Prepared by Kwasi Kena GBOD

Evangelism Basics for the 21st Century

(Learning Section)

Regular Church

Optional Icebreaker Opening:

Use the YouTube Clip “Training Fleas” (Play Station ad) Available at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlpjA-QgmQM

Types of Church Growth

Biological – church members come from existing families in the church

Types of Church Growth

Transfer – members come from other churches

Types of Church Growth

Conversion – people become new Christians and join the

church

Types of Church Growth

Which type of growth occurs most in your church?

Evangelism and Mainline Churches

Unbinding the Gospel• An extensive study

of evangelism in mainline churches.

• Includes best practices

How Did You Become a Methodist?

One pastor’s telling confession

A Theology of Evangelism

Evangelism…

What’s That?

Evangelism and the Academy

Evangelism Described

“Those sets of [church ministries] in which people are initiated into the kingdom of God for the first time.”

--William Abraham

Evangelism Described

Evangelism is more… “relational than confrontational”“communal than solitary”“A beginning point than an end.”

--Hal Knight III & Doug Powe Jr.

Evangelism Described

“That set of loving, intentional activities governed by the goal of initiating persons into Christian discipleship in response to the reign of God.”

--Bishop Scott Jones

Evangelism Described

“Evangelism is…the holistic initiation of people into the reign of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.”

--Elaine Heath

Evangelism Described

The proper context for evangelism is “authentic Christian community, where the expression of loving community is the greatest apologetic for the gospel.”

--Elaine Heath

Regarding these descriptions of evangelism…

What did you notice?What do you wonder?

The “Evangel”Greek Definitions

The “Evangel” DefinedIn the early church, three Greek words described "the evangel":

Euaggelizesthai -- to Tell Good News Marturein -- to Bear Witness Kerussein -- to Proclaim.

Being the Good News…With Just a Few Sandwiches

Show Teen Feeds Homeless UMTV Video

Euaggelizesthai – to Tell Good News

What Good News do we have to share?

Jesus’ central message – the Kingdom (Reign) of God is at hand.

(Readings from Luke 4:18-21 & Mark 4:26-7; 10:13-15)

Marturein -- to Bear Witness Greek understanding

of bearing witness:

A Legal Term

Marturein -- to Bear Witness Why is it good for

you to be in personal

relationship with Jesus Christ?

Kerussein -- to Proclaim

What do we proclaim?

Kerussein --to Proclaim

DeedWord

Transforming Evangelism

The Wesleyan Way of Sharing

Faith

Use as 6-weekStudy

What Motivates You to Do Evangelism?

Why? How?If not heaven or hell, whatmotivates you?

A “Both/And” Theology

The Place of Prayer in United

Methodism

The Proclamation/Growth Approach

Believe, Belong, BehaveAn Orthodox View

Models of Church

The Attractional Church

Church as Vendorof Religious Services

ChurchA Body of People--Sent

Missional Church Model

Prepared by Kwasi Kena GBOD

Evangelism Basics for the 21st Century

(Leading Section)

Pivotal Questions

What is church?

What is church for?

Make-No-Wave UMC

Make-No-Wave UMCWhat does this dialogue reveal about the congregation? About the Pastor?

What do you believe a congregation should expect from its pastor?

What do you believe a pastor should expect from the congregation?

Who “Does” Evangelism?

Three Exercises

Exercise #1 Paying the Rent

“Paying the Rent”Group Activity (2 Minutes)

Imagine you are getting a new pastor.List the most important tasks he/she should do as your pastor to “pay the rent”

Paying the Rent (Sample List)

Sermon 15-20 hours (1 hour per minute)Planning Worship 2-3 hoursBible study 3-4 hoursVisiting the sick 2-8 hoursYouth 2-4 hoursSpecialized Ministry 4-6 hoursCounseling 3-4 hours (session, research)Weddings 6 hours pre-marital

Rehearsal 2-3 hoursService 2-6 hours

Funerals 1-2 hours (visitation w/bereaved family) 1-2 hours service & obituary prep

4 hours eulogy prep 2-4 hours funeral, burial, meal w/family

Office hours 20 hoursChurch committee meetings 2-4 hours

Paying the Rent Conclusions

A typical pastor works 50+ hours a week…On ministry that primarily benefits the congregation

Who then “does” evangelism?

Dispel the Myth of

“Super-pastor”

A Pastor’s Multiple Functions:

– Word, Sacrament , Order, and Service

– Order (equip) church for service in mission & ministry

– Lead people in discipleship and evangelistic outreach

The 2008 Book of Discipline, para. 340

Evangelism requires A Credible Witness

“Pastors typically discover that they losecredibility with about half of the unchurchedpopulation the day they get ordained.”

--George G. Hunter III, Radical Outreach, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003) p. 30.

“When necessary use words…”

Exercise #2Faith Sharing in 3 Chapters

Faith Sharing in 3 Chapters

1. My life before Christ

2. How I met Christ3. My life since

meeting Christ

1. Growing up in a Christian environment

2. When I affirmed the faith myself

3. My life since affirming the faith

Faith Sharing in 3 Chapters

Trinity of Relationships God

Church Members People Outside Church

Exercise #3 Ministry in Focus

See Ministry in Focus Handout

Ministry Focus

3 Focusing Questions

3 Dimensions of Discipleship

4 Audiences

Those Who Show Up

Those Who Walk In

1st

Time

Visitors

Friends and Family of Members

Neighbors

Identify What Your Congregation is Doing

Change the Scorecard

Homework

1. Weave prayer throughout your congregation.

2. Do at least one of the following exercises:a. Paying the Rentb. Ministry in Focusc. Faith Sharing in Three Chapters

Close Session in Prayer