IDENTIFYING RECEPTIVE TIMES AND STRATEGIES FOR REACHING RECEPTIVE

IDENTIFYING RECEPTIVE TIMES AND STRATEGIES FOR REACHING RECEPTIVE PEOPLE

People become receptive to the gospel at different times.

RECEPTIVITY MEANS: • They are willing, and even eager, to hear the gospel story, make a decision and become followers of the Lord

RECEPTIVITY IN THE BIBLE • Matthew 13: 18 -23 • Christ is the great Sower, and all whom he sends forth to preach are sowers under him. • The seed sown is his Word, the Gospel of the Kingdom. • The soil is human hearts. Four kinds of human hearts are described:

The unresponsive heart: This is a hard hearted individual. He or she is unconcerned, indifferent, hostile. Superficial Heart: This kind of heart is enthusiastic but shallow. O how they enjoy Jesus but they shun the hard demand to take up the cross and follow Jesus. Worldly Heart: He/she lives for the things of this world. His/her chief pursuit is his/her career. They have promise but no purpose. They are consumed by the festivities of the season.

Receptive heart: This heart gives encouragement to the sower. This heart gives every preacher reason to preach the gospel of Jesus.

NOTE THE FOLLOWING: He does not sow the soil but rather he sows seeds in the soil. The seed doesn’t change! It cannot change! It must not change! The seed is the Word of God!

All the soils in this parable are the same It is the same dirt no matter how hard it is. The difference in the soils, has to do with the environmental influences.

For the soil to produce she must be properly prepared.

PRINCIPLES OF RECEPTIVITY FROM ELLEN WHITE • I began to gather the fruit near by, but very carefully, for fear of picking the green berries, which were so mingled with the ripe fruit that I could pick only one or two berries from a cluster. • By looking carefully among the green berries, you will find very choice fruits. • You will see that the fruit which I have gathered is large and ripe. In a little while other berries will ripen, and we can go over the bushes again.

PRINCIPLES OF RECEPTIVITY FROM ELLEN WHITE • The Lord has placed these fruitbearing bushes right in the midst of these thickly settled places, and He expects you to find them. • You should be diligent, first to pick the berries nearest to you, and then search for those farther away; after that you can return and work near again, and thus you will be successful.

A RULE OF THUMB FROM THE VISION OF THE BERRIES • When it is apparent that people are receptive to the gospel, concentrate your human and material resources on those receptive people.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER AND RECEPTIVITY • It is through the power of intercessory prayer that receptive people come to the attention of Christians.

“The guardianship of the heavenly host is granted to all who will work in God’s way and follow His plans. We may in earnest contrite prayer call the heavenly helpers to our side. Invisible armies of light and power will work with the humble, meek, and lowly one. ” Selected Messages, p. 97 (Letter 116, 1899)

If you pray to be led to receptive people, you will coincidentally discover them-time and time again. Stop praying to be so led and the coincidences will stop occurring. George Hunter III, The Contagious Congregation, p. 118

FOUR GENERAL INDICATORS OF RECEPTIVITY 1. Find out where and why other churches in the area are growing. • What kind of people are they reaching. • Who is more likely to be receptive to the Advent Message

2. Find people who are in changing situations. a. Cultural change b. Economic change c. Political change d. Religious change Changes in people lives open their minds and hearts toward the gospel.

3. The “common” people. And the common people heard Him gladly. Mark 12: 3 The masses are always more receptive that the so-called professional or ‘upper’ classes.

4. People who have a common denominator. a. People who have something in common and work together as a group tend to be either receptive or resistant as a group.

RECEPTIVE TIMES • • • Moving to a new community A new baby Death of a loved one A change in marital status A change in job status Sickness Change in financial status Christmas Season Retirement Change in residence Outstanding person achievement

HOW TO FIND RECEPTIVE PEOPLE “Soil Testing” • Work with those you already know. Put them on your list. • The use of demographic surveys. – Determine what kind of information you want to obtain, then find out where and how you can get it.

SURVEY 1. Are you an active member of a local church? 2. What do you think is the greatest need in this area? 3. Why do you think most people don’t attend church? 4. If you are looking for a church what would you look for? 5. What advice would you give to a church in its area that really wants to help people and serve the community?

WAYS TO DO SURVEY

THIS IS KEY: • Each church must have an up-to-date prospect list. • Prospects must be contacted either by telephone, sending them a card or letter or a personal visit which is most effective.

THE OIKOS FACTOR • ‘Oikos’ in the Greek means house or household. • Therefore, the word ‘Oikos’ refers to an extended family.

• When you fish with a hook how many fish do you catch at a time? • When you fish with a net how many fish do you catch at a time?

• ‘Oikos’ relationships allow you to fish with a net

HOW NON-SDA’s BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH THE CHURCH OIKOS 75%

WHAT INFLUENCED PEOPLE MOST TO JOIN THE CHURCH

SUMMARY OF BOTH CHARTS

Why are Oikos relationship so effective? • Oikos relationships provide natural networks for sharing the gospel. • Oikos members are usually somewhat favorable or highly favorable on the receptivity scale. • Oikos relationships tend to win whole families. • Oikos relationships provide natural support when a person comes to church. • Oikos provide a constantly enlarging source of new contacts.

FINALLY • WHEN IT IS APPARENT THAT PEOPLE ARE RECEPTIVE TO THE GOSPEL, CONCENTRATE YOUR HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES ON THOSE RECEPTIVE PEOPLE