Evangelism: Session 3

1. Evangelism: Session 3 FBC Subang, 2012

2. Review • Why should we evangelize? • What principles should guide our evangelism? • What evangelistic tools can we learn and have in our tool belt?

3. Making the offer of new life • How does someone become a Christian? • What are the requirements to be a Christian? • What are the essential steps to becoming a Christian?

4. Offer/Challenge to New Life • Evangelism is more than sharing the gospel; it is leading people to Christ. • Questions to ask: • Does the meaning of the story make sense? Is it clear that we could not save ourselves except for God himself providing a way for the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? • Have you ever heard this before? • Do you believe that Jesus Christ has died so that our sins could be forgiven through his sacrifice? • Read Romans 10:9-10 with the person and invite them to respond. • Help them in a prayer to God making this decision. • Immediately, give them some initial handles on living out this new life they have received. • Renouncing sins and strongholds • Basics for going growing. What is the spiritual milk infants need? • Encourage them to do this with their friends and family

5. A Word about Apologetics • “Be prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15) • Role for apologetics in the public square • Danger of apologetics in a witnessing encounter • End up in debates • Moves the conversation to the mind only—too cerebral • Makes the witnesser look arrogant • Distracts the nonbeliever from examining their own idolatry/sinfullness/unclean heart • Sometimes conversation moves to points of minutiae that have no impact on embracing the gospel

6. Go and make disciples • How were you discipled? • Discipleship is the goal! “The church is only as good as the quality of her disciples.” –Neil Cole, KL, Nov. 2

7. 1 Thessalonians 1 • How long was Paul in Thessalonica? • What did Paul say about the disciples in Thessalonica? • What did Paul do during that short time to make such disciples?

8. Start well The first instructions for a new believer, are the most important! • Start well. • Have a plan ready • Drop everything to invest in this disciple

9. Principles • Make a disciple of Jesus, not just a tithing church member • Life on life- not just a class, workbook, or knowledge, but passing on a way of life- it life-on-life, caught not taught • All of life- new life in Christ impacts everything about life • Milk first, then meat- Start with the basics of belief and obedience • Reproducible- your disciple should be able to disciple others, 2 Timothy 2:2

10. Crusades/revivals/events • What are the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches? • Is it a tool of the past or the present? • How does it work cross-culturally?

11. Seeker groups/halfway houses/Alpha courses • Safe community to ask questions and search • Alpha • Strengths • Value of video • Value of meal • 80% conversion rate • Weaknesses • Relies on interested nonbelievers (will not reach the resistant) • Loss of community after conversion is disillusioning

12. Evangelism and the Church I bet they don’t have many visitors

13. Evangelism and the Church • Have you ever been a visitor at a church? • You should try it • Two types of churches in how they respond to you: • Fish tank • Amazon river

14. A Church that Reflects the Gospel Become the kind of church that you would want to bring a nonChristianto What this means? • The gospel is proclaimed and demonstrated clearly • Everything that happens is mindful of nonChristians • Worship • Tithes and offering • Sermon • Announcements • Body life should look like the body of Christ, not the body of sin and Satan What this does NOT mean? • Everything is dumbed down • Instead, create ways for milk and meat to get to the right mouths • Emotional manipulation and guilt-trips • Instead, find ways to let people know it is an option • Everything is reduced to a plan of salvation • Instead, demonstrate how the gospel impacts/transforms every aspect of life

15. Children and Evangelism Children are more vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation Which means: • Share the gospel, but apply no pressure for decisions • Involve the child’s family as much as possible—complete transparency • Help them understand the big story of God’s Forever King • Pushing children into guilt-laden obedience is a betrayal of the gospel

16. Attractional or Missional Church Growth Attractional Church Growth • Primary means of growth occurs through drawing the lost to your church • Strengths? • Weaknesses? Missional Church Growth • Primary means of growth occurs through the church going into the community where the lost already are • Strengths? • Weaknesses?

17. Front Door, Back Door, Side Door • Front door- new comers come to worship service or big events at the church • Back door- church members leaving the church • Needs to be tracked and investigated, not just assumed • Side door- new comers enter the church community through small groups, church ministries, etc.

18. Enabling the Whole Church • Ephesians 4:11-13 • Have you identified peoples’ gifts in the church? In your small groups? • Do your evangelists have the freedom to be among the lost? • Do your shepherds have the freedom to welcome them into community?

19. As you go, make disciples… Here is your breath mint 