Introduction:
A. For every task that we face, there are many approaches or methods that we might employ.
1. Some methods are certainly better than others.
B. I love the story of the man who was injured on the job and had to provide further explanation of the cause of his injuries for the insurance company.
1. He wrote, “I trust that the following explanation will be sufficient.”
2. “I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the injury, I was working alone, laying brick around the top of a three-story building. When I finished the job, I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to put them into a barrel and lower them by a pulley that was fastened to the top of the building.”
3. “I secured the end of the rope at ground level, went back up to the top of the building, loaded the bricks into the barrel, and pushed it over the side. I went back down to the ground and untied the rope, holding it securely to insure the slow descent of the barrel.”
4. “As you will note in block #6 of the claim form, I weigh 145 pounds. At the shock of being jerked off the ground so swiftly by the 500 pounds of bricks in the barrel, I lost my presence of mind and forget to let go of the rope.”
5. “Between the second and third floors I met the barrel. This accounts for the bruises and lacerations on my upper body. Fortunately, I retained enough presence of mind to maintain my tight hold on the rope and proceeded rapidly up the side of the building, not stopping until my right hand was jammed in the pulley. This accounts for the broken thumb.”
6. “Despite the pain, I continued to hold tightly to the rope. Unfortunately, at approximately the same time, the barrel hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed about fifty pounds. I again refer you to block #6, where my weight is listed. I began a rapid descent.”
7. “In the vicinity of the second floor, I met the barrel coming up. This explains the injury to my legs and lower body. Slowed only slightly, I continued my descent, landing on the pile of bricks. Fortunately, my back was only sprained.”
8. “I’m sorry to report, however, that at this point I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope.”
C. As I said, “Some methods are better than others.”
1. Some approaches to moving bricks from the roof to the ground are more effective than others.
2. And so it is with approaches to evangelism.
3. Some certainly are better than others.
4. And some of us are suited better for some approaches than other approaches.
5. The key for success is not only employing the most effective approaches, but employing the one that best matches our own individual personalities and gifts.
D. Last week we talked about what some might call “friendship evangelism.” (Relational Approach)
1. And I said that I believe it is one of the more effective approaches.
2. I pointed out that it was the approach that Jesus, and the apostles Matthew, and Paul often employed.
3. But I also pointed out that friendship evangelism is not the only approach that works, and said that Lord willing, we would look at some of the other possible approaches this week.
4. So, let’s do just that. What are some other approaches to reaching the lost that may be a better fit for you or for me?
I. The Proclamation Approach
A. The proclamation approach involves standing before others and proclaiming the good news about Jesus, simply and directly.
1. Peter and Paul were both used by the Lord to speak to small and large groups about Jesus.
2. They each were given a public platform from which to proclaim the gospel and they were faithful to their calling.
3. Can you think of a better person than Peter to stand before the Jews on the Day of Pentecost and proclaim that Jesus is the messiah? (Acts 2)
4. Can you think of a better person than Paul to stand before the Greek philosophers in Athens and argue that there is only one true God? (Acts 17)
5. Perhaps God has given you the gift of communication.
6. You may have a gift for teaching and reasoning and perhaps God will open doors for you to speak to groups in a public forum: like a high school, or a collage dorm room, or a living room.
7. If this is the case, then you need to employ your gifts with faith and love. You need to speak for Christ in these places and at these times.
8. A new avenue for proclamation has come through the internet.
a. Many Christians are effectively sharing their faith in chat rooms, on blogs and websites designed to teach the gospel.
b. The internet may be a place where you can effectively share your faith.
B. In reality, however, most of us are not given these gifts, nor these opportunities.
1. Most of us will be called upon to use a different approach other than the proclamation approach.
II. The Testimonial Approach
A. The blind man from John 9 is a good example of someone who effectively used this approach.
1. From the get go, this man didn’t know very much about Jesus nor about religion, but he knew what Jesus had done for him. He knew the difference that Jesus had made in his life.
2. He said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see.”
B. The Apostle Paul also used this approach on many occasions.
1. Twice in the book of Acts (22 and 26) we see him sharing his testimony of how he came to believe in Jesus.
2. And as you recall, his was a very dramatic conversion. Blinded on the way to persecute disciples in Damascus.
C. I’m certain that there are many people in your corner of the world who need to hear your story about how God is working in your life.
1. Rest assured that your testimony doesn’t have to be dramatic to be effective.
2. Some people might discount a dramatic testimony and excuse themselves from spirituality saying, that certainly people like that need religion, but I’ve never been that bad or that down and out.
3. Your everyday story may relate to their everyday life and show them that they, too, need the grace and leadership of God that you’ve found.
III. The Invitational Approach
A. Many of us may find that this approach suits us well.
1. In this approach we simply invite others to join us as we participate in Christian gatherings.
2. So, we might invite someone to join us at a worship gathering like we have every Sunday morning, or for a special worship gathering like we will be having on November 19th for Friend Day.
3. Other things we might invite someone to could include, our small group, a special seminar we might offer, a neighborhood Bible study, a special concert, or invite them to simply read the Bible with us.
B. What we are doing when we use this approach is trying to have them experience something that we have experienced.
1. The Samaritan Woman in John 4 used this approach with her friends back Sychar.
a. You remember her story, don’t you?
b. She met Jesus one day at the well and Jesus began a spiritual conversation with her.
c. Using the powers that Jesus had, being God, he showed that knew everything about her.
d. He then revealed to her that He was the Messiah that everyone was waiting for.
e. Being so impressed and overwhelmed by all of this, the woman ran to town to tell her friends.
f. What was her invitation to those people? “Come and see.”
2. That’s the same thing that Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and see the Messiah.” (Jn 1:46)
3. Your most effective outreach approach may not be proclamation, or testimony, or anything else, but just a simple invitation to come and see the church family, or come and hear the good news, or come and experience the small group.
4. George Barna’s research showes that about 25% of adults in the U.S. said they would go to church if a friend would invite them.
IV. The Service Approach.
A. The service approach is one that I have alluded to a number of times during this series.
1. Christians have always been know for their acts of kindness whether it be in nursing the sick, or feeding the hungry.
2. This is certainly one of the ways we can let our light shine.
B. The Bible says in Acts 9:36 that Dorcas was “always doing good and helping the poor.”
1. She was well-known for her loving acts of service which she performed in the name of Christ.
2. Specifically, she made robes and articles of clothing for widows and other needy people in her town.
3. As people observed her benevolent activity, they got a glimpse of the love of Christ that inspired her.
4. Dorcas was so important to the work in Joppa that when she died a premature death, the disciples sent for Peter who raised her from the dead and put her back into service.
C. The service-style of evangelism touches people in ways that no other way touches.
1. A person’s service and self-sacrifice may get the attention of not only the person being served, but also those nearby.
2. So, give thought and pay attention to ways to serve - make a sick neighbor a meal, clean their house, help someone fix their car, mow their yard, clean their gutters, listen to them when they need someone to talk to.
3. And as a congregation, let’s be thinking of ways to respond to the real needs of people around us – whether it’s food or clothing, home repair, or child-care.
4. Let’s be serving this community so that doors may be opened for the gospel.
V. As we conclude, I want to remind us of the approach that we discussed last week – The Relational Approach.
A. This was the approach that was employed by Matthew the tax collector turned disciple, when he invited all his irreligious friends to a party.
1. At that party he mixed the “sinners” with the “saints.”
2. Maybe your gift will be in the area of creating environments where Christians and non-Christians can rub shoulders.
B. Paul shared with us his understanding of this approach when he said that he has become all things to all men, so that by all possible means he might save some.
1. In other words, Paul tried to meet people where they were.
2. He would show interest in what they were interested in, so that he could build a relational bridge.
C. So, if this approach fits you, then open up your home and your life to others and watch the Lord do his work.
Conclusion:
A. Paul wrote, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:5-6)
B. As we look over the list of ways to evangelize, we will realize that some people will only be gifted to employ one or two approaches, whereas others may be gifted to employ most or all of them.
1. The important thing is not how many of the approaches we can be engaged in, but that we be engaged in the ones that our gifts and personalities are suited for.
2. And it is also important to be sensitive to the needs of the person we are interested in reaching out to.
3. If we can’t reach out to them in a way that will mesh with them and their needs, maybe you need to get someone involved who can.
C. Let me end with some powerful thoughts from Sam Shoemaker:
“I stay near the door. I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which people walk when they find God.
There’s no use my going way inside, and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I, crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find is only the wall where a door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind people, with outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door, yet they never find it…
So I stay near the door.
The most tremendous thing in the world is for people to find that door - the door of God.
The most important thing anyone can do is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands and to put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks and opens to the person’s own touch.
People die outside that door, as starving beggars die on cold nights in cruel cities in the
dead of winter - Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live, on the other side of it - live because they have found it.
Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it, and open it, and walk in and find him. So I stay near the door.”
D. Are you near the door this morning?
1. Do you need to come inside and find God?
2. Please come inside and find the only life worth living.
E. For those of us who have found the door, will we stay near the door?
1. Are we willing to help others find the way inside?
2. I hope so and I pray so.
3. Let’s experiment with the different approaches until we find the one that fits us best.
4. And then let’s be active in employing that approach in sharing our faith.
(Much from this sermon comes from Hybils’ Becoming A Contagious Christian, chapter 9)
