joseph wept when he spoke to them and then he goes on to say in verse 20. As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. Joseph and the story is really a type of of Christ and and we really are like the brothers we've betrayed Jesus by our lives by our disobedience to the law of God. We don't deserve life all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and in justly rhyming God could just judge us but again here Joseph is this beautiful picture of Jesus our Messiah. We come to him guilty saying I've sinned. I've betrayed you. He gives us his grace, his mercy is forgiveness.

What I find so interesting about this scene in Genesis 50 is the brothers and they know how how wicked their sin was they have a hard time believing that Joseph would really forgive them that and that's why think they they bring all this up after after Jacob their father dies is because they did just want to make you happy. Hannity really forgive us as easy can hurt us. Now that that our father is gone. Joseph just weeps you know he he looks at them as do not fear for it. I am I in the place of God, you meant it for evil but God was at work through all of these things isn't that just like also. Again, Jesus, you know, we come to him. Oftentimes, questioning wondering when can you really do you really forgive me.

After how many times I've sinned against you after how many times I felt the start of again there like Joseph's brothers and his unbelieving, not really believing that he's as good as he says he is and he speaks peace to us.

We come to him broken and in need and so those are some of the things that I pull from this story and I do think that there was his genuine repentance and reconciliation healing that the Lord was able to work on that only God could work so Viola thank you for forgiveness, call and God bless.

Powerful story from the Old Testament and I love the fact it really you often point us to the types of shadows. The things that the point is to head to Jesus Christ and his ministry on earth, and his death and resurrection and that of course as you said our repentance and our forgiveness just so so beautiful. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We want to say thank you to a very special group of people.

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When you join we will send you a copy of the book core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton as our gift to you. And of course are some special special resources that go along with becoming a member of the intercourse to check that out. Core, Christianity.com/inner core. Let's go to an email we received it or… From Cody and Cody asks. This is expository biblical way to preach God's word. Are there scriptures to support expository preaching is expository preaching. The most biblical way to preach God's word is anything but expositor.

The Bible using the skill of what we sometimes call exegesis pulling out the meaning from the text of Scripture as opposed to reading something into the text of Scripture that is in there that's that.

I see Jesus reading into the text of Scripture. It's the job of the pastor the minister the gospel to explain the word of God to expositor to bring it to bear on the people to whom is preaching ultimately to preach Jesus Christ into their hearts through the text of Scripture and all Scripture you know were talking Billy just mentioned, you know, looking at the story of Joseph and in getting to Christ from their seeing Jesus in these this type of Christ there you see this everywhere in the Bible and and it's our job that is a part of properly expositor in the Scriptures is understanding them in their context and being able to explain that and then getting from there to where we are in history of redemption and leading people by the hand to what this all means for you in particular as it relates to the gospel and the forgiveness of your sins.

And so I would say yes.

Expository preaching is is is the right approach me anything about the other other sort of approaches that are out there I've ever been a church of senior churches where they don't even open the word of God.

And it's more of a commentary on issues of the day what's going on in the news social issues that that kind of a thing, but that that's not the job of the pastor. Paul told Timothy and in second in the chapter 4 verse one I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus was to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and so we have to bring God's word to bear on on the people before him were ministering and I think the way to do that is through the exposition of Scripture explaining the text and applying it to the people in front of us and so I go to that text so that Psalm charge if that's our doing is pastors, then we need to find a different occupation. I met her listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. You can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day at 833 the core there's a voicemail that came in earlier this week hello pastor, Israel. Thank you for what you do with the show. That's a huge blessing.

My question is I once heard a pastor recommend that rather than trying to read the myriad of authors and classic work on Christian theology in the Christian faith. The focus instead on one particular author, do you think there is wisdom in that and if so, who are one or two authors from church history that you'd recommend a person immersed themselves in.

Thank you.

Yeah boy. There is just so much treasure. I think in the history of the church that we can glean from me.

And of course you know were discerning, always testing everything on the basis of Scripture want to be Brion like like the book of acts describes and and so I deny I think it can be helpful to maybe pick one person spent some time in a reading and studying that one person may first season, but I would I would still always recommend we want to we we we do want to have multiple sources want to read broadly.

If we can because there's just so much out there and and that I did that also helps to balance us you know in terms of me know if we just if we just go to one person. I'm sure there there are there weaknesses there and if we do depend on one individual to give us everything we need in terms of our theological understanding, education, diet and were probably going to be malnourished, at least to a certain extent because nobody is perfect but some of the some of the in the history of the church in a some of the guys that I really benefited from and enjoyed reading. I remember the first time when I was in college taking a class on Christian Classics picking up St. Augustine's confessions and just being so struck by the fact that here's a guy who is no writing was writing you know 1500 years ago what not, who loves Jesus just like me and has a relationship with Jesus and men is actually no brilliant and has written so much on theology so use these one individual that I encourage people to read 10 Augustine. More recently, I think somebody's was wonderful to read is CS Lewis just in terms of being an excellent writer, but also an apologist of the Christian faith and we we definitely need more that today and an ability to converse with others who don't embrace what we believe and to understand how to apply the truths of Scripture in a way that will be compelling, so check out those two guys, I would say thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time.

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