Being a Witness

1
Being a Witness

• Effective Student Evangelism

2
Missio Dei

• But the LORD God called to the man, and said to
  him, Where are you? (Gen. 39, NRSV)
• For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that
  which was lost. (Luke 1910, WEB)

3
Missio Dei

• When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said,
  All authority in heaven and on earth has been
  given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples
  of all nations Baptize them in the name of the
  Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
  Teach them to do everything I have commanded
  you. (Matt. 2818-20, GWORD)

4
What is Evangelism?

• Telling about a real event.
• Making an introduction to a real person.
• Telling news that really is good.
• Helping someone to take the next step.

5
What is God Like?

• God is so good he made a universe that was
  perfectly good.
• God is so powerful he could make a world with
  creatures with real free will.

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What is God Like?

• God is so righteous he respects our free will
  even when we abuse it to turn against him and
  choose to hurt others and ourselves.

7
What is God Like?

• God is so loving he refused to abandon us.
• God is so wise he made a plan that respects our
  free will and his righteousness at the same time.

8
What is God Like?

• God is so passionate that he didnt send just a
  message to us but he came himself as a human
  being.
• God is so authentic that he made himself
  vulnerable to the same joys and pains of living
  and dying that we experience.
• God is so committed that he allowed us to execute
  Jesus because we didnt like what he said and did.

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What is God Like?

• God is so glorious that death could not keep
  Jesus and his resurrection has mysteriously made
  a way for us to be forgiven and have abundant,
  new life.
• God is so consistent that he STILL allows us to
  choose to accept or refuse his will and have new
  life.

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What is God Like?

• God is so generous that he offers us his Holy
  Spirit to change us from the inside out.
• God is so creative that he will make our new life
  continue forever in a whole new world.

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Analyzing and Changing.

• We must distinguish between form and function.
• Often form outlives function.
• All ministry is now crosscultural.

12
Jews or Gentiles?

• Jews represent the prepared.
• Gentiles represent the unprepared.
• Are the students of today Jews or Gentiles?

13
The Roman or Celtic Model?
14
The Focus Needs To Be On

• Nonpossessive warmth.
• Accurate empathy.
• Inherent genuineness.

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Proclamation

• euangelion to tell good news.
• Focuses on the telling the story about Jesus
  Christ.
• The goal
• to be clear
• to not add to the gospel's simplicity
• to trust in the gospel's inherent power

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Proclamation
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Affirmation

• Focus on becoming a witness.
• Unconditional acceptance.
• Showing and Telling
• You are the light of the world...Let your light
  so shine before men that they may see your good
  deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mt
  514,16)

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Affirmation

• We need constantly remind ourselves that it is
  Gods work.
• Pray faithfully for your friend.
• Obey the Holy Spirits leading.
• Allow Jesus to fill you with love, joy and peace.
• Make friends in Jesus name.

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What are Some of the Obstacles for Christians?
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Obstacles of the Christian

• Busy-ness.
• Inertia.
• Procrastination.

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Obstacles of the Christian

• Overcoming obstacles through your small group.
• Accountability
• Challenge
• Partnership

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What are Some of the Obstacles for non-Christians?
23
Obstacles of the non-Christian.

• Public Opinion John 544.
• How can you believe if you accept praise from
  one another, yet make no effort to obtain the
  praise that comes from the only God?

24
Obstacles of the non-Christian

• Misinformation John 74042.
• On hearing his words, some of the people said,
  Surely this man is the Prophet. Others said,
  He is the Christ. Still others asked, How can
  the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the
  Scripture say that the Christ will come from
  Davids family and from Bethlehem, the town where
  David lived?

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Obstacles of the non-Christian

• Selfsufficiency John 940.
• Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say
  this and asked, What? Are we blind too?

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Obstacles of the non-Christian

• Concern for position John 1148.
• If we let him go on like this, everyone will
  believe in him, and then the Romans will come and
  take away both our place and our nation.

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Obstacles of the non-Christian

• Rebellion Matthew 266368.
• The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, Are
  you not going to answer? What is this testimony
  that these men are bringing against you? But
  Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to
  him, I charge you under oath by the living God
  Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.
  Yes, it is as you say, Jesus repliedThen the
  high priest tore his clothes and said, He has
  spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more
  witnesses? Look, now you have heard the
  blasphemy. What do you think? He is worthy of
  death, the answered.

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The Mission of Jesus To Be a Friend of Sinners.

• 94(?) of new converts come to Christ via the
  influence of a friend or family member.
• We need to develop genuine friendships with
  nonChristians.
• Not witnessing targets.

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The Process of Sharing the Gospel
Raising the Flag
Faith Stories
Bible Study
Testimony
Cultivation
Sowing
Harvesting
Multiplication
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The Process of Sharing the Gospel

• Raising the Flag
• Function establishes your identity
• It is pre-sowing.
• You identify yourself as a believer.
• Principles of raising the flag.
• It should happen as a natural part of a
  conversation.
• Its purpose is to establish your identity as a
  member of Gods family, not as a member of some
  religious denomination or affiliation.

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The Process of Sharing the Gospel

• The Faith Story
• Giving a glimpse of what it has been like for you
  to be a believer.
• Examples How you discovered in the Bible...
• Guidelines

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The Process of Sharing the Gospel

• Suggest a Bible Study
• Keep it casual.
• Look at passages that deal with his/her interest.
• Just sit down and read it together.

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The Process of Sharing the Gospel

• The Invisible Realm
• Keep in mind throughout that there is spiritual
  battle going on in which you must participate.
• Pray
• There must be a revelation of Jesus Christ to the
  heart of your friend.

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How to Harvest.

• Testify to Jesus Christ.
• Present the gospel clearly and concisely.
• Tell of how you came to know Jesus.
• Commend Jesus Christ to your friend.
• Explain the three elements of conversion.

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How to Harvest.

• Explain the three elements of conversion.
• Repentance
• Faith
• Confession

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How to Harvest

• Deal with remaining obstacles.
• Ask Is there anything that is keeping you from
  surrendering your life to Christ right now?
• Answer remaining questions briefly and
  confidently.
• Offer to lead your friend in a sinners prayer.

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The Process of Sharing the Gospel
Raising the Flag
Faith Stories
Bible Study
Testimony
Cultivation
Sowing
Harvesting
Multiplication
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Four-Phase Process of Lifestyle Evangelism

• Phase Cultivation Sowing
  Harvesting Multiplication
• Picture
• Emphasis
• Explanation
• Obstacle
• -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4
  -3 -2 -1 1 2 34

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Four-Phase Process of Lifestyle Evangelism

• Phase Cultivation Sowing
  Harvesting Multiplication
• Picture The Soil
• Human Hearts
• Emphasis Presence
• of believer
• Explanation Speaks to
• the heart
• Obstacle Indifference/
• Agnosticism
• -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4
  -3 -2 -1 1 2 34

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Four-Phase Process of Lifestyle Evangelism

• Phase Cultivation Sowing
  Harvesting Multiplication
• Picture The Soil The Seed
• Human Hearts Gospel
  Truth
• Emphasis Presence
  Presentation
• of believer
  of gospel
• Explanation Speaks to Speaks to
• the heart
  the mind
• Obstacle Indifference/
  Ignorance/
• Agnosticism
  Error
• -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4
  -3 -2 -1 1 2 34

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Four-Phase Process of Lifestyle Evangelism

• Phase Cultivation Sowing
  Harvesting Multiplication
• Picture The Soil The Seed The
  Grain
• Human Hearts Gospel
  Truth Life of Jesus
• Emphasis Presence
  Presentation Persuasion
• of believer
  of gospel
• Explanation Speaks to Speaks to
  Speaks to
• the heart
  the mind the will
• Obstacle Indifference/
  Ignorance/ Indecision/
• Agnosticism
  Error Love of sin
• -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4
  -3 -2 -1 1 2 34

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Four-Phase Process of Lifestyle Evangelism

• Phase Cultivation Sowing
  Harvesting Multiplication
• Picture The Soil The Seed The
  Grain The Crop
• Human Hearts Gospel
  Truth Life of Jesus Community
• Emphasis Presence
  Presentation Persuasion Participation
• of believer
  of gospel in the
  Body
• Explanation Speaks to Speaks to
  Speaks to Speaks to
• the heart
  the mind the will the whole man
• Obstacle Indifference/
  Ignorance/ Indecision/ Isolation/
• Agnosticism
  Error Love of sin Inward focus
• -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4
  -3 -2 -1 1 2 34

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The Problem with Many Evangelism Programs

• They violate the golden rule.
• How do Christian ethics apply to evangelistic
  persuasion?
• Evangelism is persuasion
• Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,
  we try to persuade men. 2 Corinthians. 511.

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Evangelism Styles

• Confrontational Style.
• Intellectual Style.
• Testimonial Style.
• Interpersonal Style.
• Invitational Style.

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Evangelism Styles Confrontational

• Biblical Example Peter in Acts 2
• Contemporary Examples Chuck Colson, Billy Graham
• Traits
• Confident
• Bold
• Direct
• Skips small talk, gets right to the point
• Has strong convictions

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Evangelism Styles Confrontational

• Cautions
• Be sure to seek Gods wisdom so you will be
  appropriately sensitive and tactful.
• Allow the Holy Spirit to restrain your desire to
  come on strong in every situation.
• Avoid judging or laying guilt trips on others who
  approach evangelism with a different style.

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Evangelism Styles Intellectual

• Biblical Example Paul in Acts 17
• Contemporary Example Josh McDowell, D. James
  Kennedy
• Traits
• Analytical
• Logical
• Inquisitive
• Likes to debate
• Concerned with what people think.

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Evangelism Styles Intellectual

• Cautions
• Avoid getting stuck on academic points,
  arguments, and evidence.
• Remember that attitude is as important as
  information. 1 Pe. 315
• Avoid becoming argumentative.

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Evangelism Styles Testimonial

• Biblical Example Blind Man in John 9
• Contemporary Examples Corrie Ten Boom, Joni
  Erickson Tada
• Traits
• Clear communicator
• Good listener
• Vulnerable about personal life
• Overwhelmed by gratitude
• Sees links between their own experience

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Evangelism Styles Testimonial

• Cautions
• Be sure to relate your experience to the life of
  your listener.
• Do not stop with merely telling your story.
• Avoid downplaying the value of your story if it
  seems too ordinary to you.

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Evangelism Styles Interpersonal

• Biblical Example Matthew in Luke 5
• Contemporary Examples Becky Pippert, Joe Aldrich
• Traits
• Conversational
• Compassionate
• Sensitive
• Friendship-oriented
• Focuses on people and their needs

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Evangelism Styles Interpersonal

• Cautions
• Bewaring of valuing friendship over truth.
• Do not get so involved in the process of building
  friendships that you forget the ultimate goal to
  share Christ.
• Do not get overwhelmed with the amount of needs
  your friends may have.

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Evangelism Styles Invitational

• Biblical Example The woman at the well in John 4
• Contemporary Example Ruth Graham
• Traits
• Hospitable
• Persuasive
• Enjoys meeting new people
• Committed
• Sees outreach events as opportunities

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Evangelism Styles Invitational

• Cautions
• Do not let others do all the talking for you.
• Carefully prayerfully consider which events or
  church services you take people to.
• Dont get discouraged if people refuse your
  invitation.

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Evangelism Styles Serving

• Biblical Example Dorcas in Acts 9
• Contemporary examples Mother Teresa, Jimmy
  Carter
• Traits
• Patient
• Others-centered
• Sees needs and finds joy in meeting them
• Shows love through action more than words
• Attaches values to even menial tasks

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Evangelism Styles Serving

• Cautions
• Words are no substitute for actionsactions are
  no substitute for words Ro. 1014
• Dont underestimate the value of your service.
• Be realistic about what you can do without
  neglecting other important people.

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More Stories, Less Propositions

• Previous generations loved propositions.
• We experience life as story.
• The gospel is a story.

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More Conversations, Less Preaching

• Jesus often responded to a question with another
  question.
• Be economical with your answers.

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More Prayer, Less Talking

• God is and has been at work.
• Pray for your friend as your main ministry to
  them.
• Evangelism is more like farming than building.

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More Showing, Less Telling

• Evangelicals once led the way in social action.
• Many evangelicals today see social action as
  secular and unworthy.
• Beware of religious autism.
• Volunteer and incorporate projects into your SFC
  group.

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Brainstorm Evangelism Programs

• Strategic times of the year.
• Strategic relationships
• Strategic locations
• Strategic groups
• Strategic gatherings