The Challenges of Evangelism. Sharing your faith in the 21 st Century

Transcription

1 The Challenges of Evangelism Sharing your faith in the 21 st Century

2

3 Definitions

4 What is Evangelism?

5 Evangelism, definitions of: zealous preaching and dissemination of the gospel, as through missionary work the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ a writer of any of the four books of the Christian Bible known as a Gospel a Christian who tries to persuade other people to become Christian

6 Some examples

7 Evangelist A Christian who converts others: a Christian who tries to persuade other people to become Christian, especially at public gatherings or in broadcasts

8 Televangelism an evangelist who conducts regularly televised religious programs (primarily for the purpose of raising money)

9 What is the message that the evangelist delivers?

10 Who or what needs to be evangelized?

11 Why?

12 If the goal of evangelism is to win converts, then: What do we need conversion from? Why do we need it? What is the goal?

13 Evangelism in the 21 st Century The angst of the evangelist in the postmodern world, we are not in Kansas anymore.

14 Evangelism After Constantine 325 AD > Unquestioned Authority Society Ordered Around the Church Unified Belief System Mission Make Converts

15 The Enlightenment to 2000 AD I Think Therefore I am Modernity Separation of Church and State Social Darwinism Logic Reason Personal Faith Chaplaincy Role Foreign Missions Programs Apologetics

16 Postmodernism 2000 AD > Deconstruction Feelings Political Correctness Question Authority Mission Statements Pluralism Values The Emerging Church

17 Reinventing Evangelism Telemarketing Scripts Don t Work 3 minute conversion story Outline of the plan of salvation The challenge to receive Christ Realignment of the Message Saved from Hell and going to Heaven Or Participant in the Kingdom of God

18 The Mission Have we got the gospel right? How do we present this gospel to others so as to provoke a life changing conversion? How do we keep Jesus at the core of our outreach?

19 Reformed and Always Reforming

20 The Challenges of Evangelism A Theology of Evangelism and the Presbyterian Church (USA)

21 Law 1 God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. God's Love "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV). God's Plan [Christ speaking] "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" [that it might be full and meaningful] (John 10:10). Why is it that most people are not experiencing that abundant life?

22 Law 2 Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. Man is Sinful "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his own stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin. Man Is Separated "The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).

23 Law 3 Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. He Died In Our Place "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He Rose from the Dead "Christ died for our sins... He was buried... He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures... He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). He Is the Only Way to God "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me'" (John 14:6).

24 Law 4 We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. We Must Receive Christ "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). We Receive Christ Through Faith "By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as result of works that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9). When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth (Read John 3:1-8.) We Receive Christ Through Personal Invitation (Revelation 3:20).

25 The Church and Its Mission The Mission of the Church is given form by God s activity in the world as told in the Bible and understood by faith

26 The Church and Its Mission God was incarnate in Jesus Christ

27 The Church and Its Mission God s redeeming and reconciling activity in the world continues through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit

28 The Church and Its Mission The Church is the provisional demonstration of what God intends for all humanity

29 The Church Is Called to be a Faithful Evangelist by: Going out into the world to make disciples Demonstrating love of its members through: Sharing in worship, fellowship and nurture Practicing a deepened life of prayer and service to one another Participating in God s activities in world through its life for others