CHAPTER STUDY GUIDE Copyright © Julian Batchelor Requests for information should be addressed to: Evangelism Strategies International (NEW ZEALAND) 193 Dinsdale Road Hamilton, New Zealand Mobile: + 64 274 76 44 30 skype: Julian Batchelor NEW ZEALAND Email: Julian@esisite.com Web: www.esisite.com www.biblein11.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of Evangelism Strategies International Inc.
i
Preface 1 Introduction 5 Chapter 1
9
How our Understanding of the Word ‘Evangelism’ has been Confused (Part One) Chapter 2
13
How our Understanding of the Word ‘Evangelism’ has been Confused (Part Two) Chapter 3
17
How we have Become Confused in our Understanding of the Phrase “The Gospel” Chapter 4
21
What is the Content of the Gospel we are to Proclaim to Non-Christians? Chapter 5
25
When Evangelism is Not the Priority, our Purpose Becomes Confused Chapter 6
29
Are all Christians Commanded to Evangelise? Chapter 7
35
How to Overcome Fear in Evangelism Chapter 8
43
Eleven Common Misunderstandings about Evangelism Which Hinder Christians from Proclaiming the Gospel Chapter 9
57
Why is Evangelism an Event, Not a Process Chapter 10
61
How Christians Have Lost Confidence in the Gospel Chapter 11 What Jesus really thought about Evangelism and the Gospel ii
65
Chapter 12
77
Why Leaders are Critically Important in World Evangelism Chapter 13
83
The Evangelism Dream Team Chapter 14
89
How the Enemy Targets Leaders to Hinder Evangelism (Part 1) Chapter 15
101
How the Enemy Targets Leaders to Hinder Evangelism (Part 2) Chapter 16
111
How the Enemy Targets Leaders to Hinder Evangelism (Part 3) Chapter 17
119
How the Enemy Targets Leaders to Hinder Evangelism (Part 4) Chapter 18
129
How Evangelism Blesses Society Chapter 19
131
How Pseudo Conversions Hinder Evangelism Chapter 20
135
How to Make the Most of Friendshps with Non-Christians Chapter 21
139
What Should Motivate Us to Go to War in Evangelism? Conclusion 143 Appendix 1
145
The gospel in five bullet points Appendix 2
147
A bowl of rice is no substitute for the Holy Spirit Appendix 3
150
Pastor Evangelists. Roger Greenway Appendix 4
155
The Gospel must be heard. Kevyn Harris
iii
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. There is a furious war going on for the souls of men and women. What are the main ideas in this The war is between God and the Church on one side, and the devil on the other. The devil wants to stop the evangelisation of the world. chapter? Evangelism is defined as the spread or proclamation of the gospel. Evangelism in the West has all but ceased.
Please Note!
As you work through this study guide and as part of your study, you are going to be asked to view DVDs online. You will find all the DVDs at www.esite.com/ videos. They appear on the website in the same order as they appear in the study guide, so you shouldn’t get lost!
now Watch the dvd entitled: preface video 1
How does this video make you feel? Afraid? Guilty? Inspired? Disgusted? Manipulated? Helpless? What messages is the video trying to convey? Discuss your answers in your group. Give reasons for your answers.
Write down your thoughts Before you read the preface, it will be useful to find out what you already know about three critical concepts: Evangelism, The Great Commission, and The Gospel. If you were lost in a dense forest, the first and most important thing to do would be to find out where you are. Once you know this, you will have a much better chance of finding your way out. It’s a bit like this with evangelism. Many Christians are ‘lost’ in dense forest of misunderstandings about evangelism and
PREFACE 1
don’t know how to find their way out. You may be one of them. So, let’s make a start!
What is your understanding of “Evangelism”? 1.
How would you define evangelism?
2.
Would you say you were successful with evangelism?
3.
Do you think most non-Christians in your country have been evangelised? On a scale of 1-10, 1 being ‘not evangelised’ and 10 being ‘completely evangelised’, how would you rate your country?
4.
What percentage would you estimate have been evangelised?
5.
What about Christians in other Western countries? What percentage of them have been evangelised?
6.
From what you hear and read in Christian literature, how well is the Church doing with respect to evangelising the West? On a scale of 1-10, 1 being ‘not evangelised’ and 10 being ‘completely evangelised’, how would you rate its performance?
What is your understanding of “The Great Commission”? 7
If someone told you that the Great Commission had four parts, what would you say these were?
a.
b. c.
d.
What is your understanding of “The Gospel”? 8.
In Mark 16:15, Jesus said ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel.’ What do you think the content of the ‘gospel’ message was supposed to include? i.e. if you were to write out a gospel message, what would you include? What would you leave out? Using no more than 200 words, write out your gospel message.
NOW WATCH A DVD ENTITLED: PREFACE – VIDEO 2
Read the Preface in Julian’s book
9.
Page v. This page lists ‘hard questions’ about evangelism? Could you add to the list? If so, write your question below.
10.
Julian places a lot of emphasis on evangelism being a war. What scriptures support the reality that the Christian life is a war?
a.
b. c.
d.
2 PREFACE
11.
Recount the biggest ‘war’ you have had since being a Christian.
b.
a.
Briefly, what happened?
c.
When we know it’s the devil, how can we defeat him? If you can, cite Bible verses which support your point of view.
Who was fuelling this war? Is it our fallen nature? Or is it really the devil? How much of each?
d. The Bible says on the one hand that Jesus has defeated the devil. On the other hand, it also says that the devil is a roaring lion, very much alive and reaping havoc on the earth. How can both these facts be true at the same time (i.e. that the devil is both defeated and alive and well)? Explain.
12. Page vii. Please read the vision of the waterfall. Don’t rush from this vision. Take a moment to meditate on it. How did God speak to you? Did you feel compassion for the lost? Urgency to do something about it? Or what? 13.
Page xviii. Julian is transparent and honest about the challenge to keep people active in evangelism after they have received training. Of course, his book is dedicated to giving answers to this problem. Before you read this book, write as many explanations as you can as to why only 2% of Christians in the Western Church regularly engage in evangelism. Please don’t rush this. It’s important. When you reach the end of the book, compare your explanations with that of the author.
Memorise “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. Mark 16:15
NOW WATCH A DVD ENTITLED: PREFACE – VIDEO 3
Write a prayer to God, telling Him what you have learnt this chapter and how you want Him to change your heart for evangelism and His lost world.
PREFACE 3
Preface – Answers Question Number
Answer
1-6
Participants offer their own answers
7
(a) Go (b) Preach the gospel (c) Baptise those saved (d) Make disciples
8-9
Participants offer their own answers
10
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does; 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses; 2 Timothy 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus; Isaiah 41:11 All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
11
(a) Participants offer their own answers (b) the devil and principalities and power (c) by resisting him (James 4:7); by putting on the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-11) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (d) A balanced study of all that the Bible reveals about God’s permitting of evil to be and remain in this world reveals that God (1) sometimes prevents sin from happening, (2) sometimes allows sin to happen, and if he does this, (3) he limits it and its impact on people, and (4) always uses it to serve his ultimate purposes. The same is true regarding Satan and his efforts to do evil. It is God’s wise desire not to annihilate Satan or remove evil completely from the world at this time. Satan knows that at the Second Coming he will finally be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10). Meanwhile, God allows him to roam the earth. No one can satisfactorily explain why God doesn’t eliminate the devil and evil now. It remains a mystery.
12-13
4 PREFACE
Participants offer their own answers
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. Many intelligent people believe in a real devil who has real power. What are the main ideas in this It is within the capacity of all believers to participate in evangelism. The devil has five motives for stopping the evangelisation of the world. chapter?
now Watch the dvd entitled: introduction video 1
T. D Jakes is preaching about struggling with the devil to prevent falling into sins of commission. Sins of commission are things we ought not to do but we choose to do (e.g. pornography, alcoholism, fornication, lying, etc). This is one category of sin. However, there is another category – sins of omission. These are things we ought to do but do not do. When it comes to evangelism, the devil focuses on sins of omission i.e. His goal is to stop Christians doing it. Some would say not evangelising is not a sin. What do you think? Discuss your answers in your group.
INTRODUCTION 5
now Watch the dvd entitled: introduction video 2 Read 1.
At the bottom of page xxii, the author gives the Greek meaning of the word ‘devices’. Please read this paragraph and then list five ‘thoughts’ which have kept you from being active in evangelism.
1.
2. 3.
4. 5. 2.
Read the metaphor on page xxiii which refers to Christians as flowers. Think of three reasons why doing evangelism regularly would positively influence the life of a Christian.
a)
b) c)
now Watch the dvd entitled: introduction video 3 On pages xxiv and xxv, Julian details three devices the devil has used to give us a false impression of the state of evangelism in the West.
a.
Speaking and writing triumphantly.
c.
Mistakenly believing the West is evangelised.
b.
Wishful thinking and lack of accountability with respect to evangelism.
3.
Imagine you were asked by your pastor to head up evangelism in your church. What would you do to ensure the people in your church were accountable in evangelism? What systems would you put in place? How would you go about implementing such systems? What objections do you think you would encounter? How could you overcome these?
4.
On pages xxvi and xxvii, Julian lists three reasons why the devil is so concerned to stop the gospel being proclaimed.
a.
He wants the glory.
c.
He wants to preserve his life.
b.
He wants territory.
Which of these three impacted you the most? Why? Can you think of a fourth reason the devil does not want to stop the gospel from being proclaimed?
6 INTRODUCTION
Read 5.
On page xxix, Julian makes the statement ‘To win this war, we must know our enemy’. Would you agree with this? Why? Why not?
6.
What would you say to someone who said ‘To talk and write about the devil is to glorify him! We should only talk about Jesus!’ Would you agree? Why? Why not?
Memorise “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Write a prayer to Jesus thanking Him for what you have learnt this lesson, and ask Him to change your heart for evangelism and the lost world.
Introduction – Answers Question Number 1-6
Answers Participants offer their own answers
INTRODUCTION 7
8
How our Understanding of the Word ‘Evangelism’ has been Confused (Part One)
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. The devil has messed up our definition of the word evangelism. What are the main ideas in this Personal opinion does not have the same authority as sound scholarship. Evangelism is not to be equated with the winning of souls. chapter?
Not every activity which brings a non-Christian closer to the point of conversion is evangelism. Good works are not to be equated with evangelism.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 1 - video 1 The Bishops passion is fantastic! However, is he clear about what evangelism is and is not? Is he putting out mixed messages? Would those listening know exactly what evangelism was and was not by the end of his speech? Are there ‘devices’ in his speech? What are they?
Reflection
Why is it that many Christians have a wrong definition of evangelism? Who or what is to blame? Rank each of the statements below, “1” being mostly to blame, and “5” having little influence. Place your ranking at the end of each sentence.
1.
The devil is to blame.
3.
My pastor is to blame because he/she didn’t tell me.
5.
The Bible is to blame. It doesn’t make it clear.
2. I am to blame because I have never taken the time to study the truth about this issue. 4.
The theological College or Bible College where I was trained is to blame.
6. Are there other explanations?
Discuss your answers in your group.
CHAPTER 1 9
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 1 - video 2 Please read the quote from J.O. Sanders on page 2. When was the last time you were deceived in some way? (e.g. in a business deal? In a relationship? etc) What did it feel like when you found out the truth? What did you do about it?
6.
Why is it important for Christians to ‘walk in the truth’?
8.
How do Christian cults start and then grow?
7.
9.
Can you think of some Bible verses which exhort us to ‘walk in the truth’? Has anyone in your group had a friend or acquaintance unwittingly caught up in a cult?
At the bottom of page 5, David Barrett defines evangelisation as ‘ensuring everyone in a geographical area has heard and understood the gospel’.
10. Let’s say you were asked by your pastor to lead the evangelism ministry in your church. How would you go about making sure the neighbourhood around your church was ‘evangelised’? Discuss as a group.
11. On page 7, Dr David Barrett limits the meaning of evangelism to what he calls ‘The Big Six’. What do you notice about the six? Which one stands out as being different from the other five?
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 1 - video 3
Read about
pages 8-14.
Affirmation 18, page 11.
12. Was it a shock to discover that personal testimony, godly living, and acts of mercy and charity to our neighbour were not evangelism? 13. If so, how so?
14. How have so many come to believe these behaviours are evangelism?
15. Does it make a difference that so many top scholars at the “This we believe conference” affirmed this truth? If so, why?
Discuss in your group.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 1 - video 4
16. Many people feel completely liberated when they discover that evangelism does not equal the winning of souls. Discuss why this is so. The following might help stimulate discussion. Rank each of the statements below, “1” being the main reason, “5” being the least significant reason. 1. Because having to win someone made me feel like a high pressure salesman, which made
10 CHAPTER 1
me feel very uncomfortable.
2. Because having to win someone put pressure on me.
4. Because having to win someone made me less reliant on God.
3. Because having to win someone put pressure on the person being evangelised. 5. Because having to win someone made evangelism all about me.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 1 - video 5
17. How much of a shock was it to discover that evangelism was not a process but an event within a six step process? Where do you think the wrong idea that it was a process came from?
18. How could you be part of the solution, without being negative about your church, seminary, or pastor? 19. How could you encourage your pastor/minister to make evangelism a more significant part of church life?
Discuss in your group.
CHAPTER 1 11
Read
20. Read device 5, page 30. John Stott is exhorting Christians not to confuse social action with evangelism. Can you summarise his argument in three sentences? 21. Read carefully K.P. Yohannan’s argument on pages 31-32. According to him, what is the root cause of hunger, population explosion, and poverty?
Memorise: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
Write a prayer to Jesus thanking Him for what you have learnt this lesson, and ask Him to change your heart for evangelism and the lost world. Thank Him for the scholars and leaders at the “This We Believe” conference.
Chapter 1 – Answers Question Number 1-5
Answers Participants offer their own answers
6
Because God is Truth. Therefore, when we are walking in Truth, we are walking in step with Him (Amos 3:3). There is no better place to be than this.
7
Psalm 15:2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart; Psalm 26:3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth; 1 John 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth; 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
8
By moving away from Truth, and into error or false teaching.
9-10 11
12-16
Participants offer their own answers Five are verbs connected with speech. This reinforces the idea that evangelism is concerned with speaking out a message. ‘Bring’ is the only one that appears not concerned with speech. This is because sometimes missionaries would go to unreached people groups, bringing the gospel with them. i.e. in the same way one would ‘bring’ a gift. Participants offer their own answers
17
Because so few people in the church are concerned about evangelism, and many seminaries either ignore evangelism or treat it as an optional subject of minor significance, made up definitions of evangelism have propagated and spread unchecked throughout the Church.
18
Participants offer their own answers
19
Participants offer their own answers
20
a. Evangelism and social action are separate and different. b. They are both services of love. c. The two should work together, one not pretending to be the other.
21
12 CHAPTER 1
Spiritual darkness
How our Understanding of the Word ‘Evangelism’ has been Confused (Part Two)
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. Normal and Non Normal evangelism are quite different. What are the main ideas in this The responsibility to evangelise is not a team event where only one or two members in the team do evangelism. chapter? ‘Sharing one’s faith’ and ‘evangelism’ are not necessarily the same thing.
The whole church is commanded to take the whole gospel to the whole world The devil has messed up our definition of the word ‘witnessing’.
Read and discuss Page 41, Ask how many people in your group have heard of someone who has been converted to Christ through ‘non-normal evangelism’.
1
Do you agree/disagree that testimonies of non-normal evangelism circulating in the Christian community can hinder the mobilisation of Christians for personal evangelism?
2
How might such testimonies encourage personal evangelism?
Discuss your experiences/answers in your group.
CHAPTER 2 13
Read
pages 42-45.
3
How widespread is the notion that ‘I am doing my bit in the church and evangelism is someone else’s job?’
4
Do you think it’s true that many Christians fob off their responsibility to evangelise onto their pastor or those with the gift?
5
If you were in charge of evangelism in your church, how would you overcome this attitude?
Discuss your experiences/answers in your group.
Read
6
What do most Christians mean when they say ‘I am sharing my faith’? Give 3 examples.
7
On page 46, there is an example of how a particular denomination was exhorting its members to do evangelism. If you were a member of this denomination, how would you speak to the leaders of the denomination about the true definition of evangelism, without coming across as being a critical, arrogant, know-all? How would you word what you were going to say in order to win them over but at the same time encourage their desire to reach out to people and bring them to church?
Read
page 46.
8
See if you can verbalise the difference between the mission task, the evangelism task, and the discipleship task (without looking!).
9
Imagine that your job was to ensure everyone in a nation had heard and understood the gospel (i.e. they had been evangelised). What would be your strategy?
Discuss your answers in your group.
14 CHAPTER 2
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 2 - video 1 Was this person ‘witnessing’ or not? Why? Why not?
Read and discuss
Before you read about device 10, share examples in your group of what most Christians mean when they talk about the word ‘witnessing’. If you are not in a group, write them down.
Read
pages 48 – 51.
10 Of the examples of ‘witnessing’ given on page 49, which ones could be exhibited by nonChristians?
11 If your answer is ‘most of them’, then it follows that by exhibiting these behaviours, nonChristians would be witnessing for Jesus Christ? Yes? No?
12 Was it a revelation to find out that evangelism and witnessing are primarily the same thing?
13 According to Dr Michael Green, witnessing has three aspects:
a
b
c
Telling facts (about the life of Jesus Christ).
Interpreting these facts and then explaining ‘why’ they are important. The essential content of the gospel message covers ‘the why’. i. Why we must be saved. ii. How Jesus can save us. iii. What we must do to be saved. iv. What was the fourth part of the essential gospel content?
Vouching for truths (i.e. giving your testimony).
14 Regarding telling facts. What facts, other than those I have given as examples on page 50 (i.e. He came, lived, died, and rose again), would you say were critical? 15 Regarding vouching for truths. Write down three things Jesus has done for you in your life so far.
16 On page 50-51, I summarise 10 ways the devil has manipulated our thinking. Rank these ten, “1” being most applicable to me, to “10” being least applicable to me.
CHAPTER 2 15
Memorise: Exodus 9:16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Write a prayer telling Jesus what is on your heart right now. Thank Him for what you have learned in this chapter
Chapter 2 – Answers Question Number
Answers
1
Participants offer their own answers
2
Because they demonstrate God’s phenomenal power and desire to save people. This being so, just imagine how much more He would want to bless the proclamation of His word – the gospel. So, let’s get sowing!
3-12
Participants offer their own answers
13
(iv) The cost of becoming a disciple
14
That He is coming again; That He is the Judge of the living and the dead; that His coming was prophesied etc
15-16
16 CHAPTER 2
Participants offer their own answers
How we have Become Confused in our Understanding of the Phrase “The Gospel”
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. The devil has confused our understanding of the phrase ‘the gospel’. What are the main ideas in this The devil has tried to manipulate us into proclaiming other gospels. chapter? ‘The gospel’ has three aspects: words, works, and effects.
‘The gospel’ has a general use, and a sharply defined New Testament use. The gospel message can be defined.
The devil wants us to dilute the gospel to preserve unity.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 3 - video 1
As you watch this video, please take particular notice/notes on what the speaker is saying about the gospel. • He say the Church is weak because we are preaching ‘another gospel’. Is he right? Why? Why not? • How does preaching another gospel weaken the Church? • Can you attribute the deterioration of society to a weak Church? How does this work? Can you think of some scripture verses to back up your argument? • How would preaching ‘the’ gospel make a difference?
CHAPTER 3 17
Refresh
1.
In study one, we discovered that there were three aspects to the gospel. Do you remember what they were? I have given you the first one below. a. The works of the gospel.
b. c.
2. The gospel also has four essential content areas. Recall them below. I have filled in the first one for you.
a. Why we must be saved.
b. c.
d.
3.
Look at the cartoon below. With respect to the content of their messages, have many pastors and leaders succumbed to pressure from people in the pews to please them (i.e. ‘meet their needs’), rather than preaching strong Biblical messages which meet their spiritual need? i.e. Instead of God, the Bible and the Holy Spirit guiding what’s preached from the pulpit, is meeting immediate needs of people now doing the guiding? Discuss in your group.
Read On page 55, Julian states that when it comes to a knowledge of the gospel, there are basically three groups of Christians.
4. 5.
Which group do you belong to? If you are in groups 1 and 2, what positive steps are you going to take to get into group 3?
7.
Read footnote 3, page 55. Can you or anyone in your group name an evangelist who is currently busy and active equipping Christians for personal evangelism? i.e. doing what Ephesians 4:12 commanded which was to ‘Equip the saints for the work of ministry’?
6.
What thinking/things do you anticipate would hold you back?
18 CHAPTER 3
8.
9.
How serious is the situation? How could you become part of the solution? What would stop you from equipping others for evangelism? “Evangelists, those with the gift, are in a crude sense selling Jesus Christ and His Church.” Do you agree/disagree with this statement? Why? Why not?
Discuss in your group.
10.
In a business, if the sales team collapses, what happens to the business? Is there a lesson here for churches? If so, what is the lesson?
11. What could you do to practically help evangelists get the Ephesians 4:12 gift back into ministry and stay in the ministry? Even flourish in their ministries? How do you believe this would impact your church?
12. What would you think of the idea of ‘adopting’ an evangelist? What would you do?
Discuss your answers in your group.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 3 - video 2 Read and discuss
Read the quote from Dr Bill Bright on page 59.
13. On a scale of 1-10, where would you rate your spiritual life right now? “1” being ‘spiritually impotent and frustrating’ and “10” being ‘life and life in all its fullness’.
14. When was the last time you were a “10”? What were you doing at that stage of your life?
15. What factors were contributing?
16. What factors are contributing to where you are at now?
Discuss your answers in your group.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 3 - video 3 (optional)
Was the man speaking balanced in his theology? What was great about what he said? And what he was doing? Did he understand the difference between words, works, and effects? Was there anything he said that really impacted you? What about the discussion he had with a fellow Christian about being cruel to the man without legs? Whose side would you take? Why? Why not?
CHAPTER 3 19
Watch and discuss
17. Device 12 is extremely important. This is one of the chief confusions created by the devil. Consequently, many Christians now object to evangelism by saying ‘The gospel is more than just words!’ They are, of course, right in saying this. However, if they understand the difference between the words, effects, and works of the gospel, this confusion could be cleared away quickly. As a group, discuss how useful this distinction between the words, effects, and works of the gospel has been for clarifying what ‘the gospel’ is.
18. List as many truths as you can which came out of watching these two DVD’s. Did any particular truth really stand out? Which one? For what reason?
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 3 - video 4 & chapter 3 - video 5
Memorise: Numbers 13:30 “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
Write a prayer to Jesus thanking Him for what you have learnt this lesson, and ask Him to change your heart for evangelism and the lost world.
Chapter 3 – Answers Question Number 1 2
3-18
20 CHAPTER 3
Answers a.
The effects of the gospel.
b.
The words of the gospel.
a.
How Jesus can save us.
b.
What we must do to be saved.
c.
The cost of being a disciple.
Participants offer their own answers
What is the Content of the Gospel we are to Proclaim to Non-Christians?
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. The gospel message must cover four essential areas of content: What are the • Why we must be saved. main ideas in this • How Jesus can save us. chapter?
• •
What we must do to be saved. The cost of discipleship.
The centre of the gospel is justification by faith.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 4 - video 1 Did you find yourself agreeing with the speakers? If so,why? If not, why not?
• Is the first speaker right? Has our evangelism become ‘results orientated?’ • Are ‘numbers’ the measure of success today in many churches? How does ‘going for numbers’ cause the gospel to be watered down? • How true is it that ‘if you take away the offence of the gospel, you take away the gospel?’ What’s ‘offensive’ about the true gospel? • Do you think the men who were commenting actually engage in personal evangelism themselves? Or are they just people who know what’s wrong and are experts at pointing it out? How can you tell? Is there any way of telling? • Does God love us ‘just the way we are’? Or does He love us to conform us into His image? Discuss in your group.
Think and Reflect
Jesus commanded us all to ‘go into all the world and proclaim the gospel’ Mark 16:15. He was commanding the disciples to invite people to believe in a set of truths about Himself. What are some key truths about Jesus you might include in a gospel message? List them below. See if you can get 10! I have done the first four below. CHAPTER 4 21
1.
He was God
2. He was man
3.
His coming was prophesied
4.
He was One of the trinity who created the world
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Read pages 97 – 104. Compare your answers with those of the Lausanne Covenant on page 104.
Now, rank these sentences from 1-10, “1” being most important, to “10” being least important. If you were to summarise the whole Bible in one sentence, what would that sentence be? Write your answer down.
Now read pages 105-107 and compare your one sentence with the findings of scholars when they were asked the same question!
Memorise
The four essential areas of Christian content on page 109.
a.
Why we must be saved.
c.
What we must do to be saved.
b. d.
How Jesus can save us.
The cost of becoming a disciple.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 4 - video 2
Do you agree with everything Paul Washer is saying about the gospel? Why? Why not?
22 CHAPTER 4
Read and discuss On page 114, evangelist David Watson makes the comment that ‘I have learned that most people, if not all, are basically hungry for God, even though they show little sign of this on the surface.’ This is also the experience of the author. Yet, the general opinion of those who make up the Church around the world is that non-Christians are hardened to God, and not open to receive the gospel.
14. Explore possible reasons why this discrepancy exists.
a. Has the devil blinded the minds of not just unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4) but also of believers to the openness and hunger among non-Christians for God?
b. Was the myth that non-Christians are not hungry for God started by timid Christians as a conjured up excuse not to go to the lost?
c. Could David Watson not be telling the truth?
d. Or is it just that evangelists like David Watson and people with the gift are supernaturally endowed with skills to communicate the gospel to the lost?
e. If this is so, can these skills be passed onto effectively to those without the gift? What would Ephesians 4:11-12 say about this?
f. If not, then why was the command to evangelise the whole world given to all believers, not just those with the Ephesians 4:12 gift? Discuss your answers in your group.
Memorise: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
Write a prayer telling Jesus what is on your heart right now. Thank Him for what you have learned in this chapter, and tell Him what action you are going to take as a result of reading it.
Chapter 4 – Answers Question Number 1-14
Answers Participants offer their own answers
CHAPTER 4 23
24
When Evangelism is Not the Priority, our Purpose Becomes Confused
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. What are the The priority of the Christian Church is the evangelisation of the world. main ideas in this chapter?
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 5 - video 1
What is God’s highest priority? The speaker starts by saying it is not ‘us’ but ‘Him’. He then goes on to cite scriptures which speak of the character, deeds, and attributes of God. He is right in concluding that God exists for His glory. What the speaker doesn’t make clear (and this is not a criticism) is how we can glorify Him? How is the thought of glorifying Jesus worked out practically in each of our lives? Is the pastor on this video really speaking about what ought to be the priority with respect to our motives? (See Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31) If so, what ought the priority be when it comes to our activity? Some say ‘prayer’ ought to be our priority activity, others ‘worship’, and yet others ‘social action’. Who is right? How would be know who is right? What does the Bible say? (Think of what you learnt in chapter 1 – video 2. Watch this again if you need to). Now listen to the two audio files CHAPTER 5 - AUDIO 1 and CHAPTER 5 - AUDIO 2 The speaker is Dr John MacArthur who is one of the world’s best known and respected Bible teachers.
CHAPTER 5 25
Think and Reflect After listening to the two audio files, think about the Westminster Shorter Catechim (below) and discuss in your group. This Catechism is one of the most important documents produced by the Church in the past 500 years. The Westminster Shorter Catechism was written in the 1640s by English and Scottish divines. The assembly also produced the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Westminster Larger Catechism. The three documents are considered by many Protestants to be the grandest doctrinal statements to come out of the English Reformation, and one of the important documents of the Reformation. Completed in 1647, it was presented to parliament on 14 April 1648. The catechism is composed of 107 questions and answers. The first 12 questions concern God as Creator. Questions 13-20 deal with original sin and the fallen state of man’s nature. Questions 21-38 concern Christ the Redeemer and the benefits that flow from redemption. The next set of questions, 39-84, discuss the ten commandments. Questions 85-97 teach concerning the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. The final set of questions 98-107 teach and explain the Lord’s prayer. The most famous of the questions (known to a great many Presbyterians) is the first: Q. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
1.
2. If Churches grasped the idea that evangelising their town/city/world was the greatest way to bring glory to Jesus, how would this change the way to ‘do’ church? How would church be different to the way it is now?
3.
Exactly how does evangelising give glory to God? (See the chapter in Julian’s book “Evangelism: Strategies from Heaven In The War For Souls” on motives).
Why does doing evangelism show God we love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?’ (See John 14:21)
READ AND DISCUSS. Read pages 123 – 146. Page 125, Device 16. On this page, Julian lists seven reasons why he came to the conclusion that the priority of the Christian Church ought to be the evangelisation of the earth for the glory of God
1. Can you add an eighth reason?
2. Of the seven reasons given, which is most impacting? For what reason (s)?
On page 129, there is a quote from John Stott. “Unless the whole Church is mobilised, the whole world is not likely to be reached. Thus God’s purpose and the world’s need together bring to the Church the insistent call to evangelise.” Is John Stott saying that the West is not yet completely reached? i.e. that there are people groups in the West which don’t yet have an established indigenous Church? If so, can you think of what groups this would be? • How could there be unreached people groups in large western cities? Small towns? Remote areas? • What place does evangelism have in reaching these groups? • How would you go about identifying these groups?
26 CHAPTER 5
On page 134, Julian gives a vision of a new breed of pastor-evangelists. • How realistic is this vision?
• How could pastors be relieved of some of their many duties and responsibilities so that they could be free to evangelise? • Who would take these up for them? • How would this be financed?
• What difference do you think this change would be for pastors? Would it bring a change for better in their : a. Marriages? b. Preaching?
c. Relationships?
d. Vision for their church?
f.
e. Love for the lost?
Love for the Bible?
g. Love for Jesus? h. Love of life?
If so, how so? If not, why not? Look up John 14:21. Who does Jesus says will ‘show themselves’ to any believer who obeys the commands of God? Also see 1 Samual 15:22. In this chapter, to come to his conclusions, the author quotes many scholars, established and proven leaders, both past and present, and historians. • Why is it so important to do this? • Would his argument be so believable if he had not done this?
Page 144 – 147. In these pages Julian encourages leaders. • How could you encourage your leaders to make evangelism the priority? • •
How could you be part of the solution, and not the problem?
Why is it so important not to criticise your leadership? (See 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:15 for example).
• What is the difference between criticism per se and constructive criticism?
• If your leadership do not want to get involved in evangelism, or you are fobbed off, what is your plan? • How can you make yourself accountable for this plan? Discuss you answers in your group.
CHAPTER 5 27
NOW WATCH A DVD ENTITLED: CHAPTER 5 – VIDEO 2 The leaders in this discussion, Dr John Piper, Dr D.A Carson, and Dr Tim Keller are among the great leaders in the world today. They are widely and unanimously respected for their views. Their conclusion is that gospel proclamation (evangelism) is the priority of the Church.
Memorise: Deuteronomy 8:2-3 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Write a prayer telling Jesus what is on your heart right now. Thank Him for what you have learned in this chapter. Ask Him to help you make evangelism the priority in your life and the lives of others.
Chapter 5 – Answers Question Number
Answers
1
We are to do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
2
Yes, according to the scholars. Their findings are the basis of this chapter.
3
Yes.
4
Evangelism
5
Both. The key scripture here is 1 Corinthians 10:31
6-7
Participants offer their own answers
8
Large cities are now extremely cosmopolitan and many of these people groups are not yet ‘reached.’
9
An unreached town/rural area/people group is where there is no established church or group of believers who can evangelise the rest of the group, rural area, people group.
10
Evangelism is critical. See Romans 10:14-15
11-25
28 CHAPTER 5
Participants offer their own answers
Are all Christians Commanded to Evangelise?
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. What are the All Christians are commanded to evangelise. main ideas in this chapter?
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 6 - video 1
How does this video make you feel? Afraid? Guilty? Inspired to go? Disgusted? Manipulated? What messages is the DVD trying to convey? Is it ‘over the top’ (i.e. exaggerated for effect?) If the screams of people in this DVD were your children, or loved ones, how would you feel? In many church circles today, it’s not politically correct to speak about ‘hell’, let alone labour the idea? Why do you think this is so? Was ‘hell’ used by Jesus just to scare people into heaven? Did He use hell to control behaviour? Why was hell created in the first place? Why does He command His angels to send people there? Look up Matthew 3:12; Mark 9:43. If Jesus used the concept ‘matter of factly’, why don’t we? What is stopping us? Take time to read and meditate on the Parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16: 19-31. What do you think was the main reason Jesus told this parable? If Jesus was ‘the gospel’, and He spoke often about hell, would it be unbiblical of us to leave mention of hell out of our gospel messages? If we leave ‘hell’ out of our gospel messages, would be preaching an incomplete gospel message? Discuss your answers in your group.
CHAPTER 6 29
Think, Reflect and Discuss
Someone once said “To ask the question ‘are all Christians commanded to evangelise?’ is akin to asking ‘are all fish designed to swim?’”
1.
In light of Acts 1:8, what was the person who said this trying to say?
2. How much truth is there in what he/she said?
3.
What Bible verses support the point of view that all Christians are commanded to evangelise?
4.
What Bible verses could a person use to support the idea that the command to evangelise was not for all Christians?
5.
What do you believe personally?
6.
We learnt in the previous chapter that the priority of the Church was to evangelise the world. If this responsibility was restricted to those who have the gift of evangelism, what is the likelihood of completing the task?
7.
If the responsibility rested with all Christians, would the completion of the task be more likely?
Read, Think, Discuss Read pages 151 -155. Focus on page 155 and the Dr Leighton Ford quote.
8.
Why are the Communists,Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Pentecostal Churches the fastest growing movements in Latin America?
9.
In the business world, if a business boomed because of a particular sales strategy, it would not be long before other similar businesses followed suit. This is because most businesses exist to make profit. Why haven’t we followed the Latin American example?
10. Do you think principalities and powers were responsible for the limp response of churches in the West?
11. If not, why else might churches in the West not have followed the excellent example of the Latin American Church?
Read pages 156-157.
12. In support of the idea that evangelism is for all believers, was Julian’s explanation of the four scriptures cited from the four gospels (i.e. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) convincing? Why? Why not?
13. Has anyone in your group read anywhere in any book that evangelism was not for all believers? If so, which book?
Read page 158.
14. Do you have an Ephesians 4:10-14 evangelist in your church?
15. If so, are they being given an opportunity to train and equip the people in your church?
30 CHAPTER 6
16. If not, what could you do to find one?
Read pages 159 -161
17. How important is it for the spiritual health of your church to have at least one of each of the five Ephesians 4:10-14 ministries active?
Read pages 162-164 The dictionary defines an ambassador in the following way: “An official envoy; especially: a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.”* In 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are called Christ’s ambassadors.
18. As Christians, what is our ‘temporary diplomatic assignment’?
19. Why is it ‘temporary’?
20. What makes us ‘official’?
21. Why are we ‘of the highest rank’?
22. Why is the Government we represent (i.e. the Government of Jesus Christ) ‘foreign’?
23. Is any genuine Christian not an ambassador?
24. How should this passage, and the dictionary definition, help us answer the question ‘Are all Christians commanded to evangelise?’
Read 165
25. As Christians, would you say it was our goal to imitate Christ?
26. Would you agree that proclaiming the gospel was a major part of the life of Jesus?
27. If so, can you find scriptures to back your opinion? (e.g. Luke 19:10)
28. If not so, can you find scriptures to back your opinion?
Read page 166 - 167
29. John Chapman examines 1 Peter 2:9-10 closely and concludes that all Christians are to ‘declare the mighty deeds of God’. He then says ‘...and these praises are all associated with the work of salvation.’ How does he come to this conclusion from 1 Peter 2:9-10?
30. Is John Chapman right? If so, does this scripture teach that all Christians are to evangelise? If not, why not?
* http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambassador
CHAPTER 6 31
Read page 168. What Pope Paul II had to say to Catholic youth was extremely encouraging and commendable.
31. How can we (i.e. Protestants) work more closely with Catholics?
32. Are all Catholics the same? i.e. are they all genuine Christians?
33. Are all Protestants the same? i.e. are they all genuine Christians?
34. If your answers to (32) and (33) was ‘no’, why can/can’t the genuine Christians in both groups work together for the purpose of evangelising the world?
35. At what points would we have to ‘agree to disagree’?
Read pages 170-173
36. What is your own commitment to evangelism going to be? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Are you going to start by giving out tracts? Or actually proclaiming the gospel?
37. On page 173, there is a list of six things which stop us from evangelising. Rank these from 1-6, “1” being ‘the most relevant to me’ and “6” being ‘the least relevant to me’.
Discuss your answers in your group.
Read pages 174-175. At the top of page 174, Julian outlines four different ways we could react to the truth that evangelism is the responsibility of all believers. Give each member of your group a piece of paper. Ask them to write their honest reaction. Put the answers in a hat or have the group leader read the responses. As a group, discuss the various reactions and pray for one another.
Read page 176 On this page, Julian makes this statement: “If your church doesn’t provide training in evangelism, it’s your duty to seek it out.” As a group, discuss the various ways you could be trained e.g. on-line training makes training very easy and accessible.
38. What other avenues are there for you to receive training?
39. What obstacles and challenges do you expect while training?
40. What blessings and joy?
41. What will it feel like to be in the minority with very few people encouraging you?
42. How will you react when the devil, sometimes using Christians, either subtly or blatantly, discourages you from continuing?
43. How will you be accountable?
44. Read Julian’s explanation of the Parables of the lost sheep and lost coin on page 177. Do you think Jesus gave us these particular parables to prepare us for the challenges and hardships associated with evangelism? Discuss as a group the various hardships and challenges you can
32 CHAPTER 6
expect to encounter when you mobilise to reach the lost with the gospel.
Read pages 181-82
45. On page 181, Julian shares how he honestly feels about evangelism most days. How much of the effort in evangelism is sheer will power?
46. When did Julian say the Holy Spirit seemed to tangibly manifest and empower him?
47. When, then, is greatest will power needed?
48. According to Julian, when does the Holy Spirit ‘kick in’ and empower the evangeliser?
49. After reaching a non-Christian with the gospel, there is usually a lovely rich sense of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the evangeliser. Why does this ‘after glow’ not last into the following day?
Memorise: Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,* and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Write a prayer telling Jesus what is on your heart right now. Thank Him for what you have learned in this chapter
* This is not the only reason businesses exist. Another reason they exist, for example, it to serve society.
CHAPTER 6 33
Chapter 6 – Answers Question Number
Answers
1
Acts 1 says the Holy Spirit was given for witness. Now the Holy Spirit is God. The only thing the Holy Spirit will not overrule is free will. So, if the Spirit was given for witness, and He resides in us, and we are not witnessing, is the sticking point with us or God? So, the challenge is to tap into our will, which is controlled by our minds, which have has been influenced by the devil. This is what this book is essentially about. How to defeat the devil’s influence, and come into a place of victory in evangelism.
2
Participants offer their own answers
3
See points 1-4 on page 156.
4
Romans 12:4-5 is one! “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
5-7 8 9-16
Participants offer their own answers Because they focus on personal evangelism Participants offer their own answers
17
The five fold ministry gifts are all vital. They are like spokes on a bike wheel. If one spoke is knocked out, the wheel begins to malfunction.
18
To represent Jesus on earth
19
Because it’s for the duration of our natural life. Once we reach heaven, we can’t evangelise.
20
God has said we are His ambassadors, so we ‘officially’ represent Him
21
Because we represent the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. This authority is the highest there is.
22
Jesus said ‘My Kingdom is not of this world.’ John 8:36
23
No.
24
If an ambassador is someone who actually represents Jesus, and imitates Him, and Jesus spent a lot of time proclaiming the gospel, and exhorting others to do it, then what reason would we have not to? What would Jesus say at our ‘ambassadorial performance review?’
25-26 27
28-49
34 CHAPTER 6
Participants offer their own answers Christ Our Role Model: The Christian life, the Christian walk should be characterized by the virtues taught in the Word of God. We have said that love embodies all of these virtues, and that a life of perfect love would necessarily be an entirely virtuous one. Such was the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. During His tenure on this earth, He embodied and exemplified the love of God, and by His own example, facing the same difficulties of life which we face (yet to a far more intense degree, Heb.4:15), He gave us a pattern to model ourselves by, footsteps, by which if we should only follow them, we would be lead by the straight road to a virtuous life well-pleasing to God (1Pet.2:21-25; cf. Matt.16:24; Jn.13:15).The Bible is about Jesus Christ (Jn.5:39), about the love of God demonstrated in His gift of Jesus Christ (Jn.3:16), for love comes from God and God is love (1Jn.4:7-8). In this sense then, every page of the Bible reflects the character of God and the love of Christ for lost people, and we should try to retain this perspective as we study the scriptures. Spiritual growth, as we have seen, is a process of transformation, and the ideal goal of that process is the formation of the character of Jesus Christ within each one of us (Gal.4:19). To accomplish this heady goal, we need to “imitate Christ” (1Cor.11:1) and “put on Christ” (Rm.13:14) until He “dwells in our hearts” (Eph.3:16-17). When this happens, we will have His compassion and love for the lost, and go to them with the gospel. Participants offer their own answers
How to Overcome Fear in Evangelism
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. What are the main ideas in this Fear of doing evangelism can be overcome chapter?
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 7 - video 1
1.
To what extent would $100 a time motivate you to evangelise?
2.
Why is money proven to be a much greater motivator than many other influences?
3.
Why does money turn out, in this video, to be a greater motivator than the command of Jesus to evangelise?
4.
What does this tell you about human nature?
5.
Can you identify with this video? Did you notice how easily the young man overcame his fear of embarrassment once the monetary incentive was put before him?
6.
Remember the movie ‘The Passion of Christ’. In light of that movie, how does the thought of ‘only doing evangelism for money’ make you feel? Ashamed? Embarrassed? Why?
Discuss in your answers in your group.
CHAPTER 7 35
Read, Reflect and Discuss Read page 189-193. At the top of page 190, there is a list of five things people fear when it comes to evangelism. 7.
Rank each of these five in order of applicability to your life, “1” being most applicable, “5” being least applicable.
8.
The author makes the statement ‘Pride is at the root of most fears’. The dictionary defines pride in this way “a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.”* Exactly how does pride create fear?
9.
In the account of the monk Telemachus, what do you think motivated him? How would he have felt jumping into the arena?
10.
What can we learn about what motivates people from this account?
11.
What is your most embarrassing moment in your life?
12. How does it make you feel when Julian reports that 95% of the thousands of people he has reached with the gospel were gracious and positive? 13.
If you knew you were going to get the same response, would this motivate you to go?
14.
How much truth is there in the thought that we have become hermits in our churches?
15.
Look at the cartoon below? What is it really saying about attitudes towards evangelism? E.g. Is it saying that many churches don’t want to evangelise because of the hassle of having to deal with new Christians? Yes? No? What else it is saying?
Read page 194-205 How to overcome “fear without foundation”. 16.
Of the five fears listed, what ones are given by God?
17.
Which ones are directly from the devil?
18.
Which ones does the devil try and exaggerate?
19.
Which one (s) are most applicable to you?
20. In Numbers 13, a bad report was spread around by 10 of the 12 spies. To what extent is the Christian community today like this, with certain people spreading a bad report about evangelism? This book is about how principalities and powers subtly spawn and spread bad reports, each of which is * http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pride
36 CHAPTER 7
designed to stop Christians evangelising. What do I mean by subtle? Well, it’s like this. You’ll never hear anyone in the Church say ‘Don’t do evangelism’. To do so would be blatantly un-Biblical. The devil knows this, so he determines to work by stealth, subtly and quietly creating his devices. In the cartoon below, the devil has flilled the Church with fear about evangelism. How true is the message of this cartoon? Why? Why not?
21.
At the bottom of page 195, six common “fearful imaginings” are listed. Can you add some more?
22. Which one is most common in your group? 23. Julian lists six things we can do practically to overcome fear without foundation: relying on the Holy Spirit, getting training in evangelism, doing evangelism, prayer, study, and Bible reading, including memorising scripture. As an individual or as a group, what steps are you going to take the ‘action’ these? How can you be accountable to one another?
Read page 206-208 How to overcome a spirit of fear. 24. Up to this point in your life, what fear have you been able to overcome? 25. What happens if you pray against a spirit of fear, and at the end of the prayer, you still feel fearful? 26. How would getting training in evangelism, and being coached, help overcome fear? 27.
When you first learnt to drive a car, were you fearful? Now, having driven a car for some years, do you still fear fearful? What is the lesson here for us about becoming less fearful about evangelism?’
CHAPTER 7 37
28. Do you think you could go through the same growth curve with learning to do evangelism? Why? Why not? 29.
What’s the difference between learning to drive a car and learning to do evangelism?
For more on deliverance from a spirit of fear, Joyce Meyer has an excellent article at http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/Articles/art16.htm
Read pages 209-216 How to overcome experiential fear 30. On page 209-213, Julian gives an account of his worst experience in evangelism. Does the Bible teach us that we should expect persecution? Where in the Bible? 31.
How would you have felt if you the evangeliser in this situation? Hurt? Wounded? Rejected? Humiliated? Joyful? Would you have continued evangelising? Why? Why not?
32. What would Jesus have done in the same situation? What about Paul the Apostle? 33.
Can you recount an event in your life where everything went terribly wrong? What happened? Have you gone into the same situation again?
34. Read 2 Corinthians 11:22-27. How do Paul’s struggles and problems compare with ours? Why was he so committed to evangelism, and we in the Church not so? What’s the difference between us and him?
Read pages 216217 Natural fear 35.
When was the last time you experienced natural fear? What was the occasion?
36. Give examples of fears which are natural and healthy? What device is being illustrated in this cartoon? 37.
Is the cartoon (at right) about ‘natural fear’ or ‘experiential fear’ or ‘fear without foundation’ or ‘a spirit of fear’ or a combination of all?! Which is which, and why?
38 CHAPTER 7
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 7 - video 2 38. How did this video help you ‘rise up’ in your inner self and make you feel like you can overcome any struggles you have in evangelism? 39.
The video ended with the word ‘CAN’ on the screen and then the verse ‘With Christ, all things are possible’ (Philippians 4:13). How does this apply to you and evangelism?
Read, Think, Discuss Read pages 217-223 Fear of the Lord 40. When you read the list of natural fears Jesus gave the disciples on page 218, do you get the feeling our pastors and leaders today tend to shelter us from these fears? If so, why would they do this? How could this not be helping evangelism? 41.
Why was Jesus so explicit to the disciples about the obstacles they would encounter as they went about doing evangelism?
42. On page 220, Julian explains how to develop courage. On the Seven Step Master Plan (page 14), what level are you going to start at? Each level upward is a small step forwards. How will you be accountable to keep going up the levels? 43.
On page 221, Julian lists the powerful assurances given by Jesus to the disciples. Can you find the scripture which goes with each of these?
44. What does the cartoon have to say about ‘the fear of the Lord?’ Does this have anything to say to us about the urgency of evangelism? If so, what?
CHAPTER 7 39
Pray and Write Write you own prayer to the Lord below about what you want Him to do for you in your heart regarding evangelism. Below are some questions you might like to use to guide your thinking.
•
How do you want to be changed?
•
What attitudes do you want to let go of?
• • • • •
What attitudes do you want to acquire?
Ask Him to show you who you should be spending time with? What old ways/friends have not been helpful?
Where do you go to from here regarding evangelism? Who should you be accountable to?
Allow Him to minister to you and speak to you. Ask Him to empower you for the things you have asked for in your prayer.
Memorise: Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Write a prayer telling Jesus what is on your heart right now. Thank Him for what you have learned in this chapter
40 CHAPTER 7
Chapter 7 – Answers Question Number 1-7 8
9-28 29
30-41
Answers Participants offer their own answers Our pride makes us want to be seen in a good light, admired, looked up to – like a famous person etc. When we do evangelism, it’s not the kind of activity any movie star, rock star, or famous person does. In fact, so few people do personal evangelism, it’s easy to feel like an “on fringe of society person.” No one wants to feel like this. Add to this the thought of being seen by someone we know while we are doing evangelism, or we wonder what people looking at us will think while we are doing evangelism (e.g. we might be seen to be a Mormon) and pride rears its ugly head! Participants offer their own answers Try John 15:18-21 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me.”; John 17:14-18 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” In light of the devices in this book, isn’t John 17:18 interesting! Participants offer their own answers
42
They are all in Matthew 10!
43
Participants offer their own answers
CHAPTER 7 41
42
Eleven Common Misunderstandings about Evangelism Which Hinder Christians from Proclaiming the Gospel
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. The devil has tried to persuade Christians:
What are the They are inadequate for evangelism main ideas in this To misquote great Christians from history chapter? They must earn the right to proclaim the gospel
To believe leading a good life and being a positive example is evangelism That they are too incompetent to evangelise Faith is a private matter Personal discomfort is not of God Private revelation can contradict the Bible That love is the ultimate thing They shouldn’t share the gospel unless their lives back up the message Not to share the gospel unless their motives are right
This study of chapter 8 is divided into five parts. Each part is intended to take one hour long study session. 1.
This video starts off with ‘Evangelism’ as a key word in the graphics. The narrator then says ‘How do I evangelise in my sphere of influence?’ Is this video about evangelism? How much of it?
2. What else is this video about? 3.
It’s an excellent video, full of truth and sincerity, and brilliantly put together. However, are there ‘devices’ at work here? If so which ones.
4.
What could the director and producer of the video have done to eliminate these?
5.
Does he subtly ‘put down’ using the words of the gospel? Or is he rightly emphasising ploughing, sowing, and watering?
6.
Could what he said about ‘words’ be misunderstood as a slight against evangelism?
Discuss your answers in your group.
CHAPTER 8 43
PART ONE: QUESTIONS 1-20 now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 1 - video 1
Read, Reflect and Discuss Read page 227-228. On page 228, there is a list of 11 misunderstandings about evangelism. 7.
Rank each of these eleven in order of prevalence in the Church, “1” being most prevalent, “10” being least prevalent.
8.
If 11 people came to you, and each person voiced one of these misunderstandings, what would you say to challenge their thinking?
Read about
9.
pages 229-242
Julian starts by saying ‘The feeling of inadequacy is often rooted in a simple lack of skills and confidence.’ How true is this?
10. Recount a time when you had to learn a new skill, and how difficult it was to master E.g. learning to ride a bike, or sew, or drive a car. 11. Which one (s) are most applicable to you? What did it feel like when you ‘got it’? Discuss you answers in your group. 12. What’s the difference between learning one of the skills you discussed in (9) above and learning to do evangelism? 13. On pages 229 – 232, Julian cites biblical characters who struggled with feelings of inadequacy. Then he shares his own feeling. How helpful is this? How did they move from a place of inadequacy to competence and breakthrough? 14. What kind of character qualities do you think they would have needed to achieve success? 15. How are you going to develop these? 16. On pages 233 – 241, Julian gives six keys for overcoming inadequacy in evangelism. Please re-read key 3, on page 240, “Make a decision to follow God no matter what”. Evangelism is presented as ‘...a long hard battle’. Is it wise to prepare people with the challenges and be up front about them? Will this put people off before they start?
44 CHAPTER 8
17. Are there more keys? What about a strong, vibrant, flourishing relationship with Jesus? How would this help? What other keys can you think of? 18. Or is it better to let them discover it for themselves? In a previous study, what did we discover Jesus did? (re-read page 218 ) 19. Re-read the sixth key which is on page 241. How true is the maxim ‘the more we do the more we will want to do? And the less we do, the less we will want to do?’ Can you think of other areas of your life where you have found this to be true? E.g Bible reading? Prayer? 20. Read the Julian’s explanation of Luke 19:26. Can God give and take away desires? E.g. Read Proverbs 21:1. Psalm 37:4. Can you think of other similar verses? 21. It has been said “Well, if God gives and takes away desires, and I don’t have any desire to do evangelism, then He must have taken it away. I am therefore not responsible to evangelise.” Is this an immature way of looking at the situation? Would a true disciple of Jesus say this to Jesus, if they were face to face with Him? How can someone get the desire back, if they sense they have lost it? 22. Do cartoons like the one on the right and the constant portrayal of the non-existence of heaven and hell in the world dull down our sense of the reality of heaven and hell? What effect would this have on our desire to evangelise? Discuss in your group.
CHAPTER 8 45
PART TWO: QUESTIONS 21-29 now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 2 - video 1
21. “Last Chance”. Did this DVD increase or decrease your desire to reach people with the gospel? Explain why.
Read, meditate, discuss Read about
on page 243-245
22. Was it a surprise to read that St Francis of Assisi never said ‘Go into the world and preach the gospel, and if necessary use words?’ 23. How many times would you have heard this misquote from St Francis in church circles? Often? Sometimes? Not at all? 24. How would this misquote undermine evangelism? 25. Who do you think started the misquote circulating in the Church? What was his motive? Did the quote sound Biblical? How far off the truth was it? Remember the ‘one degree off the truth’ principle from the author’s DVD series. Is this misquote an illustration of this principle? 26. How would rule 1221 have helped evangelism?
Read, watch a DVD, discuss Read about
on page 245-249
NOW WATCH THE VIDEO ENTITLED: CHAPTER 8 - PART 2 - VIDEO 2 27.
How much truth is this person speaking about friendship evangelism?
28. How many people in the Church do you really think are making friends with a non-Church person, and then sharing the gospel with them? Or is it a case of everyone promoting the idea, but hardly anyone is doing it themselves? 29.
What do you think of the his idea of ‘share the gospel first, then build the friendship’?
46 CHAPTER 8
PART THREE: QUESTIONS 30-35 Read, meditate, discuss Read about
on page 249-251
THE FOLLOWING IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL STUDIES IN THIS SERIES. PLEASE TAKE PARTICULAR NOTE 30. Can you recall the three aspects of the gospel? I have given you the first one.
a. The Works of the gospel.
c.
b. The ? of the gospel.
The ? of the gospel.
31. Where does leading a good life and being a positive example fit with these three aspects? 32. Where does ‘leading a good life and being a positive example’ fit in the six steps to drawing a nonChristian to Christ? 33. How has knowing the biblical definition of evangelism helped you quickly detect the devices of the devil?
Read about
on page 251-252
This device plays on something all of us face at some time in our lives: fear of failure! The cartoon below sums it up nicely.
CHAPTER 8 47
34. What kind of character qualities are needed in a person if they are to succeed with learning a new skill? Below are some. Rank them from ‘most necessary’ to ‘least necessary’:
i.
iii. Courage.
ii.
viii. Self discipline.
Humility.
iv.
Long suffering.
vi.
Tenacity.
v.
Perseverance.
ix. Mental toughness. x.
Emotional stability.
xi. A positive mental attitude.
Patience.
xii. Ability to relax. xiii. Ability to focus
vii. Fortitude.
xiv. Sense of humour
35. Give an example of each as it pertains to learning how to evangelise e.g. Mental toughness: Not listening to the excuses we tell ourselves as to why we shouldn’t go out and evangelise today e.g. “I am too busy today.” With this character quality, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we train our will to override our emotions.
Now watch the following
1. 2. 3. 4.
videos
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 3 - video 1 now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 3 - video 2 now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 3 - video 3 now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 3 - video 4
These videos are talking about mental toughness. How were Jesus and Paul and the Apostles mentally tough? Can you give example of how they overcame tremendous challenges and obstacles in order to stay at the task of evangelising the world? For example: •
Jesus was in such stress that “his sweat was as if it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Yet his stress did not stop Him going forwards.
•
In Luke 22:42 He said ‘No my will, but yours be done’. Jesus could feel His will clashing with that of His Father. He yielded to the will of His father and finished the race.
• To know that He was destined to whipped and beaten and then crucified on a cross and keep going is mental toughness to the extreme. Yet Jesus did it. •
To be constantly hunted by the Pharisees, who were always trying to trap him, put great mental pressure on Jesus.
Can you think of other examples of His mental toughness? Yes, they had the Holy Spirit, as we do, who was strengthening them. This being so, do we have any excuse not to develop the same mental toughness of Jesus and Paul? * I am not taking away from reliance on God, prayer, or any other spiritual discipline. What I am trying to convey in this section is that we must take responsibility for what we can, and must do, in order to succeed with evangelism. If we do this fully and completely, we can leave the rest to God. Many world class athletes, musicians etc are fully committed Christians. While they pray, attend church, and rely on God in every way, they still understand that if they hadn’t got out there and put the hard yards with hundreds of hours of training, they simply would not have achieved success in their field. IT’S THE SAME WITH LEARNING HOW TO EVANGELISE.
48 CHAPTER 8
• Paul the Apostle became incredibly mentally tough. Just look at the account of all the hardships he went though in 2 Corinthians 11:23 onwards. Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, what else gave Paul and Jesus their mental toughness? •
Read Acts 5:40-43. What winning attitude did the Apostles develop? Is there anything stopping you developing this attitude?
Write three things you can do to develop ‘mental toughness’ with respect to evangelism.
For further reading:
These articles are mostly written by non-Christians. Sometimes the language is not what I would like it to be and some of the ideas not Biblical. Nonetheless, there are tremendous and helpful truths in each article. So, take the meat and leave the bones! http://www.internetfitness.com/articles/9tips.htm Ten tips to mental toughness.
This is a PDF file on “What is mental toughness and how to develop it”:
You can even do courses on how to develop mental toughness. Here is just one put on by the University of Auckland.
http://www.mascsa.psu.edu/dave/Mental-Toughness.pdf
http://www.shortcourses.ac.nz/courses/189/
Each one of the attitudes I have listed at question 35 is a study in itself. I urge you to take the time to get onto the internet and study them for yourself. I personally believe that the devil targets weak character chinks in the armour of Christians to stop them doing evangelism.
PART FOUR: QUESTIONS 36-44 Read
on pages 253-254
Look at the cartoon below. Even though it’s about Islam, does it make a comment about how some nonChristians want to keep “religion” (including Christianity) out of the public arena? 36. In the last ten years, various attempts have been made to keep anything ‘religious’ out of schools. Can you think of what those ‘things’ were? 37. What about in Government?
CHAPTER 8 49
38. Can you think of other spheres where society, through the media, wittingly or unwittingly, puts pressure on the Church to be ‘private’ about religion? 39. What effect does this have on evangelism? Does it cause Christians to be silent because:
i. They don’t want to go head to head against what they perceive as widespread public sentiment?
iii. They don’t want to be unpopular?
ii. They are intimidated by the newspaper articles? iv. They want to respect the privacy of others? v. Other reasons?
40. By the pressure exerted by certain individuals and groups to exclude ‘religion’ from the public arena are principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). What was the weapon Jesus used in his desert encounter with the devil (Luke 4:1-13)? 41. When thoughts come to us to ‘keep quiet’ about our faith, what scriptures should we counter with? (They are scattered all through pages 253-54). Which one in particular would you memorise so you can use it every time you get this thought? 42. If we are not mentally and emotionally tough*, do you think we could withstand the devil’s attacks as he tries to put thoughts into our minds to keep quiet? 43. You have heard the famous observation of Tertullian that, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” It is well known that when the Early Church was most persecuted for its faith (i.e. when there was most pressure to be silent), evangelism flourished. How is that when we have religious freedom (i.e. there is no law stopping us from evangelising) evangelism has all but died out? As a group, discuss why this could be so?** 44. In light of this, how should we pray for the Church? How should we pray for ourselves?
* Which I believe flow from being spiritually vibrant and alive. ** For an interesting and in-depth answer to this question, visit http://www.reformationtheology.com/2006/05/the_blood_of_the_martyrs.php
50 CHAPTER 8
PART FIVE: QUESTIONS 45-51 Read about
pages 254-258
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 5 - video 1
45. Is this video just hype? Or are many of us dead, and this video speaks about where we ought to be in our attitudes towards Jesus and His mission? Why? Why not? 46. On pages 254 and 255, there is a list of things Christians say which centre on embarrassment. Have you found yourself saying any of them? Which ones? What about those in your group? Which ones are most common? 47. On the YOU TUBE video you have just watched, has the person experienced ‘brokenness? (i.e. death to self?) One commentator defined brokenness like this: “True spiritual brokenness is a reflection of a life given to humility, a contrite spirit, and an understanding that we are like brute beasts before God unless we allow Him to break us like the horseman breaks a stallion. Real brokenness is the man who acknowledges that he is no longer his own; he has been bought with a price. Such a man yields himself to God to be broken and formed into the image of Christ.”*
Can a broken Christian be ‘embarrassed?’ Do we have to be broken by God, or can we reach this place ourselves through voluntarily walking in humility? E.g. 1 Peter 5:6; Luke 1:51-52;James 4:6; Matthew 18:4.
48. Is going out and doing evangelism, whether we are embarrassed or not, a mark of humility? Why? Why not? 49. Philippians 2:8 says ‘And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!’ No one humbled Jesus. He humbled Himself. He is our example. This passage is teaching that ‘humility’ is something we can choose. Is lack of humility at the bottom of the Church’s’ issues with evangelism? And the devil is playing on our pride? What do you think? 50. Read Acts 5:40-42 again. How do you think the Apostles acquired such a commendable attitude to be suffering disgrace? 51. Ask God right now that He might help you develop this same attitude.
* http://ceruleansanctum.com/2004/10/battle-for-brokenness.html
CHAPTER 8 51
PART SIX: QUESTIONS 52-61 Read about
on pages 258-259 then study the cartoons below.
52. Both these cartoons mock President Bush and how he ‘heard from God’ about Invading Iraq. Why is it very dangerous to say in the public arena ‘I have heard such and such from God?’ 53. Even in the Church arena, why do we have to be careful to say ‘I have heard from God?’ How can we discredit our witness? 54. How can we test whether someone has genuinely heard from God or not? Is there a difference between hearing from God about a personal matter (e.g. what car to buy) and a pastor or leader hearing from God about a matter which effects a congregation or nation? Should we apply the same tests to both? Can we? What does the Bible say? 55. Under what circumstances should we accept the statement ‘God has told me not to evangelise?” Should we challenge all other occurrences? If so, what would you say to the person you were challenging?
Read about
on pages 259-264
56. What are the benefits of heaven? And the things we fear about hell? Given that the human soul is the only ‘bit’ of a person which lives on forever, can you see why Jesus placed an emphasis on saving them? 57. If He created each of us especially before the beginning of time, is it important to Him that we live with Him forever?
52 CHAPTER 8
58. Think of your own children. How important is it that you live with them in heaven? Could Jesus feel the same way about us as His created beings? 59. It is possible to proclaim the gospel and be unloving? Can you think of an occasion when you saw this happen? What happened? Discuss you answers in your group. 60. On page 262, John Stott insists that if we are not evangelising, there is reason to believe we are not born from above. i.e. we are not Christians. Is this going too far? Discuss this in your group. 61. Would you conclude with Julian that evangelism is agape love in action? If so, why? If not, why not?
PART SEVEN: QUESTIONS 62-75 Read about
on pages 264-267
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 8 - part 7 - video 1
62. We don’t know anything of the personal life of Mr Jenner from this testimony. However, what we do know is that God worked mightily through his humble, simple efforts. Is there any reason you could not do what Mr Jenner did? What would stop you? What would encourage you? 63. What does the Bible say about personal holiness and purity? As Ambassadors of Christ, we ought to do everything we can to have “clean hands and a pure heart.” What Bible verses exhort us to live like this? Here are some to start:
i. Psalm 24:3-5
iii. Matthew 5:8
ii. Psalm 51:10
iv. Proverbs 22:11
vi. Psalm 18:20; 18:24
v. I Timothy 1:5
vii. 2 Corinthians 7:1 viii. Hebrews 12:14 ix. 2 Peter 3:14
64. Which of these scriptures show that an added dimension of the Lord’s favour tends to rest on those who are walking practically in holiness and purity? 65. However, what verses teach that God will use the seed of the gospel, even if it comes from the hand of people who are nowhere near perfect? Start with these - Isaiah 55:10-11; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Ephesians 2:7-9. CHAPTER 8 53
66. Could it be that those who are most aware of their sin and weakness, and who rely most on God because of this awareness, are the ones God uses most? See 1 Corinthians 2:3.; 2 Corinthians 12:10 67. In chapter six we discovered all Christians are commanded to evangelise. Would the task of evangelising the world ever be completed if God only used those who had a certain high level of personal holiness? What percentage of the church is living at this high level? What percentage would be disqualified? 68. Julian’s experience is that many in the Church living at a high level of personal holiness actually don’t participate in evangelism either. So what shall we conclude? We conclude from this study that while God does command us to walk in personal holiness, His chief concern is the heart of the person doing evangelism. i.e. are they sincere in wanting to evangelise for the glory of God? See 1 Samuel 16:7. Discuss your answers in your group.
Read about
on pages 268-269
69. What motives could a person have when they say ‘I am not going to share the gospel because my motives are not right’:
a. They are sincerely not wanting to evangelise without the right motives.
b. They are using ‘wrong motives’ as an excuse (i.e. a cop out) for not doing evangelism.
70. After reading about device 27, what wrong motives were alluded to for not sharing the gospel:
a. To bolster personal significance and identity.
c. To feed one’s ego.
b. To be recognised by others.
d. To put another notch on the belt. e. To please the pastors. f. To earn salvation.
71. Can you think of other wrong motives, not mentioned on pages 268-269? Can you add some more? 72. Read carefully the author’s discussion regarding Jeremiah 17:9 and Philippians 1:18. Do you agree? Why? Why not? 73. Read again the story about Bill on page 267. Were his motives right? Why? Why not? 74. At the beginning of this study of device 27, we noted two possible motives for saying ‘I should not share the gospel unless my motives are right’.
a. They are sincerely not wanting to evangelise without the right motives.
b. They are using ‘wrong motives’ as an excuse (i.e. a cop out) for not doing evangelism.
* Positionally, all genuine Christians in God’s sight are pure, righteous, and blameless because of the finished work of Jesus in their lives. E.g. Romans 5:9
54 CHAPTER 8
75. After examining device 27, can we conclude that ‘a’ is also at best a great misunderstanding of the nature of the human heart and a misunderstanding of Scripture? At worst, it is a manifestation of false pride, and another veiled cop out? Or is this too harsh? Discuss in your group.
Memorise: 1 Sam 15:22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
CHAPTER 8 55
Chapter 8 – Answers Part
Question Number
ONE
1-9
Participants offer their own answers
10
One of the main differences is that learning other skills won’t result in persecution, abuse, embarrassment, rejection, or ridicule.
11-18
TWO
THREE
Anyone can get back a desire for evangelism by committing to learn how to do it, and then persevering until the point of breakthrough.
20
These kinds of cartoons and similar media portrayal ‘dulls down’ our sense of urgency to reach the lost. It also has the tendency to dull down the reality of heaven and hell.
21-23
56 CHAPTER 8
Participants offer their own answers
24
It undermines evangelism because it promoted the idea that we could do evangelism without communicating the words of the gospel, which is not possible.
25
Participants offer their own answers
26
All credible evangelism ministries will be sensitive to the ‘laws of the land’ with respect to where we can evangelise and where we cannot.(e.g. some shopping malls will not allow Christians to evangelise) . We also want to preach by our deeds, as does every Christian, which is a reference to the works of the gospel. So, rule 1221 is a wise policy for evangelists.
27
Participants offer their own answers
28
Ploughing and Watering.
29
Participants offer their own answers
30
Works and Effects.
31
The Works of the gospel.
32
Ploughing, Watering, Discipling Participants offer their own answers
36
Creation studies in schools; prayer in schools
38
In New Zealand, attempts were made to remove prayer from parliament, and swearing on the Bible. Also, there were attempts to remove Bible in Schools
39-40
FIVE SIX SEVEN
Participants offer their own answers
19
33-35
FOUR
Answers
Participants offer their own answers
41
The Word of God
42
No! The only way to develop mental toughness, as well as developing a strong relationship with Jesus, is to relentlessly experience evangelism, which will ‘toughen us up’. This is not being ‘unspiritual.’ It is a reality. Top sportspeople who are Christians can pray, fast, and read their Bibles all day, but unless they get out and train for the event they are taking part in, they will certainly fail.
44
Participants offer their own answers
45-51
Participants offer their own answers
52-61
Participants offer their own answers
62-75
To impress a potential girlfriend or boyfriend? To enter into persecution so as to feel closer to Jesus?
Why is Evangelism an Event, Not a Process
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. Evangelism is not a process. What are the main ideas in this It is an event within a process. chapter?
NOW WATCH THE DVD ENTITLED: CHAPTER 9 – VIDEO 1 Please read about device 28 now. 1.
Up to now, have you been a person who thought that evangelism was a process? How did you get this view? Where do you think it came from? Discuss your answers in your group.
2.
On page 277, Julian makes the statement “The critical question is not ‘how much interaction is there between Christians and non-Christians’ but ‘how much proclamation or spreading of the gospel is going on to non-Christians in the midst of all the interaction?” On the bottom of page 276 and top of 277, Julian lists some of the activities which are being confused with evangelism. Do most churches promote these? If so, which ones? How about your own church? Which are they currently “pushing?”
CHAPTER 9 57
3.
Once explained, it is easy to see how these activities (i.e. those listed on the bottom of page 267 and top of 277 can be thought of (mistakenly) as evangelism? Imagine a friend comes to you and asks you to explain why evangelism is not a process. Include in your answer and explanation of how viewing it as a process undermines the Great Commission. In no more than six sentences, write out what you would say.
4.
On page 280, there is a table which summarises the six steps to drawing a non-Christian to Christ. This explanation has helped thousands of Christians understand clearly what evangelism is, what it is not, and how all the other ministries of the Church work together to achieve our main purpose. How do these six steps help clarify how a non-Christian is drawn to Christ. Why? Why not?
5.
Has the table made it easy to see how evangelism is an event within a process? Why? Why not?
6.
As an exercise, give ten examples of ‘ploughing and watering’ activities. What is one activity which you could use every day to soften the hearts of non-Christians?
7.
Which ‘ploughing and sowing’ activities is your church currently engaged with? How can you encourage your church to continue with these activities?
8.
All six steps have ‘service’ in common. To succeed, each of the six steps requires Christians to serve. Look up these verses:
a. Matthew 23:11 b. Luke 22:26
Do you think this is why Jesus made such a big point about “those who serve being the greatest?” Did he say this because He knew that without Christian service, few non-Christians would be drawn into His Kingdom? Can you think of a time in your own conversion where you were served in some way and it helped ‘draw you’ closer to the point of becoming a Christian?
9.
Imagine your church made a large banner with the six steps written on it. The banner was placed on a wall at the front of the church behind the pulpit, so that whatever message was being preached, listeners could determine where within the six steps the message fell.
a. Would this help churches stay balanced in their teaching? i.e. ensuring that all six steps were flourishing in a local church.?
b. Would it make it easier for the various ministries of the church to see clearly where they fit in the process of drawing a non-Christian to Christ? c. Would church leaders be more able to quickly detect when ‘sowing’ was being neglected?
d. Would it help church members not to lose focus? i.e. to see that everything done in a local church as a means to a great end – the salvation of lost people?
Discuss your answers to each question. Give reasons for your answers. 10. On page 298, there are four behaviours God calls us to found in 2 Chronicles 7:14
a. Humility
c. Seeking God’s face
b. Prayer
d. Turning from wicked ways
58 CHAPTER 9
Do you agree with Julian that we often neglect ‘humility’ when we teach about this verse? Why? Why not? Do you agree that the most humble person most closely imitates Jesus? Why? Why not? How are evangelism and humility closely connected?
11. On page 300, Julian speaks about evangelising whole countries. Asking Christians to reach one person a week with the gospel does not sound like an impossible task. Imagine your were the ‘Evangelism Director’ of your nation. What plans would you put in place to mobilise all the Christians to reach one person a week with the gospel? What challenges would you have to overcome? Would it be most important that you led by example?
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 9 - video 2
12. This video is about the power of one person to save something: liberty, democracy, independence, people, seals, whales, human rights, rain forests, gorillas or whatever. Why is it that this video didn’t include ‘Jesus Christ’ and His mission to save souls? His life one life has saved more lives from hell in the after life and self destruction in this life than all the good causes in history combined. Look up Luke 19:10. Is the battle for the human soul more important than all the other battles going on in the world to save something? Why? Why not? Is ‘saving souls’ the unique and sole mission of the Christian Church? If the Church doesn’t take up this battle, will anyone else? How can you be part of the solution? 13. With respect to ‘The six steps to drawing a non-Christian to Christ’ is there a danger that even the Church has dropped its emphasis on saving souls? i.e. have we lost our mission and vision for souls? When was the last time, if ever, you heard a sermon on the value of the human soul? Mathew 16:26 says “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Discuss your answers in your group.
Memorise: John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows after me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Allow Him to minister to you and speak to you. Ask Him to empower you to be a change agent in the Church, and to help bring back into the same an emphasis on saving souls. Ask Him to give you a revelation of ‘the power of one’ and of what you can do through His power! CHAPTER 9 59
Chapter 9 – Answers Question Number 1-2 3
4-5
Answers Participants offer their own answers Top theologians and leaders from all over the world met at a conference in 2000 called ‘This We Believe’. One of their goals was to define evangelism. They defined it as the spread or proclamation of the gospel. They emphasised that social action, personal testimony, and Godly living were not evangelism. Christians who mistakenly believe that personal testimony, Godly living, and social action are evangelism will not go on to spread or proclaim the gospel because they think they are already evangelising. When the challenge is given to evangelise, they switch off, believing they are already participating. Participants offer their own answers
6
Prayer
7
Pray for the leaders of each initiative. Participate and serve in these initiatives.
8-9
Participants offer their own answers
10
Humility and evangelism are connected. If the priority of Jesus is the evangelisation of the world, His heart‘s desire is, surely the person who synchronises with Jesus in this demonstrating ‘not my will be done but yours Lord’ which is a mark of humility.
11-12 13
60 CHAPTER 9
Participants offer their own answers When the author meets non-Christians, he asks Jesus to give him the same compassion Jesus had for the lost. He uses the memory verse to strengthen him ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost’ (Luke 19:10).
How Christians Have Lost Confidence in the Gospel
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. Four questions are posed and answered as to why evangelism has
What are the collapsed in the West. main ideas in this • Was the gospel we preached in the past not the gospel? chapter? •
Or did we get the message right, but the delivery wrong?
•
Or did we react badly to the charge we are ‘all talk and no action’?
•
Or was it presumption which caused a loss of confidence in the gospel?
In this chapter, there are four reasons put forth as to why Christians in the West have stopped proclaiming the gospel. 1.
Was the gospel we preached in the past not the gospel at all?
2.
The message was right but the delivery wrong?
b. What about you personally? Have you tried evangelism and demonstrated one or more of these yourself?!
a. Have you participated in evangelism and seen any of these ‘hindrances’ in action?
c.
If you take up evangelism, and begin to be part of the solution, which ones will you be most careful to avoid?
3.
Or was it presumption which caused a loss of confidence in the gospel?
4.
Or did we react badly to the charge that we are all talk and no action?
Give each of the four possible explanations a ranking, “4” being most likely, “1” being least likely. In your group, discuss why you chose your answer.
5.
Can you think of reasons, other than the four put forth by Julian in this chapter, and other than the devices of the devil revealed so far in this book, as to why most Christians in the West have all but stopped proclaiming the gospel?
CHAPTER 10 61
6.
Study the cartoon below:
I.
Which potato is “the� gospel?
II.
Which is a false gospel?
III. What does this cartoon have to say about evangelism? IV. About Church growth? V.
Of the four reasons given above as to why Christians in the West have all but stopped evangelising, which reason does this cartoon best relate to?
Memorise: 2 Chronicles 15:2 The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
Write a prayer telling Jesus what is on your heart right now. Thank Him for what you have learned in this chapter. Ask God to help you be someone who either spreads or proclaims the whole gospel
62 CHAPTER 10
Chapter 10 – Answers Question Number 1-4
Answers Participants offer their own answers
5
The Church has become very carnal, whereas the early church was very spiritual. And being carnal, the church has little time for evangelism, which is a spiritual exercise.
6
i) The ‘pure high grade seed’ potato on the left (ii) ‘Any old seed’ on the right (iii) The high grade seed is like proclaiming the whole gospel. It will cost us more, not monetarily, but our time, energy, and pride. The ‘old seed’ is like a cheap and nasty approached to evangelism. When tried out over time, the long term results are embarrassingly low. (iv) Long term, the Church in the world is going to be much better off if they have planted good seed into the field of the world. (v) number 1.
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64
What Jesus really thought about Evangelism and the Gospel
Before you read this chapter...
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you as you work through this study. The gospel message has Inherent Power What are the main ideas in this The word ‘automate’ is the most exciting in the New Testament for people evangelising chapter?
When the complete gospel is preached and understood, results are inevitable The Holy Spirit follows up every seed of the gospel planted The Church must go to strangers with the gospel
NOW WATCH A DVD: CHAPTER 11 - INTRODUCTION Write down five clear truths God taught you as you watched this DVD 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
CHAPTER 11 65
Read, Reflect, Discuss On page 318, Julian writes: “To say that the gospel will not be effective unless it is preceded by a good deed is going too far.” 6.
How do we reconcile this with the table “six steps to drawing a non-Christian to Christ” on page 280? Didn’t Julian say in that chapter ‘ploughing’ was absolutely vital? Explain the apparent contradiction.
7.
Explain what God’s “B” plan is for evangelism?
8.
Explain God’s “A” plan for evangelising the world?
9.
On page 319, Julian has advice for us on how we should think when we meet another person anywhere, anytime. He says to ask the question “Has this person heard and understood the gospel?” Then he asks us to presume two things. What are those two things?
a.
b.
How could these motivate us for evangelism? 10. On pages 321-322, Julian lists the five over-arching principles Jesus is teaching in Mark 4:26-29. In the table below, a scripture has been given next to each principle. Can you think of other scriptures? Read this scriptures in your group and discuss how they ‘fit’ the principle. Principle
Scripture Reference
1
The gospel has inherent Romans 1:16; Mark power 4:27
2
Results from a lovingly sown gospel message are inevitable, as long as the person listening understands the message.
Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:27; 1 Corinthians 13:1
3
We can trust the Holy Spirit to ‘follow up’ every seed of the gospel we plant
John 16:8; Isaiah 55:10:11; John 16:8
4
It is the gospel we are to scatter. Our aim is to get beyond peripheral conversations about God and church with non-Christians and get to the nitty gritty.
Mark 16:15; 1 Corinthians 9:16; Galatians 1:8-9
5
If we want to see Mark 16:15; John 3:16 prolific Church growth again, we are to return to the Early Church practice of reaching complete strangers with the gospel.
66 CHAPTER 11
11. On pages 322-324, there is a very important discussion about the word ‘anthropos.’
a. How many times is this word used in the New Testament?
c. What are the three reasons given by Julian or as to why this word was used by Mark through the inspiration of the Spirit:
b. Complete the sentence: “True evangelism has a small factor.”
factor and a big
1.
2.
3. 12. Read footnote 7 on page 323. When are you going to plan your week of ‘learning how to do evangelism?’ Is this a bizarre idea? Why? Why not? What would stop you doing this? 13. Read footnote 6 on page 322. Do you agree with the idea that the Parable of the Seed and the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23) teaches that 25% of the time we proclaim the gospel, people will be saved? Why? Why not?
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 11 - video 1
14.
Why is this cartoon called ‘The foolishness of man is the wisdom of God?
15. Who did the growing? 16. What was the significance of the ‘Shady Deal Funeral Home’ conversion? What were the cartoon animators trying to convey? 17. What was the significance of the man’s arms coming from the ears of the first convert? And being unzipped? What were the cartoon animators trying to convey? 18. How Biblically accurate was the cartoon? Did the cartoon clearly show that it was the Holy Spirit who made the seed come to life? Why? Why not? 19. If you were making the same cartoon, what would you do differently? Why? Why not?
Read, Reflect, Discuss Now read pages 324-330 of “Evangelism: Strategies from Heaven in the War for Souls.” 20. What is ‘the ground’ in Mark 4:26? 21. The author goes to great lengths to communicate the importance of doing everything we can to achieve understanding in evangelism. Think back to the school teachers you had at school, or university. How important was it to you that they helped you understand the topic, and caused you to succeed with it? CHAPTER 11 67
a. Can you name the teachers who were like this?
c. Just what is it about teachers who make the subject matter clear that is so good? Is it:
b. Can you remember the teachers who were not like this?
1. That we all have an in-built desire to know and understand?
3. That we want to make progress?
2. That we want to succeed?
4. That we don’t like wasting time in boring lessons/lectures?
5. We feel better about ourselves when we understand our teachers? 6. That we want to please the teacher? 7. All of the above?
Give reasons for your answer. 22. What is at stake when we present an un-clear gospel? I have given the first three examples.
a. The non-Christian loses interest in the subject matter.
c. Seeing (a) and (b) above, we become discouraged.
b. The non-Christian loses interest in us. d. e. f.
23. At least three scriptures exhort us to make every effort to ensure that non-Christians understand the gospel we proclaim:
a. Matthew 13:1-23, particularly verse 23
c. Colossians 4:4.
b. Ephesians 3:9
Look up these scriptures and read them aloud. Are they all saying the same thing? Why? Why not?
24. What is at stake for non-Christians if we don’t proclaim clearly?
a. Their eternal life?
c.
b. Their “life and life in all it’s fullness” in this world? d.
25. How can we avoid the danger of thinking our gospel presentation is clear to us, but in fact it is very unclear to the non-Christian to whom we are presenting? What would a good teacher do to test understanding is occurring? 26. Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield are two very well known evangelists who were used mightily by God. Finish these sentences off:
a. It was said of George Whitefield “....he used the words (page 330)
b. It was said of Jonathan Edwards “...the preaching of Edwards was
68 CHAPTER 11
easily
.
. (page 329)
27. At the bottom of page 330 and top of page 331, Julian gives a summary of the key lessons so far in Mark 4:26-29. Which of the seven keys did you find most impacting? Why? Discuss your answers in your group.
Read pages 331-341 about Mark 4:27 Study the cartoon below: 28. Last time you bought a packet of seeds, what were the instructions on the back? Fill in the gaps below:
a. Plough the soil
c. Plant the seed
b. Remove stones and weeds d. ? e. ?
29. Can you see any parallels between the six steps to drawing a non-Christians to Christ (page 280ff) and the instructions on the back of the seed packet? 30. Who actually grows the seeds in the natural realm? 31. Who grows them in the supernatural realm? 32. If the Bible is ‘the packet’, what instructions were given by God for the seed of the gospel? 33. Mark 4:27 ought to be one of the most liberating in all the Bible for Christians who are evangelising. Why is this? Is it because:
a. They now know they don’t have to win the person to Christ. This is God’s job.
b. They can rest and trust God for “a result” and therefore can focus on the delivery of the gospel and just “pouring love” on the person they are talking to?
c. God is pleased with us when we lean on Him and trust Him in this, rather than leaning on our own skill and cleverness? E.g. Psalm 147:10-11 says: “The Lord does not delight in the legs of a man, or the strength of a horse. The Lord delights in those who put their hope in His unfailing love.”
d. God doesn’t hold us responsible for ‘a result.’ He only holds us responsible to do our best to have a go?
e. Even though we are called to ‘water’ the seed of the gospel after it has been planted by prayer and other means, if we forget, or neglect to, God still works on the seed we have planted, 24/7? i.e. we don’t have to feel condemned and doomed if we don’t follow up the seed we have sown. God is bigger than our neglect and laziness? f. All of the above.
Give reasons for your answer and discuss in your group.
CHAPTER 11 69
34. At the bottom of page 340 and top of page 341, Julian lists four things Christians should always be about. Can you name them?
a.
c.
b. d.
35. The key lessons on Mark 4:27 are listed on page 341-342
a. Which one is most comforting? b. Most challenging?
36. On page 342, the fifth key lesson is given. It concerns the issue of ‘follow up’. What is ‘the truth’ the author is referring to here? What is the error?
Read pages 342-350. Mark 4:28
This is perhaps one of the most crucial sections in the entire book. To understand evangelism, know about the Greek word ‘Automate’ is imperative 37. What is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you in your life? What did it feel like? When did it happen? How did it change you? 38. Read carefully and out loud the quote on page 342 from Kenneth S. Wuest, New Testament Greek Scholar, on the word ‘automate’ which is translated ‘all by itself’. The Holy Spirit inspired Mark to use this word to teach about how God works through the seed of the gospel. Which truth is most exciting about the seed of the gospel? That:
a. The gospel seed you ‘plant’ in a non-Christian is ‘self moved’ and not ‘man moved’?
c. It springs to life ‘without external aid?’
b. It springs to life ‘spontaneously’?
d. It has a life of its own, and is ‘..beyond external control’. i.e. when people try and stop it growing, they can’t. e. It has a will and a way of its own that must be respected and waited for?
Give reasons for your answer, and discuss in your group. 39. Read carefully what James Denney has to say on page 342 about the ‘inherent power’ of the gospel. How does what he say change the way we think about evangelising complete strangers? Knowing now what ‘automate’ means, do we need to precede sharing the gospel with:
a. Letting our light shine?
c. Demonstrating social action?
b. Doing good works? d. Prayer? e. Other?
70 CHAPTER 11
Why? Why not? Discuss your answers in your group and then read footnote 36 on page 342. 40. What common myths and misunderstandings about evangelism in the Church does this verse correct?
a. That the gospel is not powerful anymore in today’s society?
c. That people are too sophisticated today to be converted by the simple gospel?
b. That post modern man cannot be penetrated by the gospel?
d. That to convert people in our modern society, we need to add other things to the gospel?
41. On page 344, the Gospel is described as ‘an undefeatable force.’ Christian Schwarz describes ‘automate’ as “the very essence of Church growth”. These truths about ‘automate’, what would it be like if every non-Christian on the earth had an uncompromised, loving, understandable, seed of the gospel planted in them?
a. How expectant would we be for a great end time harvest?
c. How would it increase our faith?
b. How would this change our prayer meetings?
d. How would churches cope with the influx of people?
NOW WATCH THE DVD ENTITLED: CHAPTER 11 – VIDEO 1A Discuss your answers in your group. 42. On page 344, mention is made of the BBC television comedy ‘Dad’s Army’. What are the characteristics of this army?
a.
c.
b. d. e.
Is it fair to compare a church which is not active in evangelism, with Dad’s Army? Why? Why not? 43. On pages 347 – 348, there is an example of a businessman and his family. Please read this again carefully, particularly the comparison between winning 20 families to the Lord, and a family of five consistently proclaiming the gospel.
a. Did explanation of the comparison ‘work’?
c. Does Julian poo-poo ‘building relationships’ and ‘letting our light shine’ in any way?
b. Did Gospel proclamation work for the disciples? (a tiny seed of 12 men which grew into a world wide Church) d. Where do these behaviours fit in The six steps to drawing a non-Christian to Christ? (page 280)
44. At the bottom of page 349, Charles Spurgeon exhorts us to “ God.”
in the Word of
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45. Look up Luke 18:8. What does this verse have to say about faith and its relationship to evangelism? And our response to the command to ‘go into the world and proclaim the gospel?’ Now please read about Mark 4:29, pages 351-361. This last verse is about the certainty of harvest. 46. On page 352, Julian says “He did not say (in Mark 4:29) ‘...the harvest might come...’ or ‘...the harvest could come...’. This is critical. If every believer were committed to planting the seed of the gospel in ground ‘ploughed’ by prayer, fasting, social action, service etc, and if that seed was watered the same way, the results would be breathtaking.” i. Is this hype and exaggeration? Or is it quite realistic? Why? Why not? ii. Is Jesus promising a certain harvest in Mark 4:29, if certain conditions were met? Why? Why not? iii. What conditions must be fulfilled by us, if we are to see this harvest in our life time? iv. Many commentators suggest that the Holy Spirit inspired Mark to tell the Parable of the Mustard seed right after the Parable of the Growing Seed? In doing this, what is Jesus trying to tell us about the connection between evangelism and unprecedented harvest? Or is the order just a coincidence? Why? Why not? 47. On page 352, Dr David Barrett suggests the greatest enemy of world evangelism is endless talking about doing it without any crucial implementation. Be honest – is he right? Discuss. 48. If you were the leader of your church, what steps would you take to break yourself and your people out of the state of being ‘...hearers of the word only’ and not ‘doers’ (James 1:22). Discuss as a group and come up with a plan! 49. Is it acceptable for the Church to continue to preach and teach about evangelism without doing it? What negative outcomes might there be for us if this continues? a. We become hardened in our hearts towards evangelism?’ (Ephesians 4:18) b. We develop a ‘seared conscience’ (1 Timothy 4:2) c. Life experience teaches that if we disobey in one area, it becomes easier to disobey in others? By not doing evangelism, are we subtly training ourselves to disobey in other areas? d. Will we miss out on the joy of making new friends, the non-Christians who come to the Lord through us? e. Will we miss the joy of breakthrough in a difficult area of Christian life (i.e. learning how to evangelise)? f. Evangelism is front line work which develops character in us. Will we miss out on the blessing which comes from developing our character? g. Will we miss out on the rich sense of assurance of salvation which comes from obedience?
h. Will we forfeit crowns at final judgement?
i. ?
Which of these do you agree with? Why? Why not? 50. Does New Testament ‘grace’ cover us and we need not feel guilty, worried, or concerned about not doing evangelism, because ‘there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus? (Romans 8:1). Does God allow us to turn a blind eye? Is it acceptable, through the busyness of life, to block it out of our minds and live in denial? Why? Why not? 51.
If we in the Church did a turn around with evangelism, what positive outcomes might there be? Look at Deuteronomy 28:1. I have given the first two from John 14:21:
72 CHAPTER 11
a. We will sense Jesus loving us (John 14:21)
c.
b. We will sense the Father loving us (John 14:21)
52. On pages 353-354, there is a discussion about this Jesus in this verse teaching us about patience. As a general observation, do you think people in society are more? – or less patient? If less, what is causing this? How is this lack of patience evident in the Church? Do we want ‘Church’ like we want fast food? How would impatience negatively affect world evangelism? 53. Many people converted on the spot at John Wesley’s meetings. However, many more left his meetings without converting. They went away and thought about what they had heard. On average, how long after a Wesley meeting did it take for people in this latter group to convert? 54.
now Watch the dvd entitled: chapter 11 - video 2
On page 355, Julian writes of the motivation which comes from believing by faith that he will meet
thousands of souls in eternity who came to faith, by Grace, through his efforts to sow the gospel while he lived on earth. Does this thought motivate you also? Why? Why not? Look up Matthew 6:19-20. Could the ‘riches’ spoken of in this verse include the souls of non-Christians won to Jesus through your efforts? Why? Why not? Why do you suppose souls are of supreme value to Jesus? 55. Is the The Fisherman’s Poem on pages 357-359 a sick joke or a sad truth? Why?
Discuss in your group.
56. On pages 359-361, there is the very moving account of Andrea’s confession and imprisonment. Please be honest in your answer to the question I am about to pose. Would you, where you sit right now, have confessed your ‘sin’, as Andrea did, knowing your confession would lead to many years in prison? Most of us would say ‘no’. If this is so, does this not prove the power of God working through the gospel to move on hearts to work miracles? (See Zechariah 4:6).
Memorise: 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Write a prayer telling Jesus what is on your heart right now. Thank Him for what you have learned in this chapter. Ask him to give you courage to start evangelising. CHAPTER 11 73
Chapter 11 – Answers Question Number 1-5
Answers Participants offer their own answers
6
The biblical perspective is to say ‘ploughing’ is vital to prepare the heart and mind of a non-Christian to receive the gospel. The unbiblical perspective is to say ‘I cannot share the gospel with anyone until I (personally) have done a good work for the person I am going to give the gospel to’. To put it another way, the truth is that the hearts of all non-Christians are continually being ‘ploughed’ through conscience, prayer*, creation, and life’s painful experiences. Some might also have been served and loved in other ways directly by a Christian (e.g. helping them in their time of need), which will have further softened their heart to receive the seed of the gospel. So to say ‘the gospel will not be effective unless it is preceded by a good deed’ is to presume (wrongly) that there are some non-Christians whose hearts have not been ploughed at all.
7
It’s where we teach and promote the idea that we must precede the proclamation of the gospel with a good deed, relationship building etc.
8
For every believer to be mobilised (i.e. motivated and equipped) to go to every non-believer with the gospel.
9
1. Has this person heard and understood the gospel. 2. If you don’t tell them, no one else will.
Principle
Scripture Reference
1
The gospel has inherent Romans 1:16; Mark power 4:27
2
Results from a lovingly sown gospel message are inevitable, as long as the person listening understands the message.
Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:27; 1 Corinthians 13:1
3
We can trust the Holy Spirit to ‘follow up’ every seed of the gospel we plant
John 16:8; Isaiah 55:10:11; John 16:8
4
It is the gospel we are to scatter. Our aim is to get beyond peripheral conversations about God and church with non-Christians and get to the nitty gritty.
Mark 16:15; 1 Corinthians 9:16; Galatians 1:8-9
5
If we want to see Mark 16:15; John 3:16 prolific Church growth again, we are to return to the Early Church practice of reaching complete strangers with the gospel.
* Yes, there are 24/7 prayer meetings going on all over the world for the salvation of the lost.
74 CHAPTER 11
Chapter 11 – Answers (continued) Question Number 11 12-13
Answers (a) 552 times (b) man, God (c) Anyone can participate in evangelism; Everyone is called to evangelise; Everyone can succeed with evangelism. Participants offer their own answers
14
The evangeliser
15
The Holy Spirit
16
Through the gospel, people can experience life after death
17
The new life of God was breaking into the young man’s life
18-19 20 21-24
Participants offer their own answers The heart Participants offer their own answers
25
We can do two things at least: gently and sensitively ask questions through the presentation, to test comprehension; use presentations which have been road tested and proven to communicate effectively.
26
Most easily understood ; clear
27-28
Participants offer their own answers
29
Each is logical and sequential
30
God
31
God
32
Go into the world and preach the gospel
33
Participants offer their own answers
34
Ploughing, sowing, watering, discipling
35-43 44 45-50
Participants offer their own answers Great Faith Participants offer their own answers
51
The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. (take time to read the rest of chapter 28!)
52
Participants offer their own answers
53
Average of 2 years
54-56
Participants offer their own answers
CHAPTER 11 75