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The big story

The particular to the universal One place to every placeOne place to every place One person/people to manyOne person/people to many One time into an ever new futureOne time into an ever new future

‘ We live in a culture so saturated with self, in which humans have placed themselves in the centre for so long, that our natural tendency,even as Christians,is to focus on the human aspects of evangelism and not the divine. Yet it is God who takes the initiative to pursue seekers, it is his Spirit who converts, it is his gospel that saves. Evangelism is God’s business from start to finish.’

Arrow What is the big story?

wooden- too formulaic & individualisticwooden- too formulaic & individualistic

saved through his lifesaved through his life saved through the sanctifying work of the Spiritsaved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit saved through childbearingsaved through childbearing we are saved through waterwe are saved through water it is by grace you have been saved through faithit is by grace you have been saved through faith saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewalsaved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit

wooden- too formulaic & individualisticwooden- too formulaic & individualistic woolly- no naked gospel because ofwoolly- no naked gospel because of context & interpretation. context & interpretation.

“ through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgement for sin into fellowship with judgement for sin into fellowship with Him (and others) and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever.” Tim Keller

work of distillationwork of distillation work of communicationwork of communication

Arrow What is evangelism in the light of the the big story?

“ evangelism is that dimension and activity of the church’s mission which seeks to offer every person, everywhere, a to offer every person, everywhere, a valid opportunity to be directly challenged by the gospel of explicit faith in by the gospel of explicit faith in Jesus Christ, with a view to embracing him as Saviour, becoming a loving member of his community and being enlisted in his service of reconciliation, peace and justice on earth.” David Bosch

Evangelism is no safe church activity that will sustain a conventional church, nor a routine enterprise that will support a societal status quo. The news that God has triumphed means that a transformed life,i.e. one changed by the hearing of the good news, works to bring more and more of life, personal and public, under the rule of this world transforming, slave liberating, covenant making, promise keeping, justice –commanding God.’

it’s good newsit’s good news the kingdomthe kingdom

The kingdom The time has come. The kingdom is near. Repent and believe the good news.

it’s good newsit’s good news the kingdomthe kingdom pluralismpluralism

Arrow What is the relationship between evangelism and discipleship?

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Disciple making Going

“Jesus did not primarily command His disciples to go, he commanded them to make disciples. But since he now commands them to make disciples of all nations, they will have to go to the nations as a necessary condition of doing the primary command.” Chris Wright. The Mission of God,p35.

Disciple making Going Baptizing Teaching

Arrow The role of leaders

‘Transformed leaders have a clear conviction that God can and will work through their congregation to change lives and that their congregation of people can be used by God to help change the world. Such vision begins with the clear vision of the evangelising community and what that community might look like in its particular setting and circumstances

As for you,always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. 2 Timothy 4 v5.

Envision

‘How does the church become the evangelising centre it was meant to be? Before we think of programmes or techniques, we need to be renewed in our vision of who Christ is and what God’s purposes are for the world.’ Rebecca Manley Pippert.

Encourage Equip Example Expectancy EnvisionEnvision