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Gary Stanton originally
presented this workshop on December 28, 2002 at the WCCCC Winter
Conference.
Sharing The
Gospel In Everyday Language
Just like any specialized
discipline, Christianity employs specific terminologies to define
concepts applicable only to their context. Engineers use words
such as kinematics, bandwidth and firmware which are clear to
other engineers, but most others wouldn’t understand. It is the
same with Christians. We use words such as singspiration, quiet
time, atonement, supplication, and many others to communicate
ideas to one another. However, these words may be meaningless to
those whom we want to share Christ with. Since the gospel is for
everyone, we need to learn how to communicate with words everyone
can understand.
About
Gary Stanton
Gary and his wife, Donna Mae, ministered to College students for
17 years with The Navigators in Washington state (UW), Corvallis,
Oregon (OSU) and San Luis Obispo, California (Cal Poly). At Cal
Poly, Gary oversaw the leadership team development of the Chinese
Christian Fellowship and preached monthly at the Central
California Coast Chinese Christian Fellowship (church). He is now
helping develop a national ministry to recent college grads,
called Better2Gether, or The Navigator's b2g ministry. He is
currently living with his wife and their four children in their
home in Kent, Washington.
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PLEASE COMPLETE
THE FOLLOWING QUIZ
1. Does the Bible teach that God is interested in reaching the lost with
the Gospel, through His people?
___ Yes! ___ Not really
2. How many times did Jesus’ disciples go out to invite people to hear
Jesus preach?
___ 5 – 10 times a month ___ 11 – 20 times a month ___ Daily ____ Never
3. In what verse(s) do you see Jesus training his men to share their
testimonies?
Reference(s): _______________, _______________, _______________.
4. Did Paul use a “Four Spiritual Laws” or “Bridge Illustration” - type
tool?
___ Yes ___ No
5. How often did Jesus and his disciples schedule evangelism activities?
___ Weekly ___ Monthly ___ Daily ___ Never
6. In what three Old Testament verses does God command us to share our
faith?
References: _______________, _______________, _______________.
7. In what three New Testament Historical Books (Matthew – Acts) does
God command us to share our faith?
References: _______________, _______________, _______________.
8. In what three New Testament Teaching Books (Romans - Revelation) does
God command us to share our faith?
References: _______________, _______________, _______________.
DISCUSS TEST
RESULTS
DQ – How many of you had trouble coming
up with verses where God commands us to use evangelism tools, evangelism
activities, or to do evangelism – period?
DQ – If reaching the lost is so important to God, why do we find so few
verses commanding us to DO evangelism?
A – Our paradigm is the reason. Example of verses on the poor.
DQ – How many verses do you know in the Old and New Testaments where God
commands His people to be holy? ....to be loving?
DQ – How many times do you see God using His people to make Himself
known?
Is this evangelism?
Let’s look at a new paradigm, I think, a
Biblical Paradigm, for evangelism, based on I Peter 3:15,
which says: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
I. BIBLICAL PARADIGM – I Peter 3:15
Current Paradigm: Evangelism is what we do to win the lost.
Biblical Paradigm: Evangelism is what God does through holy and loving
people.
Examples of this in the Old Testament: Joshua 2:1-11, Daniel 6:16-27,
Psalm 67
In the NT, the primary verses are found in the historical books: Matt
28:19,20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21, and Acts 1:8.
These verses give the Church responsibility for getting the Gospel out.
However, I think the key verse for how the natural expansion of the
Gospel works, is I Peter 3:15.
Let’s look at the key concepts:
A. Christ As Lord
Questions To Consider:
Can a person living an immoral life claim that Christ is Lord?
Can a person living an unloving life claim that Christ as Lord?
If a person keeps pretty much to himself/herself, not involved with
the lost of the world, can that person claim that Christ is Lord?
B. The Hope That Is In You
Which of these are uses of the concept of Christian hope?
I hope it doesn’t rain!
I hope we have fun with our Christian friends!
I hope Jesus comes back to save us!
I know that Jesus will come back!
Hope = An Eternal Perspective! Biblical Hope Always Results In An
Eternal Value System!
Christian hope is a vision of the unseen. One who has Christian hope
lives his/her life in view of the eternal, and thus values that which
will last for eternity! An earthy person values people’s stuff; an
eternally-minded person values that which lasts for eternity: people’s
souls.
Can a person living an immoral life claim that his hope is in Christ?
Can a person living an unloving life claim that his hope is in Christ?
If a person keeps pretty much to himself/herself, not involved with
the lost of the world, can that person claim that his hope is in Christ?
What does that person value?
C. Always Prepared…With Gentleness and Respect
Evangelism is the communication God does through us…but we are still
responsible for our part: effective communication!
READ “THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES”
Communication is effective when our words have the same/similar
definitions as those understood by our hearers, AND when our words are
not contradicted by our actions (holy, loving message, holy, loving
life).
Examples: Evangelism in the San Diego Sun…in the Sky…on the Campus.
1. In each example, how were “words” used that the hearer understood?
2. In what way did the actions of the evangelist match the message?
II. CHOOSING A STRATEGY FOR EVANGELISM
Two Types of Strategies:
1. Fly in with a message -- fly out to safety: the outsider. "I visit
their environment during scheduled times, then leave ASAP. They see me
as an outsider."
2. Move in and share Christ’s love: the insider. "I join their
environment as much as possible and they view me as an insider."
III. EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION
Finally, let’s use these principles to evaluate your situation!
1. Do you want God to use your life to reach the lost? _____ Yes _____
Not really
2. Is Christ Lord of your life in all areas? _____ Yes _____ Needs work
3. What is your ministry environment (i.e., in what group of people will
you ask God to use your life; like your fellow college students, your
ext4ended family, co-workers, etc.)?
Describe:
________________________________________________________________________
4. Are you praying for God to reach them? _____ Yes _____ Not really
5. Are you involved in their lives in a meaningful way? _____ Yes _____
Not really
6. Do you listen to them, to understand their needs, hurts, hopes,
spiritual language, beliefs…to determine where God seems to be working?
_____ Yes _____ Not really
7. What will you change this coming twelve months in terms of your own
commitment to Christ, your involvement with the lost, your knowledge of
the Bible, your ability to communicate your faith, or your value system?
In 2003, I will…
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