A Dozen Dysfunctions

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A Dozen Dysfunctions Myths About Outreach and
What To Do About Them

• Alan Nelson, Ed.D.
• Executive Editor Rev! Magazine

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12 Myths False Assumptions of Pastors
Church-goers
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1. Its the organized churchs job to
evangelize a community.
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2. When people say, outreach, theyre talking
about the same thing.
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3. Canned approaches still work.
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4. Armed with ample apologetics, we can convince
people to believe in Christ.
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5. Church mission statements including
evangelism/outreach components are effective.
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6. Revival services are productive means of
outreach.
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7. Church marketing with slick ads and postcards
are sufficient to gain new members.
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8. A growing church is a sign of effective
evangelism.
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9. Attraction events are sufficient to introduce
people to Christ.
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10. Confrontational evangelism is effective if
more Christians would just implement it.
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11. Altar calls (invitations) at the end of
church services are the primary way that people
make decisions for Christ.
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12. Its fair to assume that people attending
church have a personal relationship with Christ.
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• Whats Cold

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Turn or burn preaching and street corner
evangelism
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Confrontational approaches (Evangelism Explosion,
surveys)
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Canned plans (4 Spiritual Laws, tracts, EE)
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• Whats Cool

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Stadium events / Crusades (Graham, Harvest, PK)
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Apologetics (convincing facts and arguments,
McDowell, Bible Answer Man)
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Altar calls / invitations for decisions at the
end of sermons
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• Whats Warm

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Attraction events (family fun days, comedy night,
Big Days)
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Quality seeker services (i.e. North Point,
Willow, Saddleback, Fellowship)
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Friendship evangelism (Outflow, Contagious
Christian, Just Walk Across the Room)
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Experiential worship (i.e. worship evangelism)
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• Whats Hot

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Service evangelism (let me serve you- no strings,
Outflow, Sjogren)
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Incarnational evangelism / green house effect
(lets serve others together I.e. Bono,
Habitat, Africa, HIV)
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Co-journey / agenda-less friendships / us
(Beliefnet.com)
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• Nelsons Picks

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• Listening shouts, I care about you more than an
  answer.

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• Teach people to ask better questions Jesus did.

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• Facilitate random acts of kindness just cuz.

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• Liberate people from the church calendar crunch.

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• Equip people to use their gifts, inside outside
  the church doors.

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