Why Christians hate evangelism … and how we can love it Week 1 40 Days of Grace Mike Taylor Forest Community Church Sunday 16 September 2018
The 40 Days logo is a world map
40 Days of Grace: overview Last week: Introduction
40 Days of Grace: overview Last week: Introduction This week: Why Christians hate evangelism
40 Days of Grace: overview Last week: Introduction This week: Why Christians hate evangelism Week 2. “… But not for me”
40 Days of Grace: overview Last week: Introduction This week: Why Christians hate evangelism Week 2. “… But not for me” Week 3. The lure of legalism
40 Days of Grace: overview Last week: Introduction This week: Why Christians hate evangelism Week 2. “… But not for me” Week 3. The lure of legalism Week 4. Abusing grace: what about works?
40 Days of Grace: overview Last week: Introduction This week: Why Christians hate evangelism Week 2. “… But not for me” Week 3. The lure of legalism Week 4. Abusing grace: what about works? Week 5. Showing grace to others
40 Days of Grace: overview Last week: Introduction This week: Why Christians hate evangelism Week 2. “… But not for me” Week 3. The lure of legalism Week 4. Abusing grace: what about works? Week 5. Showing grace to others Week 6. What grace costs.
Why Christians hate evangelism … and how we can love it Week 1 40 Days of Grace Mike Taylor Forest Community Church Sunday 16 September 2018
The heavy burden of evangelism Annie Dillard had knocked on a neighbour’s door to ask permission to hike along the stream that passed through her back garden.
The heavy burden of evangelism The woman was very nervous. She was dark, pretty, hard, with […] trembling lashes […]. She wore a black dress and one brush roller in the front of her hair. She did not ask me in. My explanation of myself confused her, but she gave permission. Yes, I could walk their property. […] She did not let me go; she was worried about something else. She worked her hands. I waited on the other side of the screen door until she came out with it: “Do you know the Lord as your personal saviour?”
The heavy burden of evangelism My heart went out to her. No wonder she had been so nervous. She must have to ask this of everyone, absolutely everyone, she meets. That is Christian witness. It makes sense, given its premises. I wanted to make her as happy as possible, reward her courage, and run. She was stunned that I knew the Lord, and clearly uncertain whether we were referring to the same third party. But she had done her bit, bumped over the hump, and now she could relax.
A better model for evangelism
A better model for evangelism
A better model for evangelism
… and a worse model
… and a worse model
… and a worse model
Do we love what we tell people about?
Do we love what we tell people about? “Evangelism has become something dreaded and despised …” 1/3
Do we love what we tell people about? “Evangelism has become something dreaded and despised — perhaps most of all by the very evangelical Christians who are constantly being told that if they were good Christians, they would be doing more of it.” 1/3
Do we love what we tell people about? “American-style evangelism is made even stranger by the fact that it seems devoid of content . It’s become a turtles-all-the-way-down exercise with no real bottom. Evangelism means, literally, the telling of good news. Surely there must be more to this good news than simply that the hearers of it become obliged to turn around and tell it to others. And those others, in turn, are obliged to tell still others the good news of their obligation to spread this news.” 2/3
Do we love what we tell people about? “That may be an effective marketing strategy, but what is the product? There doesn’t seem to be a product — only a self- perpetuating marketing scheme.” — Fred Clark, “Hospitality vs. sales”: Slacktivist , 21 Feb 2006. 3/3
That can’t be it We must have something better to offer!
The solution We need to love God if we're going to enjoy telling people about him.
Richard of Chichester See you more clearly Love you more dearly Follow you more nearly
The gospel is good news!
The gospel is good news!
The gospel is good news! “Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it.”
The gospel is good news! “Anyone who is not shocked by the gospel has not understood it.”
The gospel is good news! “Anyone who is not shocked by the gospel has not understood it.” Four reasons ...
1. We were dead; now we are alive It's easy to overlook how radical Paul's picture is:
1. We were dead; now we are alive It's easy to overlook how radical Paul's picture is: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” — Colossians 2:13.
1. We were dead; now we are alive It's easy to overlook how radical Paul's picture is: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” — Colossians 2:13. Not “you were pretty good but now you're better”.
1. We were dead; now we are alive It's easy to overlook how radical Paul's picture is: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” — Colossians 2:13. Not “you were pretty good but now you're better”. Not “you were bad but now you're good”.
2. God loves us , not just “people” In response to a Facebook question “What would you say to God?”, one answer was “Start again”.
2. God loves us , not just “people” In response to a Facebook question “What would you say to God?”, one answer was “Start again”. God could have done that: tear up his creation and start again. 2nd Adam 3rd Adam 4th Adam etc .
2. God loves us , not just “people” His goal was not to win a people, but these people.
2. God loves us , not just “people”
2. God loves us , not just “people”
2. God loves us , not just “people”
2. God loves us , not just “people”
2. God loves us , not just “people”
3. Christianity is not a transaction “’Tis done, the great transaction’s done.” — O Happy Day That Fixed My Choice .
3. Christianity is not a transaction The term “transaction” implies: Something done once, then can be forgotten Something agreed between negotiating equals
3. Christianity is not a transaction But we are coming home to a Father who loves us.
4. Everything we love echoes God's goodness “There have been times when I think that we do not desire heaven; but more often I have found myself wondering whether, in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else. All the things that have ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of it — tantalising glimpses, promises never quite fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear.” — C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain .
Who does God extend his grace to? ? ?
Who does God extend his grace to? ? Or is is “whom”? ?
1. The woman caught in adultery
1. The woman caught in adultery “Teacher”, they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” [...] Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord”, she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” — John 8:4-5, 10-11.
2. Paul the persecutor
2. Paul the persecutor Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. — Acts 8:1.
2. Paul the persecutor Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. — Acts 8:1. Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. — Acts 8:3.
2. Paul the persecutor Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. — Acts 8:1. Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. — Acts 8:3. Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. — Acts 9:1.
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