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Have you ever wanted to personally communicate the gospel to a friend or neighbor but are unsure how to initiate or what to say? Would you like to overcome fears you may have about communicating the gospel? You should consider taking Cornerstone's course on personal evangelism. Come join us for a course on outreach which will not only give you a basis for why we share our faith with others, but will also give you the clear and memorable content to share, as well as a flexible methodology for you to put into practice.
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Course Outline
1) Biblical Basis for Outreach
a. Character of God (he loves the lost)
b. Creation of God (as image bearers we reflect his character!)
c. Great Commandments of God (how we are to love neighbor)
d. Great Commission from God (go, make disciples)
e. Apply: Memorize Rom 3:23, identify two non-Christian friends, pray
2) Motivation for Outreach
a. Improper Motives
b. A Proper Motive
c. The Ultimate motive: The Glory of God (where is kingdom?)
d. How the gospel can cleanse our motives
e. Apply: Memorize Rom 6:23, schedule and attend some event with friend for this week, pray
3) Message of Outreach
a. The whole gospel (God, man, sin, Christ)
b. To the whole person (mind, will, emotions, saving vs. spurious faith, not a ‘project’)
c. From whole people
d. Apply: memorize John 3:3, ask your friend lots of questions about their life, pray
4) Method of Outreach Part 1: Different Methods/Perspectives
a. Lifestyle evangelism (from a smile…to a full gospel presentation, habits)
b. Holistic evangelism (relationship of word and deed)
c. Opportunity evangelism (providential meetings)
d. Relational evangelism (expanded below)
e. Apply: memorize John 14:6, what sin/struggle/idol do you see in your neighbor? Pray
5) Method of Outreach Part 2: Building Relationships
a. Know their story (hobbies, needs, holes, struggles, family, friends, idols, beliefs)/Respect
b. Live out your story (importance of authenticity, let them help you!!)
c. Incarnate God’s story (bring gospel to them on their level, apply gospel to their particular, specific situation.)
d. Apply: Memorize Rom 10:9, determine a way to connect your friend’s sin/struggle/idol to the gospel, pray
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Course Outline Continued
6) Method of Outreach Part 3: Finding Common Ground
a. Churchgoers (RCC?)
b. Spiritual
c. Secular/Relativist/Materialist
d. Cynical
e. Apply: memorize 2 Cor 5:15, determine a way to connect your friend’s sin/struggle/idol to the gospel, pray
7) Method of Outreach Part 4: Actual Presentation
a. Does one size fit all?
b. Why a method?
c. Walk through one method
d. Apply: memorize Rev 3:20, continue to spend time with your friend, look for and pray for an opening to communicate the gospel
8) Role Play and Summary
a. Apply: memorize the sequence of the above verses so you can walk through them without looking for what is next. Commit one area of your life to outreach, continue relationship with your friend, follow up, pray…
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Class #1: Biblical Basis for Outreach
What problems, questions do we have in area of evangelism?
Review outline (HANDOUT)
Where we are going today (HANDOUT)
Pray
Open: White-board list of problems in evangelism, why we don’t do it (fear…)
Why all this prep work (in outline)? Why not go straight to a 4-point presentation and be done? If jump to method, nothing will change (Eg., if feel inadequate about evangelism, will still feel inadequate with a method, if the underlying foundation of ‘why’ is missing.) ILL: even if you are excited about evangelism, without the foundation it is like watching black and white TV with rabbit ears versus high def cable. With foundation, your understanding of the process is more full, clear, understandable, which affects your motives, your interests your desires to follow through in what God has called you to do.
SO, PLEASE DO NOT SKIP OVER THESE EARLY CLASSES THIS IN YOUR MINDS, JUST WANTING TO GET TO ‘HOW CAN I EVANGELIZE.’ (If I just give you some tips, quick method—nothing will change.)
Is outreach important to God (Is God, himself, an evangelist)? Where do we see it in the bible?
1)ROOTED IN THE CHARACTER OF GOD
v God the Father
- Outreach in Genesis 3:15 (God to Satan: “You are stealing them…but I’m not willing to let them go! I’m going to provide a redeemer! I love the lost!”)
- Outreach in the Covenants (“I will be their God, and they will be my people”)
Covenant w/ Abraham: Genesis 17:7-8
(Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:24-28, many others)
Revelation 21:3
- Outreach in sending the Son (Jn 17:18-20
v God the Son
- Outreach in his objectives (Matt. 4:19—“Come follow me”, Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men;” Lk 19:10 “…came to seek and save the lost.” )
- Outreach in his lifestyle (John 4—Jesus & Samaritan Woman)
outreach in his teaching
o Jesus’ Parable—Luke 10—Good Samaritan
o Luke 15—Prodigal Son; Lost Coin; Lost Sheep
v God the Holy Spirit
- Acts 1:8—Purpose of H.S. was to empower us to seek the lost
- John 16:8-9—H.S. convicts people of sin and need for God
POINT: God Loves the Lost!! It is built into his DNA, his character! He is seeking to draw people to himself.
Challenge: Develop, pray for, a love for God. What do you care about God’s character if you don’t love God? ILL: if you date a girl that loves bowling, you’re going to want to learn how to bowl! If you love God, you are going to want to know what he is like!
YOUR heart has to be ready and healthy. ILL: castle built over spring of water stayed living, vibrant while under attack? Or: only living healthy plants reproduce! You can not impart what you do not possess.
2)ROOTED IN CREATION
How should this affect the way we view outreach?
--We are made in God’s image (read Genesis 1:26)! What does this mean? (ILL: idea of communist statues throughout eastern block in 20th century to help understand.)
How should this affect the way we view outreach?--We are made for outreach, reflecting God’s character! Involvement in outreach is simply reflecting the God in whose image we were created.
Challenge: Develop, pray for, a love for God. What would we care about being an image of God if you don’t want to be like him? BUT, the more you LOVE God, the more you will want to reflect him and be like him!
3)ROOTED IN THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS
Which comes first? (commandment). Why is this important? Loves comes before witness. We are not after statistics, people are not projects, people around us are to be objects of our LOVE.
- Read Lk 10:30-35. What stands out as surprising? (Sacrificed time, follow up…) How do we walk along the road today? (Blinders on, other purposes, destination, busy, obligations…)
- Read Matthew 22:34-40: Love your neighbor as yourself! How important are these commands? (whole Bible hangs on these two commands!)
It is easy enough to say, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” It is quite different to put it into practice (Jerram Baars, 223).
v How important are these commands?
--Verse 40 states, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commands”.
Challenge: Develop, pray for, a love for God. What would we care about the link between evangelism and the great commandments if you don’t love to obey God? BUT, if you love God, you will learn to love your neighbor, leading to more and more of a natural desire, leaning, longing to share with them.
4)ROOTED IN THE GREAT COMMISSION
Read Matthew 28:19-20
[Somewhere: note order: evangelism is 1st, else no one to teach! Not an afterthought! Ought to be at forefront of minds!]
v What is the main verb in the Great Commission?
--Make Disciples (main verb, = Faith & Repentance)
A)Going (emphasized bc of hesitancy? Fear? Laziness?)
B)Baptize
C)Teaching
v So, what is the Goal of the Great Commission?
*It is not simply getting a decision out of someone, or getting them to accept Jesus into their heart! The Great Commission does not end there!
*It is getting them into the church as disciples of Jesus!
Main Point: God is a God of outreach! God loves the lost!
Challenge: Develop, pray for, a love for God. What would we care about what God is calling you to do if you don’t love him?
Final Challenge:
1) Identify two neighbors – (WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO DO, START DOING WITH NON-CHRISTIANS.)
2) Pray for these neighbors (HANDOUT. When asked for prayer requests, put these people on your list!)
3) Memorize Romans 3:23 (Backwards and forwards)
Question?
Pray
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Class #2: Motivation for Outreach
Review:
Last week: The foundation for outreach is
1) Based on the character of God (he is relational and calls people to himself)
2) Based on creation (as his images we are called to reflect his character)
3) Based on the 2nd Great Commandment (called to LOVE our neighbor, not just convert him/her)
4) Based on the Great Commission (called to make disciples and bring them into church, not just manipulate to make a decision)
Today: The motivation for outreach—most important section of course! (If we started with a technique/tract, nothing would change. We’re going back not just to content (next week), but farther back to the foundation and motivation for outreach)
Pray
Opening Question: What are some good motivations for outreach (someone’s salvation! God told us to!) (probably won’t say God’s glory and expansion of his kingdom.)
We’ll look at two which are critical: 1) a vision for God’s love, and 2) a vision for his kingdom and glory.
I. A Vision for God’s Love (We won’t have pure motives until we understand God’s love for us)
1) Before Christ, we hated God. Must embrace our fallenness, can’t appreciate Gospel, good news, if you don’t believe initial bad predicament (ILL: good news of buying a new outfit or new shoes is of a completely different order than the good news reprieve of a death sentence from the governor). Don’t need a savior if you don’t think you need saved.
a. What if you don’t think you are, or were, that bad? What is effect on outreach? Trust in self, works righteousness, you are getting by fine on your own, and darn it—everyone else should too (SUBTLE!)
b. Read Mt 19:30-20:16: Which worker do you identify with? Until you identify with 1-hour worker, you don’t really need Christ just a crutch, and you don’t really have motivation to share him with others.
2) Thanks to Christ, God loves us (and we love God!). Must embrace God’s love for us
a. What if you think you are not worthy of God’s love? Not good enough for God to save? (Sometimes we think we are so bad we can’t be loved) (BTW: Improper motives: Guilt, fear, performance. Boils down to “I’m not good enough.”) if you are not good enough for God, then you are not good enough a conduit of his love, you are not good enough to be the bearer of his good news bc—guess what, it’s not good enough news for you!
b. But God DOES love you and he shows it over and over again (in parable—he hired both! Explicit: Rom 5:8: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!” ) Rom 5:10: “While we were God’s enemies we were reconciled to him through the death of his son.
Homework: Keller: “We are more sinful than we ever imagined, and more loved than we ever dared dream.” Contemplate, meditate (PRINT ON HANDOUT)
3) Through Christ, we can love others. Love will naturally pour out through outreach (Samaritan woman at well. (Jn 4): what did she do after she was confronted with her sin and met Christ? Went and told others! Risked being ridiculed, laughed at; pointing to foreign enemy as messiah!...)
II. A Vision for God’s Kingdom and Glory (We won’t have full, complete motives until we understand the importance of God‘s kingdom and glory (I CAN ONLY WHET YOUR APPETITE HERE! THINK OF THIS CATEGORY AS YOU READ SCRIPTURE)
1) Kingdom
a. Physical vs. Spiritual (ILL: not a physical geographic region on earth. His people are like armies on a Risk board—spread out, advancing, object to connect and move together and grow and expand.
b. His kingdom advances everywhere his people are, when they live holy lives, stand up for what is good, subdue and take dominion at work, and share the gospel.
2) A sense of God’s glory
a. 1 Chron 29: 10-13
b. “Jesus is bathed in radiant splendor, enveloped within an atmosphere of indescribable brilliance, surrounded by the ear-piercing praise of angels and saints. Scintillating light shining from his eye, irresistible power pouring from his hands.” Sam Storms
c. God’s zeal for his own glory, and our reflective desire (Is 48:8-11, Ex 14:4; 33:18; 1 Ch 16:24-25; Ps 57:5,) But still so nebulous…
d. Why is this concept so foreign to us today? (Biblically illiterate, self-centered, truncated picture of gospel and character of God(?)…AND (2 reasons to highlight):
3) Lack of examples of glorious kings
a. What country do you think of when hear word “king” or “queen” (not a powerful one!) but in Ps 24: “The Lord, strong and mighty is the king of GLORY!”
· We have only the model of a president (interesting: why no king in US? In part bc British king was a bad example and we wanted to check our leader’s power), who has checks and balances, who never was intended to have much power (response to abuse of King Edward!), nature of representative gov’t and states’ rights, who has the PRESS who question him, point out his weaknesses and mistakes, frailties, who has moral failings (Clinton, many others).
· To comprehend the King of Glory we need an image not of a weak, (sometimes) immoral president (who will be gone in 4 years) whose power is held in check; but of a mighty, righteous, glorious king whose power and reign have no end!
o Storms (PRINT): “Passionate and joyful admiration of God (and his glory!), and not merely intellectual apprehension, is the aim of our existence.” (We think too often in intellectual terms: here are truths about life, here is the gospel, I’m called to share it, so what steps do I need to go through, what tips to learn, what helps to overcome fears…NOOOO!!!! We’re not just selling, pedaling trinkets! We have such admiration for the King of Glory that we would die for him, and we want others to know, see, feel his glory and submit to his love! To have his kingdom expanded!
o Look at quote: “Many Christians today are horribly out of touch with this truth (joy in admiration of glory of God). They aren’t resistant to joy, but they’re more than a little suspicious of it. The problem is that they are oblivious to the beauty of God. Worse than that, they’re bored. God is real to them. They’re not atheists. He just isn’t relevant. Far less is he the cause for celebration.
4) Veiled nature of THE Glorious King
a. Lord of Rings clip. This is what we do in evangelism – “He is the answer! He is our king! Obey him, bow to him, and all will work out!” Note NO HESITATION! Natural response! (as son standing up for his dad, as sports fan standing up for his team!)
· Why/how was Gimli so sure? How did he see what others didn’t? knowledge of past, that existence of kings of men was REAL. That there WAS a king of men in the past, and that Aragorn was the rightful HEIR, and would one day display, manifest his glory in a way that ALL OTHERS IN THE END WOULD EITHER BE DESTROYED, OR BOW DOWN TO HIM!!! THIS IS NOT A RELIGION, THIS IS REALITY! THIS IS THE PRESENT STATE OF REALITY, AND CHRIST WILL REVEAL HIMSELF FULLY ONE DAY VERY SOON! YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS ARE GOING TO EITHER BOW DOWN TO HIM, OR BE DESTROYED! AND IT IS SO GOOD TO BOW DOWN TO HIM, TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS GLORY, GREATNESS, MAJESTY, SPLENDOR AND TO WORSHIP HIM FOR IT!
· Others looked at Aragorn and saw a Ranger, a loner. Gimli saw a king. This is the most important question for you, that will have the greatest impact on your evangelism: what do you see when you look at Christ? A religion? A nice story? A weak man who died to get you to heaven? Or do you see the triune God of the Old AND New Testaments, who fills the earth he created with his glory, who will return in glory, brightness, power to vindicate those who acknowledge his power and bow down to him (through faith in Christ) and to judge those who say, “I have no king.”
Look at this later: Is this an intellectual exercise, or When you look at God and his glory are you:
§ Enchanted, enamored, engrossed with God
§ Enthralled, enraptured, entranced with God
§ Enravished, excited, enticed with God
§ Astonished, amazed, awed with God
§ Astounded and absorbed with God
§ Beguiled and bedazzled
§ Startled and staggered
§ Smitten and stunned
§ Stupefied and spellbound
§ Charmed and consumed
§ Thrilled and thunderstruck
§ Obsessed and preoccupied
§ Intrigued and impassioned
§ Overwhelmed and overwrought
§ Gripped and rapt
§ Enthused and electrified
§ Tantalized, mesmerized, and monopolized
§ Fascinated, captivated, intoxicated, infatuated and exhilarated with God!
§ I often try to envision what my life would be like if this were an accurate description of my relationship with God…I trust that I would display an uncommon boldness and courage in sharing Christ. What are the odds of your neighbor using these words to describe you on any given Sunday?
Sam Storms, One Thing
[Probably no time for this but, you see this attitude in Scripture:
- Ps 66:5: “Come and see what God has done! (look at my life! His works! His creation! His redemption!) v. 16: “Come and listen (all you who fear God), let me tell you what he has done for me!” (Come to church with me!)
- Ps 67 - God, I am so in love with you, in awe of you, amazed by you; you are so ‘at the top’ of my list in terms of who I cheer for, who I campaign for, who I fight for, who I stand up for, I’m so excited about spreading your fame, that this is how I PERSONALLY want to be blessed: Ps 67!
- Acts 21:39 – Paul: “Please let me speak to the people.” ]
APP: I CAN ONLY WHET YOUR APPETITE: THINK LESS OF YOURSELF AS A CITIZEN OF THE US WITH A FALLIBLE FOUR-YEAR PRESIDENT HELD IN CHECK BY OTHER BRANCHES, AND MORE OF YOURSELF A CITIZEN OF A VERY REAL SPIRITUAL KINGDOM WITH A KING WHO HAS BOUNDLESS POWER AND AUTHORITY AND MIGHT AND BEAUTY AND GLORY. HE IS INFINITELY GOOD TO THOSE WHO BOW DOWN TO HIM AND HE HAS INVITED US TO PLAY A PART IN SPREADING HIS GLORY IN YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.
Apply: Memorize Rom 6:23 (and 3:23), continue praying for two friends, schedule and attend some event with friend for this week. (Have a couple share who their friends are, what they will do with them. “Whatever you like doing, stop doing it with Christians and start doing it with non-Christians.”)
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Class #3: Message of Outreach
Review: Last week covered biblical motivation for outreach:
- A vision for the amazing love of God (as you sense how far you fall short of God’s standard, you are overwhelmed and amazed at the height of his love for us, and you will want to share it with others. (if you don’t think you’re that bad, then others shouldn’t be either. If you think you are TOO bad, then you’re not worthy of conveying this message!)
- A vision for the glorious kingdom of God. Not just a savior who died, but ALSO a glorious king who was raised and who currently reigns, we are part of his kingdom, he promises (and delights) to work through us, and he promises to win (he is in the business of saving people!)!
This week: the Message of Outreach: What is the content of what we want to communicate?
Opening question: why is the content important? (May use negative illustrations when various key parts of the gospel are left out, or if it is only an emotional appeal, for example (Charles? Finney’s ‘burnt over district,’ or your own examples)
A gospel presentation needs to include elements of each of these four key points:
1. Creation. God created you and designed you to know him personally
a. How might this idea be more helpful than starting with “God loves you?” (This statement includes accountability, purpose and meaning,
b. What unique characteristics of the biblical God distinguish or separate him from other notions of god?
i. God is sovereign (Eph 1:11; Rom 8:28, 9:10-25; Heb 4:13) (Pt: hence accountable-he sees all, knows all!) What if this missing? “Saved from what?” “God has wonderful plan? So what! So do I!”
ii. God is Personal (Ps 100:3, Lord’s Prayer (point: he is huge and high, but also personal (characteristics of a person: relational, has will, thoughts, emotions). If personal, then created to be in a relationship with him.)
iii. Some: imminent and transcendent (Is 55:6,9; Ps 139:1-10, 13)
Point: if this is all true, then it matters a great deal that we are created by God as his image-bearers, because we are therefore 1) accountable to God (Heb 4:13) and created to be in relationship with him (Ps 100:3).
Question: Since God’s wonderful character, his rights as creator and his gracious warnings all remind us of his loving ownership, why don’t we love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? Answer: #2 below
2. Man. Sin separates us from the God who created us and also damages our ability to relate to other people (Is 59:2; Rom 3:23; Rom 6:23; Titus 3:3 (this last one especially demonstrates the effect of sin on our relationships)). Other verses: Jer 17:9; Rom 3:20, Rom 3:23; Jms 2:10
a. What is sin –
§ Sinful acts: “Willful rebellion by refusing to do what God commands; determining to do what he forbids.” (Tell the Truth, Metzger)
§ Sinful condition/nature: it is not just the things we do, but a condition of the soul, as a cancer. (Why is this important? Even if you argue you are pretty good and don’t commit too many sinful acts, we can’t change our nature by ourselves: “can a leopard change his spots?” (Jer 13:33)
b. Eternal consequences– both physical and spiritual, temporal and eternal death due to our own desires and the wrath of God.
Challenge: how to describe sin in non “churchy” words? (To wrong someone, must be made right?)
Question - Why can’t we just work harder to get to God? This is what most other religions try. Xity is the only religion where God comes down to us! )
SOMEWHERE: Francis Schaeffer: “If I had an hour to talk with a man about the gospel, I would spend 45-50 minutes on the negative, to really show him his dilemma—that he is morally dead—then I’d take 10-15 minutes to preach the gospel”.
“You can’t convince somebody to take medicine until they are convinced they need it.”
3. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin. Through Christ our relationship with God can be restored and the dominion of sin can be broken.
a. The Great Exchange (2 Cor 5:21)
b. Jesus was raised from the dead and has secured eternal life for all who believe in him (1 Cor 15:3-6; Rom 6:23; John 3:16)
c. Jesus frees all those who believe in him from the controlling power of sin and enables them to serve and follow him as renovated image bearers (Rom 12:12; 2 Cor 3:18; Gal 5:22-23; Rev 22:5) Why might this be important? Why not just say, “He gives you eternal life?” 1) Short circuits whole mission of X: to restore all things, even the here and now (find meaning in work, make drunk better father, restore a broken relationship…) AND 2) protects from easy believism—What is that? Ticket to heaven, thanks, go on living as you want.
Point - Jesus as the God-man is the only way to life—by his life, death and resurrection as redeemer.
Question – How does Christ’s death on the cross display both the holiness and love of God? (Helps with problem of evil? what was most unfair act in history of world?...)
4. Response. We must individually turn from sin and place our faith in Jesus Christ. Only then will the forgiveness and restoration secured by Christ’s death and resurrection become ours. (SOMEWHERE ACTS’ PROCLAIM AND PERSUADE?)
a. What does it mean to turn from sin?
i. Minds: agree with God that we have wronged him and deserve his judgment
ii. Emotions: despise our sins and our sinful nature
iii. Wills: determine to turn from our rebellion and serve our God by his grace
b. What does it mean to place our faith in Jesus Christ?
i. Minds: recognize Christ as the necessary and sufficient payment for sin
ii. Emotions: Be grateful and rejoice in his love for the undeserving
iii. Wills: commit our lives to Christ by casting ourselves upon him as the only hope for reconciliation with God. Transfer our trust from ourselves to him.
Question – What is the difference between spurious and saving faith? (Jms 2:19; Mt 13 parable of seeds (notice there is only two kinds of seed: that which bears fruit, and that which does not)).
Homework: Apply: Memorize John 14:6; hang out with non-Christian friend and ask them all the questions you can think of:
- What do they value?
- What do they enjoy?
- What bothers them about life?
- What is/are their life goal/s?
Pray for them, and ask your friends/ small group to pray for them:
Colossians 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Portions Adapted in part from Tell the Truth, Will Metzger
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Class #4: Method of Outreach
Part 1: Different Methods/Perspectives
Questions on sin handout last week from Keller? Anyone get to read that? Immensely helpful.
Getting into methods here, but reminder what our role, responsibility is; what our attitude ought to be in evangelism:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses (What is in your power? MAYBE to be witnesses, but I think we get power even for that! It is HIS power that converts!)
Colossians 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Why not pray to be able to convert someone?
Acts 16:14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (Difficult verse, but SOMEHOW, X is glorified either way. What effect should this have on our witnessing? When you pray, look for opportunity, share X, you have succeeded! Regardless of outcome! (though pray for conversion!) too often 1) it is all on our shoulders, and 2) if they don’t become Christians we are fully responsible and have failed!
Different Methods/Perspectives
a. Lifestyle evangelism (from a smile…to a full gospel presentation, habits)
Draw Shaffer’s line and dot on board. The line is the process of getting to a full gospel presentation, and the dot is conversion. Sometimes we get to present the full gospel, sometimes we only get to smile at someone walking down the street. Lifestyle evangelism: to consider ALL of life, every relationship (no matter how brief) as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with others. (ILL: In Your Face article, Andree Seu)
Luke 4:22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked. (What encouraging word can I say right now?) (ILL: Sturkey with waiters and waitresses)
Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. (ILL: how often have we heard stories of people who came to Christ, and at their first encounter with a Christian they thought, “Something was different about them.”
It is a habit, a lifestyle. If you go through the checkout line thinking about YOUR day, what YOU will cook for dinner, YOUR challenges, how tired YOU are, you’re not going to make any impact on the world at that moment. But if you consider it a given, a lifestyle, a joyful habit to speak gracious words, to give cheerful looks, that 1) brings glory to God by itself, and 2) you never know what impact that could make on someone (ILL:???)
b. “Come and see” evangelism
John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
John 4:29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"
Know that Dave and I INTEND to preach in such a way that is understandable to non-Christians. Our primary responsibility is to worship God with believers, exhorting them to believe the gospel and live for Christ; but we usually try to speak as if unbelievers are there. Intent is that you would leave the service not only applying this to yourself, but thinking, “That would have been a great message for my neighbor Jamie to hear.”
(preferably on basis of a relationship) When you invite someone to church, you run the risk of their having insurmountable, negative connotations of ‘church.’ But if they KNOW you, see a difference, may be more trusting, may be intrigued to find out what kind of church a smart, nice, helpful, friendly person would go to.)
IMPORTANT: BTW, you can say, “Come and see,” to more events than just church—what else? (church socials, home group socials (ILL: Mark, “Come and see my normal, friendly, intelligent Xian guy friends who also have life struggles!”), home group itself (just make your group aware).
c. Holistic evangelism (relationship of word and deed)
Luke 24:18-19 Of Jesus: "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
(ILL: I picked up a piece of trash yesterday,(didn’t want to—it was dirty) but that is evangelism--way at the beginning of Shaffer’s line J , but evangelism nonetheless.(I don’t know who may have watched and been impacted)).
What interest will someone have in Christianity if it has no power? If you are not transformed? We aren’t ambassadors of a ‘religion’ but of the gospel which transforms lives, which cares for the needy—just look at the example of Christ!
d. Opportunity evangelism (providential meetings)
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (hence, memorize gospel outline! These Bible verses!) (Any examples in your life where you had an opportunity? Or where you had an opportunity and wished you knew what to say but didn’t? J
Acts 8:32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth…” The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" (what would have happened if Philip didn’t know his Scripture? If Philip didn’t see and know Christ in the Old Testament? If Philip wasn’t in the habit of turning everyday conversations into spiritual directions?
LB is better than me (ILL: flight to Charlotte (I think): on way a hand surgeon, on way back: a Mennonite going down to spring break. She is great at turning a conversation to spiritual things—not forcing gospel down their throat, but simply asking them questions about spiritual beliefs. You never know when they will ask, “What do you believe?” and you never know what impact those conversations will have (we’ll know one day, I believe).
But focus of rest of course will be on
e. Relational evangelism (expanded next two weeks)
(NOT friendship evangelism – commonly defined as, “I’ll just live out my life and they will see that I am different.” That can’t be our goal, our goal is the dot at the end of the line. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God!)
1) We are relational beings (God can use tracts, hit and run meetings, but we see importance of relationships in our culture). examples:
o Multi-use developments (LWR, so many others)
o Cheers: you want to go where everybody knows your name
o Article on garages becoming neighborhood gathering spots (beer after work)
o Explosion of dating services
o Where else do you see importance of relationships?
o Old neighbor, blowing off cul-de-sac in advance of cookout, tennis…
o What of older; more important for older or younger generation? (We suppose younger, but I think older generations are just not used to expressing their need for community, relationships.)
2) We live in a post-Christian culture (average friend, coworker, neighbor doesn’t have Xian categories/assumptions any more (“Heaven?” “God?”)
3) Our Christian culture has all kinds of baggage attached to it.
=> If post Christian culture, AND whatever impression your friend has of the church is wrong, then it will take some work to get past these hurdles, and that work is done through building trust in the context of a relationship.
Why do I say, ‘Get to know two people?’ “We sometimes start praying for the whole world ‘out there,’ the millions of unbelievers in countries far away whom we will never meet. This can be overwhelming to us, an impossible mountain to climb. But God sets us in particular places, in contexts of work, study, and play where we meet a limited number of people. He wants us to pray for them, for our relationships with them, for the impact of our lives on them, and for their salvation.” The Heart of Evangelism, Jerram Barrs. (ILL: Barberry Ct.—my street was a cul-de-sac: “I’m overwhelmed with an endless street, much more a whole neighborhood, but I can sure focus on these 10 homes.)
The Christian should be the best neighbor on his/her street - Rod Culbertson
Apply:
o Memorize John 14:6 so you can recite it in your sleep,
o Hang out with your friend/s again this week
o Pray daily and ask your Christian friends to pray for him/her/them
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Class #5: Method of Outreach Part 2: Building Relationships
Review of Previous Weeks:
Overall pt of foundational info: if you are not overwhelmed and amazed at Gospel, you’re not going to be effective in communicating it to others. (God has heart for outreach, God loved us while we were his enemies, we are part of God’s advancing kingdom—ambassadors, heralds—is that exciting???
Then content: creation (God), fall (man), redemption (Christ), response.
Last week: Perspectives on evangelism:
- Lifestyle (Schaffer’s line and dot)
- Come and see (invite to home group social, church service. (Probably when you know them a little bit, when you can tell they are interested in spiritual things.)
- Holistic (word and deed)
- Opportunity (always be ready)
- Relational (importance of getting to know two non-Christians-HANDOUT PERMISSION EVANGELISM P. 128)
Pray
I. The Problem
Getting people to care about the gospel. How do you take someone from where they are, to the gospel in a way that actually matters to them, in a way that they will respond to? It usually (God can do anything) isn’t enough to tell them about redemption until they have felt their need for it. (EE categories don’t work so well any more by themselves.)
II. Solution: Finding Common Ground
Read Acts 17:16-34
How did Paul initially respond to the Greeks?
