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“ Winning Ways to Witness ”

“ Winning Ways to Witness ”. David Hartman. Perceptions of Evangelism. When you hear the word evangelism what image first comes to mind?. Perceptions of Evangelism. Typical Stereotypes: Public meetings Scary beasts Doctrinal study. I could never do that!. Perceptions of Evangelism.

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“ Winning Ways to Witness ”

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  1. “Winning Ways to Witness” David Hartman

  2. Perceptions of Evangelism When you hear the word evangelismwhat image first comes to mind?

  3. Perceptions of Evangelism Typical Stereotypes: • Public meetings • Scary beasts • Doctrinal study I could never do that!

  4. Perceptions of Evangelism Recent Studies: • George Barna- 55% shared faith in the prior 12 months • Thom Rainer - 5% witnessed on a consistent basis • Institute of Church Ministries (Andrews University) - 41% of Adventists actively share their faith

  5. Perceptions of Evangelism What factors cause Adventists to shy away from doing evangelism? • Fear Factor • Knowledge Factor • Offence Factor • TimeFactor

  6. Perceptions of Evangelism What factors cause unbelievers to shy away from evangelism? • Pushy, offensive • Not relevant • Discomfort on BOTH sides of the fence!

  7. Content of Seminar Cultivate Testimony Invitation Kindness Friendship Conversation Preserve Sow Intercession Proclamation Reap -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5

  8. Goals of Seminar • Motivation • Tools • 7-Step Process • Support

  9. What Is Evangelism? Biblical definition: e u a n g e l i o n Gk. euangelizo Heb. bissar Proclaiming good news!

  10. Occasions for Good News

  11. Occasions for Good News Victory on the Battlefield!

  12. Occasions for Good News “The enemy is defeated!”“We won!”“Good News!” Examples: 2 Kings 7:9; Isaiah 52:7; 61:1, 2

  13. Christ Is Ultimate Victor Christ has defeated the devil and established a new domain-the kingdom of God. (Matt 4:23; 9:35;Lk 2:10, 11; 4:18, 19, 43, 44; 9:1, 2)

  14. Results of Christ’s Victory 1. New Master Colossians 1:13, 14 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdomof the Son of His love in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

  15. Results of Christ’s Victory 2. Personal Salvation Romans 1:16, 17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes . . . For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

  16. Results of Christ’s Victory 3. Freedom from Sin Luke 4:18 “He has anointed Me . . . to preach deliverance to the captives.” Romans 6:6 “No longer . . . slaves of sin.”

  17. Results of Christ’s Victory 4. Holistic Healing Luke 4:18 • gospel to the poor • healing to the brokenhearted • deliveranceto the captives • recovery of sight to the blind • liberty to the oppressed

  18. Good NewsIs for Sharing! We should be celebrating!

  19. Good NewsIs for Sharing! Instead we're hiding!

  20. Three Reasons for Sharing

  21. 1. For God’s Sake Luke 15:1-7 The shepherd goes “after the one [sheep] which is lost until he finds it.” 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord . . . Is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God’s heart beats for the lost!

  22. 2. For Others’ Sake Luke 15:1-7 The lost sheep roams until it eventually dies. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” People need quality of life now, and the joy of eternal life with God.

  23. 3. For Our Sake Luke 15:1-7 Finding the lost sheep brings joy to the heart of the seeker. Ministry of Healing, 102 - “It is in working to spread the good news of salvation that we are brought near to the Saviour.” Christian Service, 22 - “It is in working for others that [we] will keep [our] own souls alive.”

  24. 3. For Our Sake Acts of the Apostles, 105 - “Strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service.” Desire of Ages, 142 – “God could have reached His object in saving sinners without our aid; but in order for us to develop a character like Christ’s, we must share in His work.”

  25. Three Reasons for Not Sharing

  26. 1. Misunderstand Content Good News Not Bad News

  27. 2. Misunderstand Role • It’s the job of the: • Pastor • Evangelist • Professional

  28. Biblical Role of Evangelism Matthew 28:19,20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

  29. Biblical Role of Evangelism Acts 8:1, 4; 11:19, 21, 24 • Lay people were the primary agents of evangelism • Ordinary men and womenwith no literary training “went everywhere preaching the word.”

  30. Biblical Role of Evangelism Desire of Ages, 195 “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary.”

  31. Biblical Role of Evangelism Acts of the Apostles 110 “Everyone who has received Christ is called to work for the salvation of his fellow men.”

  32. Biblical Role of Evangelism Acts of the Apostles 110 “It is a fatal mistaketo suppose that the work of soul-saving depends alone upon the ministry.”

  33. Birthright Stolen Over the centuries . . . • Bishopsthen priests hovered over congregations • People relied on clergy to do work of evangelism • Birthright of evangelism snatched away from congregants at large and given to “professionals”

  34. Birthright Stolen The early Adventist church…LAITY were the primary evangelists • Pastors served as itinerant evangelists • Conference evangelists • Union evangelists • Media evangelists Evangelism has strayed four levels from where it was originally intended. We need to get back to the blueprint!

  35. Birthright Restored Joel 2:28, 29 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see vision.” God predicts an inter-generational movement in the last days which will turn hearts back to God (Mal. 4:5, 6; Acts 2:17-20).

  36. Great Controversy 611, 612 "The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at is close. . . . Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven.

  37. Great Controversy 611, 612 By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. . . . The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. . . . a largenumber take their stand upon the Lord’s side.”

  38. 3. Misunderstand Process View evangelismas an “event” or “activity” • 4 week campaign • Sabbath afternoon literature distribution Then get back to “normal”

  39. Event vs. Lifestyle Different metaphors for witnessing: • light (Matt 5:13) • salt (Matt 5:14) • yeast (Matt 13:35-37) • fragrance (2 Cor 2:14, 15) • letter (2 Cor 3:2, 3) • ambassador (2 Cor 5:20) being vs. activity or “evangeliving”

  40. Event vs. Lifestyle • Fishing (Matt 4:19) • an occupation • not a sport

  41. Event vs. Lifestyle • Gardening (Mark 4:3-20; 26-29)

  42. Principles of Gardening = “The same laws that govern earthly seed sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 33

  43. Gardening Is a Process Jeremiah 4:3 “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.” Cultivating

  44. Gardening Is a Process Mark 4:26 “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground . . .” Sowing

  45. Gardening Is a Process Mark 4:28 “For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.”

  46. Gardening Is a Process Mark 4:29 “But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Reaping

  47. The Agricultural Cycle Cultivate Sow Preserve Reap

  48. Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation Cultivate 7 Personal Styles of Evangelism Sow Reap

  49. 1. Intercession Praying for the salvation of friends, family, and work associates. • Prayer prepares BOTH hearts for the witnessing encounter (Isa. 50:4; 2 Cor. 10:4, 5; Col. 4:2-4; GC 525). • Power of focused prayer (1 Tim. 2:1, 4; 1 John 5:14, 16)

  50. Gospel Workers, 65 “In times past there were those who fastened their minds upon one soul after another, saying, ‘Lord, help me to save this soul.’ But now such instances are rare. How many act as if they realized the peril of sinners? How many take those whom they know to be in peril, presenting them to God in prayer, and supplicating Him to save them?”

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