I was quickly informed that the links in the last post do not work.

Let's try again:

The Essential Jesus HERE.

If that link doesn't work, here is the url to cut and paste:   www.matthiasmedia.com.au/mmstore/tej.html

Two ways to live HERE  full link: www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/

They also have really nice booklets with the 'Two Ways to Live" presentation.



What materials do you like?  Most of us probably remember the 'Four Spiritual Laws"  I was involved with Campus Crusade in College and have it basically memorized.  They now call it 'How to Know God Personally," but the content is basically the same.



Do these types or materials still have a place in our evangelism today?  Are they helpful or just a cop out for not being able to give a gospel presentation ourselves?  Share some thoughts on evangelistic booklets and tracts.

Honestly, there are not too many evangelistic tools that I really like.  I've seen some good training stuff, but what about resources to give to people who are not believers?

I just received a resource called The Essential Jesus.  It is simply Luke's Gospel with a brief introduction and then a helpful evangelistic appeal to respond to the Jesus we've encountered in Luke's account.




You can order the product HERE.
You can view the gospel presentation online at www.twowaystolive.com

What was the last time you have away a Bible?  (To someone who wasn't a Christian)

Oh, man!

 “It is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the Gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier Christians called holiness.”

 

-        Eugene Peterson A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

I found this blog post from Texas church planter Jonathan Dodson to be interesting and easily applicable.  Do you incorportate any of these things into your life?  Care to share a story of something that's happened as a result? 

Missional is not an event we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life: “As you go, make disciples….”; “Walk wisely towards outsiders”; “Let your speech always be seasoned with salt”; “be prepared to give a defense for your hope”. We can be missional in everyday ways without even overloading our schedules. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Eat with Non-Christians. We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it’s too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal, invite a non-Christian friend. Or take your family to family-style restaraunts where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversations (Mighty Fine Burgers, Buca di Peppo, The Blue Dahlia, etc.). Have cookouts and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Xn subculture.
   
2. Walk, Don’t Drive. If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking your neighborhood, apartment complex, campus. Instead of driving to check the mail, go to the convenience store, or visit a neighbor, get out and walk. Say hi to people you don’t know. Walk the dog. Take a 6-pack. Bring the kids. Make friends. Get out of the house when your neighbors are out (weekends, after work, holidays, afternoons). Take interest in your neighbor’s hobbies. Ask questions. Engage. Pray as you go. Save some gas and the planet.
3. Be a Regular. Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places. Get to know the staff. Go around the same times. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. I have friends at coffeeshops all over the city. I pray for them. They give me free drinks and food. I give them the free gospel of grace. I know a professor that used to wait by his trash can each week for the garbage collector and gave him a drink. Be a Regular.
4. Hobby with Non-Christians. Pick a hobby that you can share with your city, community, town. Get out and rub shoulders doing something you enjoy with others. City League basketball, football, soccer. Local rowing and cycling teams. Teach sewing lessons, piano lessons, violin, guitar, knitting lessons.  Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Be gracious. Have fun. Be yourself.
5. Talk to Your Co-workers. How hard is that? take your breaks with intentionality. Get a drink with your team after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form mom’s groups in your neighborhood, just don’t make them exclusively non-Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Be sociable.
6. Volunteer for a Local Non-Profit. Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take Saturday a month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group with you. The options are endless here. Just do it.
7. Participate in City-wide Events. Instead of playing X-Box, watching TV, or talking to your mom on the phone every weekend, go to the city garage sale, fundraisers, the festivals, the clean-ups, the summer shows, SXSW, ACL, Pecan Street Festival, etc. Go and meet people. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.
8. Look for opportunities to Serve your Neighbors. Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, fixing a car. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Stop by your local Police and Fire Stations. Ask if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative.

Don’t make the mistake of making “missional” another thing to add to your schedule. Instead, make your existing schedule missional.

Is there one evangelism book that has really impacted you and/or your church?  We'd like to know! 

So which book and maybe a short explanation why.

Click through to the blog site and post a comment.  Be sure to check back too.

“Sharing Jesus in the Postmodern World” 

(The Theology of Evangelism, Pt. 2) 

March 7, 2009

8:30 am-3:30 pm

Bowmansdale Church of God

Topics

The Issues the Church Faces in Penetrating the Culture

What we learn from Evangelism in the Early church

Believing—Behaving—Belonging

The World in Which We Minister

Speaking to the Postmodern Mind

Preaching to People with No Christian Roots 

This class is taught by Dr. Steve Dunn.  It is designed to stand alone, so you do not have to take it in sequence with any other classes. Two textbooks, Ancient Future-Evangelism by Robert Webber and Sharing Jesus in the Postmodern World by Dr. Dunn are provided as part of the $25 class registration.  Enrollment can be done by the attached form, sent to the ERC Office (attention: Chuck Frank) or by emailing sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org with your intention to attend.  Registration deadline is March 1, 2009. (Register early so we can send the text in advance.) Checks payable to ERC.

Many of you have heard of the comedy duo Penn and Teller.  Penn Jillette is an outspoken atheist.  This video clip is 5 minutes long, but I suggest you spend the time (you may have to click through to the blog site if you're reading email).

In the clip, Penn talks about a man who gave him a Bible after a show.

I love the quote: "How much do you have to hate somebody not to Proselytize?

Here we are in 2009.  I hope that you are excited to see the things that the Lord is going to do in and through you and your church this year.  As we set goals and priorities for the year, let's not forget about one of the the most important things we we have been given the priviledge to do while on earth - share the good news of life in Jesus Christ.

Personally, I am committing to build new relationships with unbelievers in 2009 and to make more of my casual conversations count.  Those of you who are in the workplace probably have many non-Christians around you every day.  But those of us who are pastors sometimes get stuch in 'church world.'  We are in the office preparing sermons, meeting with church members and doing administrative tasks that we often don't even interact with people who don't know Jesus.

If this is you, get out of the office this year!  Do some of your study at a coffeeshop or diner.  Join a health club, not only because you need the excercise (you do!) but because it's a great place to meet new people!

If you are a church leader, you are probably planning out major ministry plans for the year.  Consider doing some sort of evangelism training for your church this year.  Contact us about options.  Why not enroll in the School of Evangelism course coming up very soon?

Maybe you're planning a major outreach event later in the year...

Let's get some discussion going.  What are you excited about evangelistically this year?  What are you planning?

Announcing 2009 School of Evangelism
Eastern Regional Conference

We have a new format.
Six one-day classes on selected Saturdays throughout the year.
Mark your calendar now. Detailed information on location and registration follows in December.

January 17, 2009 – The Theology of Evangelism, Part 1
* What is Evangelism and Why Is It Necessary
* How People Find Faith and the Process of Conversion
* The Work of the Lord in Evangelism
* The Work of the Church in Evangelism

March 7, 2009 – The Theology of Evangelism, Part 2
* Evangelism and the Early Church * Evangelism and Discipleship
* Evangelism in the Post Modern World
* Who Needs to Be Saved?
* Evangelism and Church Growth

May 2, 2009 – Developing a Strategy for Evangelism

August 1, 2009 – Methods for Sharing Your Faith

September 12, 2009 – Apologetics, Part 1

October 3, 2009 – Youth Evangelism

November 14, 2009 – Apologetics, Part 2

Cost is $25 per class plus a text or notebook materials which will be sent to you 3-4 weeks in advance if you register early. Persons completing six of these courses are eligible to become Evangelism Mentors for the ERC Commission on Evangelism and will receive a tuition rebate.

For more details contact Dr. Steve Dunn, Chair
At sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org