welshie's wanderings

RUCU Cell Leader's Training Weekend 2006. Witness Workshop, Dave Hooper

How does your cell find evangelism? What's hard about evangelism?

Even Paul found it hard! Ephesians 6:19-20. "Pray for me..."

RUCU's aim - "Making disciples of Jesus Christ in Reading Uni."

Why do evangelism?

• For God's glory. Revelation 4:11, Isaiah 43:6-7. Our friends were created to give glory to God, but they're not doing that. Do we love our friends enough to want God's glory in their lives?
• Out of love for Jesus. Acts 17:16, 2 Corinthians 5:11. We know that one day we'll face judgement but we know we're in Jesus' love. We want that for our friends.
• To fulfil God's will. Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Peter 3:9. God wants us to evangelise.
• Out of love for non-Christians. Mark 10:21, 1 Thessalonians 2:8. Jesus had compassion on non-Christians - we should too. If we really love non-Christians, we should be delighted to share the gospel with them.

These things should motivate us to do evangelism when we feel afraid or find it hard.

What did Paul do to bring the gospel to people?

Romans 1:15, 1 Corinthians 2:1, Galatians 1:11-12, Ephesians 1:13, Colossians 1:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 2:13

The people heard it. Romans 10:14-15 and 17.

Implication:-

"Evangelism is the verbal proclamation of the gospel"

So - what isn't evangelism? Things ike social action, prayer, godly living, friendship - these all back up evangelism, but not actually are evangelism.

Evangelism is not conversion - God does the converting.

If cell is planning an evangeslistc programme, which of these things would be good/bad to do?

• handing out John's gospels
• giving people lolipops
• hiring out a nightclub and giving Christians free entry
• talks from the Bible
• putting on a Christian rock concert
• fasting, giving food to the homeless and protesting 3rd world debt
• dinners for friends with informal gospel explanation

What's wrong with the quote "Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words"?

What is the gospel? Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:9.

4 things about the gospel:

• Christ centered (Acts 28:31, 2 Timothy 2:8, Romans 1:1-4)
• Cross-centered (1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 1:22-24; Galatians 3:1, Mark 10:45)
• includes the warning of judgement (Luke 13:5, John 3:36, Romans 2:5)
• includes an appeal to repentance and faith (Mark 1:15, Acts 20:20-21)

Why must the gospel include those things?

What should our cell meetings focus on?

posted by Welshie @ 7:02 pm