The The E E wordword

‘ ‘ Today's changed world calls for local congregationsToday's changed world calls for local congregations to take new initiatives. For example, in the secularizingto take new initiatives. For example, in the secularizingglobal north, new forms of contextual mission, such global north, new forms of contextual mission, such as new monasticism, emerging church and freshas new monasticism, emerging church and freshexpressions have redefined and revitalised church.’expressions have redefined and revitalised church.’

A new WCC Affirmation on Mission and Evangelism, 2012A new WCC Affirmation on Mission and Evangelism, 2012

Christine had been raised Anglican.. Religious Christine had been raised Anglican.. Religious people of any serious kind made her nervous:people of any serious kind made her nervous:They were like men in rain coats who might or They were like men in rain coats who might or

might not be flashers. You would be going might not be flashers. You would be going along with them in a normal way, and then along with them in a normal way, and then there would could be a swift movement and there would could be a swift movement and you would look down to find the coat wideyou would look down to find the coat wide

open & nothing on under it.open & nothing on under it.

Scarlet IbisScarlet Ibis by Margaret Atwoodby Margaret Atwood..

‘‘The Church exists for nothing else The Church exists for nothing else but to draw people into Christ, but to draw people into Christ,

to make them little Christs.to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals,

clergy, missions, sermons, fresh expressions,clergy, missions, sermons, fresh expressions,even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.

God became Man for no other purpose.’God became Man for no other purpose.’

C. S. Lewis

How do you feel about evangelism?How do you feel about evangelism?

What does the Bible say ?What does the Bible say ?

• euangelisasthai 52 times

• euangelion 72 times

• euangelistes 3 times

David Bosch 1929-1991

What is the relationship of mission & evangelismWhat is the relationship of mission & evangelism

1.1. Mission/evangelism is all about soul winning for eternityMission/evangelism is all about soul winning for eternity2.2. As above but other good activities might be optionalAs above but other good activities might be optional3.3. Its all about soul winning but service is useful as part of this.Its all about soul winning but service is useful as part of this.4.4. Personal transformation first and then transform societyPersonal transformation first and then transform society5.5. The total ministry to the world outside the ChurchThe total ministry to the world outside the Church6.6. It does not always include a call to repentance but is about It does not always include a call to repentance but is about changing structureschanging structures

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

1.Evangelism is at the core,1.Evangelism is at the core, heart or centre of missionheart or centre of mission..

‘‘it consists in the proclamation of salvation in Christ to it consists in the proclamation of salvation in Christ to nonbelievers, in announcing forgiveness of sins, in nonbelievers, in announcing forgiveness of sins, in

calling people to repentance and faithcalling people to repentance and faithin Christ, in inviting them to become living membersin Christ, in inviting them to become living members

of Christ’s earthly community and to begin a life of Christ’s earthly community and to begin a life in the power of the Spirit.’in the power of the Spirit.’

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

2.Evangelism seeks to bring people into the visible 2.Evangelism seeks to bring people into the visible community of believers.community of believers.

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

3. Evangelism involves witnessing 3. Evangelism involves witnessing to what God has done, is doing and will do.to what God has done, is doing and will do.

Word and deed but …………..Word and deed but …………..‘ ‘ The verbal witness indeed remains indispensable, The verbal witness indeed remains indispensable, not least because our deeds and our conduct are not least because our deeds and our conduct are

ambiguous ,they need elucidation.’ambiguous ,they need elucidation.’

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

4. .Evangelism is invitation4. .Evangelism is invitation

We are drawn by love not by guiltWe are drawn by love not by guilt

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

5. Evangelism is only possible when the church 5. Evangelism is only possible when the church is a radiant manifestation of the Christian faith.is a radiant manifestation of the Christian faith.

‘ ‘ So what the churches often do get involved in is So what the churches often do get involved in is not evangelism, but propaganda, that is, they reproducenot evangelism, but propaganda, that is, they reproduce

carbon copies of themselves and impact their owncarbon copies of themselves and impact their ownghetto mentality to the people they reach.ghetto mentality to the people they reach.

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

6. Evangelism is about risk taking .6. Evangelism is about risk taking .

We do not control how it comes aliveWe do not control how it comes alive

We get changed in this processWe get changed in this process

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

7. Evangelism is not a self centred7. Evangelism is not a self centred consumer product.consumer product.

Not only called to receive life but to give itNot only called to receive life but to give it

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

8. Evangelism is calling people to 8. Evangelism is calling people to be disciples of Jesus .be disciples of Jesus .

It is enlisting people for God’s missionIt is enlisting people for God’s mission

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

““evangelism is that dimension and activity evangelism is that dimension and activity of the church’s mission which seeksof the church’s mission which seeks

to offer every person, everywhere, a to offer every person, everywhere, a valid opportunity to be directly challengedvalid opportunity to be directly challenged

by the gospel of explicit faith in by the gospel of explicit faith in Jesus Christ, with a view to embracing Jesus Christ, with a view to embracing

him as Saviour, becoming a loving him as Saviour, becoming a loving member of his community and being member of his community and being

enlisted in his service ofenlisted in his service ofreconciliation, peace and justice on earth.”reconciliation, peace and justice on earth.”

What is evangelism ?What is evangelism ?

““Evangelism focuses on explicit and intentional Evangelism focuses on explicit and intentional articulation of the gospel, including the articulation of the gospel, including the

invitation to personal conversion to a new life invitation to personal conversion to a new life in Christ and to discipleship……..in Christ and to discipleship……..

Not only individuals but also the whole churchNot only individuals but also the whole churchtogether is called to evangelise.together is called to evangelise.

If we claim to love God and to love our fellow If we claim to love God and to love our fellow human being but fail to share the good news human being but fail to share the good news

with them urgently & consistently , we with them urgently & consistently , we deceive ourselves as to the integrity of either deceive ourselves as to the integrity of either

our love for either God or people.our love for either God or people.

WCC Affirmation on Mission & EvangelismWCC Affirmation on Mission & Evangelism

1. What was the one thing that most struck you1. What was the one thing that most struck youfrom the article by Bosch.from the article by Bosch.

2.What was the one thing that most challenged 2.What was the one thing that most challenged you from the article by Boschyou from the article by Bosch

‘ ‘ As for you, always be sober,As for you, always be sober,endure suffering, endure suffering,

do the work of an evangelistdo the work of an evangelist,,carry out your ministry fully.carry out your ministry fully.

2 Timothy 4 v5.2 Timothy 4 v5.

Envision

‘How does the church become the evangelising centre it was meant

to be? Before we think of programmes

or techniques, we need to be renewedin our vision of who Christ is and

what God’s purposes are for the world.’

Rebecca Manley Pippert.

Encourage

Equip

Example

Expectancy

““These people who have beenThese people who have beenturning the world upside downturning the world upside down

have come here also.”have come here also.”

Acts 17 ;7Acts 17 ;7

‘We live in a culture so saturated with self, in which humans have placed themselves in the centre for so long, that our natural tendency ,even as Christians ,is to focus on the human aspects of evangelism and not the divine. Yet it is God who takes the initiative to pursue seekers, it is his Spirit who converts, it is his gospel that saves.Evangelism is God’s business from start

to finish.’