The document provides guidance on perpetual evangelism and witnessing. It discusses how witnessing should continue throughout one's life rather than stopping after a period of time. It also emphasizes the importance of creating a nurturing environment for new believers and training others to witness. Additionally, it addresses reclaiming former members and minimizing factors that cause people to leave the church. The overall message is that churches must focus on continual outreach, incorporation of new members, and retention to effectively spread the gospel.
This document discusses Paul Goebbels' admiration for Adolf Hitler. It contains excerpts from Goebbels praising Hitler for greeting him like an old friend and speaking in a way that breaks down all resistance. Goebbels says they will go down in history as the greatest statesmen or criminals. The document portrays Goebbels as a devoted disciple of Hitler.
1. The document discusses how churches should actively involve trained members in evangelism and witnessing work instead of just having them attend seminars.
2. It emphasizes the importance of sharing ministry responsibilities and finding roles for all willing members, using Moses as an example of recognizing the need for delegation.
3. Matching members' talents, experiences, and backgrounds to the people they will minister to is recommended for effective outreach.
This document discusses the concept of "every member ministry" and how each individual believer has a role to play in evangelism and outreach. It argues that while pastoral leadership is important, the Bible teaches that all Christians have a ministry. Each believer has been called into a relationship with God and compelled to share what God has done in their lives. The document explores how the early church understood this concept and how individual experiences contribute to the church's corporate ministry. It emphasizes that Christians should work together evangelically as the body of Christ.
This document provides an overview of the Christian life using the analogy of a jigsaw puzzle. It explains that the goal is to help disciples understand how to integrate biblical knowledge into daily life with God and others. The normal Christian life is presented as having 7 components: 1) Birth to rebirth, 2) Judgment of unbelievers, 3) The cross, 4) The new life, 5) The intended objective of spiritual maturity, 6) God's foundation and building options, 7) The tribunal of Christ or judgment seat of Christ. Disciples are to be given a preview of these components in one session with more details to follow.
The document discusses the concept of personal discipleship and argues that it is needed in addition to corporate discipleship. It provides 10 reasons why personal discipleship, which it defines as "spiritual parenting", is important but often lacking. Some of the key reasons given include that discipleship is often misunderstood as just teaching, most believers feel inadequately trained, and biblical truth is often presented without showing how it fits into the Christian life as a whole.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
The Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) aims to transform communities through holistic ministries and church planting. Its mission is to aggressively disciple nations by engaging in community development and proclaiming Jesus Christ. CAMACOP's flagship program is called "Sacred Secular Family", which teaches that all areas of life are sacred and should be lived for God. The organization works to empower local churches to transform communities through intentional disciple-making, leadership development, and involvement in local and foreign missions.
This document discusses Paul Goebbels' admiration for Adolf Hitler. It contains excerpts from Goebbels praising Hitler for greeting him like an old friend and speaking in a way that breaks down all resistance. Goebbels says they will go down in history as the greatest statesmen or criminals. The document portrays Goebbels as a devoted disciple of Hitler.
1. The document discusses how churches should actively involve trained members in evangelism and witnessing work instead of just having them attend seminars.
2. It emphasizes the importance of sharing ministry responsibilities and finding roles for all willing members, using Moses as an example of recognizing the need for delegation.
3. Matching members' talents, experiences, and backgrounds to the people they will minister to is recommended for effective outreach.
This document discusses the concept of "every member ministry" and how each individual believer has a role to play in evangelism and outreach. It argues that while pastoral leadership is important, the Bible teaches that all Christians have a ministry. Each believer has been called into a relationship with God and compelled to share what God has done in their lives. The document explores how the early church understood this concept and how individual experiences contribute to the church's corporate ministry. It emphasizes that Christians should work together evangelically as the body of Christ.
This document provides an overview of the Christian life using the analogy of a jigsaw puzzle. It explains that the goal is to help disciples understand how to integrate biblical knowledge into daily life with God and others. The normal Christian life is presented as having 7 components: 1) Birth to rebirth, 2) Judgment of unbelievers, 3) The cross, 4) The new life, 5) The intended objective of spiritual maturity, 6) God's foundation and building options, 7) The tribunal of Christ or judgment seat of Christ. Disciples are to be given a preview of these components in one session with more details to follow.
The document discusses the concept of personal discipleship and argues that it is needed in addition to corporate discipleship. It provides 10 reasons why personal discipleship, which it defines as "spiritual parenting", is important but often lacking. Some of the key reasons given include that discipleship is often misunderstood as just teaching, most believers feel inadequately trained, and biblical truth is often presented without showing how it fits into the Christian life as a whole.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
The Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) aims to transform communities through holistic ministries and church planting. Its mission is to aggressively disciple nations by engaging in community development and proclaiming Jesus Christ. CAMACOP's flagship program is called "Sacred Secular Family", which teaches that all areas of life are sacred and should be lived for God. The organization works to empower local churches to transform communities through intentional disciple-making, leadership development, and involvement in local and foreign missions.
This document discusses the paradoxes of Pentecost through examining a passage from Acts. It suggests that Pentecost is commonly misunderstood, and that the Holy Spirit came not to solve problems but to create them, propelling the disciples to spread the message of God's love. It also notes that the Holy Spirit invites failure, and that finding fulfillment comes through setbacks. Overall, the document explores how the Holy Spirit works in paradoxical ways that go against human expectations of comfort, success and normalcy.
The document discusses the importance of teaching disciples to love and study scripture. It provides statistics showing that less than half of churchgoers read the Bible regularly and recommends maintaining a connection to Jesus through scripture rather than trying to change through willpower alone. It also outlines basic Bible study techniques like focusing on obvious facts and using "5Ws and an H" to guide understanding of scripture passages.
This document contains a blog post from David McGee's website "Cross The Bridge". The blog discusses several topics:
1) It summarizes a video from an altar call at Calvary Chapel of the Triad led by Billy Buchanan and his group.
2) It discusses the importance of having joy in one's spiritual life and not being a "spiritual Eeyore".
3) It poses the question of what would happen if the church and homes truly lived according to the teachings in Romans 12.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
This document discusses the importance of making disciples who make disciples based on the models of Jesus and Paul. It notes that while many churches believe in and teach discipleship, few actually implement disciple-making processes like intentional relationships and accountability. The document cites examples of churches that grew when they shifted from a program-based to a relationship-based discipleship approach and created clear spiritual pathways expecting life transformation. It encourages pastors to invest in discipling relationships above all other activities.
Jesus expected a process of change, growth and development in the life of his followers. Many writers suggest a three or four stage process. A four stage process is outlined here, along with personal challenge / application.
This document provides a summary of the ESV Study Bible and recommends it as a comprehensive study Bible. It contains over 2,752 pages of Bible resources including over 20,000 notes, 40 illustrations, 50 articles, and 200 color maps to help readers understand and apply the Bible in a deeper way. The goal is to make the timeless truths of Scripture a powerful and compelling reality that transforms lives. It combines the best of evangelical scholarship with the highly regarded ESV Bible text.
This document discusses the importance of disciple making based on Jesus' command to his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. It provides definitions of what it means to be a disciple from various Christian leaders and outlines five basic truths of what a disciple looks like: 1) Disciples live by the words of Jesus. 2) Disciples are committed totally to Jesus. 3) Disciples produce fruit. The document emphasizes that discipleship requires total commitment and obedience to Jesus and will result in lives shaped by his will and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was no ta servant leader articleGary Downing
Contrary to popular conceptions, Jesus was not a servant leader in the traditional sense. While Jesus did serve others through acts like washing his disciples' feet, these acts were exceptions, not the norm. Jesus did not seek human recognition or positions of power and prestige. Instead, he calls us to serve him without regard for personal consequences, even to the point of martyrdom. True servant leadership in the way of Jesus means serving Christ sacrificially as we serve people, not pursuing worldly success or affirmation.
The document is the July-September 2013 issue of Loaves + Fishes, the magazine of Covenant Community Methodist Church. It contains articles on various topics related to Christian faith and living such as testimonies of church staff, parenting advice, and discussions on being a Christian in today's digital world. It also includes regular sections on news, recipes, puzzles and devotionals. The issue profiles the church's new Assistant Pastor, Ling Kin Yew, in a cover story interview where he shares about his faith journey and calling to ministry.
Disciple-Making, according to Greg Ogden requires at least tow major factors: Internalisation and Multiplication. This presentation adds to his ideas with some scripture and illustrative ideas challenging followers of Christ to become, and make, disciples in his image.
Your church can grow, become more vital and authentic by practicing reciprocity. Reversing the Decline of the Presbyterian Church: Addressing the Cause, Practicing the Remedy. Using the social and theological mechanism of reciprocity, any church can add value to the world with a clear vision of its mission directed outward.
This trail guide from Calvary Church provides resources to help people grow in their faith through connecting, growing, serving and sharing. It outlines the church's vision of becoming a community committed to growing as disciples of Jesus who transform lives. The guide contains self-assessment tools, information on classes, life groups, ministries and serving opportunities to aid people in their spiritual journey. It encourages exploring new areas to progress and advises moving beyond just attending to truly growing as a follower of Christ.
These are notes from a simple introductory course on Church Planting. The majority of the course notes presented here are based upon J. D. Payne’s Planting Apostolic Churches.
These Sunday and Wednesday classes at a church provide opportunities for connecting, studying the Bible, and learning how faith can change lives. The classes cover topics like the New Testament, inductive Bible study, Old Testament characters, evangelism, prayer, finances, the Holy Spirit, intercessory prayer, and an Alpha course introduction to Christianity.
The Purpose of The Church #3 DiscipleshipRick Peterson
The Purpose of The Church #3 “Discipleship” Jeffery Anselmi http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=60355&Sermon%20The%20Purpose%20of%20The%20Church-%20Discipleship%20by%20Jeffery%20Anselmi
A short introduction to key ideas from Sherry Weddell's "Forming Intentional Disciples" in the context of discipleship in the Catholic faith. More resources available at: http://practicalevangelization.wordpress.com/tag/resources-for-intentional-discipleship/
This weekend we had a Reflection Retreat for our RCIA and this is what they shared. It is good material for anyone...to reflect on what calls you to your faith and to know that God is the one who is in control.
This document contains a list of astronomical terms including galaxies, nebulae, comets, stars, and other celestial objects like Andromeda, Boomerang Nebula, Eta Carinae Nebula, Double Cluster Nebula, and Pulsar. It provides a high-level overview of different types of objects found in outer space without further context or description.
God is kind and acts kindly to all people regardless of righteousness. His kindness should motivate Christians to act kindly towards others, including enemies. The lesson discusses expressing kindness through words, deeds, and overall behavior. It encourages believers to reflect Christ's kindness in order to influence others towards salvation.
This document discusses the paradoxes of Pentecost through examining a passage from Acts. It suggests that Pentecost is commonly misunderstood, and that the Holy Spirit came not to solve problems but to create them, propelling the disciples to spread the message of God's love. It also notes that the Holy Spirit invites failure, and that finding fulfillment comes through setbacks. Overall, the document explores how the Holy Spirit works in paradoxical ways that go against human expectations of comfort, success and normalcy.
The document discusses the importance of teaching disciples to love and study scripture. It provides statistics showing that less than half of churchgoers read the Bible regularly and recommends maintaining a connection to Jesus through scripture rather than trying to change through willpower alone. It also outlines basic Bible study techniques like focusing on obvious facts and using "5Ws and an H" to guide understanding of scripture passages.
This document contains a blog post from David McGee's website "Cross The Bridge". The blog discusses several topics:
1) It summarizes a video from an altar call at Calvary Chapel of the Triad led by Billy Buchanan and his group.
2) It discusses the importance of having joy in one's spiritual life and not being a "spiritual Eeyore".
3) It poses the question of what would happen if the church and homes truly lived according to the teachings in Romans 12.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
This document discusses the importance of making disciples who make disciples based on the models of Jesus and Paul. It notes that while many churches believe in and teach discipleship, few actually implement disciple-making processes like intentional relationships and accountability. The document cites examples of churches that grew when they shifted from a program-based to a relationship-based discipleship approach and created clear spiritual pathways expecting life transformation. It encourages pastors to invest in discipling relationships above all other activities.
Jesus expected a process of change, growth and development in the life of his followers. Many writers suggest a three or four stage process. A four stage process is outlined here, along with personal challenge / application.
This document provides a summary of the ESV Study Bible and recommends it as a comprehensive study Bible. It contains over 2,752 pages of Bible resources including over 20,000 notes, 40 illustrations, 50 articles, and 200 color maps to help readers understand and apply the Bible in a deeper way. The goal is to make the timeless truths of Scripture a powerful and compelling reality that transforms lives. It combines the best of evangelical scholarship with the highly regarded ESV Bible text.
This document discusses the importance of disciple making based on Jesus' command to his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. It provides definitions of what it means to be a disciple from various Christian leaders and outlines five basic truths of what a disciple looks like: 1) Disciples live by the words of Jesus. 2) Disciples are committed totally to Jesus. 3) Disciples produce fruit. The document emphasizes that discipleship requires total commitment and obedience to Jesus and will result in lives shaped by his will and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was no ta servant leader articleGary Downing
Contrary to popular conceptions, Jesus was not a servant leader in the traditional sense. While Jesus did serve others through acts like washing his disciples' feet, these acts were exceptions, not the norm. Jesus did not seek human recognition or positions of power and prestige. Instead, he calls us to serve him without regard for personal consequences, even to the point of martyrdom. True servant leadership in the way of Jesus means serving Christ sacrificially as we serve people, not pursuing worldly success or affirmation.
The document is the July-September 2013 issue of Loaves + Fishes, the magazine of Covenant Community Methodist Church. It contains articles on various topics related to Christian faith and living such as testimonies of church staff, parenting advice, and discussions on being a Christian in today's digital world. It also includes regular sections on news, recipes, puzzles and devotionals. The issue profiles the church's new Assistant Pastor, Ling Kin Yew, in a cover story interview where he shares about his faith journey and calling to ministry.
Disciple-Making, according to Greg Ogden requires at least tow major factors: Internalisation and Multiplication. This presentation adds to his ideas with some scripture and illustrative ideas challenging followers of Christ to become, and make, disciples in his image.
Your church can grow, become more vital and authentic by practicing reciprocity. Reversing the Decline of the Presbyterian Church: Addressing the Cause, Practicing the Remedy. Using the social and theological mechanism of reciprocity, any church can add value to the world with a clear vision of its mission directed outward.
This trail guide from Calvary Church provides resources to help people grow in their faith through connecting, growing, serving and sharing. It outlines the church's vision of becoming a community committed to growing as disciples of Jesus who transform lives. The guide contains self-assessment tools, information on classes, life groups, ministries and serving opportunities to aid people in their spiritual journey. It encourages exploring new areas to progress and advises moving beyond just attending to truly growing as a follower of Christ.
These are notes from a simple introductory course on Church Planting. The majority of the course notes presented here are based upon J. D. Payne’s Planting Apostolic Churches.
These Sunday and Wednesday classes at a church provide opportunities for connecting, studying the Bible, and learning how faith can change lives. The classes cover topics like the New Testament, inductive Bible study, Old Testament characters, evangelism, prayer, finances, the Holy Spirit, intercessory prayer, and an Alpha course introduction to Christianity.
The Purpose of The Church #3 DiscipleshipRick Peterson
The Purpose of The Church #3 “Discipleship” Jeffery Anselmi http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=60355&Sermon%20The%20Purpose%20of%20The%20Church-%20Discipleship%20by%20Jeffery%20Anselmi
A short introduction to key ideas from Sherry Weddell's "Forming Intentional Disciples" in the context of discipleship in the Catholic faith. More resources available at: http://practicalevangelization.wordpress.com/tag/resources-for-intentional-discipleship/
This weekend we had a Reflection Retreat for our RCIA and this is what they shared. It is good material for anyone...to reflect on what calls you to your faith and to know that God is the one who is in control.
This document contains a list of astronomical terms including galaxies, nebulae, comets, stars, and other celestial objects like Andromeda, Boomerang Nebula, Eta Carinae Nebula, Double Cluster Nebula, and Pulsar. It provides a high-level overview of different types of objects found in outer space without further context or description.
God is kind and acts kindly to all people regardless of righteousness. His kindness should motivate Christians to act kindly towards others, including enemies. The lesson discusses expressing kindness through words, deeds, and overall behavior. It encourages believers to reflect Christ's kindness in order to influence others towards salvation.
This document discusses how God's nature influences atonement. It explains that God's omnipresence, omnipotence, forgiveness, mercy, immutability, justice, perfection, faithfulness, goodness, patience, truth, eternality, creativity, and holiness led Him to devise and carry out the plan of salvation through His Son. It emphasizes that God's great love was the ultimate motivation for His sacrifice to atone for humanity's sins and bring the possibility of salvation.
Christ's victory on the cross defines the scope of victory Christians can experience. His death defeated satanic powers and frees believers from their influence. While the battle against evil continues, through faith Christians can share in Christ's assured triumph over sinister forces that oppose humanity and God's creation.
1) Sacrifices offered to God required fine flour, oil, wine, and salt to recognize God's gifts and express gratitude.
2) Both Israelites and foreigners could offer sacrifices to God, as God wants all people to have salvation.
3) Sacrifices were required for sins committed unintentionally or in ignorance, such as accidentally using counterfeit money without realizing. Willful defiance of God's commands, on the other hand, was punishable by death.
4) The goal of the sacrificial system was to help God's people remember and obey his commandments to be holy.
This document discusses strategies for corporate or group evangelism and witnessing. It emphasizes the importance of everyone in the church being involved in spreading the gospel, not just ministers. Members should work together in teams and be aware of each other's efforts so they can provide support. Goals and plans for evangelism activities benefit from input from many church members so there is a shared sense of responsibility. New believers need to be incorporated into the full life of the church to help them mature in their faith. Overall, the document stresses the importance of unity, collaboration, and everyone doing their part to effectively carry out the church's mission.
This document summarizes the journey of the apostle Peter from fisherman to pastor based on biblical accounts. It describes Peter as a fisherman who was called by Jesus to be one of his first disciples. As an apostle, Peter witnessed Jesus' teachings and miracles. Though he denied Jesus three times, Peter repented and later became a bold preacher and a recognized leader in the early church. The document concludes by outlining some final words of encouragement from Peter to believers.
This document discusses the benefits of Christ's atoning sacrifice, including his resurrection, ascension, enthronement in heaven, and ongoing mediation and work through the Holy Spirit. It explains that through Christ's death and resurrection, he guarantees our own resurrection and provides a way for salvation. Now in heaven, Christ applies salvation to believers and advocates for them to the Father. The Holy Spirit continues Christ's work on earth, drawing people to repentance and sanctifying those who accept Christ's atonement.
1. God is portrayed as an artist in the Bible, seen through His work as a potter, architect, musician, and author.
2. God formed humans from clay in the garden of Eden, showing His skills as a potter. He also provided intricate plans for the earthly sanctuary, demonstrating His abilities as an architect. Further, He inspired musical compositions and liturgy in the Old Testament, revealing Himself as a lover of beautiful music.
3. As author, God used skilled literary devices and wove together complex theological truths in scripture. Books like Romans and Revelation exhibit impressive artistic composition, though written through human authors.
1. Ancient Thessalonica was under Roman rule, which brought economic disruption that impacted the poorer classes. The pagan Cabirus cult provided hope for justice and restoration for the oppressed, but was later co-opted by the emperor cult.
2. When Paul arrived in Thessalonica, the gospel resonated with spiritual longings and addressed the vacuum left by the emperor cult. Many responded positively, especially the working classes.
3. Paul adapted his approach by working with his hands to support himself, preaching in public places and forming communities in homes, connecting with various groups in the city through philosophical and missionary strategies of the time.
This document provides a summary of a lesson on personal evangelism and witnessing. It discusses several key points:
1) Individual witness contributes significantly to the church's evangelism efforts. Friends and acquaintances have the most influence in leading people to faith.
2) Each person has a personal mission field of friends, family, and acquaintances they can witness to. The Bible provides examples of individuals witnessing to those closest to them.
3) Everyone has potential to witness, regardless of perceived qualifications. God uses those who are willing. A righteous life and consistency between words and actions is the most powerful witness.
4) Individual witness contributes to the overall church's evangelism through sowing and re
The document summarizes key aspects of atonement as depicted symbolically in the sanctuary services of ancient Israel. It describes how (1) the sanctuary and its rituals represented Christ's work to atone for sins, (2) priests acted as mediators between God and people, and (3) the Day of Atonement ritual symbolized how God will ultimately remove sin from the universe through Jesus.
The document provides an overview of the Book of Numbers in the Bible. It describes how Numbers begins where the Book of Leviticus ends, with the Israelites camped at Mount Sinai. It then discusses God ordering a census of the Israelites be taken and the results of that census, with the tribes of Israel being counted except for the tribe of Levi. Finally, it talks about order being important in the camp as God dwelled among them, with the Levites serving as priests to help the people reach God.
The document discusses how prophets in the Bible preached the plan of salvation and fulfilled their duties of leading God's people and condemning sin. It provides examples of how Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul and Ellen G. White preached salvation through Jesus. It also explains how prophets organized worship, confronted moral issues, accurately predicted future events, and communicated their messages through writing, preaching and interviews.
The document discusses the nature of faith from both divine and human perspectives. It states that faith is a gift from God that allows us to be saved and please Him. It also explains that from the human perspective, faith must be exercised through works, grows despite doubts through interacting with Jesus, and acts as a shield against the devil. The document emphasizes having faith in Jesus Christ as the foundation.
The document summarizes events from Numbers 20-21 in which the Israelites wandered in the desert near Kadesh. It describes how Moses and Aaron struck the rock instead of speaking to it to provide water, preventing them from entering the Promised Land. God then sent poisonous snakes to punish the people for complaining again, but provided salvation through a bronze snake on a pole. It also reviews Israel's military victories over Sihon, Og, and other groups as they continued their conquest of Canaan under new leadership after Moses and Aaron.
Lesson 05 Sequential Evangelism and WitnessingCMN :PPT
This document discusses the importance of sequential evangelism, where spiritual truths are presented gradually from simple to complex. It notes Jesus and Paul presented "milk" or basic gospel truths before "meatier" concepts. Several principles of sequential evangelism are explored through Bible verses, including understanding people's "felt needs", presenting testing truths only after a relationship with Christ is established, and nurturing spiritual growth like tending a garden. The goal is leading people along a journey to full Christian maturity.
RESPECTING HUMAN SEXUALITY report on our 1st year subject Gender and Developm...jeromeyano
This document discusses several key aspects of evangelization and catechesis according to Catholic teaching:
1. Evangelization involves proclaiming Christ and the Gospel through both words and actions to invite conversion, while catechesis involves initiating disciples into full Christian life through teaching doctrine.
2. Evangelization aims to make disciples who then evangelize others, while catechesis helps disciples mature in faith, prayer, virtue and service.
3. The process of evangelization and catechesis involves stages of relationship building, explicit proclamation, and ongoing discipleship formation.
This document provides information about various Bible study and prayer groups meeting at The Deeper Life church on Sunday mornings. It describes 6 different classes available for adults, students, and young adults on topics such as theology, prayer, Bible studies in English and Spanish, and a discussion group for young adults. The classes aim to help participants grow in understanding and applying the Bible to their daily lives through study and prayer.
The document discusses the importance of care groups, or small groups, in the church based on the New Testament model. It states that care groups are essential for a strong, healthy church as they allow believers to build each other up in a small, intimate setting. Care groups function as the basic unit of the church, similar to how cells are the basic unit of living organisms. They allow for relationships to form, spiritual growth to occur, and multiplication as new care groups are started. The document outlines the stages of growth for a care group from an initial forming stage to a reproducing stage where new care groups are birthed.
This document provides a lesson plan for a week exploring the concept of "every member ministry" and how each individual's experience contributes to the church's evangelism work. It discusses that every Christian has a God-given ministry and role to play in outreach. While some have special talents, working together through corporate strategies as a united church body encourages growth, accountability, and accomplishing God's objectives in sharing the gospel. God motivates and empowers believers to work as a team in witnessing to His great love for all people.
This document discusses evangelization and the process of bringing people to faith in Christ. It begins by providing statistics on common programs in US Catholic churches and identifies evangelization as the essential mission of the Church. It then explores what evangelization means and its importance. The document outlines five stages of pre-discipleship that non-believers may go through - trust, curiosity, openness, seeking, and intentional discipleship. It provides suggestions for how Christians can foster each of these stages. Finally, it discusses establishing an intentional process for evangelization with clarity, movement between stages, alignment within a parish, and focus.
The document discusses Christian discipleship and how to raise disciples. It defines a disciple as a follower of Christ who willingly submits to His lordship and aims to become more like Him through learning and applying His teachings. Raising disciples is a process that requires modeling Christ-like character, teaching biblical principles, and providing opportunities for witnessing and prayer. The goal is to train believers to conform to Christ's image through spiritual growth, righteous living, and devotion to God.
This document outlines the purpose, mission, and vision of LifePointe Church. It explains that the purpose is why the church exists, which is to fulfill the Great Commission. The mission is how the church will accomplish its purpose by pointing people to an uncommon life in Jesus. The vision is where the church is going, which is to bring people to faith, equip them for ministry, and magnify God. It emphasizes that clearly defining these areas is necessary for effective long-term ministry.
The document discusses the importance of integrating youth into the church and imparting spiritual wisdom to them. It argues that neglecting the youth church has created a vacuum that leads youth to seek fulfillment elsewhere. It emphasizes teaching youth spiritual principles like withdrawing from peer pressure to spend time in prayer and solitude. This rhythm of withdrawal and engagement helps youth develop spiritually and empowers them for ministry, like it did for Jesus. The document stresses the importance of teaching youth to serve others rather than always expecting to be served.
Jeffery Anselmi kindly allowed me to use this sermon. I found this lesson at: http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=94959&Sermon%20Keys%20To%20Effective%20Evangelism%20by%20Jeffery%20Anselmi
This document discusses the importance of teaching youth spiritual principles and wisdom rather than just knowledge. It argues that today's youth churches focus too much on knowledge and facts without emphasizing wisdom or helping youth understand the nature of God. It recommends teaching youth principles like withdrawing from peers for prayer and reflection, serving others rather than just expecting to be served, and understanding that actions have eternal consequences. The goal is to help youth develop spiritual growth and transformation by internalizing God's word and priorities.
This document discusses the importance of integrating youth into the church and providing proper spiritual guidance. It argues that today's youth churches neglect spiritual wisdom and focus too much on knowledge, leading young believers astray. It emphasizes that spiritual growth comes from focusing on God's priorities through his word rather than peer pressures. The document encourages setting aside time for prayer and solitude to receive guidance from the Holy Spirit, as Jesus did, in order to empower youth for ministry.
This document discusses messages on prayer based on passages from the Bible. It summarizes that Jesus made prayer a priority in his life by getting up early to pray privately. The document states that making prayer a regular habit through private communication with God is important for developing intimacy in one's relationship with God, just as regular communication is important for intimacy in human relationships. Prioritizing regular private prayer can help Christians maintain a close relationship with God.
This document provides an overview of a foundational Bible study course covering major biblical doctrines. The 20 lessons cover topics like salvation, atonement, faith, and spiritual gifts. The purpose is to teach Christians essential beliefs and how to walk by faith. It also includes a creed about the Great Commission and affirmations about the transforming power of the gospel. Fellowship and encouragement in the church are discussed as important for spiritual growth and preventing loneliness that could lead back to sinful behaviors.
This document outlines the author's personal plan to develop disciples who make disciples within a ministry setting. The plan emphasizes teaching God's word through preaching and small groups, building relationships through community, and training believers to use their spiritual gifts. The vision is for a church centered on Christ where members know and obey his commands, spend time in prayer and God's word, and build each other up. Leadership will facilitate discipleship through preaching, classes, encouraging small groups and accountability. Success will be evident through believers coming to faith, growing in obedience, and sending out more disciples to spread the gospel.
Paradigm Shift in Scripture by Dr. Natividad Pagaduteccce821
This document discusses paradigms and the need for paradigm shifts in catechesis and teaching Scripture. It provides context on paradigms from Thomas Kuhn's work and explains that a paradigm is a set of implicit or explicit rules that shape one's perspectives. The document outlines that catechesis and religious education need paradigm shifts to move from an academic focus to a personal encounter with Jesus. It discusses various meanings of "Word of God" and how Scripture invites paradigm shifts. The role of women in relation to the word of God is highlighted from Verbum Domini. Overall the document examines shifting perspectives and approaches in teaching and learning Scripture and faith.
The document discusses the benefits of home churches over traditional church models. It argues that home churches allow for greater spiritual growth and fellowship as people naturally bond in a home setting. It also notes that home churches are more accessible given changing demographics as people are moving to more populated urban areas. Home churches have a low cost structure without large buildings and overhead. The document provides guidance on how to start a home church, including developing spiritual competencies, gathering a community focused on spiritual formation, and inviting others to join. The goal is to help members mature spiritually through practices like Bible study, prayer, fellowship and service.
This document provides materials for the celebration of the Christian Young Adults Fellowship (CYAF) Week 2022. It includes the theme exposition of "Rebuilding and Restoring with Hope: Heralding the Full Life", a biblical reflection on the theme, suggested hymns for daily devotion, liturgical resources in English, Cebuano, Tagalog and Ilokano, a one week dinner table devotion guide, suggested activities, a stewardship campaign program, and UCCP pastoral statements. The materials are intended to guide CYAF constituents in local churches in celebrating their role in the life and ministry of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
The document discusses the end times and finding rest in Christ. It summarizes that:
1) The world is facing serious issues as end times events are fulfilled, but believers can find rest in Christ amid the troubles.
2) Jesus promised he will return and believers should remain faithful until then, finding rest in his promises.
3) When Christ returns, believers will receive ultimate rest in the new Earth with God for eternity.
Jonah initially refused God's call to preach to Nineveh because he did not want to warn his enemies. He tried to flee by boat to Tarshish instead of obeying God. God sent a storm and a large fish to intervene. After being rescued, Jonah fulfilled his mission. The Ninevites repented greatly upon hearing Jonah's short message. However, Jonah was still unhappy that God forgave Nineveh. God used the example of a plant to help Jonah understand that God's mercy and concern extends to all people. In the end, both Nineveh and Jonah learned to accept God's love and forgiveness.
El documento habla sobre el descanso que los creyentes pueden tener a pesar de los problemas en el mundo. Aunque el mundo está lleno de tribulaciones, los que confían en Dios pueden descansar sabiendo que Él controla el futuro y ha prometido un descanso eterno. El documento también dice que aunque los que han muerto descansan temporalmente, el verdadero descanso final solo se alcanzará cuando Cristo regrese.
Jonás encontró descanso en Dios hasta que Dios le pidió predicar a los enemigos de Israel en Nínive. Al ser enviado a Nínive, Jonás huyó por temor a que Dios perdonara a los ninivitas. Aunque fue salvado de morir en el mar, Jonás continuó sin encontrar paz interior hasta que aprendió que Dios ama a todos los pueblos por igual.
The document summarizes symbols presented in the New Testament that point to spiritual truths. It discusses how Paul viewed the crossing of the Red Sea as a symbol of baptism, and how John the Baptist saw animal sacrifices at the Temple as a symbol of Jesus redeeming people. It also examines how the book of Hebrews presents the Sabbath in creation and entering the promised land as symbols of the rest God gives believers. The document explores these symbols and their deeper meanings, emphasizing how they point to spiritual realities about following Christ.
El documento resume cómo los autores del Nuevo Testamento usan historias del Antiguo Testamento como símbolos de realidades espirituales. Por ejemplo, Pablo ve el cruce del Mar Rojo como símbolo del bautismo, y en Hebreos el sábado de la Creación y la conquista de Canaán simbolizan el descanso que Dios ofrece. El documento también explora cómo otros eventos como los sacrificios en el Templo prefiguran la redención de Jesús.
The document discusses the Sabbath and what it means to keep the Sabbath holy. It provides several key points about the Sabbath:
1) The Sabbath is a day of rest dedicated to God to remember God's power in creation and our role as stewards.
2) It is meant to be a day of thankfulness for our liberation from sin and a reminder of God's plan for our full communion with Him.
3) Rather than just physical rest, the Sabbath involves serving others through acts of love, mercy, and benevolence without limits of time or place.
El documento resume las diferentes formas en que el sábado nos recuerda nuestra relación con Dios, incluyendo recordar su poder como Creador, agradecerle por liberarnos del pecado a través de Jesús, y servir a otros como parte de nuestra adoración a Dios.
The document discusses the importance and meaning of the Sabbath. It summarizes that the Sabbath reminds us that God created us and redeemed us from slavery. It is a day for resting with God and having communion with our Creator. The Sabbath points to Jesus as our Creator and Redeemer and the promise that one day we will live with Him forever in a new creation without sin or stress.
El documento habla sobre el significado del sábado como día de descanso y comunión con Dios. El sábado recuerda que Dios nos creó y nos redimió de la esclavitud, y es un día para descansar de nuestras tareas y pasar tiempo con el Creador. También señala a Jesús como nuestro Creador y Redentor, con quien compartiremos la eternidad.
Este documento resume dos historias bíblicas sobre la enfermedad y el desánimo. La primera historia trata sobre un paralítico que Jesús curó después de perdonar sus pecados. La segunda historia trata sobre Elías, quien cayó en un profundo desánimo después de ser amenazado por Jezabel, pero Dios lo consoló y le dio nuevas tareas. El documento también discute las causas de la enfermedad y el desánimo, y cómo Jesús y Dios ofrecen descanso y consuelo.
This document summarizes two biblical stories about individuals who faced physical or spiritual sickness and discouragement, and the lessons we can learn from them. The paralytic man's illness was caused by his sinful life, but his friends cared for him and Jesus forgave his sins and healed him. Elijah faced discouragement when threatened by Jezebel, but found rest and encouragement from God who assigned him new purpose and tasks. Both examples show that through faith in God, forgiveness, and his love, one can find healing and hope even in suffering.
Joseph was imprisoned for two more years after being released from prison. When the Pharaoh had strange dreams, the butler remembered Joseph's ability to interpret dreams. Joseph interpreted the dreams to mean there would be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. He advised Pharaoh to store grain during the abundant years. As a result, Pharaoh promoted Joseph to first minister and gave him a high position in Egypt. During the first year of famine, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for food and Joseph had to decide whether to punish or forgive them for their past treatment of him.
La historia cuenta cómo José perdonó a sus hermanos que lo habían vendido como esclavo años atrás. Cuando José se convirtió en primer ministro de Egipto y sus hermanos viajaron allí durante una hambruna, él los reconoció pero no se reveló. Probó la sinceridad de su arrepentimiento antes de reconciliarse con ellos. José perdonó porque comprendió que Dios había usado lo malo para un bien mayor y porque creía en perdonar como Dios los perdona a nosotros.
This document summarizes a lesson about Joseph from the Bible. It discusses how Joseph came from a dysfunctional family but learned lessons of faith from them. As a young man, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt after becoming jealous of him. Though facing difficulties, Joseph maintained his faith in God. He found favor with his masters and rose to a position of leadership overseeing other slaves. His faith and moral character helped him overcome conflicts and challenges.
José tuvo una familia disfuncional pero aprendió a confiar en Dios. Fue vendido como esclavo a Egipto pero continuó aplicando los principios bíblicos. Aunque fue acusado falsamente y enviado a prisión, se ganó la confianza de los demás presos y del jefe de la cárcel.
El documento analiza el significado del descanso en Cristo mencionado en Mateo 11:28-30. Explica que Jesús ofrece un descanso basado en su divinidad y unidad con el Padre. Este descanso se obtiene cuando nos sentimos cansados y cargados y le llevamos nuestras cargas a Jesús para que se haga cargo de ellas. Al aceptar el yugo de Cristo, nos sometemos a su voluntad y trabajamos con Él para llevar a cabo su obra.
This document provides a summary of Matthew 11:28-30 about finding rest in Christ. It examines the context of the passage and what it means to take Christ's yoke. Key points include: 1) Jesus offers rest because he is one with God; 2) To find rest, we must feel the need for it and bring our burdens to Jesus; 3) Christ's yoke makes burdens easier to carry as we submit to his will. The yoke represents submitting to God's law of liberty rather than heavy burdens of works or slavery. With Christ's strength, his yoke is light.
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed. He tried to conceal his sins but was confronted by Nathan. David repented and confessed his sins. Though forgiven, David still faced consequences for his actions, including the death of his child with Bathsheba. However, through repentance, David was able to find joy in God's salvation again. True repentance requires a changed heart and relying on God rather than oneself to resist sin going forward. David's story shows both the possibility of forgiveness for even grave sins, as well as the consequences of sin despite repentance.
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed. He tried to conceal his sins but was confronted by Nathan. David repented and confessed his sins. Though forgiven, David still faced consequences for his actions, including the death of his child with Bathsheba. However, through repentance, David was able to find joy in God's salvation again. True repentance requires a changed heart and relying on God rather than oneself to avoid future sins. David's story shows that no matter how serious the sin, God is willing to forgive those who repent.
Why is this So? ~ Do Seek to KNOW (English & Chinese).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma teaching of Kamma-Vipaka (Intentional Actions-Ripening Effects).
A Presentation for developing morality, concentration and wisdom and to spur us to practice the Dhamma diligently.
The texts are in English and Chinese.
Sanatan Vastu | Experience Great Living | Vastu ExpertSanatan Vastu
Santan Vastu Provides Vedic astrology courses & Vastu remedies, If you are searching Vastu for home, Vastu for kitchen, Vastu for house, Vastu for Office & Factory. Best Vastu in Bahadurgarh. Best Vastu in Delhi NCR
The Hope of Salvation - Jude 1:24-25 - MessageCole Hartman
Jude gives us hope at the end of a dark letter. In a dark world like today, we need the light of Christ to shine brighter and brighter. Jude shows us where to fix our focus so we can be filled with God's goodness and glory. Join us to explore this incredible passage.
A Free eBook ~ Valuable LIFE Lessons to Learn ( 5 Sets of Presentations)...OH TEIK BIN
A free eBook comprising 5 sets of PowerPoint presentations of meaningful stories /Inspirational pieces that teach important Dhamma/Life lessons. For reflection and practice to develop the mind to grow in love, compassion and wisdom. The texts are in English and Chinese.
My other free eBooks can be obtained from the following Links:
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/presentations
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/documents
A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
The Book of Ruth is included in the third division, or the Writings, of the Hebrew Bible. In most Christian canons it is treated as one of the historical books and placed between Judges and 1 Samuel.
The forces involved in this witchcraft spell will re-establish the loving bond between you and help to build a strong, loving relationship from which to start anew. Despite any previous hardships or problems, the spell work will re-establish the strong bonds of friendship and love upon which the marriage and relationship originated. Have faith, these stop divorce and stop separation spells are extremely powerful and will reconnect you and your partner in a strong and harmonious relationship.
My ritual will not only stop separation and divorce, but rebuild a strong bond between you and your partner that is based on truth, honesty, and unconditional love. For an even stronger effect, you may want to consider using the Eternal Love Bond spell to ensure your relationship and love will last through all tests of time. If you have not yet determined if your partner is considering separation or divorce, but are aware of rifts in the relationship, try the Love Spells to remove problems in a relationship or marriage. Keep in mind that all my love spells are 100% customized and that you'll only need 1 spell to address all problems/wishes.
Save your marriage from divorce & make your relationship stronger using anti divorce spells to make him or her fall back in love with you. End your marriage if you are no longer in love with your husband or wife. Permanently end your marriage using divorce spells that work fast. Protect your marriage from divorce using love spells to boost commitment, love & bind your hearts together for a stronger marriage that will last. Get your ex lover who has remarried using divorce spells to break up a couple & make your ex lost lover come back to you permanently.
Visit https://www.profbalaj.com/love-spells-loves-spells-that-work/
Call/WhatsApp +27836633417 for more info.
The Enchantment and Shadows_ Unveiling the Mysteries of Magic and Black Magic...Phoenix O
This manual will guide you through basic skills and tasks to help you get started with various aspects of Magic. Each section is designed to be easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions.
2. Key Text:
“ ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what
shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed,
which a man took and put in his garden; and it
grew and became a large tree, and the birds of
the air nested in its branches’ ” (Luke 13:18, 19,
NKJV).
Key Thought:
Evangelism and witnessing are the means by
which the mustard seed (the church of God)
becomes a huge tree that fills the whole world.
3. You may have heard it said—you may even
have said it yourself—“I have done my bit;
I will now leave it to the younger people.”
Or, “I have been evangelism leader for
years, let some of the new people take
over now.”
In one sense these kinds of
statements are understandable.
People get older, sometimes
their health fails, or other life
circumstances prevent them
from maintaining their leadership
in church ministries.
Sometimes people just burn themselves out and need a break. Some
may believe the Lord requires them to fulfill His will in other areas of
church work. There is, however, a great difference between changing
ministry emphasis and ceasing to minister; as long as we have breath
we should, in one capacity or another, continue to minister.
4. 1. Never-ending Witnessing
and Evangelism
It must be emphasized again that
witnessing and evangelism must
continue as long as there are
people who need salvation.
It is God’s plan to save as many people as possible. Meanwhile, those
who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior are called upon to
work with God in this soul-saving work. No matter who we are, where
we are, and in what situations we find ourselves, if our hearts are
tuned to Christ, if we have a deep-seated appreciation for what He has
done for us and for what He asks us to do in response, we will always
have opportunity for witness and ministry.
5. Review Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4:7–
30. What was it about Jesus and what He said that she was excited to
share with her townspeople? What principles of witnessing can we
take from this account that can help us as we seek to reach others?
It seems that Jesus followed a simple “formula” when He spoke to the
woman of Samaria. (1) He arrested her attention: “ ‘Give Me a drink’ ”
(vs. 7, NKJV); (2) He secured her interest: “ ‘How is it that You, being a
Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ ” (vss. 9, 10, NKJV); (3)
He created a desire: “ ‘Sir, give me this water’ ” (vs. 15, NKJV); (4) He
brought a conviction: “ ‘Sir, I perceive that You are a Prophet’ ” (vs. 19,
NKJV); and (5) actions followed: “ ‘Come, see a Man who told me all
things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’ ” (vs. 29, NKJV).
6. These five stages of evangelism do
not necessarily need to take place
all in one meeting as they did with
Jesus and the woman at Jacob’s
well. They may happen over a
period of time as you continue to
witness to someone. The situations
will vary greatly, but the principles
seen in this passage can be broadly
applied to our attempts to reach
souls.
In addition, although the initial conversation is concerned with literal
water, Jesus’ goal is to create in the Samaritan woman a desire to
drink the Water of Life. In the end, although we are called to help
people in whatever situation we find them, and to minister to their
needs however we can, we must never forget that their greatest need
is salvation in Jesus.
7. REFLECTION
How often do you take advantage of
opportunities to witness or to minister?
Isn’t it true that so often we go about our
lives, meeting people who—despite their
interaction with us—have no idea of what
we believe, what we stand for, or the hope
that we have? How can we change so that
we can be better witnesses?
8. 2.. A Nurturing Environment
2 A Nurturing Environment
A vital part of evangelism takes place in church every
week. This aspect of evangelism is called “nurture” and
“incorporation.”
We have been very good at inviting people to our
churches, but we have not always done so well in the
creation of an environment that will encourage them to
return and settle into the fellowship.
If we are to make disciples, we must give attention to the
establishment and nurture of every new Christian.
9. What does this mean? “Establishment” gives the idea of setting
something up on a firm and permanent basis. It is to help provide
new members with a foundation of faith and fellowship.
To “nurture” is usually
explained by concepts
such as “to rear,”
“to bring up,” “to care for,”
“to foster,” “to train,” and
“to educate.”
When someone accepts the Lord Jesus as his or her personal
Savior, all of these areas of establishment and nurture must be
applied spiritually and socially within the Christian fellowship. In
other words, a new Christian needs to be brought up, cared for,
fostered, trained, and educated in the ways of the Lord.
Fellowship is key. This is how lives touch and affect one another.
People who join a church must be cared for through spiritual
fellowship.
10. What do the
following texts tell
us about the
importance of
spiritual fellowship
among believers?
Why are these things especially important in
the case of new believers, those who have
come into the church through our
evangelism and outreach? 1 John 1:7; Acts
2:42; 11:19–23; 20:35; and Rom. 1:11, 12.
The word we in 1 John 1:7 impresses upon us that, although we are to walk in
the light as individuals, we are to walk in the light together. If believers walk in
the light, there will be fellowship and unity. Consequently, there will be a
nurturing environment where people are focused both upon God’s will for
their lives and the encouragement of one another along the Christian path.
While it is important to help new members be happy and contented in church,
it is also important to lead them to become disciples in the fullest sense of the
word, which includes developing the ability to lead others into a saving
relationship with the Lord Jesus.
11. REFLECTION
Does your church have an intentional
focus on establishing new members in
their faith?
How can you become better involved
in helping to nurture new members (or
even “old” ones, for that matter)?
12. 3. Training Trainers
3. Training Trainers
We live in a world where people are highly mobile . Local
churches seem to regularly process transfers out and
transfers in and often lament the loss of capable members
who have been involved in significant ministries. Because
of this potential transfer of skills, and because the local
church’s evangelism and witnessing ministry should
continue expanding, there is a great need to multiply these
ministries.
13. What principles
concerning the training
of trainers can we
glean from Paul’s
instructions to Timothy
in 2 Timothy 2:1–7?
How should all these
words apply to us
today in our work for
the Lord, in whatever
capacity we find
ourselves?
Paul communicates to Timothy the importance of
seeing the big picture of the church’s work, both
regarding extent and duration. The pastoral and
teaching ministries are not to be centered in just
one man.
14. They are to be the work of a
multiplied number of
witnesses and evangelists in
the church. Primarily, Paul is
telling Timothy to train up
others for leadership in the
church because, eventually,
the older generation of
leaders will have passed on.
Implicit in this instruction to
Timothy is that those he
instructs will also, in turn,
teach others, thereby
ensuring that the church’s
mission in the world will be
continuous and expansive.
This process is in harmony
with Jesus’ call for more
laborers for the harvest.
15. It has been said, “Give a man a fish, and you will feed him
for a day; teach him how to fish, and you will feed him and
his family for as long as he lives.” The problem is that if the
man does not pass his fishing skill on to his children, the next
generation will go hungry. Perhaps the saying should be
modified to say, “Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for
a day; teach a man to fish and to pass on his knowledge
and techniques, and untold numbers of people will
continue to be fed.” This is the difference between training
someone and training them to be trainers.
16. REFLEXIÓN
Think through your experience in
your church.
Has anyone ever taught you how to
witness to others?
Have you ever asked to be trained to
witness to others?
17. 4. Reclaiming Former Members
Backslider is a word we wish did not exist in the Christian
vocabulary. It is a fact, however, that many people slide away
from church and from a saving relationship with the Lord.
Although people do, at times, leave us over doctrine, most of
the time they leave over other things, usually personal disputes
and so forth. Whatever the reasons, we need to do all that we
can to create a loving and nurturing environment that will help
those who join us want to stay among us, despite whatever
18. At the same time, we should have a ministry to former and non-
attending members as an intentional part of our witnessing and
evangelism pro-gram. A quick look at the various churches’ lists of
members will likely reveal that there are many more names listed
there than those who attend worship each Sabbath. These names
could form the beginnings of a spe-cial ministry to people whom
God has never ceased to love supremely.
19. Thoughtfully consider 2
Corinthians 5:18–20.
Although the context is
somewhat different from
ours, the principle is
important. In what ways is a
“ministry of reconciliation”
special to those who once
followed God but have
slidden away?
Reclaiming former members is a special ministry. Furthermore,
this ministry is as evangelistic as when we reach out to people
who have never accepted Christ before. The very word
reconciliation implies that there was a former unity and
fellowship between humankind and God that has now been
restored through Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we are now given a
ministry of reconciliation that includes reaching out to those who
once worshiped with us.
20. In fact, one could argue that in Matthew 10:5, 6 Jesus sent
His disciples to win back members of the Jewish nation
who had fallen away from a saving relationship with their
Lord. Thus, it is entirely appropriate that we today also
enter into a work for those people who have a special
history with God and His church.
21. REFLECTION
Think about those who have left the
church and the reason why they did. Is
there any one person with whom you
could re-establish contact and resume
friendship—ministering to them and
seeking to reconnect them with the
church?
Pray about how you could go about doing
this.
22. 5. The Back Door
Have you ever noticed that people
often lament the fact that members
slip out “the back door”? They even
state firmly that the church’s back
door needs to be closed but fail to
tell us how to close the door or even
the location of the door.
Some growing churches may think
that their back door is closed, but in
reality it may be simply that more
people are coming in the front door
than are going out the back.
And while that is better than more going out the back than
coming in the front (which is true in some places), we still want
to do what we can to retain our members. Discovering the back
door and attempting to close it will take strategies that are
indeed evangelistic given that our mandate is not simply to win
23. Read Hebrews 10:25. Why
is it important that
Christians meet together
regularly? When in
fellowship together, how
much “encouraging” do we
give one another? How can
we do even more than we
are now?
The decision to leave the fellowship is usually not a sudden
one. Rather, most people go through a process of quietly
leaving. Just as coming to Christ and His church was a
journey, the process of leaving is a journey. Most often for
those who leave, this is not a consciously planned strategy.
They just start to slowly get disconnected, disenchanted, and
dissatisfied with things in the church. Maybe, even in some
cases, this is justifiably so. We should, therefore, seek to be
aware of the journey of those around us at church.
24. Read Romans 14:13,
Galatians 5:13, and
Ephesians 4:32. How
would living in
harmony with these
admonitions help to
keep the back door
closed? What can
you and your church
do to live out these
important truths?
A caring church, one that continues to care, is a place where
each individual is focused upon his or her personal
relationship with Jesus. The church has a clear concept of the
value that Jesus places upon each individual. Closing the back
door involves getting close to people, discovering their needs
as they are willing to share, and meeting those needs when
appropriate. This is something no church program can provide.
25. Further Study: Planning to
Continue and Grow Your
Ministry
Everyone involved in a witnes-
sing and evangelism ministry
should give attention to how
he or she can ensure that it will
continue rather than be a
one-time event. There are many
things we can do to ensure this.
We will review a few of the vital
ones.
1. Be comfortable with sharing leadership rather than being a
one-person band. Maintain a team approach where both the
work and the affirmation are shared.
2. Do whatever you can to keep the importance of your team’s
ministry before the church. This will include regular reports to
major evangelism committees, bulletin inserts, newsletters,
notice board posters, and requests for budgets.
26. 3. Be on the constant lookout for people you can invite to join
your team or to form another team. If someone volunteers to
join your team as a result of your activities and reports, that is
fine; however, it will be better to personally invite people
instead of sending out a general invitation for volunteers.
4. Regular training events are a must, especially concerning
witnessing and evangelism activities.
27. ADAPT it! Effective for
SMALL GROUPS
Teaching Approach
ASSOCIATE truth – Why should I study this lesson?
DISCOVER truth – What does the Bible say about this
truth?
APPLY truth – How can this truth affect my life today?
PLAN using the truth – How can I use this truth today?
TRANSFER truth to life – What changes do I need in my
life
?
We invite you to download and study
each one of the 13 lessons about
“Evangelism and Witnessing”
Slideshare.net/chucho1943