I was praying and reading through different materials on Evangelism, feeling terribly artificial in preparing to c0-lead a six week session on Evangelism all the while having to repent for my lack of it, when I began to feel really defeated. Not just for myself and my habits but for the church as a whole, the ways we enclose and become ingrown. I began to tell myself that the Lord can’t use people like us, like me, to reach others. When all of a sudden a familiar stranger from the distance approached me in his pages and helped me see that humility and vulnerability are the two best places to begin when sharing the gospel. Listen to Jack’s thoughts from ‘A Faith Worth Sharing: A lifetime of conversations about Christ’. He’s recalling what happened after he and Rose Marie his wife had been very vulnerable while sharing their faith on a plane, and had handed the persons a pamphlet when they realized that others wanted one as well, listen in;
“Faces were smiling and several hands reached out for the pamphlets. I know that they were able to take them instead of retreating in suspicion because they had heard Rose Marie and me confess many of our weaknesses. We have made a conscious effort to move with humility into the lives of other people, to love them from below, rather than from above. Our weaknesses have become our point of contact and this openness and vulnerability causes people to open up to us in return.”
Telling needy and broken people that you have eternal life can make you seem like the spiritual shop owner they must pass through in order to find that perfect purchase. Jack reminded me that I’m not a shop owner, but just as needy as my neighbor for the gospel.
If this is you today, you feel defeated and deflated, take courage my friend and speak easy and openly. Our confessions at times pave the path for their own, and regardless of whether they do or not – don’t we have confessions to make…
I confess Lord I need you
I’m weak
I’m vulnerable
Cynicism and sarcasm won’t cover the gaping hole of despair.
Jesus draw me up some water so that I my own thirst will be quenched, but make it a big bucket because I don’t want to take in alone…
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September 16, 2007 at 2:10 am
Sam DeSocio
Every time I read Jack Miller I am challenged. His writings are so convicted. I feel your convictions. It seems like we can’t do evangelism in an age like ours. It seems like we will offend with the very notion that we can show anyone something they need. Even if we all need it. Have you found that as someone in the ministry its harder to follow the traditional relational venues, of sharing your faith.
Id love to hear the actual methods you are going to try. I’ll be honest I hear lots of principles about evangelism, but the only methods I have read about or heard are 30 years old.
September 16, 2007 at 2:12 am
Sam DeSocio
Where do you get these images? They are so amazing.
September 17, 2007 at 2:11 am
setsnservice
Sam,
I get most of my images from flickr…I’ve been thinking about a way to give credit to the photographers – possibly putting a link at the bottom or something?..? One things for sure I need to credit them…
“…but the only methods I have read about or heard are 30 years old.” I’m noticing that a lot of the evangelism discussions are really just rehashes of thoughtful, passionate christians back in the 70’s.
Honestly man I don’t really have ‘a’ method or ‘a’ theology or ‘a’ discipline that I’m going to encourage the body at East Lanier with. But I think being mindful of the way the Spirit has spoken to the wider body of Christ, the method’s’ he’s lead them into, the theologie’s’ he’s placed within them, and the discipline’s’ he’s carrying them through are what we all need at different times, places, and situations.
If I had to sum up my approach – ‘eclectic’…
Sam I’d love to hear some older titles you read on evangelism, some gems to suggest
September 17, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Sam DeSocio
Well Ill give you the biggest example I have in my mind. My seminary is good at somethings, but not so good at others. Our evangelism class consisted of door to door knocks. At the same time the church I was attending, at the time, was doing Evangelism Explosion. I haven’t seen either really work where I am, Urban Pittsburgh. At a different point we took the idea of a survey that Explosion uses, but instead we just used it as a jumping off point for conversations. And we post-modernized it.
Here is where I really struggle, older pastors say door to door/ cold/ one time evangelism is ‘the’ way to do it. Younger people say evangelism is rude if its not done within the context of a relationship, but in some cases it is simply a good way of getting around having to put your neck out for the one who got his taken off for you.
The example I see in the NT seem to be more about just jumping into conversations about Christ, or be put on the spot and telling people about him.
The Gospel offends people, but we are not supposed to just tick them off.
I loved everything Miller says on Evangelism.
I’m figuring you are already using Powerful Evangelism for the Powerless. If you are not pick it up. Its deeper than A Faith Worth Sharing.
September 18, 2007 at 9:11 pm
setsnservice
Hmm, Sam thanks for these thoughts. No, I actually don’t have Miller larger work…I’ve wanted it and been on the fence as to whether or not spend the monies on it right now but I think after your praise of it I will. Thanks man…
“The Gospel offends people, but we are not supposed to just tick them off.” I love that line man, so very true, the gospel is not an all-access pass to Jerkdome 07!