Evangelism in the 70’s in the West
The Challenges of Evangelism Today in the West and East
The Problems in
Evangelism Today
| But not only is there a rejection of moral absolutes, a deep skepticism, and an indifference towards the truth, there is also an intolerance towards those who claim to know the truth! |
Understanding the
Times We Live In!
| We need to be like the men of Issachar and understand the times in which we live and therefore know what we should do. | |
| See I Chronicles 12:32 |
Understanding the Times We Live in Compels us…
| To clarify what we commonly mean by evangelism |
Remember,
Evangelism is a Process
| “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” | |
| 1 Corinthians 3: 6 |
Clarifying Definition
of Evangelism
| “Every day and in every way helping our non-Christian friends to take one step closer to Jesus Christ.” | |
| Dave Geisler |
Understanding the Times We Live in Compels us…
| To allow others to discover the truth for themselves by asking them probing questions about what they say they believe! |
Why Not Just
Proclaim the Truth?
| “We live in a world where
people are reluctant to be told what is true, but are willing in some cases
to see for themselves (as in a mirror) the inconsistencies in what they
believe.” Dave Geisler |
The Need For Probing Questions?
Some people may respond
better in our witness by
using an indirect approach!
| If evangelism is a process, and we have been alluding to the need to approach sharing the gospel in a new way, what is this new element to evangelism? |
| If Evangelism is planting seeds of the Gospel, pre-evangelism is tilling the soil of their mind and heart, preparing them to at least be willing to listen to the Truth. | |
| (Mark 2:22; 4:8) |
The Vital Role Of The
Holy Spirit In Evangelism
What do we want to
trust the Holy Spirit to do?
Conversational
Evangelism
Four types of conversations we want to have with not-yet believers
Four types of roles you need
to
play in your friend’s life?
Learn how to be a better listener
| James 1:19-20 | |
| 19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. |
Really hear what people are saying to us!
Hear the Sour Notes
People are Singing to us!
| Talking to a Buddhist: | |
| If one of the goals of Buddhism is the elimination of desire, is it really possible for human beings to really live without emotion or desire? | |
| (conversation with Buddhist auto-mechanic) |
| I don’t think that religion is really necessary. | |
| B. Sometimes I pray but I don’t feel anything. |
Show That They Cannot Hold Conflicting Views!
| A. Jesus is my Savior | |
| B. I can measure up | |
| A. The Bible is reliable | |
| B. I must do good works to be saved | |
| (Ephesians 2:8-9: Titus 3:5) |
Show That They Cannot
Hold Conflicting Views!
| A. I’m a Christian | |
| B. I’m not quite sure why Jesus had to die on the cross. | |
Unmeaningful Statements?
More Examples:
Don’t forget to really listen?
As an artist you want to
paint a picture by asking questions
Asking questions helps
paint a picture to help them
see themselves more clearly
The Importance of Asking Questions
| Questions that uncover the meaning of certain unclear terms |
Asking Questions
In A Way That…
| minimizes their defensiveness and yet creates a curiosity to want to hear more! |
The Importance of Asking Questions
| Questions that uncover the meaning of certain unclear terms |
| Savior | |
| Good | |
| Died for us | |
| Free Thinker |
| Questions that help uncover the meaning of certain unclear terms |
Begin With Asking Probing Questions That Surface the Uncertainty in Their Beliefs
Introductory Questions To Explore the Uncertainties of their Beliefs
| Do you really think it really matters what we believe or is the important thing we have some kind of religion to make us a better person? | ||
| Do you think that all religious beliefs basically teach the same thing? | ||
| Do you think that all people will be held accountable for the way they live? | ||
| 4. If so what do you think the standard will be? | ||
Introductory Questions To Explore the Uncertainties of their Beliefs
| Why must you pray to the goddess of mercy to receive mercy and then the god of wealth to be blessed with material wealth? | |
| Isn’t the goddess of mercy merciful enough to grant one who is in poverty some sort of material wealth? | |
| Why isn’t one God sufficient? | |
| Isn’t god suppose to be all mighty and powerful? If that is the case isn’t it redundant to have so many gods? | |
| How do you know that when you are reincarnated that you will come back as a human? | |
| How do you know that you are good enough to be a human in the next life? | |
Follow-up Questions That Can Expose False Concepts
| for all religions to be the same when some of them contradict each other’s key beliefs? | |
| for the Bible to be rejected as reliable when other historical documents are accepted? |
Follow-up Questions That Can Expose False Concepts
| How is it possible for there to be more than one God? | |
The Right Questions Can Help Them Better Face The Truth!
Jesus’ use of questions
in Luke 20:41-44
| Confucius said, “Man is born with uprightness” | |||
| Wing-Tsit Chan “A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton, N.J.; Princeton Univ. Press, 1963, p. 29 | |||
| The Apostle Paul, who was perhaps one of the greatest Christians who ever lived, said himself, | |||
| “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” Romans 7:18 | |||
| If Desire is the source of all suffering, how do we desire to stop desiring? | |||
| Jesus taught that the issue is not giving up desire, but having right desire (Matt 5:6). | |||
| Matthew 8:2 – Leper | |
| Matthew 28:9 – women at the tomb | |
| Matthew 14:33 – the disciples | |
| Matthew 28:17; Luke 24:52 – the disciples after Jesus rose | |
| John 9:38 – a blind man | |
| John 20:28-29 – Thomas called him “My Lord and My God” | |
| Matthew 2:2 – God sent wise men to worship Jesus, and wise men today worship him too. |
"The Qur’an itself considers the..."
| The Qur’an itself considers the previous revelations contained in “the book” to be authoritative and authentic revelations from God (Surah 2:136; 4:163) | |
| The Qur’an states that “None can change His word.” (Surah 6:115; see also 6:34; 10:64) |
Why Asking Questions Is So Helpful
| “A person can close his ears to facts he does not want to hear, but if a pointed question causes him to form the answer in his own mind, he cannot escape the conclusion—because it’s a conclusion that he reached himself.” | |
| David Reed Baker, Jehovah’s Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986) p. 113 |
As an archeologists uncover
the
real barriers to the Gospel?
| Determine whether their issue is a legitimate concern or whether it is a smoke screen. |
A Formula For Clearing
Away Smokescreens
| “If I could answer your questions in a way that would make sense to you, would that help you to more seriously consider a belief in God and Christianity? | |
| “What kind of evidence are you looking for?” |
Determine the Nature
of the Barrier
Uncover The Specific Emotional Baggage That They Are Carrying
Find the Right Balance in Your Approach to Others
What Does it Mean to Find the Right Balance?
Speak to Their Heart
Felt Issues
Barriers to Belief in
God and Christianity
| "One of my biggest barriers to belief in God or Christianity is that I am not brave enough to consider religious issues solely without considering the consequences of what other people think." | ||
| International Student, U.T. Austin | ||
Building a Bridge to the Gospel
| Find Common Ground with those you are trying to reach |
Building a Bridge to the Gospel
| Construct a bridge from point of shared beliefs (Example: Apostle Paul in Acts 17 and 28) |
Build Using Planks of Common Understanding
Planks of Common Understanding
| Examples: | |
| It maters what you believe! | |
| Not all religious viewpoints can be right! | |
| Faith must have an object to have merit! | |
| Jesus’ claims are unique compared to any other major religious leader! | |
| The proof of Christ’s claim have no parallel among major religious leaders! (I Cor. 15:3-6) | |
| Without God, some people find it difficult to find meaning in life! |
| “Buddha claimed to point to the way, Muhammad claimed to be a prophet of God, but Jesus Christ is the only major religious leader that ever claimed to be God, who fulfilled prophecy, lived a sinless life, and then died on the cross and rose from the dead.” | |
| Dave Geisler |
| Don’t get so caught up in removing barriers that you forget to remember the goal! |
| Actively seek for opportunities to transition to spiritual things | |
| Example: | |
| “Has anyone ever explained to you the difference between Christianity and all other religions?” | |
| * Explain Do versus Done | |
| (See Contagious Christian Training by Bill Hybels) |
Building a Bridge to the
Gospel
(Review)
| Find common ground with those we are attempting to reach | |
| Construct a bridge using planks of common understanding (1 Cor. 9:22), some of which they may have discovered by this time | |
| Remember the goal: Use this
bridge to offer our non-believing friend a path to Christ (2 Tim. 4:2-5) |
Building a Bridge to the Gospel
| Interviews with students at U.T. Austin | |
| “The Dialogue” | |
| Remember that we want to hear the discrepancies and illuminate them by asking questions that clarify their terminology and expose the cracks in their foundation. | |
| * This 15 minute video (Building Bridges to the Gospel) may be purchased off of our web site and is contained on our Resource C.D. . |
What kind of role do you
need to
play in your friend’s life?
Practice Asking Questions
Only
Questions Game
| Isn't it a beautiful day? Why are you asking me? Aren't you the lifeguard? Do I look like a lifeguard? Don't you recognize me? Should I? Do you know how to get to home? Are you questioning my intelligence? Do you have a car? Does that answer your question? Is that a Toyota Camry? Have you ever seen one floating in the water like that? Will you take me for a ride? DON'T YOU KNOW ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS ASK? |
| Are you taking the MRT home tonight? | |
| What did you do for mother’s day? | |
| What are you looking forward to this next year? | |
| When are you going shopping? | |
| What do you think of the Casino issue? | |
| This next week I will: | |
| 1. Look for opportunities to ask clarifying questions in my witness to others. | |
| * Ask, what do you mean by…? (Example: Free Thinker) | |
| Actively seek for opportunities to transition to spiritual things. (example: Do verses Done) | |
| 3. I will e-mail my Outreach Pastor with the results of this exercise! |
Conversational
Evangelism
Four types of conversations we want to have with non-believers