Sharing your faith without an Argument Planting Seeds not Trees This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
What the Reformers thought of evangelism This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Martin Luther 1483-1546 Sola Gratia Grace Alone Sola Fide Faith Alone Sola Scriptura Scripture Alone Sola Christos Christ Alone Priesthood of all Believers This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Huldreich Zwingli 1484-1531 Four Fold Word of God Written Word - Scripture Proclaimed Word Sermon Enacted Word - Sacraments Living Word Jesus Christ This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND John Calvin 1509-1564
John Knox 1513-1572 I fear the prayers of John Knox more than an army of ten thousand Mary Queen of Scots This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Just what do we mean when ask if someone is saved or lost regenerated or reprobate? What do other religions believe about the ultimate purpose of life?
Eastern Enlightenment The problem is spiritual blindness and the antidote is to wake up (Hindu, Buddhist, etc.) Reincarnate to defeat karma cycle Jewish following Halaka or the way (Repentance, Prayer, Good Deeds) Muslim Five Pillars of Islam Prayer of Faith La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoola Allah Prayer five times a day Helping poor Zakat Fasting during Ramadan The Hajj to Mecca Secular Self Actualization through experience, relationships, and being remembered = lights out when we die
Christian Eternal life with new body, new heaven and new earth. Get there by faith based upon the Person and Work of Christ Evangelical / Historic Personal relationship by confession of faith Progressive / Liberal Four more P s -Poverty -Peacemaking -Pollution -Progressive Justice
The Whole Question of What does it take for someone to be saved? (Soteriology) What s up to God vs. what s my responsibility Presbyterians and Predestination Calvin s TULIP (vs. Daisey) Total Depravity (so bad we don t even want to be changed) Unconditional Election (God s choosing not based on merit) Limited Atonement (Christ didn t waste a drop of blood) Irresistible Grace (Can t stop God) Perseverance of the Saints (God starts it, sustains it, finishes it)
An Ordo Salutis - Order of Salvation What, or Who, caused what? For those whom God foreknew (progenosko) he also predestined (proorizo) to be conformed to the image of his son, in order that he might be the first born among many brothers (and sisters), and those whom he predestined he also called (kaleo), and those whom he called he also justified (dikaieo), and those whom he justified he also glorified (doxazo). Romans 8:29-30
Different views of Grace applied Arminian Reformed Lutheran Roman Catholic Saving faith by Saving Faith by Saving Faith by Saving Faith by Church common grace sovereign grace Sacraments and Sacraments faith without means ex opere operato (operation by physical contact )
Various handles on evangelism Contact or bump and run evangelism anyone in your path hears the message faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God Romans 10:17 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Relational evangelism earning the relational right to be heard always be prepared to give an answer to those who ask about the hope you have, but do so with gentleness and respect. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Peter 3:15 I
Lifestyle evangelism demonstrating the better way to live So let your light shine before men they will see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven Matthew 5:16
Do not say three months and then the harvest, I tell look and see the fields are already ripe for harvest. The one who reaps collects wages for eternal life so sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying is true one sows, another reaps. I have sent you to reap where you have not labored. Others worked before you and you have entered into their labor. John 6:35
God needs three people in the harvest: A Sower This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
A Grower This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA And a Mower
Being prepared without being canned : Do you have a short story? Have you demonstrated care for them vs. a project? Do you know basic scriptures for sharing? Realize it s not up to you to save but to share out of love Three possible questions: Do you have spiritual beliefs? What do you think about Jesus? Would you want to know if you were wrong? Communicate your relationship is not dependent on their believing what you believe