Copyright 2011 Evangelism Strategies International Inc.

Transcription

1 EVANGELISM

2 Copyright 2011 Evangelism Strategies International Inc. Requests for information should be addressed to: Evangelism Strategies International (NEW ZEALAND) P.O BOX Westgate, Massey Auckland 0657 Mobile: NEW ZEALAND Julian@esisite.com Web: Evangelism Strategies International (USA) Jon and Valerie Barrow 130 River Landing Drive, Unit 6101 Daniel Island, SC Phone: Jon@esisite.com, Valerie@esisite.com Web: Evangelism Strategies International (AUSTRALIA) Alan and Noi Woods 12 Mackey Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Phone: alan@yai.com.au Web: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of Evangelism Strategies International Inc. 2 DVD study guide

3 PREFACE Why 98% of Christians today Don t evangelise (By Julian Bachelor) In 1996, I undertook a serious personal study of the book of Acts. When I came to Acts 5:41-42, the Holy Spirit spoke to me powerfully: The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 5:41-42) DVD study guide 3

4 Preface What struck me was the Apostles, the Church leaders, were leading the Church in evangelism. After a careful study of Church history, I discovered virtually the entire Early Church had also been mobilised, and they reached pretty much the known world with the gospel. On one hand it was a stunningly wonderful discovery to know that it was possible to mobilise the whole Church for evangelism. On the other hand, it was no surprise at all, given that research shows that when the leaders lead in evangelism, the people will follow (Judges 5:2). This was the good news. The bad news was that I then discovered that today personal evangelism in the Western Church is down to a trickle. Only 2% of Christians regularly engage in it. How had we moved from everyone doing it, to only 2%? Who or what had caused this tragic shift? How had we regressed 98% over 2000 years? I clearly felt the Holy Spirit challenge me to find answers to these questions. For 10 years, I sought God and undertook serious study. Over this time He revealed 66 reasons for this dramatic decline. Each of these 66 reasons is a actually a device of the enemy which Paul speaks about in 2 Corinthians 2:11. A careful study of the word device reveals that devices are the thoughts, plans and schemes of the devil. For 2000 years he has been spawning and executing plans to change the minds, perceptions, and thoughts of Christians about evangelism, the gospel and many related subjects, all with the purpose of stopping evangelism. His success has been stunning. DVD study guide 100% 2% 4

5 Preface So what s the bottom line? The reason 98% of the people in your church don t do evangelism is that the enemy s devices have messed with their thoughts, perceptions and minds. These devices are like voices whispering in the ears of Christians, subtly putting them off doing evangelism. If a Christian under the influence of just one device will not do evangelism, imagine how paralysed is one who is influenced by all 66? Another way to think of these devices is to compare them with computer viruses. Computers which host viruses eventually crash - they stop functioning. Most Christians are unwittingly hosting these evangelism viruses in their minds, so their evangelism activity has crashed - they have stopped doing evangelism. The Holy Spirit will work through this evangelism course to purge the 66 devices from the minds of your people, just as anti virus software purges viruses from computer hard drives. Please don t make a mistake here. When church leaders hear of the evangelism crisis in the West, they sometimes respond by rushing into teaching their people how to do evangelism. This is a mistake if they have not first spent time purging the devices from the minds of the people in their flock. When purging doesn t come before equipping, precious time and money will be wasted. Purging must come before equipping. Uploading new programs (i.e. equipping people how to do evangelism) onto hard drives riddled with viruses just won t work. The computers will just keep crashing. Jesus talked about this when he warned us not to put new wine into old wine skins (Luke 5:33-39). But the Evangelism Strategies Internatioanl (ESI) resources will not just purge the devices from the minds of your people. They will also create (to use computer language again) a fire wall to stop them coming back. These two strategies, purging and the creation of a fire wall, are essential if you are serious about building and sustaining a culture of evangelism in your church/school/theological institution and changing its DNA. To enable Christians to access this teaching, and glorify Jesus through evangelism, ESI has produced a series of cutting edge resources including a small group DVD series (which come with a Study Guide), a Leader s Manual, a set of evangelism readings, an Essential Truths A5 size booklet, and a Bible College level course which will soon be available on line. DVD study guide 5

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7 Contents * STUDIES 1-12 ARE FOUNDATIONAL * STUDY 1 8 Four Features Of World Evangelism Today (35 minutes) STUDY 2 15 Consequences Of Not Proclaiming The Gospel, And The Rise Of False Gospels (25 minutes) STUDY 3 20 How Do We Know What Is True And What Is Not True? (15 minutes) STUDY 4 24 What Is Evangelism? (40 minutes) STUDY 5 30 The First Wrong Definition About Evangelism Which Many Christians Have Come To Believe (35 minutes) STUDY 6 37 The Second Wrong Definition Of Evangelism Which Many Christians Have Come To Believe (25 minutes) STUDY 7 42 The Third Wrong Definition About Evangelism Which Many Christians Have Come To Believe (15 minutes) STUDY 8 47 What Is The Priority Of The Christian Church? (25 minutes) STUDY 9 54 How The Enemy Hinders Gospel Proclamation What The Bible Teaches (20 minutes) STUDY What Motivates The Enemy To Oppose The Gospel? (40 minutes) STUDY Six Reasons Why The Gospel Is So Powerful (35 minutes) STUDY What Did Jesus Really Teach About Evangelism? (45 minutes) * STUDIES ARE OPTIONAL EXTRAS * STUDY What Is The Gospel? Word Substitution Device (20 minutes) STUDY What Is The Gospel? Confusing The Wide And General Gospel With The Sharply Defined New Testament Gospel (20 minutes) STUDY What Is The Gospel? Replacing The Proclamation Of The Words Of The Gospel With Something Else (20 minutes) STUDY What Is The Gospel? Watering Down The Gospel For The Sake Of Unity (20 minutes) STUDY What Is The Gospel? Seed The Thought Into Our Minds That The Gospel Is Unable To Be Defined (20 minutes) STUDY Red Herrings About Evangelism And The Gospel (20 minutes) STUDY 19 (PART ONE) 121 Solutions To The Enemy s Devices (20 minutes) STUDY 19 (PART TWO) 130 Solutions to the Enemy s Devices. Discussion and Application Question Only. APPENDIX An invitation to invest in the evangelisation of the world DVD study guide 7

8 STUDY 1 FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY PRESENTATION NOTES Quick Quiz: Which of these activities would you consider evangelism? 1. Praying for the salvation of the lost. 2. Interceding for the lost. 3. Worship in a church. 4. Fasting for the lost. 5. Food parcel ministry to the lost. 6. Community projects for the lost. 7. Making friends with non-christians. 8. Counselling a non-christian person. 9. Giving a testimony before non-christians. 10. Modeling a Godly life before non-christians. 11. Demonstrating love and grace etc. 12. A non-christian person experiencing a miraculous answer to prayer. 13. Meeting the felt needs of a non-christian. 14. Answering the hard questions non-christians have about God. Four Features of World Evangelism Today: 1. Some reports of salvations are (1) for propaganda and fundraising. 2. Many reports of people being saved are. (2) 3. There are some great (3) alive today. 4. Generally speaking, the Great Commission has (4) in the West. Most Christians no longer (5) proclaim the (6) gospel to non-christians on a (7) basis The Great Commission has four parts: 1. (8) into the world 2. (9) the gospel 3. (10) those who are saved 4. (11) those who are baptised Why is it necessary to define the Great Commission for Christians? According to Barna Research 75% of (12) Christians could not define the Great Commission. 8 DVD study guide

9 STUDY 1 FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY Clarification of what is meant by the gospel Many of us have become very confused about the difference between the (13) of the gospel, the (14) of the gospel and the (15) of the gospel. Praying for a sick person is a (16) of the gospel. If that person is healed, the healing is an (17) of the gospel. But the person who is healed has still not heard the (18) of the gospel. In short: WORKS = The (19) of Christians. EFFECTS = The (20) of the action of Christians as God works through them. WORDS = A carefully crafted (21) message. The WORKS of the gospel are all the (22) things Christians. (23) The EFFECTS of the gospel are the positive things that (24) from all the positive things Christians do (as God works through them). When Jesus said Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel (Mark 16:15) He was referring to the (25) of the gospel not the WORKS nor the EFFECTS. When Paul warned the Church in Galatians 1:6-9 to (26) guard the gospel, he was referring to the WORDS of the gospel. Also in Romans 1:16 when Paul said the gospel is the power of God for. (27) The WORDS of the gospel also have. (28) eg. Salvation, signs and wonders following (Mark 16:20). Any Genuine gospel message must cover 4 essential areas of content: 1. Why we must be. (29) 2. How (30) can save us. 3. (31) we must do to be saved. 4. The cost of being a. (32) The gospel is a specific message about the salvation of the soul and the regeneration of the heart. Subjective evidence: 1. The vision of Niagara Falls. 2. Billy Graham. The (33) generation. 3. Evangelist Greg Laurie: (34) people in the world have not heard the gospel. 4. Many ministries trying to mobilise Christians for personal evangelism are reporting that their task is just so. (35) Objective evidence: 1. The ranks of the (36) have dissipated to anaemic proportions (Barna Research Institute conclusion). 2. Christianity today magazine reported only % (37) of its readers had witnessed to someone today. DVD study guide 9

10 FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY STUDY 1 3. Evangelist Greg Laurie: % (38) of people in Church do not even know what (39) says! 4. According to Bill Bright, only % (40) of Christians proclaim the gospel on a regular basis. 5. The most telling piece of evidence for the collapse of the Great Commission in the West? The voice of our own. (41) What is missing on the radar of the lives of many Christians? (42) APPLICATION and DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Were you shocked to find out how few people were evangelising? Why was it such a shock? 2. The question is posed: Are non-christians really hearing the gospel? How would you answer for your local area? For example: a. What percentage of people in your local area do you think have heard the full gospel? About % b. Of those who have heard it, how many do you think have a clear and accurate understanding of the gospel? % 3. It was stated that mobilising Christians for evangelism is proving difficult. a. Do you agree? b. Why? 4. One of the things which contributes to this confusion is the lack of distinction and clarity between the works, effects, and words of the gospel. Give examples of works, effects, and words in the life of Jesus. 10 DVD study guide

11 STUDY 1 FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY 5.What about you personally? Where would you place yourself on this scale, on how often you proclaim or spread the gospel? Not at all Seldom Occasionally Regularly Daily 6. What do you think is preventing you from moving up the scale to becoming a daily proclaimer or spreader of the gospel? 7. What would help you become more motivated or equipped for the task of sharing the gospel? 8. What action are you going to take to make (7) above happen? 9. When Jesus spoke about the gospel of the Kingdom (e.g. Mark 1:14; Matthew 4:23) He was referring to all three aspects of the gospel. As He walked around, He was doing the works, causing the effects, and speaking the words. Jesus was the incarnate manifestation of the the gospel of the Kingdom. Through Him the words, works, and effects of the gospel were fully manifest. He was, and still is, the King of the Kingdom. When He spoke about the gospel (without referring to the Kingdom ) He was referring only to the words of the gospel (e.g. Mark 16:15). In study 8, you ll discover that evangelism (i.e. proclaiming or spreading the words of the gospel) is the priority of the Christian Church. Someone once said It would appear that doing evangelism is more important to Jesus than causing effects and doing works. Miracles served to verify His words. While He definitely cared about people s health here on earth, and calls us to care likewise, and to be doing the works, and moving in the effects, He seemed to care more about the state of their souls i.e. their eternal destiny. This is why the words of the gospel are given priority. The words of the gospel are His primary weapon in the war to reclaim the souls of lost humanity. What do you think? Is the person who said this right? Why? Why not? Is the gospel His appointed tool to get us to heaven? See Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:8; Mark 8:36; John 3:16; Romans 1:16. DVD study guide 11

12 FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY STUDY Look at John 3:16 again. Look at the end of this verse. Why does He place such a big emphasis on us being with Him for eternity? He has relationship with everyone in His Church while they are on earth. Why isn t this enough for God? Think of the strong ties of love in a healthy family. Especially think of how much parents love their children. Does God see all non-christians as his lost family members? Could this be the reason He has commanded us to go to them with the gospel? Is He like a love smittened Father, pining for His children to return home? See especially John 14:1-4. Look at Luke 10. Jesus sends out the 70 to do His will and work. They return pumped and on fire (Luke 10:17). Then in verse 20 Jesus says the most remarkable thing. In effect He says, you guys like the fireworks and excitement of delivering people of demons, healing people, and seeing the miraculous, but let me tell you, there is something greater than all this it s that your names are written in heaven. That is, one day you ll be living with me in heaven for eternity. Of all the things you should be excited about, be MOST excited about this! What should be our emphasis today in our churches? Making sure as many names as possible are in the book of life? Or what? Is this why preaching the gospel is the priority of the Church? Other than seeing all non-christians as His lost family members, what other reasons might there be as to why God loves people so much? See 2 Cor. 6:18; Ephesians 2:19; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5; Psalm 27:10; Mark 3:32-35; Psalm 139: STUDY 1 answers FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY 1. made up 2. genuine 3. evangelists 4. collapsed 5. intentionally 6. full 7. regular 8. Go 9. Preach 10. Baptise 11. disciple 12. born again 13. works 14. effects 15. words 16. work 17. effect 18. words 19. actions 20. results 21. salvation 22. positive 23. do 24. result 25. words 26. jealously 27. salvation 28. effects 29. saved 30. Jesus 31. What 32. disciple 33. un-seeded 34. most 35. difficult 36. messengers 37. 1% % 39. John 3: % 41. conscience 42. Evangelism 12 DVD study guide

13 FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY STUDY 1 Your Goals for this week 1. DO SOME EVANGELISM: Do some evangelism this coming week. Please go to for a free PDF file entitled The benefits of using tracts. The first step is to establish the habit. Start by aiming to give out a tract a day for each day between DVD studies. Tick the box when you have completed the challenge. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 2. COMPLETE YOUR HOMEWORK: Please fill in the blanks on the first pages of tonight s study in your EDSG. There will be a reward for you next week if you do your homework. 3. REGISTER ON THE WEB SITE Please register your name and address at to receive a free copy of the first chapter of Julian Batchelor s book, called Evangelism. Strategies from heaven in the war for souls (Hereafter called JB:SFH). 4. DOWNLOAD FREE INSPIRATIONAL AUDIO SERMONS: There are brilliant FREE audio sermons from some of the best communicators in the world on the ESI web site. Please download these and listen to them to build up your heart and knowledge about God s heart for world evangelism. 5. DOWNLOAD FREE DVD AUDIO TRACKS. You can also download the MP3 audio tracks of each DVD study free from Turn your car into an evangelism university! 6. COMPLETE YOUR EVANGELISM READING EACH DAY: Each day there is an Evangelism Reading to complete. These readings are written by some of the greatest evangelists, thinkers, and leaders in the Christian Church. They all focus on the topic of evangelism and synchronise with the DVDs you are watching. I am confident the Holy Spirit will work through them to inspire, challenge, and bless you! 7. INVITE SOMEONE TO THESE DVD STUDIES: One of the greatest things you can do to help other Christians find liberty, truth, and freedom about evangelism is to invite them to these studies. 8. PRAY FOR THE COURSE: Another great thing you can do is pray for this course e.g. pray for each person in your group, and especially your group leader. Pray that the Holy Spirit would speak powerfully in each session. Pray that the teaching would come alive, and that the discussion after each DVD would be truly inspired and Holy Spirit directed. Pray that the Holy Spirit would fill you afresh each day to empower you for your evangelism. Pray about the possibility of starting a group in your own home after you have completed this course with the current group i.e. pray about how you could activate others in the Church for evangelism. Move from being a passive observer of the Great Commission to being an active participant. DVD study guide 13

14 FOUR FEATURES OF WORLD EVANGELISM TODAY STUDY 1 Why use tracts? Dr. K. P. Yohannan Some people question how effective tracts are in evangelism. Don t be fooled by such talk. The following is an extract from Dr K.P. Yohannan s book on evangelism. 1 He is the founder and Director on one of the world s largest and most fruitful mission organizations, Gospel for Asia. He writes: Just before China was taken over by the communists, one communist officer made a revealing statement to a missionary, John Meadows: You missionaries have been in China for over a hundred years, but you have not won China to your cause. You lament the fact that there are uncounted millions who have never heard the name of your God. Nor do they know anything of your Christianity. But we communists have been in China less than 10 years, and there is not a Chinese who does not know has not heard the name of Stalin.or something of communism We have filled China with our doctrine. Now let me tell you why you have failed and we have succeeded, he continued. You have tried to win the attention of masses by building churches, missions, mission hospitals, schools and what not. But we communists have printed our message and spread our literature all over China. Someday we will drive you missionaries out of our country, and we will do it by the means of the printed page. What Can I Do With Tracts? 1. Leave in phone booths. 2. Put in greeting cards. 3. Give to attendant at fast food drive through. 4. Put on car windows in parking lots. 5. Leave on sitting areas of shopping malls. 6. Pass out door to door. 7. Stick up on bulletin boards. 8. Put in pockets of used clothing given away. 9. Display in church foyer, on tables at the exits 10. Pass out at parades, festivals, and special events. 11. Leave in city parks on benches, etc. 12. Leave at funeral homes. 13. Hand out at stadium entrances, etc. 14. Mail out to names in a telephone book. 15. Leave in Laundromats. 17. Leave in motel rooms (in the drawers, telephone book, etc.) Yohannan, K.P. Revolution in World Missions. GFA Publishing, 2008, DVD study guide