Winning Ways to Witness David Hartman Perceptions of

“Winning Ways to Witness” David Hartman

Perceptions of Evangelism When you hear the word evangelism what image first comes to mind?

Perceptions of Evangelism Typical Stereotypes: § Public meetings § Scary beasts § Doctrinal study

Perceptions of Evangelism Recent Studies: § George Barna - 55% shared faith in the prior 12 months § Thom Rainer - 5% witnessed on a consistent basis § Institute of Church Ministries (Andrews University) - 41% of Adventists actively share their faith

Perceptions of Evangelism What factors cause Adventists to shy away from doing evangelism? § § Fear Factor Knowledge Factor Offence Factor Time Factor

Perceptions of Evangelism What factors cause unbelievers to shy away from evangelism? • Pushy, offensive • Not relevant Discomfort on BOTH sides of the fence!

Content of Seminar -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5

Goals of Seminar • Motivation • Tools • 7 -Step Process • Support

What Is Evangelism? Biblical definition: euangelion Gk. euangelizo Heb. bissar Proclaiming good news!

Occasions for Good News

Occasions for Good News Victory on the Battlefield!

Occasions for Good News “The enemy is defeated!” “We won!” “Good News!” Examples: 2 Kings 7: 9; Isaiah 52: 7; 61: 1, 2

Christ Is Ultimate Victor Christ has defeated the devil and established a new domainthe kingdom of God. (Matt 4: 23; 9: 35; Lk 2: 10, 11; 4: 18, 19, 43, 44; 9: 1, 2)

Results of Christ’s Victory 1. New Master Colossians 1: 13, 14 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. ”

Results of Christ’s Victory 2. Personal Salvation Romans 1: 16, 17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. . . For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith. ’”

Results of Christ’s Victory 3. Freedom from Sin Luke 4: 18 “He has anointed Me. . . to preach deliverance to the captives. ” Romans 6: 6 “No longer. . . slaves of sin. ”

Results of Christ’s Victory 4. Holistic Healing Luke 4: 18 § gospel to the poor § healing to the brokenhearted § deliverance to the captives § recovery of sight to the blind § liberty to the oppressed

Good News Is for Sharing!

Good News Is for Sharing!

Three Reasons for Sharing

1. For God’s Sake Luke 15: 1 -7 The shepherd goes “after the one [sheep] which is lost until he finds it. ” 2 Peter 3: 9 “The Lord. . . Is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. ” God’s heart beats for the lost!

2. For Others’ Sake Luke 15: 1 -7 The lost sheep roams until it eventually dies. Romans 6: 23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ” People need quality of life now, and the joy of eternal life with God.

3. For Our Sake Luke 15: 1 -7 Finding the lost sheep brings joy to the heart of the seeker. Ministry of Healing, 102 - “It is in working to spread the good news of salvation that we are brought near to the Saviour. ” Christian Service, 22 - “It is in working for others that [we] will keep [our] own souls alive. ”

3. For Our Sake Acts of the Apostles, 105 - “Strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service. ” Desire of Ages, 142 – “God could have reached His object in saving sinners without our aid; but in order for us to develop a character like Christ’s, we must share in His work. ”

Three Reasons for Not Sharing

1. Misunderstand Content Good News Not Bad News

2. Misunderstand Role It’s the job of the: • Pastor • Evangelist • Professional

Biblical Role of Evangelism Matthew 28: 19, 20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ”

Biblical Role of Evangelism Acts 8: 1, 4; 11: 19, 21, 24 § Lay people were the primary agents of evangelism § Ordinary men and women with no literary training “went everywhere preaching the word. ”

Biblical Role of Evangelism Desire of Ages, 195 “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. ”

Biblical Role of Evangelism Acts of the Apostles 110 “Everyone who has received Christ is called to work for the salvation of his fellow men. ”

Biblical Role of Evangelism Acts of the Apostles 110 “It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of soul-saving depends alone upon the ministry. ”

Birthright Stolen Over the centuries. . . § Bishops then priests hovered over congregations § People relied on clergy to do work of evangelism § Birthright of evangelism snatched away from congregants at large and given to “professionals”

Birthright Stolen The early Adventist church…LAITY were the primary evangelists 1. 2. 3. 4. Pastors served as itinerant evangelists Conference evangelists Union evangelists Media evangelists Evangelism has strayed four levels from where it was originally intended. We need to get back to the blueprint!

Birthright Restored Joel 2: 28, 29 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dreams, your young men shall see vision. ” God predicts an inter-generational movement in the last days which will turn hearts back to God (Mal. 4: 5, 6; Acts 2: 17 -20).

Great Controversy 611, 612 "The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at is close. . Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to proclaim the message from heaven.

Great Controversy 611, 612 By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. . The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. . a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side. ”

3. Misunderstand Process View evangelism as an “event” or “activity” § 4 week campaign § Sabbath afternoon literature distribution Then get back to “normal”

Event vs. Lifestyle Different metaphors for witnessing: § light (Matt 5: 13) § salt (Matt 5: 14) § yeast (Matt 13: 35 -37) § fragrance (2 Cor 2: 14, 15) § letter (2 Cor 3: 2, 3) § ambassador (2 Cor 5: 20) being vs. activity or “evangeliving”

Event vs. Lifestyle § Fishing (Matt 4: 19) • an occupation • not a sport

Event vs. Lifestyle § Gardening (Mark 4: 3 -20; 26 -29)

Principles of Gardening “The same laws that govern earthly seed sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth. ” Christ’s Object Lessons, 33

Gardening Is a Process Jeremiah 4: 3 “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. ”

Gardening Is a Process Mark 4: 26 “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. . . ”

Gardening Is a Process Mark 4: 28 “For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. ”

Gardening Is a Process Mark 4: 29 “But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come. ”

The Agricultural Cycle

Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation 7 Personal Styles of Evangelism

1. Intercession Praying for the salvation of friends, family, and work associates. § Prayer prepares BOTH hearts for the witnessing encounter (Isa. 50: 4; 2 Cor. 10: 4, 5; 4: 2 -4; GC 525). § Power of focused prayer (1 Tim. 2: 1, 4; 1 John 5: 14, 16) Col.

Gospel Workers, 65 “In times past there were those who fastened their minds upon one soul after another, saying, ‘Lord, help me to save this soul. ’ But now such instances are rare. How many act as if they realized the peril of sinners? How many take those whom they know to be in peril, presenting them to God in prayer, and supplicating Him to save them? ”

Medical Ministry, 244 “Let the workers grasp the promises of God, saying, ‘Thou hast promised, Ask, and ye shall receive. I must have this soul converted to Jesus Christ. ’"

Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation

2. Friendship “He [Jesus] accepted their invitations, attended their feasts, made Himself familiar with their interests and occupations, that He might gain access to their hearts, and reveal to them the imperishable riches. ” Ministry of Healing, 24, 25 “It is through social relations that Christianity comes in contact with the world…. Social power, sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, must be improved in bringing souls to the Saviour. ” Ministry of Healing, 496

Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation

3. Service Meeting real needs in practical ways. Jesus’ method of evangelism—He first served practical needs and then addressed spiritual concerns (Luke 9: 1, 2; 10: 9). Serving practical needs opens hearts to God’s love (1 Pet. 3: 1; Matt. 5: 16; Titus 3: 14; 4 T 227).

3. Service “First meet the temporal necessities. . . And relieve their physical wants and sufferings, and you will then find an open avenue to the heart, where you may plant the good seeds of virtue and religion. ” Testimonies, vol. 4, 227

Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation

4. Testimony Desire of Ages, 347 “Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven’s chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience…. These precious acknowledgements to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls. ”

Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation

5. Invitation Inviting family, friends, and acquaintances to an event where Jesus and the gospel/truth are introduced. There are many non-Christians who would gladly come to a worship service, small group, or outreach event, if they were just invited.

5. Invitation Examples: § Andrew invited his brother, Peter; and Philip invited his friend, Nathaniel, to come and meet Jesus (John 1: 41, 45). § Samaritan woman invited her companions to come and see Jesus (John 4: 29).

5. Invitation Thom Rainer’s research (The Unchurched Next Door): 8 out of 10 of the unchurched said they would come to church if invited § Only 2% of church members are giving invitations to unchurched friends and neighbors § § The “sin of silence”

Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation

6. Conversation Our High Calling, 301 “When you get into conversation with [unbelievers] do not talk of nothingness and folly, but tell of the precious things of God. . Study [how] to pass easily and courteously from subjects of a temporal nature to the spiritual and eternal. . While walking by the way, or seated by the wayside, you may drop into some heart the seed of truth. ”

Ways To Witness • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation • Proclamation

7. Proclamation Declaring the absolute truths of God’s Word in an authoritative, matter-a-fact way. § Includes both teaching (didasko) and preaching (karusso) § Usually event-oriented and message driven

7. Proclamation Examples: § Jesus taught and preached the gospel of the kingdom and sent His disciples out to do the same (Matt 4: 23; 9: 35; 11: 1; 10: 7; 28: 20) § Early Church taught and preached the word of God (Acts 5: 42; 15: 35; 28: 31) § Proclaimed the word publicly and from house to house (Acts 5: 42; 20: 20)

7. Proclamation GC 606 – “In every generation God has sent His servants to rebuke sin, both in the world and in the church. . . they could not refrain from preaching the plain utterances of the Bible— doctrines which they had been reluctant to present. They were impelled to zealously declare the truth and the danger which threatened souls. The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless of consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning.

Need a Balanced Approach • Intercession • Friendship • Service • Testimony • Invitation • Conversation Evangelicals emphasize RELATIONAL Adventists • Proclamation emphasize PROCLAMATIONAL

Proclamational Evangelism Revelation 14: 6 -12 Everlasting Gospel 3 Angels’ Message • midst of heaven • loud voice

Proclamational Evangelism GC 606 – “In every generation God has sent His servants to rebuke sin, both in the world and in the church. . . they could not refrain from preaching the plain utterances of the Bible — doctrines which they had been reluctant to present. They were impelled to zealously declare the truth and the danger which threatened souls. The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless of consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning.

Proclamational Evangelism Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of

Proclamational Evangelism enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. ” (GC 606)

Relational Evangelism Christ’s Object Lessons, 57 “The sowers of the seed have a work to do in preparing hearts to receive the gospel. In the ministry of the word there is too much sermonizing and too little of real heart -to-heart work. There is need of personal labor for the souls of the lost. In Christlike sympathy we should come close to men individually, and seek to awaken

Relational Evangelism their interest in the great things of eternal life. Their hearts may be as hard as the beaten highway, and apparently it may be a useless effort to present the Saviour to them; but while logic may fail to move, and argument be powerless to convince, the love of Christ, revealed in personal ministry, may soften the stony heart, so that the seed of truth can take root. ” COL 57

Jesus Is Soon Coming Revelation 14: 14 -16 We must become better: • Cultivators • Sowers • Reapers For a Great Harvest!