Consider that we live in at least three
worlds.
Emerging world
Modern world
Pre-modern world
today

Some of you will live and work one
world, some in two, and some in all
three.
Emerging world
Modern world
Pre-modern world
today

In your hearts, set apart
Christ as Lord. Always be
prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to
give the reason for the hope
that you have. But do this
with gentleness and respect,
keeping a clear conscience, so
that those who speak
maliciously against your good
1 Peter behavior in Christ may be
3:15-17 ashamed of their slander.

A story about a
book-release
party…

Hi Brian (do you prefer to be
called brian?) this is april, the
harpist from your book signing
party. i read your book this
morning. it caused me to think
a lot about a lot of things. i
actually would like to tell you
about it, but im afraid this e
mail will be very lengthy...

i don't want to burden you (i
understand you listen to a lot of
people every day!) so im not
sure... but i really need to talk
to someone … and I cant think
of anyone else i can talk to
about religion..

like i said to you last night,
recently i have been feeling like
I want to become a christian,
and maybe even start going to
church and stuff. but …
whenever i go to any church, or
read any church literature I
change my mind

… i get so angry (and i dont
know why, because i havent
had any overly negative
experiences with the church)
and i get these horrible
visions of brainwashing and
the like.

its so frustrating for me,
because i feel like i dont owe
christianity any breaks and that
it deserves the tough
microscope i put it under. … i
dont want to let [them] "win" the
christianity argument, or
whatever.

when i was reading your book today
at certain parts i felt so good, and
at certain times i actually felt like i
was about to cry, because it felt
like something was really getting
through to me. but i feel like theres
something holding me back, theres
some sort of defense mechanism in
me that tells me not to believe any
of it.

i guess thats probably why i
asked you what i did last night.
i need to make sure that im not
being "lured in", just to find out
once i go ahead and believe
that a whole bunch of other
stuff comes along with it that i
cant feel comfortable with,

and then my whole person
will change and ill become
closed minded and bigoted
and brainwashed and
everything bad... i just cant
feel that i can trust it. i dont
know what to do.

oh well. at the very least, i
really enjoyed reading your
book…

it met me at every corner.
that was frustrating, in a
way, but in a healthy way,
like eating veggies or
something. ill try to write a
review of it online when i
get a chance. hope you had
a good easter. - april

Several months passed with
questions about
… the Bible …
Genocide in the Bible …
How Christians treat certain types
of people …
And then she got involved with the
church … playing harp for a
contemplative prayer service.

hi brian,
I just got up from a _three and a half_
hour nap (taken immediately after i
returned home from church). i was
thinking about emailing you before i fell
asleep because i wanted to tell you how
much i enjoyed your message today. …
WHATYOU SAY is just so incredible.

i had a dream during my nap that i
wanted to tell you about. Im not one
to get really excited by dreams or
anything like that, and i feel sort of
weird telling you, but i just have to.
…

for some reason, out of the blue
(though in the dream,it didnt feel like it
was out of the blue) you poured
FREEZING cold water on my head and
said the baptism thing ("in the name of
the father, the son," etc, etc). it was
dripping all down my face,
everywhere... so much water, and it
felt so good, and i just started to cry
and saying over again "thank you.
thank you so much."

i said to you "i have been
thinking about this for awhile,
but wasn't sure i was ready",
and you said "youve been
ready for a long time" and gave
me a hug.

then i guess there was sort of
a dream segue type thing, and
i was sitting with my friend
kate, who at the last minute
cancelled out of going to my
recital. i was sitting with her
giving her the cold shoulder
because she had missed it
and it hurt my feelings.

then i remembered: wait a
second, theres no turning back
now, jesus wouldnt have done
this, and you have no right to.
and i just apologized to kate and
siad "its okay... it went well and i
understand why you couldnt
make it, and of course our
friendship is just as strong as
always."

then i woke up. i dont know...
it just really affected me, ive
felt like ive been on the verge
of tears (happy tears) since i
woke up. thank you for helping
me bring about such a change
in my life.
april

They Like Jesus but not the Church
Dan Kimball

1.The church is an organized
religion with a political agenda.
The church is an organized
community with a heart to serve
others

2. The church is judgmental and
negative.
The church is a positive agent of
change loving others as Jesus would.

3. The church is dominated by
males and oppresses females.
The church holds women in the highest
respect and includes them in leadership in
the church.

4. The church is homophobic.
The church is a loving and
welcoming community.

5. The church arrogantly claims
all other religions are wrong.
The church is respectful of other
people’s beliefs and faiths.

6. The church is full of
fundamentalists who take the
Bible literally.
The church holds beliefs with
humility and strives to be
thoughtful theologians.

What they wish:
1. I wish church were not just
a sermon or lecture but a
discussion.

2. I wish church would
respect my intelligence.

3. I wish church weren’t
about the church building.

4. I wish church were less
programmed and would
allow more time to think and
pray.

5. I wish the church were
a loving place.

6. I wish church cared for
the poor and the
environment.

7. I wish the church
taught more about Jesus.

From Dave Kinneman & Gabe Lyons
Non-Christians aged 16-29 years old were
asked, What is your current perception of
Christianity?
91% said antihomosexual
87% said judgmental
85% said hypocritical
78% said old-fashioned
75% said too involved in politics
72% said out of touch with reality
70% said insensitive to others

a poem by sam
shoemaker

I stand by the door.
I neither go too far in, nor
stay too far out,
The door is the most
important door in the world
--
It is the door through which
men walk when they find
God.

They creep along like blind
men,
With outstretched, groping
hands.
Feeling for a door, knowing
there must be a door,
Yet they never find it…
So I stand by the door.

The most tremendous thing
in the world
Is for men to find that door -
the door to God.
The most important thing
any man can do
Is to take hold of one of
those blind, groping hands,
And put it on the latch -

The latch that only clicks
And opens to the man’s own
touch.
Men die outside that door
As starving beggars die,
On cold nights in cruel cities
in the dead of winter -
Die for want of what is
within their grasp.

They live, on the other side
of it - live because they have
not found it.
Nothing else matters
compared to helping them
find it,
And open it, and walk in, and
find Him…
So I stand by the door.

There’s no use my going way inside,
and staying there,
When so many are still outside and
they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where a door ought
to be.

Go in, great saints, go all the
way in -
Go way down into the
cavernous cellars,
And way up into the
spacious attics -
It is a vast, roomy house,
this house where God is.

Go into the deepest of hidden
casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms,
And know the depths and heights of
God.
And call outside to the rest of us how
wonderful it is.

Sometimes I take a deeper
look in,
Sometimes venture in a little
farther;
But my place seems closer
to the opening…
So I stand by the door.

There is another reason why I stand
there.
Some people get part way in and
become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house
devour them.
For God is so very great, and asks all
of us.
And these people feel a cosmic
claustrophobia

And want to get out. “Let me out!”
they cry.
And the people way inside terrify them
more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell
them that they are spoiled
For the old life, they have seen too
much:
Once taste God, and nothing but God
will do any more.

Somebody must be watching for the
frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they
came in,
To tell them how much better it is
inside.
The people too far in do not see how
near these are
To leaving - preoccupied with the
wonder of it all.

Somebody must watch for those who
have entered the door,But would like to
run away. So for them, too,
I stand by the door.
I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it
was
Before they got in. Then they would be
able to help

The people who have not yet even
found the door,
Or the people who want to run away
again from God.
You can go in too deeply, and stay in
too long,
And forget the people outside the
door.

As for me, I shall take my old accustomed
place,
Near enough to God to hear Him, and
know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear
them,
And remember they are there,
too.Where? Outside the door --
Thousands of them, millions of them.

But - more important for me -
One of them, two of them, ten of
them.
Whose hands I am intended to put
on the latch.
So I shall stand by the door and wait
For those who seek it.
“I had rather be a door-keeper…”

So I stand by the door.
(Samuel Moor Shoemaker, 1893 -
1963)

So I stand by the door.
(Samuel Moor Shoemaker, 1893 -
1963)

Reflections:
1. Get out more. Get a life outside of
church work. Be in contact with
normal people.
2. Serve people. In practical ways. Be
helpful. Do good works.
3. Ask questions; show genuine interest
in people. Put the Great Commission
back inside the Great Commandment.

4. Talk freely and naturally about your
spiritual life - not excessively, not
using religious jargon. Be “naturally
supernatural.”
5. Find or make a safe place for seekers
to talk openly about God. Count
conversations and don’t rush
conversions.
6. Invite and include - in your life,
including your spiritual life and your
circle of friends.

7. Stand by the door … stay close to
people outside the church.
What if the best experiences of your life
are ahead of you, this year, next year
… as you stand by the door to
welcome the next person into God’s
community of love and reconciliation?

Forget about Evangelism …
And concentrate on
making disciples.

What is a disciple?
Not just someone who believes
in Jesus to go to heaven
someday …
But someone who follows Jesus
to manifest the kingdom of God
on earth today.

So, before we “convert” others, we
must be converted ourselves -
from doing evangelism to making
disciples of Jesus …
People who live in the way of the
kingdom of God.

1. The relational factor:
Count conversations, not just conversions.
See evangelism as a relational dance, not a
win/lose conquest.

In many places today, people will not become
Christians unless they meet and get to know a
Christian and Christian community which
inspires them with curiosity and hope.
This is similar to the first and second
centuries …
Many misconceptions must be overcome -
and that can only be done by authentic,
living examples of Christian discipleship and
community.

2. The narrative factor:
It’s about their story, your story, and God’s
story.
We must begin by asking questions,
listening, not judging, but seeking to truly
understand.

When Christian faith presents itself as a
system of belief, postmodern people are often
skeptical.
But when it presents itself as a redemptive
story and a chosen way of life within that
story, they see something unique and
hopeful.

3. The communal factor:
The greatest hermeneutic [interpretation] of the
gospel is a community that lives by it.
(Newbigin)
Our churches must be converted into missional
communities of disciple-making.
Belonging often precedes believing and
becoming.

How can we create safe places?
What makes our churches unsafe?

4. The process or journey factor:
Instead of “evangelism/follow-up” or
“decision/discipleship,” think disciple-
making -- a holistic process, not an isolated
conversion event.
The process can include events or milestones
… such as baptism, commissioning for
ministry, etc.

The disciple-making process with April
began when I noticed her and helped her in a
practical, down-to-earth way … and it
continues today.

5. The Holy Spirit factor
Believe that God is already “out there” and at
work with everyone (either trying to get in,
or to get out!) … not just “in here” in the
church.

Helping people interpret their spiritual
experiences … as “spiritual consultants.”
Helping people have spiritual experiences …
charismatic and contemplative and activist
pathways.

6. The learning factor
See evangelism as part of your discipleship,
not just the other person’s.
Remember Cornelius (Acts 10-11).

How can we experience conversion through
evangelism?

7. The service factor:
The words of the gospel must be
accompanied by the deeds and spirit of the
gospel … deeds of service and a servant’s
heart.
This whole experience began with the simple
act of helping April put her harp into her van.

How might our people serve their neighbors?
How might our churches serve their
community?

8. The integral mission factor:
See evangelism as recruiting people for
God’s mission on earth, not just souls for
heaven.

Might we rediscover the power and scope of
the gospel?

Our contemporary gospel is primarily
INFORMATION ON
HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN
AFTER YOU DIE
with a large footnote about increasing your personal
happiness and success through God.
with a small footnote about character development
with a smaller footnote about spiritual experience
with a smaller footnote about social/global transformation.

self
church
world

world
church
self

Integral Mission =
The Gospel of the
Kingdom of God
church
self

Go and make disciples …

All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to
me. 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, and
teaching them to obey
everything I have
commanded you. And surely I
Matthew am with always, to the very
28:18-20 end of the age.

When the Advocate comes, whom I will
send to you from the Father - the Spirit
of truth who goes out from the Father -
he will testify about me. And you also
must testify, for you have been with me
from the beginning…. But very truly I
tell you, it is for your good that I am
going away. Unless I go away, the
Advocate will not come to you, but if I
go, I will send him to you.

When he comes he will prove the world
to be in the wrong about sin and
righteousness (justice) and judgment;
about sin, because people do not
believe in me; about righteousness
(justice), because I am going to the
Father, where you can see me no
longer; and about judgment because the
prince of this world now stands
condemned.

I have much more to say to you, more
than you can now bear.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all the truth.
(John 15-16, selected)

more ready
than you realize
Evangelism as
Dance