Using a Common Ground Approach Personal Evangelism Using a Common Ground Approach

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach euaggelistes “A messenger or a bringer of good tidings” “A messenger of good news” evangelist “A messenger of the Gospel”

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach euaggelistes “A messenger or a bringer of good tidings” “A messenger of good news” evangelist “A messenger of the Gospel”

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Pet 3:15)

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Pet 3:15) “apology” = “to provide a defense; an answer; a reason”

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Pet 3:15)

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Pet 3:15)

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Pet 3:15)

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Pet 3:15)

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach Reasons why we don’t reach out to the lost: No time Someone else’s job Fear Timidity Lack of Bible knowledge Lack of confidence Worry about not answering objections

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach The Four C’s of Evangelism: Courage Craft Consciousness (awareness) Care

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach The Roles of Evangelism: The INVITERS The GREETERS The TEACHERS The SUSTAINERS

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach Teaching Strategies (“tactics”) Start where they are and go from there... Phillip, Acts 8:26ff The “Common Ground” approach Find common ground and go from there... The Judgment scene (Rev 20:11ff)

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach “Are you familiar with the Judgment scene described in the Book of Revelation?” Let’s open up to that passage and read it together...

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach (11) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it... (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. (14) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach “We may not agree on a lot of things, but can we at least agree that anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life will be cast into Hell?” “Can we further agree that it is absolutely imperative that we learn everything the Bible has to say about getting our name in that Book, and that we do whatever it says, no matter what the cost?”

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach How do I get my name in that Book? “All you have to do is believe.” (John 3:16) “Good works” (John 5:28-29) “There is nothing we can DO...”

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach How do I get my name in that Book? What about... Grace? (Eph 2:8) Repentance? (Lk 13:3, 5) Confessing the name of Christ? (Matt 10:32-33; Rom 10:9-10) Baptism? (John 3:3; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) Obedience? (Matt 7:21; Jas 2:26; Rev 20:12)

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach How do I keep my name in that Book? My name can be removed (Exo 32:32-33; Rev 3:5) “Faithful obedience to the end.” John 8:31, 51 1 Tim 4:16; 5:8 Heb 2:3 Jas 5:19-20 2 Pet 2:20-22 Rev 2:10

Personal Evangelism: Using a Common Ground approach Is your name written in the Book of Life right now?