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Sermon Notes
Novato SDA Church,
April 24,
2004
Bible Reading: John 4:34-38 Matthew 9:36
Evangelism, Habit #4
Sermon by Pastor David Perry
Notes by Garnet R. Chaney
This is part of a series of studies in how the church works. Following the book,
7 Habits of Ineffective Churches.
Ron says about Evangelism, one of the reasons that churches stop growing is the
way they do (or don't do) evangelism.
He is talking about how they do evangelism. Common for members to love the Lord,
but leave the work of winning
souls for Jesus to the professionals.
Why do some techniques of evangelism work in some places, but not others. Some
people think that God laid out a blueprint for evangelism. But the same
techniques sometimes don't work in all locations.
You must adapt to where you are.
There was a survey by Dennis Preager, talk show host in southern California:
Survey of high school seniors, for 15 years,
here is the question: If both were drowning, which would you save first, your
dog or a stranger
- 1/3 - save the dog
- 1/3 - save the stranger
- 1/3 - too difficult
Gladens conclusion: If you are going to drown, wait until there are at least
3 high school seniors nearby, because 2 of them are not going to do you any
good.
They were then asked this question:
- "Why on earth wouldn't you save the person?"
Answers given:
- Know - they know the dog, but don't know the stranger
- Love - love the dog, but don't love the stranger
- Feelings - feelings for the dog, but don't have feelings for the stranger
We live in a cynical world that is confused about priorities. Christians share
Christ's concerns for the lost. When Jesus looked at the
lost, his heart was broken. Matt 9:36 - When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Their sheep were almost like pets, they were very involved with them, they'd
give them names.
How would we make this anaology modern? For a group of guys, "Cars without
mechanics?"
One of the primary reasons churches stop growing is that members care so little
about what broke Jesus' heart.
What compassion to we deel for the lost in our community?
What kind of things do we allow to get in our way of our soul winning? Everyone
of us has lots of these excuses, nto the least of which
might be shyness about sharing the gospel.
Even when they do care, they are often perpleced about how to reach people in a
secular society with the gospel.
How many people you share with are quick to say "Don't get holy with me, back
off" or "You can just stop right there, I'm not interested."
We need to be refined, and respectful of the people, and they kind of people
they are.
Do we love the stranger? Do we have feelings for someone when we don't even know
their name? Do we care where they will spend eternity? Or are
we fatalistic in our thinking about them.... .Everyone of those strangers out
there has a mother, father, neighbors, friends,
they are people, not just statistics.
Paul's Three Experiences in Acts 17
This is an important concept for people to get.
- Thessalonica - persecution and many conversions. Acts 17:5 The jews were
jealous, so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the
city.
But he had real succes.
* Berea - no harassment and many conversions.
** We don't have to wait for the tribulation.
** Acts 17:11 - The Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonicans
* Athens
** Very religious and few conversions.
** Very little success.
** "Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'Men of Athens!
I see that in
every way are very religious." Acts 17:22
** This was the center were people debated.
** People today has people who have lots of interest in spiritual things
** People want to know about something beyond what they can see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears, they want a spiritual guide
In Our 21st Century World
* Thessalonica - Restricted Nations
** "Voice Of The Matyrs" - 42 countries. Christians are imprisoned, killed,
deprived of possessions, by government sanction. China, Sudan, north Korea,
Tunisia - etimates in 2002, 165,000 Christians were matured for their faith.
** While we in America go to church and debate on the color of the carpet, or
the order of the service, in many nations you worship at the risk
of your lives
* Berea - Open Nations
** Easy places to minister. Central America. IT's a joy to minister. Crowds that
stretch as far as the eye can see.
* Athens - First World Nations
** Examples: America, Canada, Australia, and most of europe
** Jesus knew that some cities would be tough. He said if any place would not
welcome you, Mark 6:11,m shake the dust off of you when you leave.
** Paul did this. Why beat your head agains tthe wall against people who don't
want to hear you.
We are "stuck in Athens". We have been called to minister here.
Our options
- Do nothing Approach - "Our message is not a popular message, and people don't
want to hear what we have to say, so let's not bother to try."
- Come Find Us Approach - "Well, they know where our churches are, they can come
and join us. We'll put an ad in the paper, and let them take the initiative to
get up, drive 20 miles, and when they get here, we'll be nice to them."
- Go get 'Em Approach - "We can resolve that we are not afraid of Athens. We can
take Jesus message to the hardest places on earth. We will not shrink back. In
God, we will prevail.
Certain assumptions that Ron Gladen shares with us.
# Soul winning is in the Adventist DNA. Clearly our approach is less effective
than in years gone by, but we still truly care. If we knew what to do, we would
do it
# We assume that the people of Athens are spiritually polarized. While many
drift off into postmodernism or other religions, thousands of others from all
ages and background are joining churches. In either case, they are truly seeking
God.
** People are interested. They are talking to the churches. Even in Marin
county, this is happening. More and more people are showing an interest in
church. People are realizing that the world as they know it is not satisfying,
and they want the world that Jesus describes in the word of God.
"My food', said Jesus, 'is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish how
work. Do
you not say, "Four months more and then the harvest?" I tell you, open your
eyues and look at the fields.
John 4:34-38
This is an interesting passage that says we need to just get out there and do
evangelism.
Evangelism that is soul winning is done in stages. A lot of hard work and
preparation before the fruitage of our labors. Even where we are, he
plans for a harvest. What works in Berea, may or may not work in Athens.
1 Corinthians 3: 6 - I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it
grow.
Paul understood that not just everywhere would he walk in and have people line up
for baptism.
We don't need to be upset by the fat, we don't need to be overwhelmed by not
getting a lot of baptisms. We have to be sure that we are seed planting.
We shouldn't expect the fruit of our garden
Assumption : What used to work in Athens in a previous era is only relevant if
it's still effective today.
There are always some people who say "We know how to do soul wining, 20 years
ago here are things we used to deo. Why aren't we still doign those things now."
Usually there is a very food reason, like it doesn't still work.
Gladen says over and over, that he really believes in doing what works. The
oposite of that is if it doesn't work, regroup, and rethink, and find something
else that works in your community.
Assumption - when the church radically lives the gospel and communicates the
message in ways appropriate with the times, we will experience a vigorous
revival.
Someone once suggested to go to Las Vegas and do what they are doing here.
Pastors do a certain amount of this. Workers Conferences are where they do this.
They bring in thee people from the areas that are having success, and they
describe their success, and why thry think it is working in their area, and then
the cultural circumstances. We try to find the bridges between those areas and
our areas. But we always keep in mind, we can't just do what is done in Las
Vegas here in Novato. We have to apply the principles of learning, and pay the
same price here, and find out what works here in Novato.
Gladen always closes with the idea that churches cease to grow when they are not
willing to pay the price.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.
He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the father.
John 14:12
Did the disciples do greater thaings that JEsus did? They had a wider reach..
The reaped a lot of seeds that Jesus had planted.
The world ever since has been dominate by the influence of Christianity.
We need to sped time studying what works in Novato.
Next time, we will look more specifically at what kinds of outreach can we do
in Novato. We will ask how does this fit with Jesus plan?
Pray about this concern. We all have this concern about how to share the gospel
with our friends and neighbors. Ask the Lord to teach
us and show us, how we can better share the gospel with the world around us.
We have things already happening, literature has been sent out, and covered
nearly the whole county. We need to pray for a change of heart,
to be like Jesus with a passion for saving souls.
Story of Crescent City - sent out bible study postcards. It was a small
community, no one knew how many would respond.
Someone thought they should have faith for 100 responses. So they ordered 100
bible
studies whether or not they would need them. They ended up with 99 responses!
There is a lot that God can't do because we don't ask.
We can become aggressive, and not be willing to sit back and wait.
We need to pray for the wisdom of how to approach people lovingly and kindly.
There is a not a right way to do soul winning. Every person is different.
We need the spirits guidance to listen to what people say, and know if we are
being invited. To know if the door is open.
We can't hear with our regular ears, we need to hear with spiritual ears. We
need to find the interests people have, and how we can best serve them.
We need to be completely attached to God, and let him Guide us.
We need to pray for our pastors, that they will not get caught up in
administrative duties, but that they will have the time to do soul winning.
Pastors Prayer:
Dear lord in heaven ...
How we need you...
If ever there were missionaries that needed you,
it was the missionaries to Athens...
We live in Athens...
over the years we have become discouraged...
Please fill us with hope, and compassion
may we look at the lost in our community,
and be compassionate towards them.
Help us find ways to reach out to them
and invite them into the kingsom of heaven
Make us into the people you want us to be
Amen
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