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Personal evangelism

Smart Road, Greenwood, MO. Personal evangelism. Topics for the next four weeks. Reflecting on my experiences and what I have learned Developing an overall approach to personal evangelism Finding a way to talk with people about the truth Tools that are available Create your own tools

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Personal evangelism

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  1. Smart Road, Greenwood, MO Personal evangelism

  2. Topics for the next four weeks • Reflecting on my experiences and what I have learned • Developing an overall approach to personal evangelism • Finding a way to talk with people about the truth • Tools that are available • Create your own tools • Grounding new converts in the doctrine of Christ • Developing a congregational approach to evangelism

  3. 2008 Flyer: Invitation to services

  4. Sowing the Word

  5. Neighborhoods Canvassed Summer 2008

  6. 2008 Canvassing • Objectives • Raised awareness of congregation in the neighborhood • Invitation to services • Sow a little seed • Results • Did we have any visitors? • Were there any Bible studies?

  7. Raytown Neighborhoods Canvassed 2009-2010

  8. 2009-2010 Raytown Canvassing • Raised awareness of the neighborhood • Offered prayers • Attempted to schedule Bible studies • Left Bible studies with some • 3/17/09-5/29/09 • Houses: 536 • No Soliciting: 5 • Fliers: 498 • Flier Refused: 33 • Prayer Requests: 24 • Visitors: 0 • Qualitative • Goodwill extended • No Bible studies • No visitors Focus Results

  9. Other Attempts to Invite • Blue Springs • Independence • Carrollton • Jay Street & Jefferson Ave. (Denver, CO) • Cedar and Cimmaron (Colorado Springs) • Ethel, MO (White Oak)

  10. Why does inviting people to church fail? • “Are you trying to recruit people to your church?” • “Are you interested in my money?” • “I already go to church. I’m okay.” • The focus was on bringing people to church, not sowing the word.

  11. Matthew 28:19-20

  12. Go and do what? • How do you make a disciple? • Disciple = student • Who is the teacher? • What is the curriculum? • How do we know we need to be baptized? • How do we know what commandments to follow?

  13. The Word is the Key • Matthew 13:3-9 • Parable of the sower • What is the seed? • Romans 1:16-17: what is the gospel? • 1 Peter 1:22-25 • James 1:18 • Colossians 1:5-6 • Ephesians 5:26 • Seek to convert people to Christ, not the church • Sow the gospel • Allow the power of God’s word to convict and convert Sowing the Word Realign the Focus

  14. You’ve Got 30 Seconds...GO! • Is offering a prayer or inviting someone to service or performing a benevolent act a “waste of time?” • Matthew 5:16 • If there is no conversion, is it a “waste of time?” • 1 Corinthians 3:6 • What is the most valuable thing I can give them in 30 seconds? • Isaiah 55:11

  15. A simple approach • Objective: to schedule a Bible study • “I’d like to show you how interesting a Bible study can be.” • Or if it’s someone you know: “Can I ask you a question about religion (or your beliefs, or Christianity, or the Bible, etc.)?” • “Do you think most people are going to heaven?” • It does not have to be this question • Ask a spiritual question

  16. What if they say… • “I’m a Baptist.” • “I’m glad to meet a fellow believer in God.” • “You probably know the answer to the question I’m about to ask.” • “I already have a church home.” • “I’m interested in helping people draw closer to God by studying His word.” • “I’m trying to find people who are interested in studying the word in their spare time.”

  17. More “what if’s”... • “I’m an atheist.” • “Really. What led you to atheism?” • Ask a lot of questions • Morality • “I’m not interested.” • “Can I stop by at a more convenient time?” • “Can I leave a card with you in case you change your mind?”

  18. “Do you think most people are going to heaven?” • “Would you like to read what Jesus had to say on that topic?” • Take them to the Bible • Open Matthew 7:13-14 • Have them read it out loud • Reading comprehension • “Where are most people headed according to Jesus?” • “Do you want to go to heaven?” • “Should you follow the majority if you want to go to heaven?

  19. Passage 2 • “How do you find the narrow way?” • Matthew 7:21-23 • Have them read it aloud and explain what it means in their own words. • Reading Comprehension • “Do many people think they are going to heaven?” • “If they think they are going to heaven, why does Jesus say, ‘I never knew you?’” • “How do you find your way to heaven?”

  20. Passage 3 • “How do you find the will of God?” • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 • Have them read it aloud and explain what it means in their own words. • Reading Comprehension • “Where does Scripture come from?” • “Does Scripture equip me for every good work?” • “Where do I need to go if I want to learn about the good works that please God?”

  21. Wrap it up • “Would you be interested in studying the Bible with me?” • Show them the Open Bible Study • “You just completed questions….” • “When can we set up a Bible Study?” • At this point you should introduce yourself (if it’s a cold call). • Leave a card with contact info and Bible study

  22. Advantages to this approach • Places the Bible directly in front of the contact • Emphasizes their relationship with the Lord • In 5-10 minutes you have had a Bible study on the most important question of all • Flexible – come up with your own questions, passages, Bible study, etc.

  23. Have a Plan 2013 Smart Road Outreach

  24. First century evangelism themes • The Age of Fulfillment has dawned • The ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus • Jesus exalted to the right hand of God and declared Messiah by virtue of the resurrection • The Holy Spirit is proof of Christ’s present power and glory • The Messianic age will end with the appearance of Jesus • Appeal for repentance, the offer of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit, and the promise of salvation

  25. Published Conversion Studies • Open Bible Study • Concise; focuses on reading comprehension and application • Flawed • Search for Truth • Similar format to OBS • More comprehensive (OBS = 3 studies, SFT = 16) • Apologetics Press • Read an article then answer questions • Valuable for skeptics but not for most people

  26. Why Not Come Up With Your Own? • The conversion study project • December 2012 • Art’s approach:  coming into a right relationship with God • Wade’s approach:  Christ-centric approach taken almost exclusively from Matthew - John • How you can develop your own study • Elements you need to include • Format (e.g. questions) • Content

  27. A Few Things to Think About • What is the reading level of your audience? • What types of questions do you want to ask? • How long will it take to complete 1 study? How long will it take to complete the series? • How quickly will you present obedience to the gospel? • Are your questions designed with personal accountability in mind?

  28. How Do You Lead a Bible Study? 2013 Smart Road Outreach

  29. John 1:1 (page 138) • Has “the Word” always existed? • Yes • No • Was “the Word” with God the Father in the beginning? • Yes • No • Is “the Word” divine? • Yes • No

  30. John 1:14, 17 (page 138) • Did “the Word” become a man? • Yes • No • Is “the Word” full of grace and truth? • Yes • No • Is Jesus a man? • Yes • No • Did Jesus bring grace and truth? • Yes • No • Are the Word and Jesus Christ the same being? • Yes • No • I’m not sure

  31. How do you address questions? • Depends on the question • Is the question related to the passage you are studying? • If the question is “on topic,” can you answer it without doing your own investigation? • Is it a question that will be answered later in the study? • Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I will find the answer and get back with you.” • Write misleading or irrelevant questions on a piece of paper and agree to study those questions once the full study is complete.

  32. Acts 4:8-12 (page 184) • Did the rulers of Israel crucify Jesus? • Yes • No • Did the body of Jesus remain in the grave following the crucifixion? • Yes • No • Is Jesus the only person who can save us? • Yes • No

  33. Section 1, WDYB? • Do you believe Jesus is an eternal being, distinct from the Father and yet divine? • Yes. • No. • I’m not sure. (see Philippians 2:5-8, p. 306) • Do you find the origin of Jesus (check all that apply): • Easy to believe? • Difficult to believe? • Worthy of further investigation? (see Colossians 1:15-20, p. 311; Hebrews 1:1-3, p. 339) • Do you believe Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead? • Yes. • No. • I’m not sure, I would like to know more. (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, page 270)

  34. “Discipling” New Converts • Matthew 28:19-20: Preach – Convert – Teach • Acts 11:19-26 • Verses 19-21: Gospel spread beyond Jerusalem to Greek-speaking Jews • Verses 22-24: Barnabas dispatched by Jerusalem church • Jerusalem had elders (see 11:30) • Found disciples in Antioch • Encouraged them to continue with the Lord • Verses 25-26: Barnabas brings Saul to Antioch • Assembled with the church, taught a great many people • First evangelistic journey • Acts 14:21-22: returned to encourage congregations • Acts 15:36: a second return • 16:4-5: churches strengthened in the faith

  35. Five major areas of discipleship • Relationship with the Lord: • Prayer life • Bible reading • Relationship with Christians • Regular attendance • Friendship and fellowship • Mentoring • Fundamentals of the Faith • Corporate worship • Christian doctrine • General Christian living • Morality • Growth and maturity • Familiarity with Bible • Structure • Major characters, events, and covenants

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