2017 PULSE PULSEMOVEMENT.COM

Transcription

1 EVANGELISM TRAINING

2 2017 PULSE PULSEMOVEMENT.COM All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEPHANTS & LIONS STEPS TO EVANGELISM THE MOVEMENT CHALLENGE.... ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

4 ELEPHANTS & LIONS IT'S OKAY. WE'RE ALL FAMILY HERE. YOU CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. 6

5 ELEPHANTS & LIONS EVANGELISM IS HARD It feels pretty good just to say that, doesn t it? Evangelism is hard, and that means it s not just for super- Christians or really extroverted people. It s for you and me. Jesus told us to follow Him. He also said it wasn t going to be easy. So each day, we have a choice. We can either choose to follow Jesus, even when it s hard, or we can live like Jesus never said those things. Sadly, you and I often live controlled by fear. But living in denial is definitely not the plan God has for our lives. So what keeps us from sharing our faith with others? Let s get personal here remember, we re all family. What keeps YOU from sharing your faith with others? Use the list on the next page to identify some of the excuses you ve used to keep you from sharing your faith. JESUS TOLD US TO FOLLOW HIM. HE ALSO SAID IT WASN T GOING TO BE EASY. 7

6 EXCUSE LIST CHECK ALL THAT APPLY I DON T HAVE TIME TO SHARE MY FAITH. I DON T KNOW HOW TO START A SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION. I ALREADY KNOW THEY D SAY NO. I M WAITING FOR THE PERFECT TIME. I M NOT A GOOD SPEAKER. I M NOT AN OUTGOING PERSON. I WANT TO SPEAK WITH MY LIFE, NOT MY WORDS. I FEEL LIKE A BAD EXAMPLE TO BE SHARING THE GOSPEL. I DON T WANT TO INCONVENIENCE PEOPLE. IT S MY PASTOR S JOB TO SHARE THE GOSPEL, NOT MINE. I DON T KNOW HOW TO SHARE MY FAITH. I WON T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. I M SCARED OF GETTING REJECTED OR LOOKED DOWN ON. OTHER

7 ELEPHANTS & LIONS If you checked most or all of the boxes, you re in good company. EVEN THE DISCIPLES FACED MANY OF THE SAME FEARS WE DO. Take Acts 4 for example. The religious leaders had just thrown Peter and John into jail, and they threatened them to not talk about Jesus again. Peter and John returned to their friends and began praying with them. Now, Lord, they said, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. The early Church prayed for boldness. I don t know about you, but I don t usually pray for something I already have. Paul, the writer of half the New Testament, asked believers to pray for him, so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19). If the people who walked with Jesus needed to pray for boldness, then we shouldn t be ashamed to either. We all need boldness. 9

8 BECOMING LIONS The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 10

9 The way we become lions is by listening to God s voice over the voice of our fears. LIONS IN THE BIBLE Look at these examples of ordinary, broken people who were used mightily by God. Match the description with the hero. DEMON POSSESSED MURDEROUS ADULTERER COWARD DENIED FAITH UNACCEPTED REFUGEE RUTH (RUTH 1:3-4) THE APOSTLE PETER (MARK 14:66-72) THE APOSTLE PAUL (ACTS 7:58; 9:1) MARY MAGDALENE (LUKE 8:2) KING DAVID (2 SAMUEL 12:9) ABRAHAM (GENESIS 20:11) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 THE QUESTION IS: ARE YOU LIVING IN YOUR POWER OR GOD S POWER? 11

10 BECOMING LIONS BOLD AS LIONS What if you knew that anything you did out of love for Jesus would never fail? What if you knew that sharing your faith would always have a good ending? Believe it or not, that s exactly what Scripture tells us. Think about it: When you share your faith with someone, what possible outcomes are there? 1. THEY SAY YES TO JESUS. 2. THEY AREN T READY YET. 3. THEY UNFOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA. NOW NORMALLY #3 IS WHAT KEEPS US FROM SHARING OUR FAITH, BUT REALLY THESE ARE ALL SUCCESSES IN JESUS BOOK. 12

11 BECOMING LIONS 1. WHEN SOMEONE SAYS YES TO JESUS, THERE S A PARTY IN HEAVEN! (LUKE 15:7) 2. WHEN SOMEONE DOESN T SAY YES BUT YOU HAVE A SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION, A SEED IS PLANTED (MATTHEW 13:1-23). 3. WHEN SOMEONE REJECTS US, JESUS SAYS, REJOICE AND BE GLAD, BECAUSE GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN (MATTHEW 5:12). On top of all of this, when we share our faith, we re choosing to love the same things that Jesus loves. If you love me, keep my commands (John 14:15). Take a few minutes, turn to page 8, and pray through the fears you listed. 13

12 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM PRAY. CARE. SHARE. 14

13 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM HOW DO I SHARE MY FAITH? We know evangelism is good, but we also know it s hard. We see that Jesus gives us the boldness to be able to step beyond our discomfort and share about Him with others. He can make us bold as lions. But what does that look like for you? Over the centuries, people have suggested different methods for sharing faith. While these are good, we know that one method isn t a cookie-cutter solution for everyone. As well, Jesus never gave us a step-by-step guide for sharing our faith. Instead, Jesus gave us principles. Following Jesus is not a method but a lifestyle. FOLLOWING JESUS IS NOT A METHOD BUT A LIFESTYLE. We re going to look at three central principles of Jesus in this section, Pray, Care, Share. 15

14 P KEEP 5 S TOOLS C LIST EN & LOVE 16

15 PRAY CARE SHARE 17

16 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PRAY? WRITE DOWN HOW YOU VE SEEN GOD MOVE THROUGH PRAYER

17 WHEN WE PRAY, GOD MOVES.

18 PRAY The first and most important step in evangelism is prayer. WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU CARE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE AND NOT START TO CARE ABOUT THEM. We could be the most intelligent debater in the world, but we would only be able to change people s minds. When we pray, we re asking God to do what only He can do change people s hearts. When we share our faith without making prayer a priority, we tend to fall for one of two traps. The first is depending on ourselves instead of God, and the second is sharing our faith because it s the Good Christian thing to do. But when we pray and then act, we re doing life and ministry with Jesus. 20

19 WHO IN YOUR LIFE NEEDS JESUS? FAMILY FRIENDS CLASSMATES COWORKERS NEIGHBORS 21

20 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: PRAY KEEP5 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. - PHILEMON 1:6 I WILL WRITE down the names of five people who need Jesus, PRAY for them everyday, and LOOK for opportunities to share Jesus with them. When we pray, God moves! pulsemovement.com YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER KEEP 5 CARD AT THE BACK OF THIS BOOK TO PLACE IN YOUR BIBLE. 22

21 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: PRAY WRITE DOWN NAMES PRAY FOR FRIENDS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE OTHERS TEXT A FRIEND Take a pic of your filled out Keep 5 card and send it to your friend. Ask them to pray with you and to keep you accountable to share the Gospel.

22 PEOPLE DON T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE.

23 DO I CARE ENOUGH TO TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS?

24 CARE Let s talk about the people in your life who don t know Jesus and how best to approach them. Sometimes when people come to Jesus, they become overly zealous toward family and friends and come off as pushy or uncaring. The Bible tells us to Speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15) That means we don t shy away from telling people why they need Jesus, but we also do it with gentleness. So how do we approach a conversation like this? LISTEN. LEARN. LOVE. LEAD. 26

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26 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: CARE LIST EN Evangelism is about intentional listening about things that matter most. Sometimes we approach spiritual conversations with others like a boxing match; it s like we re waiting to throw the knockout punch. Instead of coming in with raised fists, let s come in with open hands. ARE YOU WILLING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER? Start Here. Have a conversation. Don t focus on being spiritual, but focus on learning more. Starting with, Tell me about yourself can lead to asking, What are your spiritual beliefs? 28

27 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: CARE LEARN There are two kinds of listening listening for the purpose of responding, and listening for the purpose of understanding. The first kind of listening is used in debates. The second kind of listening is used by friends. EVERYONE LOVES TO BE HEARD. When we learn, we begin to love with God s heart for each person. Learning is about looking for the areas God is already at work. Allow the conversation to follow the natural in-roads to talk about what matters most. What is their story? What is their need? What is their greatest dream? Does God relate to that situation? 29

28 HOW DO YOU LOVE TO SHOW LOVE? CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY. ACTING AS A SOUNDING BOARD MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH OTHERS MAKING A MEAL FOR SOMEONE IN NEED WRITING LETTERS OR NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT DOING CHORES FOR OTHERS OFFERING ADVICE GIVING GIFTS TO SHOW MY CARE SHARING A SMILE ENCOURAGING OTHERS PRAYING WITH OTHERS GIVING HUGS OFFERING A LISTENING EAR SITTING QUIETLY WITH THE BROKEN POINTING OUT THE STRENGTHS OF OTHERS OFFERING A SHOULDER TO CRY ON GIVING FREE HIGH FIVES TO STRANGERS 30

29 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: CARE LOVE Love is the foundation of our faith and should flow through every conversation. When we come across as condescending or condemning, we often do more harm than good. Every conversation should be anchored in God s love for each individual. Use your words to encourage the good you see in their lives and not to condemn. Love ultimately leads us to Jesus. IF YOU CLAIM TO LOVE YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY AND HAVEN T ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR FAITH, ARE YOU REALLY LOVING THEM? 31

30 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: CARE LEAD Through listening, learning, and loving, doors open to lead our family and friends to Jesus. As you take steps to share the Gospel, consider the following points. + IDENTIFY identify parts of their story that remind you of your own + ADMIRE be gracious and encouraging + ADMIT be vulnerable in sharing your own imperfections ASK A SOMETIME QUESTION SOMETIME, WOULD YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BELIEFS? When we go beyond the superficial in our conversations, we open the door for deeper topics like beliefs, values, and spirituality. On the next page, write down the names of those on your Keep 5 card and identify where you are in your relationship with them by marking an X. It s time to take the next step. 32

31 FRIEND S NAME LIST EN LEARN LOVE LEAD 33

32 SHARE We ve prayed for our friends. They know that we love them because we ve listened, learned, and loved them. Now we want to lead them to Jesus. Our goal: more conversations about Jesus. Sharing Jesus isn t a formula. There s more than one right way to do it. What we present on the following pages are suggestions we hope will help you put the Gospel into words to answer a simple question. So what do you believe? 34

33 IS RELATIONAL. ARE CRAZY. IS THE ANSWER. TO JESUS IS WHERE LIFE BEGINS. (HINT, HINT ANSWERS ON THE NEXT PAGE) 35

34 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: SHARE GOD IS RELATIONAL. PEOPLE ARE CRAZY. We were made for God. From the beginning of time, God has always desired a relationship with us. We are made in God s image made to find our greatest satisfaction in Him. Because God is relational, He stepped into history, demonstrating His love for us ultimately through the life and death of Jesus. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 When we look at the headlines or even at our own lives, we see the disorder and brokenness. God calls this brokenness sin and it separates us from God. Sin permeates our lives and our world in every selfish decision we make, every way we put others down in our thoughts and actions, and every way we choose our own way over God s way. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us have turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 36

35 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: SHARE JESUS IS THE ANSWER. No one on earth is able to live an unbroken life except for Jesus. He lived perfectly selfless as God s Son and died on the cross for us so that we could be restored to a relationship with God based not on work but on His love toward us. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 RESPONDING TO JESUS IS WHERE LIFE BEGINS. Jesus has done all the work, but we have to receive His forgiveness. When we say Yes to Jesus, we re saying No to all the other things that ultimately steal our joy and satisfaction. When we admit that we need Jesus and believe He is enough, He promises to restore the broken bond between God and us. In Jesus, our lives are reset. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 On the next page, we ll show you what this can look like drawn out. 37

36 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: SHARE TURN THIS For all the visual learners, you can use this simple drawing to share the four points of what you just read. Just remember: God, People, Jesus, Response. 38

37 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: SHARE INTO THIS God is relational, but people are crazy and we ve separated ourselves from God. Jesus is the answer. He closes the gap when we respond by admitting we need Jesus. On the next page, practice with a friend! RESPONSE JESUS PEOPLE GOD 39

38 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: SHARE PRACTICE 40

39 WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADVANCE THE GOSPEL AND FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION. THE QUESTION IS, WILL WE DO IT? -DAVID JEREMIAH

40 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM RECAP P KEEP 5 S TOOLS C LIST EN & LOVE PRAY: ASK GOD FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND BOLDNESS. CARE: LISTEN, LEARN, LOVE, AND LEAD OTHERS. SHARE: REMEMBER GOD / PEOPLE / JESUS / RESPONSE 42

41 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM Telling people about Jesus is good, but it s also just the beginning. Jesus showed us that the Gospel is about people, not projects. Said another way, Jesus told us to make disciples followers of Him not just converts. When someone says Yes to Jesus, there s a party in heaven (there should be one on earth, too!). After this point, it s so important that we make ourselves accessible to others to help them along the journey. The truth is, the Pray, Care, Share lifestyle doesn t end once someone turns to Jesus. Every one of us needs the prayers of others, we need love demonstrated to us, and we need to be reminded of the message of Jesus regularly. Evangelism isn t just about sharing the Gospel. Evangelism is about living the Gospel. Are you willing to share? More than that, are you willing to walk with people beyond their moment of decision? ARE YOU WILLING TO WALK WITH PEOPLE BEYOND THEIR MOMENT OF DECISION? 43

42 THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD FOUR STRATEGIES TO HELP FOLLOWERS OF JESUS DRAW CLOSER TO HIM. MAYBE ONE OF THESE EXAMPLES WILL INSPIRE YOU AS WELL: 1. PAUL GAVE HIMSELF. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 2. PAUL PRAYED FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE THEM. Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:10 44

43 3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM 3. PAUL WROTE LETTERS. WE CAN OR TEXT. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 2 Corinthians 2:9 4. PAUL INCLUDED OTHERS IN THE JOURNEY. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:2 NOTE: NO ONE IS A PRO. YOU CAN DO THIS! 45

44 MOVEMENT CHALLENGE Everything we ve learned so far is great, but unless we do something with it, it s going to remain in our heads and never become action. Today, we re going to challenge you to take action. Right now, look at your Keep 5 card and see the five names that you wrote down. On the following page, we want you to make a plan for at least one of them. Ask yourself: WHO AM I GOING TO REACH OUT TO? WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? (THINK: LISTEN, LEARN, LOVE, LEAD) WHEN AM I GOING TO DO IT? 46

45 MOVEMENT CHALLENGE WHO: WHAT: WHEN: TEXT A FRIEND NOW THAT YOU VE MADE A PLAN, IT S TIME TO TEXT THAT PERSON! TAKE OUT YOUR PHONE AND REACH OUT TO THEM WITH AN INVITATION TO MEET. 47

46 HOMEWORK 1. WRITE OUT YOUR TESTIMONY Your testimony is all about what Jesus is doing in your life. Practice writing out your testimony through the points below. - INTRODUCTION What sort of question could you ask to start a spiritual conversation? - BEFORE JESUS List words or phrases that described your life before you knew Jesus. Be willing to share the struggles of your life and how you ve experienced Jesus reset in your life. What did you need to change? 48

47 - HOW? Answer the question: How did Jesus come into your life? What was the moment or moments that God used to change you? - AFTER JESUS No one is perfect, but what is different about your life now that you know Jesus? Use words or phrases to describe how Jesus has changed you. After you share your testimony with someone, give them a chance to respond. A testimony can be an incredible open door into a spiritual conversation. If you have the opportunity, walk them through the Gospel: God is relational. People are crazy. Jesus is the answer. Responding to Jesus is where life begins. 49

48 HOMEWORK 2. SHARE WITH A GOOD FRIEND. Few things make our faith come more alive than sharing it with others. Take an opportunity to share your testimony with a friend. It will be great practice for you, and it will encourage you both! 3. SHARE YOUR FAITH. Don t let what you ve experienced pass you by. Be intentional about praying for opportunities and being bold to reach out to everyone on your Keep 5 card over the coming weeks. 50

49 KEEP PRAYING FOR THEM, AND YOU LL SEE JESUS DO AMAZING THINGS! 51

50 RESOURCES RESET: JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING BY NICK HALL Since 2006, Nick Hall the founder and lead communicator of PULSE has shared the message of reset with more than 3 million people around the world. This message drove the movement leading up to and emerging from Together 2016 an event that drew hundreds of thousands to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Published in 2016, Nick s book Reset: Jesus Changes Everything is an invitation to a second chance a do-over to get beyond past missteps and refocus our lives around the power of Jesus to change everything. Order a copy of Reset today! 52

51 RESOURCES RESET SERMON SERIES AND SMALL GROUP STUDY Your church or small group can go through a four-part series on what it looks like to reset your heart, mind, voice, and hands. Kits include videos, study guides, a leader guide, and other digital resources. Purchase the complete kit at Outreach.com. STAY CONNECTED TO PULSE We believe there is a need for evangelism in this world. PULSE exists to equip people and the Church to make known the name of Jesus. Using prayer, training, and big events, we are sharing Jesus and mobilizing a generation to go out with the great commission. Find out more information at pulsemovement.com and follow us on social media for the latest activities and PULSEMOVEMENT.COM 53

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