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Evangelism in a postmodern world Changing times

Evangelism in a postmodern world Changing times. A New culture. If you look "outside" – from church into society – what do you see? We live in a time of dramatic change – much more than the usual “generational changes” We live in a cultural shift that happens only every few hundred years.

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Evangelism in a postmodern world Changing times

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  1. Evangelism in a postmodern worldChanging times

  2. A New culture • If you look "outside" – from church into society – what do you see? • We live in a time of dramatic change – much more than the usual “generational changes” • We live in a cultural shift that happens only every few hundred years. • Two big epochs come to an end: Christianity and modernity

  3. Time epochs in the West Christianity (institutionalized church) the growth of the Kingdom of God worldwide Modernity 0 500 1000 1500 2000 Modern time Old age Middle Ages Postmodern time

  4. A talk with Pascal • I can only try to see life from my own • perspective • I like to have a group of close friends with which I share common values. • I believe in being tolerant, in letting others live like they want to. • I do not believe in one truth and that one religion is the right one. People who say so are mostly hypocrites. • I don’t like it when people argue about how their beliefs are better, or when power is exerted in the name of religion. • I want practical answers to life. Don’t give me big words. • I believe there is something “out there”. • I don’t like institutional religion; I am “non-practising” protestant (or catholic). • I do have a vague desire for non- institutional spirituality. But I don’t know how to find it.

  5. Postmodernism: 10 chances for the Gospel • 1 The quest for spirituality • 2 The need for fellowship • 3 search for identity • 4 Global Openness • 5 Culture and arts as global language • 6 Environment awareness • 7 A clear ethical awareness • 8 A vivid sense for justice • 9 Practicability • 10 Shalom

  6. 1. 2. 3. You hear the gospel as a spoken or written message You take a decision that this message is true You are integrated into a biblical church „modern" evangelism Modern and postmodern evangelism

  7. „postmodern“ evangelism "Underway" you begin to believe 1. 2. 3. You see the message in the life of a friend You meet Jesus in a spiritual, creative environment (church or small group) You take a spiritual journey with your friend to seek for Jesus Modern and postmodern evangelism

  8. New Churches • “Europe – back to the Bible”? • This is Mission work – trans-cultural in our own country • Leonard Sweet: “ministry in the twenty-first century has more in common with the first century than with the modern world that is collapsing all around us." • returning to biblical roots

  9. ... only in America? . The institutional church in the next twenty years will continue more and more to look like the pink Cadillac with the huge tail fins.“ ..the church's leaders have Alzheimer's disease. We still love them. We remember and pass on their stories. But they're living in another world. They're totally clueless about the world that is actually out there. The problem is that they are captaining the ship."

  10. New Churches - structure • Structures are important! • New skins for new wine • Smaller and larger: • House / Cell-based churches, „liquid churches“ • Café/Tea churches • New Generation Churches

  11. New Churches – quality • From To • Representative participatory • Hierarchies apostolic networks • "teaching" "discipling" • "come" "go" • believing belonging • Intellectual incarnational, holistic • Word-based Image-driven. • Rational experiential • Individual Individual-Communal. • "standpoint" a journey and a pilgrimage

  12. For you • Do you have discipling relationships? • Break down church walls • Don´t be afraid to experiment • Learn how to make mistakes • Maximize discontinuity • Learn and teach how to present a unique Christ in a relativistic world For God´s sake, do something!

  13. Natural Church Development

  14. ? What’s That NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT

  15. “Some church growth concepts are so focused on FRUIT... ...that they fail to consider the ROOT that produces the fruit.”

  16. Matthew 6:28 See the lillies of the field, how they grow...

  17. Mark 4:26-29 A man scatters seed… the seed sprouts and grows… All by itself the soil produces grain...

  18. 1 Corinthians 3:6 Iplanted, Apolloswatered, Godmade it grow...

  19. Key Question How can we release the potential that God has placedwithinEVERYchurch?

  20. Natural Church Development

  21. International Research Project • 1,000 churches • 32 countries • 18 languages • 6 continents

  22. Research questions • What church growth principles are valid in spite of cultural and theoligical differences? • What every church and christian should do in order to obey the great commission in today’s world?

  23. Research Results Healthy churches are growing churches … quality can be measured!

  24. 50 The qualitative difference Growing and declining churches vary significantly in all eight quality areas Leadership Leadership +9 Ministry Ministry +9 Spirituality Spirituality +13 Structures Structures +13 +13 Worship service Worship service Small groups Small groups +9 +11 Evangelism Evangelism +9 Relationships Relationships 52 54 56 58 60 40 42 44 46 48 declining churches growing churches

  25. The Adjective is the key! Quality Characteristics • Empowering Leadership Ministry • Gift-oriented Spirituality • Passionate Structures • Functional Worship • Inspiring Small Groups • Holistic Evangelism • Need-oriented Relationships • Loving

  26. Research Results Improving quality in your church's "minimum factor" often results in quantitative church growth.

  27. NCD = • It is both biblical and scientific • It is not a “model” to be copied • Principle - approach • Dependant on Holy Spirit • European (not American!) • Quality before quantity

  28. Eight Essential Qualities • Empowering Leadership • Gift-oriented Ministry • Passionate Spirituality • Functional Structures • Inspiring Worship • Holistic Small Groups • Need-oriented Evangelism • Loving Relationships

  29. Esimerkki SLK - profiilista

  30. The NCDCycle

  31. PHASE 1 Prepare the Survey PHASE 6 Repeat PHASE 2 Do the Survey PHASE 5 Implement & Monitor Action Plan PHASE 3 Analyze Survey Results PHASE 4 Develop Action Plan for Minimum Factor

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