Shared Learning Experience Session Seven Real Life Evangelism Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 1
NOTES Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. D. T. Niles Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 2
Objectives Our core purpose today is to: Discover ways our church can connect with and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those in the community outside the church. To achieve this core purpose, you will learn to: Learn how to connect with those in your daily life in order to build relationships. Learn how to share your faith story. Discover the keys to your church developing a strategy to connecting with outsiders. Key Ground Rules: Be on time Be engaged Be curious Be respectful Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 3
NOTES Our business is to present the Christian faith clothed in modern terms, not to propagate modern thought clothed in Christian terms. Confusion here is fatal. J. I. Packer Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 4
Spiritual Centering Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (Common English translation) 20 So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ s representatives, Be reconciled to God! 21 God caused the one who didn t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God. -- Apostle Paul Reflection Questions: 1. How does this scripture speak to you? 2. What does being an ambassador of Christ mean to you? How you and your church members doing at being Christ s ambassadors? 3. Describe a specific time you connected with someone outside your church and shared Christ s Good News. What happened? How might you do this more often? Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 5
NOTES Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ Matthew 28:19 Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 6
Action Plan Review Now it s time for you to review with your team the action plans you made last session. Keep in mind that for Action Plans to be successful, they must include: Accountability, Application Learning and Peer Mentoring. Please share with your group: 1. Accountability: Were you able to accomplish what you said you were going to do? If not, what got in the way? 2. Application Learning: What happened when you applied what you learned in the books or Saturday sessions to your specific situation? 3. Peer Mentoring: Look for opportunities to help each other with any challenges. (Chances are we all have similar struggles or have dealt with the same types of struggles in our careers.) How did your homework assignments go? 1. Come up with a plan to help your church identify its three greatest strengths. 2. Come up with a plan to help your church determine its target group. 3. Use at least one of the tools suggested for assessing your community. Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 7
NOTES The Holy Spirit can t save saints or seats. If we don t know any non- Christians, how can we introduce them to the Savior? Paul Little Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 8
Video Reflection Questions: 1. How have you thought of evangelism? 2. Do you agree that evangelism is more of a mindset than program? How does is this perspective reflected by your church? 3. What are some ways that you naturally interact with people during your week? 4. How might you intentionally use those moments as opportunities to connect with others evangelistically or missionally? Get Their Name 1. With each successive generation, the number of persons connecting with God through the church is significantly. 2. It is a long-held that those who left the church for college would one day return. 3. The church s evangelism has been waiting on folks to arrive who are already Christian but are from a church home. 4. Evangelism must be about us building relationships with people we know. PRACTICING EVANGELISM Service: Good + good = Good News Small Groups: Where we are regularly asked where we have God this past week. Worship: Where we share one of the above stories in our services. Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 9
NOTES Evangelism is the spontaneous overflow of a glad and free heart in Jesus Christ. Robert Munger Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 10
Six Step Plan 1. We must have an to connect with those outside church. We may have to sacrifice some of our and in order to rub shoulders with them. 2. We need to set a, such as starting a conversation once a day with them that might lead to sharing your faith story. 3. Trust that is building a real relationship with someone through you! 4. Have mutual. Understand that people have a true desire for and. 5. Enter into a conversation with the person. This has four parts: with them. Focus on them. Ask about them. Spark about you. Sprinkle in your. 6. Become a! If everyone were inviting someone to your church as often as you invite someone to church, how would you be doing? Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 11
NOTES The greatest hindrances to the evangelization of the world are those within the church. John R. Mott Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 12
Extending Invitations We must set the example! To worship. The three Wow s of every congregation s worship are: radical (exceeds their expectations), ministry, and ministry. To bridge events: P-Free Zone (no, or.) To God: Discipleship pathway A discipleship pathway is not a, but an intentional that allows and creates an expectation of continual. Toolbox: Asking the so that question Using a team/church covenant MissionInsite demographic tool* Prayer Team Leadership Development Team Lifecycle model Vision and values statements Outward-focused exercise Step 2 & 3 Tools Town hall meetings Focus groups Ministry audit Team ministry approach Coaching Natural Church Development* Community Windshield Tour* Prayer Walking* Community Leadership Interviews* Bridge events Discipleship pathway Action Plans Prescriptions Leadership development system Unified board structure *Information can be found at the Church Development section of the Conference website (www.inumc.org). Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 13
NOTES 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. Jesus Christ Acts 1:8 Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 14
Action Plan List some specific steps you could take and/or resources you could consult to develop your skills in the areas that we covered today: What is one action that you will take between now and our next session together? What will success look like concerning that action? Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 15
Best Practices Move the fellowship hall to the front door upgrade hospitality Re-do your signage and upgrade the outside! Hold 2 or 3 big events a year and invite, invite, invite. Do neighborhood blitzes. Set up in a local supermarket. Upgrade all print materials. Direct mail internal cards and external mailings. Liven up the worship experience. Go to a sermon series. Call the newspaper with information. Go off site if you need to. Link your mission work with evangelism. Go online have a strong web presence. Upgrade nursery and front entrance. Risk turning off some folks. Pick 2 or 3 things you can do best and stick to them. It all starts with you! Plan to do the full Unbinding the Gospel program in your church making it a priority churches who do this find a great deal of growth in spirituality, small groups and openness of people to share their faith. Preach Invitational Living 80% come by invitation 10% drive by 5% from the web (Growing!) Additional Resources Beyond the First Visit-The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church, by Gary L. McIntosh Turn Around Strategies for the Small Church, by Ron Crandall Unbinding the Gospel and Unbinding Your Church, by Martha Grace Reese A.K.A. Lost-Discovering Ways to Connect with the People Jesus Misses Most, by Jim Henderson Q Place, a model to provide safe places for persons to ask their spiritual questions. Website: www.qplace.com Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 16
Intentional Outreach to the Non-religious Being the church wherever you are all week long--gathering, discipling, serving. A. Connecting the dots Intentionally design every outreach ministry serving the non-religious with a follow-up strategy. Example: Public school tutoring program 1. Tutor students, building relationships 2. Hold a recognition dinner with parents (e.g. pizza) in their honor 3. Give them a gift for completing the program (e.g. a family night at a Tin Caps game) 4. Invite them to attend VBS, church camp, etc. B. Connecting with the non-religious 1. Do what you normally do what you love to do where you rub shoulders with others, in your circles of influence (e.g. walking your dog in your neighborhood) 2. Pray that God would give you opportunities for normal conversations with the people you encounter 3. Be open to responding, especially to spiritual questions or life concerns (e.g. tell them you ll pray for them; better yet, pray for them right then and there if that s normal for you) 4. Invite persons you encounter over for a meal 5. Ask them to join you in doing an act of service for someone else or the community (e.g. joining in a neighborhood cleanup) 6. Pray for these persons 7. Repeat 1-6 and continue developing your relationship with a handful of persons God has connected you with 8. Consider hosting a conversation about faith questions with them (e.g. using Q Place questions) 9. Invite them to join you in an activity at your church (Bible study, Sunday school class, worship, social or service activity, etc.), and share in normal ways how Jesus Christ is making a difference in your life. Don t view these people as projects but as brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow travelers. Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 17
C. Connecting with other believers in our church 1. Once a month gather for a time of just having food and fun 2. Once a month gather to serve. Repeat. In both cases, pray but keep it non-religious, normal. Challenge one another to invite a non-religious friend or two. Continue the Conversation! Facebook page = http://www.facebook.com/makingdisciplestransformingcommunities Blog Site = http://churchdevinumc.wordpress.com/ Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 18
Session Evaluation Facilitator: Date: Name: (optional) Course 1. Objectives were clearly stated and met Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 2. Materials were useful/relevant 3. Topics covered were what was expected Facilitator 4. Presented the subject effectively Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 5. Demonstrated knowledge of content 6. Pace of session was appropriate Environment 7. Conducive to learning Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 8. Temperature, distractions, etc Overall 9. How would you rate the session overall? Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 10. Recommend to friend/colleague What, if anything, would you suggest to improve this session in the future? What is your biggest take-away from this session? Other comments: Thank You! Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 19
Overall Shared Learning Experience Evaluation Total Course 1. Objectives were clearly stated and met Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 2. Materials were useful/relevant 3. Topics covered were what was expected Facilitator 4. Presented the subject effectively Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 5. Demonstrated knowledge of content 6. Pace of session was appropriate Environment 7. Conducive to learning Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 8. Temperature, distractions, etc Overall 9. How would you rate the session overall? Poor (1) Fair (2) Good (3) Strong (4) Excellent (5) 10. Recommend to friend/colleague What, if anything, would you suggest to improve this course in the future? What is your biggest take-away from this course? Other comments: Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 20
Copyright Indiana Conference UMC 2013 Page 21