Most Christians and churches today have a variety of approaches to presenting Christ and the gospel in the public marketplace. Some go with "Turn or Burn" while others try "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." It is important to carefully consider what the gospel actually is and what our approach … Continue reading Our Approach in the Marketplace …
The Global Shift
Rick Warren recently said ... The last 50 years has seen the greatest redistribution of a religion ever in the history of the world. There is nothing even to compare to it. For instance, at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1900, 71% of all, quote, "Christians" lived in Europe. By 2000 only 28% … Continue reading The Global Shift
Movements that Change the World
Steve Addison is a lifelong student of movements that renew and expand the Christian faith. Thankfully, he has now published his many years of reflection and research into an inspiring new book, Movements that Change the World. It should help to fuel church planting movements everywhere. Steve notes that movements that change the world are characterised by … Continue reading Movements that Change the World
Melbourne
Here are a few statistics from our beautiful city of Melbourne given at the recent Transforming Melbourne research launch: Melbourne is growing by 44,000 people per year. It will become Australia's largest city in the next 20 years. Although church attendance is not keeping up with population growth, there are still more people attending church … Continue reading Melbourne
Transforming Melbourne
Transforming Melbourne is a ministry that exists to unity, servanthood, and prayer to see the church become a united missionary movement for our city. Recently, this ministry has been a catalyst for a major research project aimed at giving an accurate picture of the current condition of the church in Melbourne, a metropolis made up of … Continue reading Transforming Melbourne
Third Space Conversations (Cont’d)
To follow on from yesterday's post on "Third Space Conversations" ... here are a few reflection questions ... One approach to evangelism is for Christians to invite unchurched people into the ‘first space’. What kind of person is this applicable to? What kind of person may never come straight into a ‘first space’ gathering? What … Continue reading Third Space Conversations (Cont’d)
Third Space Conversations
Slowly read the following record of the Apostle Paul visiting Athens ... "While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the market-place day by day with … Continue reading Third Space Conversations
The Ripple Effect
In 1855, a Sunday School teacher, a Mr. Kimball, led a Boston shoe clerk to give his life to Christ. The clerk, Dwight L. Moody, became an evangelit. In England in 1879, Dwight L. Moody awakened evangelistic zeal in the heart of Fredrick B. Meyer, pastor of a small church. F.B. Meyer, preaching to an … Continue reading The Ripple Effect
Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 4)
4. Keep the Passion Alive Priorities can be easily replaced by other seemingly urgent or pressing matters. As we become busy with so many things in church life we can begin to drift from our mission. That’s why the work of an evangelist also involves keeping the evangelistic passion of a church community alive and … Continue reading Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 4)
Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 3)
3. Create Evangelistic Opportunities The third thing that evangelists should do is to create evangelistic opportunities for people. The Great Commission involves both “Go” (Matt.28:18-20) and “Come and see” (John 4:29). In other words, believers are to go and share their faith out in the world and they are to invite their friends to come … Continue reading Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 3)
Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 2)
2. Equip People to Share their Faith The second thing we must do if we are to do the work of an evangelist is to train people to share their faith. One of the tasks of an evangelist it to “equip” the entire church to do the ministry of evangelism (Eph.4:11-12). God wants every Christian … Continue reading Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 2)
Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 1)
Many years ago, when I began a new role as senior minister of a large church, I knew that God was calling me to help the church become more outward focused. The evangelistic passion and effectiveness of the church needed to lift considerably. My main spiritual gifts are leadership and teaching. Evangelism is not a strong … Continue reading Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Part 1)