Preaching the Gospel: In Today's World, (Paperback)

When the risen Lord Jesus Christ was about to ascend into heaven, He gave His disciples this commission: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).<br>These words define the identity of every Christian. To be a disciple of Christ is to be a witness. This is not the task of a chosen few but the vocation of all who follow Him.<br>The New Testament word for witness, &amp;#956;&amp;#940;&amp;#961;&amp;#964;&amp;#965;&amp;#962; (<i>martys</i>), means to testify-even at great cost. From Stephen, the first martyr, who prayed with mercy for his killers (Acts 7:60), to countless believers throughout history, Christian witness has meant not only confession with our lips but testimony through our lives-our choices, our courage, and our forgiveness.<br>This book is written for today's generation, especially for the youth of the Church, to affirm that the Bible is not a relic of the past but the living Word of God for every age. In a world that pressures us to conform, Christ calls us instead to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). We are to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation, holding fast the word of life (Phil. 2:15-16).<br>In our time, some voices have stood in the public square as witnesses to Christ's truth. Faithful believers from different traditions have boldly defended life, family, freedom, and truth-reminding the world that the Gospel belongs not only in church sanctuaries but also in classrooms, campuses, and cultural debates. Yet the greatest witness is not only courage in speaking truth but grace in suffering.<br>This was shown supremely at the Cross, when Jesus prayed: <i>"Father, forgive them"</i> (Luke 23:34). It was echoed by Stephen, the first martyr, who, as stones struck him, prayed: <i>"Lord, do not hold this sin against them"</i> (Acts 7:60). Their acts of mercy reveal that the highest testimony of the Gospel is forgiveness-love that conquers hatred and grace that overcomes evil with good (Rom. 12:21).<br>The chapters that follow will guide you on this journey of witness: grounding it in Scripture, engaging the moral and cultural challenges of our age, and showing how faith can be lived out publicly, even amid opposition. Along the way, you will be reminded that while the cost of witness is real, the power of God who sustains His people is greater still.<br>May the Spirit of God fill you with courage to stand firm in truth, mercy to forgive in trials, and hope that looks toward the promises of Christ. And may you, with the Apostle Paul, be able to declare with boldness: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16).<br>With love and prayer, <p><i>Hegumen Abraam Sleman</i><br>Jersey City, New Jersey<br>September 22, 2025 </p><p></p>

• Preaching the Gospel: In Today's World, (Paperback)
• Author: Independently Published
• ISBN: 9798267722315
• Format: Paperback
• Publication Date: 2025-09-29
• Page Count: 96