Evangelism Basics
for the 21st Century
(Learning Section)
Prepared by Kwasi Kena
GBOD
Regular Church
Optional Icebreaker Opening:
Use the YouTube Clip “Training Fleas”
(Play Station ad) Available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlpjAQgmQM
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” Defined
In 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
Word
Deed
Transforming
Evangelism
The Wesleyan
Way of Sharing
Faith
Use as 6-week
Study
What Motivates You
to Do Evangelism?
Why? How?
If not heaven or hell, what
motivates you?
A “Both/And” Theology
The Place of
Prayer in United
Methodism
The Proclamation/Growth Approach
Believe, Belong, Behave
An Orthodox View
Models of Church
The Attractional Church
Church as Vendor
of Religious Services
Church
A Body of People--Sent
Missional
Church Model
Evangelism Basics for the 21st Century
(Leading Section)
Prepared by Kwasi Kena
GBOD
Pivotal Questions
What is church?
What is church for?
Make-No-Wave
UMC
Make-No-Wave UMC
What 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 hours
Bible study 3-4 hours
Visiting the sick 2-8 hours
Youth 2-4 hours
Specialized Ministry 4-6 hours
Counseling 3-4 hours (session, research)
Weddings 6 hours pre-marital
Rehearsal 2-3 hours
Service 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 hours
Church 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 lose
credibility with about half of the unchurched
population the day they get ordained.”
--George G. Hunter III, Radical Outreach, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003) p. 30.
“When necessary use words…”
Exercise #2
Faith Sharing in 3 Chapters
Faith Sharing
in 3 Chapters
1. My life before Christ
2. How I met Christ
3. My life since meeting
Christ
1. Growing up in a
2.
3.
Christian environment
When I affirmed the
faith myself
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
st
1
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 Rent
b. Ministry in Focus
c. Faith Sharing in Three Chapters
Close Session in Prayer