Releasing the power of kindness

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Servant Evangelism

• Releasing the power of kindness

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Part IEvangelism Effectiveness

• The Two
• E Words

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Evangelism Effectiveness

• 1 Evangelism - the first E word
• A Perception of evangelism
• B Contemporary evangelism models
• Soul Winning
• Crusades
• Evangelism Explosion
• Jesus Movement

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Evangelism Effectiveness

• 1 Evangelism - the first E word
• A Perception of evangelism
• B Contemporary evangelism models
• Power Evangelism
• Church Growth Movement
• Seeker Sensitivity

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Evangelism Effectiveness

• What is the bottom line methods of evangelism?
• Regardless of the approach, God will use any
  sincere attempt to bring others to Christ.

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Evangelism Effectiveness

• 1 Evangelism - the first E word
• A Perception of evangelism
• B Contemporary evangelism models
• C Why arent evangelicals more effective at
  evangelism?

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Why arent evangelicals more effective at
evangelism?

• 1 Fear of failure
• 2 Burned by past attempts
• 3 Sense inadequate gifting or calling
• 4 Waiting for someone else to start
• 5 Operating out of the assumption others are
  doing it sufficiently
• 6 Fear of responsibility -- if we are successful!

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Evangelism Effectiveness

• 2 Effectiveness - the second E word
• A Tale of the Vineyard Discovering why we have
  been placed in our city.
• B Paradigm evolution in evangelism
• Shark! gtgt Carp gtgt Dolphin

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Evangelism Effectiveness

• 2 Effectiveness - the second E word
• A Tale of the Vineyard Learning why we have been
  placed in our city.
• B Paradigm evolution in evangelism
• C There were many values operative in Jesus life
  and ministry that produced evangelism
  effectiveness

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Servant Evangelism

• A What does effectiveness in Servant Evangelism
  mean?
• Servant Evangelism - a working definition
• 1 Demonstrating Gods love...
• 2 by offering to do
• 3 some humble act of service
• 4 with no strings attached.

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Servant Evangelism

• The motto
• Small things, done with great love, will change
  the world!

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Servant Evangelism

• B What seems to be effective about Servant
  Evangelism?
• 1 Works through character more than gifting
• 2 Quick
• 3 Touches many
• 4 Team building
• 5 Allows for a flexible focus

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Servant Evangelism

• B What seems to be effective about Servant
  Evangelism?
• 6 Opens doors for the Holy Spirit
• 7 Allows shy people to get their feet wet
• 8 Non-aggressive
• 9 Simple
• 10 Inexpensive

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Servant Evangelism

• B What seems to be effective about Servant
  Evangelism?
• 11 Doesnt require a great amount of training
• 12 Giving-centered versus asking-centered
• 13 Provides an open door for the miraculous
• 14 Provides a safe place for very ambitious people

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Servant Evangelism

• B What seems to be effective about Servant
  Evangelism?
• 15 Its big fun!

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Servant Evangelism

• C What is the effect when we serve our way into
  peoples hearts?
• 1 Christians and the church are redefined to the
  watching world
• 2 We redefine ourselves to ourselves
• 3 God and Christianity become approachable
• 4 The Holy Spirits winsome presence is quietly
  planted in the hearts of those we serve

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Servant Evangelism

• D Why is Servant Evangelism particularly
  effective in our age?
• 1 Hero worship is dead
• 2 Local laws prohibit aggressive evangelism
• 3 Small groups are expanding and flow wonderfully
  with Servant Evangelism
• 4 The priesthood of believers is here

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Servant Evangelism

• D Why is Servant Evangelism particularly
  effective in our age?
• 6 Back to the Bible. Just do it!
• 7 Desire for active, practical spiritual
  warfare
• 8 Failure of the federal social systems
• 9 God is really into servanthood.

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Assumptions

• Evangelism is
• Doable,
• Process,
• Acceptance,
• Ready, Fire!, Aim

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Part IIDiscovering Doable Evangelism
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Discovering Doable Evangelism

• 1 Evangelism is doable in the model Jesus
  provides for us. (Matt. 133-9) Anyone can sow
  seed!
• 2 Evangelism becomes doable when we examine our
  attitudes toward ministry
• A Risk The cost of an outreach
• B Grace How much are we depending on Gods
  presence for this to be a success?

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Discovering Doable Evangelism

• C Possible attitudes toward ministry
• 1 Low Risk - Low Grace
• 2 Low Risk - High Grace
• 3 High Risk - Low Grace
• 4 High Risk - High Grace

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GRACE
IV
II
Low Risk High Grace
High Risk High Grace
RISK
III
I
Low Risk Low Grace
High Risk Low Grace
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Head to Head Evangelism
Heart to Heart Evangelism
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Discovering Doable Evangelism

• 3 Evangelism becomes doable as we lessen the
  challenge to an attainable level to the body of
  Christ.
• A The bar is lowered when we dont require verbal
  gifting
• B The bar is lowered when we dont require
  extroversion

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Discovering Doable Evangelism

• 3 Evangelism becomes doable as we lessen the
  challenge to an attainable level to the body of
  Christ.
• C The bar is lowered when we dont have to be a
  salesman
• D The bar is lowered when we dont require
  measurable results

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Part IIIDiscovering the Process of Evangelism
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Discovering The Process of Evangelism

• 1. According to the model of Jesus, evangelism
  is a process. Matt. 13

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Discovering The Process of Evangelism

• 2. According to the model of Paul, evangelism is
  a process.
• I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the
  increase. 1 Cor. 36

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Discovering The Process of Evangelism

• What we traditionally define as evangelism is
  only the last part of Pauls 3-part process --
  the harvest.

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Discovering The Process of Evangelism

• 2. According to the model of Paul, evangelism is
  a process.
• I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the
  increase. 1 Cor. 36
• Planting gt Watering gt Harvesting

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Discovering The Process of Evangelism

• 3. Everyone is somewhere in the activity of God
  and is in the process of being drawn into
  relationship with him.

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Discovering The Process of Evangelism

• 4. Prechristians are nudged toward Christ as
  they experience defining moments.

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Modified Engels Scale For Evangelism Readiness
Effective sharing of faith and life Openness to
others Prayer Stewardship of resources Christian
Life-styles Discovery and use of gifts Growth in
Christian Character Become part of the process of
making other disciples Initiation into the
church Evaluation of the decision Repentance and
faith Challenge and decision to act Awareness of
personal need Grasp of the implications of the
gospel Positive attitude to the gospel Awareness
of the basic facts of the gospel Interest in
Christianity Initial awareness of Christianity No
effective knowledge of Christianity Awareness of
the supernatural
3 2 1
Sanctification
A NEW DISCIPLE IS BORN
Matthew 2819-20
-1 - 2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8
-9 -10
Regeneration
Persuasion
Significant Impact through Being Served
Proclamation
Conviction
Presence
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Part IVDiscovering The Role of Acceptance
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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 1 Jesus modeled attitudes of tolerance towards
  outsiders making their way into the family of
  God.
• 2 Through serving our way into peoples lives, we
  are able to deeply convey to them the love of
  Christ.
• 3 Outsiders must see our hearts before they trust
  us enough to value our words.

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What is our Message?
Love
Expectations
Expectations
Expectations
Love
Love
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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 4 What are the right reasons for serving?
• A To extend Gods Kingdom
• B To obey the Great Commission
• C We love people

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How Do We See Them?
Evade Run Away Come ye apart
THEM
US
US
Pervade Overpower
THEM
THEM
Invade Incarnate Greater is he who is in
you...
US
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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 5 There are three attitudes the human heart
  thrives on
• A Love
• B Acceptance
• C Forgiveness

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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 6 In the absence of love, acceptance and
  forgiveness, Gods winsome presence will be
  encumbered through us toward prechristians

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How Big is Your Heart?
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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 7 The limits of our evangelism effectiveness are
  defined by the limits of tolerance in our hearts
  toward those different than us.

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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 8 How we can demonstrate love, acceptance, and
  forgiveness in creative ways at our weekend
  services?
• Welcome presents
• At least one option that is designed with the
  outsider in mind
• Create a court of gentiles

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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 9 How we can demonstrate love, acceptance, and
  forgiveness in creative ways at our weekend
  services?
• A connection point after services
• Protect the anonymity of newcomers
• Work on inclusive language

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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 9 How we can demonstrate love, acceptance, and
  forgiveness in creative ways at our weekend
  services?
• Ask What are we doing programmatically and
  attitudinally that hinders prechristians from
  finding Jesus in this place?

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Discovering The Role of Acceptance

• 10 What are we doing at weekend services?
• Length of service
• Adequate signs
• Frequent invitations to receive Christ
• Evident, enthusiastic child care
• Avoid insider language
• Avoid church business

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Part VConsiderations for Getting Started
Ready, Fire!, Aim
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Getting Started

• 1 It takes no expertise to scatter seed!
• 2 Some practical thoughts to take into
  consideration before you ramp up your outreach
  into the community

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The Three-Legged Stool of Learning
Studying It
Doing It
Discussing It
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Getting Started

• 3 Practical steps for beginning Servant Evangelism

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Getting Started

• A Provide a place for every level of commitment
• Bi-annual large events for the fearful
• Quarterly medium sized events for the curious
• Monthly events for small groups
• Weekly events for the totally committed army

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Getting Started

• 3 Practical steps for beginning Servant
  Evangelism
• A Provide a place for every level of commitment
• B Have alternative projects set up in case of
  inclement weather
• C Minimize fears of participants by communicating
  clearly

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Getting Started

• D What about getting permission for projects?
• 1) Ask for the minimum amount of permission for
  doing a project
• 2) Dont blatantly ignore common sense regarding
  getting permission. On the other hand, dont ask
  too many questions!

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Getting Started

• D What about getting permission for projects?
• 3) If you do encounter problems, dont forget
  that your smile is powerfully disarming to
  critics!

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Getting Started

• E Considerations for getting kindness projects
  launched
• 1) Begin to ask God for his creative mind for
  reaching your community
• 2) Start with those projects which are most
  likely to succeed
• 3) Start with small goals
• 4) Start with a diversity of projects. Experiment
  to see what works well in your city

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Getting Started

• E Considerations for getting kindness projects
  launched
• 5) Try to use small groups as your primary
  vehicle for doing servant evangelism
• 6) Pastors and visible leaders need to take a
  primary role in launching servant evangelism
• 7) Commit to minimum of six months of regularly
  doing projects

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Getting Started

• E Considerations for getting kindness projects
  launched
• 8) Create connection cards which help those you
  serve find you later

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Getting Started

• F What do we say when we encounter people as we
  serve them?
• 1) Were doing a free
• 2) community service project
• 3) to show Gods love...
• 4) in a practical way.

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Getting Started

• G If reasonable, return to the same places to
  serve
• Malls
• Bike Paths
• Parks
• Sports arenas
• Grocery stores
• Gas stations
• Shopping centers

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Getting Started

• H What safety and liability issues do we need to
  consider?
• I What equipment concerns should we consider?
• J Be sure to do a quality job
• K After a project, allow adequate time for
  participants to download
• L Record what youve learned for future reference