An Evangelism-

Discipleship Strategy

For

Your People Group

Universal Bible

Truths Core Beliefs

What is God like?

What are humans like?What is the problem?What is the solution?

Core Beliefs: Broken Law

1. There is only one God

2. God is Creator and Ruler

3. God knows everything

4. God has power to do anything

5. God gives everything we need

6. God wants a loving relationship with us

Core Beliefs: Broken Law

7. God speaks through His Word

8. God keeps His promises

9. God is holy & righteous

10. God hates sin

11. God casts sinners away forever

12. We choose to sin against God

Core Beliefs: Broken Law

13. We answer to God for all we do

14. We cannot save ourselves

15. Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice

16. We are saved by believing that Jesus died in our place.

9 Old Testament Stories Creation The first sin and judgment Noah and the flood God’s promise to Abraham God provides a substitute sacrifice Passover: the blood of the lamb Ten Commandments: God’s Law Sacrifices: shedding of blood for sin The prophets foretell a Redeemer

13 New Testament Stories Jesus’ birth Baptism Jesus & Nicodemus Jesus calms the sea Jesus heals a paralytic Jesus casts out demons Jesus raises Lazarus Abraham, Lazarus, & the rich man The Last Supper

Betrayal & trial Crucifixion Resurrection Ascension

Shame & Honor Core Beliefs

1-9. The same

10. We all dishonor God by disobeying Him.

11. All who dishonor God die disgraced, in shame, cut off from Him forever.

12. God sent His Anointed One to remove our disgrace.

13. Jesus died in shame on the cross to restore our honor before God.

Shame & Honor Core Beliefs

14. God honored Jesus’ humility by raising Him from death and seating Jesus at His right hand in heaven.

15. Honoring Jesus as Master removes our shame and restores us to God.

Sham

e &

Honor

Core

Beliefs

WHAT do they need to know….

about God?

about humans?

about the problem?

about the solution?

WHAT

do they

believe

now?

Jewish

Core

Beliefs

~ 30

AD

Jewish

Core

Beliefs

~ 30

AD

12

13

14

15

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Official

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Practical

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Practical

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Practical

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Practical

Version

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Practical

Version

Post-

modern

Ladder

To

Heaven

1) What do they need to know?

2) What do they believe now?

3) What spiritual beliefs blind them to the truth?

Muslim

Ladder

To

Heaven

Folk

Islam

Spiritual

Barriers

To

Belief

Folk Islam

Muslim Spiritual Barriers

1. Christians believe in three gods.

2. God does not limit Himself to act consistently or to keep promises.

3. God is distant, uninvolved with man, irrelevant to daily life.

4. Man is not responsible for his “mistakes”; God created him weak. Secret sins don’t count.

5. Good works cancel bad deeds and earn spiritual credit.

6. No one can know his fate on the Day of Judgment.

7. God can’t have a son.

8. Jesus was only a prophet.9. Jesus did not die on the

cross.

Additional barriers10. The name Israel has

powerful negative overtones.

11. Ishmael was Abraham’s offered sacrifice.

Muslim Barrier Stories1. Christians believe in 3

gods.(The Ten Commandments)

The golden calfElijah and the prophets of

Baal

Satan tests Jesus

Faith in the furnace

Muslim Barrier Stories4. Man is not responsible for

his “mistakes”; God created him weak. Secret sins don’t count.

Cain and Abel

Achan’s secret sin

The golden calf

God anoints Saul king, rejects him

David and Bathsheba

Additional Barrier Stories10. The name Israel has strong negative associations, killing/ conquering people of PalestineJacob’s name changed to Israel

Canaanites punished for idolatry

Philistines were not Arabs

Hebrews punished for idolatry

Hebrews not to fight descendants of Abraham or Lot

1. Absolute truth does not exist.

2. All beliefs are equally valid.

3. Exclusive claims to truth are rejected as intolerance.

4. People are basically good.5. Law & rules may suggest

behavior but cannot dictate it.

Postmodern Barriers

6. Each group sets its own standards of behavior.

7. These standards are decided by what “works” for the group.

8. Conflicting beliefs are common.

9. Jesus was a good example of a spiritual man.

10. Everyone finds God in his own way.

1. There is only one God.

2. The prophets are known and respected.

3. The Bedouin “ideal Arab” is pastoral like OT characters.

4. Hospitality and generosity are honorable.

Muslim Bridges

6. Power is respected.

7. An honorable genealogy confers credibility.

5. Dreams, visions, and visitations are taken seriously.

8. OT and NT events occurred in “their space”.

11. God guides and gives good things to His people.

12. God gives His people power to resist evil spirits and Satan’s temptations.

10. God forgives & accepts those who become His people.

9. God wants a personal, loving relationship with people.

Postmodern Bridges

1. Desire for the spiritual2. Desire to know Mystery of

God3. People choose their community.4. Community is open to others.

5. Stories are a way to experience new realities.

6. Creativity is important.

7. Symbols & icons are important.

8. Ancient traditions, liturgies & creeds offer stability.

9. Prayer & meditation are valued.

10. Being involved is better than being entertained.

11. Desire to serve others.

12. The journey itself is very important.

God is One, worthy of honor & obedience

God is all-powerful, all-knowing

God’s actions are always justGod pursues a relationship with

usGod keeps His promises across

timeWe all choose our way instead of

God’s way

My Learning Objectives

All sin defiles, shames, cuts us off from God

Cut off from God, we die, eternally alone

Only blood removes the shame & stain of sinGod sent His Anointed One to cleanse us

We must accept the blood God shed for usGod welcomes the shameless &

pure in Christ into His kingdom of heaven God protects, guides, provides for

His own

The issue of “Israel”, killing Philistines

The issue of IshmaelBridge - Dreams, visions,

visitations by God

Additional Issues

Learning Objectives

Chronological Stories

Track Planning Chart(Evangelism)

Track Planning Chart(Evangelism)

Develop An Evangelism Story Set

Present Core Beliefs Core Stories

+Overcome Barriers Barrier Stories

+Build Bridges Bridge Stories+

EVANGELISM STORY SET

Fill Gaps Connecting Summaries

What next? Develop stories in the heart

language. Check out translations.

Test drive them. Can people learn and retell your stories?

Start a storying group; just do it!

Identify problems as you go along.

Misunderstandings may indicate barriers you didn’t know about.

Principles of Storying

The main way of learning for oral communicators

Chronological

Based entirely on the Bible

Looks backward, never jumps forward

Gives an Oral Bible to those who will never read it

Principles of Storying

Uses little or no “exposition”

Communicates universal Bible truths

Presents stories to overcome barriers

Is a “win/win” approach until the invitation to follow Christ is given

Communication Mismatch

Present Core Beliefs Core Stories

+Overcome Barriers Barrier Stories

+Build Bridges Bridge Stories+

EVANGELISM STORY SET

Fill Gaps Connecting Summaries

So take the timeSHARPEN YOUR AXE!

Traditional evangelism tries to

change beliefs

Islam tries to change behavior

American culture tries to change values

TOLERANCE is a

Syncretism the “old man” in new

clothes

Transformedby the renewing of your mind

”Baby Christian” Worldview