Thanks to Jono for this summary:
This chapter on evangelism is the first chapter where we see the principals of church being gospel-centred and community-centred practically applied to a part of church life. The centrality of the gospel word in evangelism means that we proclaim the good news of Jesus. Evangelism cannot happen without proclamation and it isn’t the true gospel of Jesus if what we say is skewed towards ourselves and how Jesus meets our needs.
The centrality of the gospel community (which is nourished by the word) in evangelism means we are not only to proclaim, but also to embody the word. The embodiment of the word is to become communities of love who love in the same way and to the same extent that Jesus loved us. And we are to be seen as communities of love so that through our loving relationships the gospel is proclaimed to the watching world. Introducing people to church would then be introducing them to a network of relationships, rather than a meeting, where they experience the gospel community.
A simple model of a three-strand rope shows the different aspects of evangelism; building relationships, sharing the gospel and introducing people to the community. There is no sequence nor order in which to do these things and not all are necessary for God to be at work (although it is suggested the rope is stronger when all three are happening).
Three other points to do with evangelism are raised:
1. Evangelism Being A Community Project
Ideally evangelism shouldn’t be done in isolation, but rather as a community project. We all have been gifted differently and we all have a role in evangelizing. In making evangelism a community project we also make up for each other’s weaknesses with our collective community strength.
2. Gospel Ministry Involves Ordinary People Doing Ordinary Things With Gospel Intentionality
Gospel ministry is low-key, ordinary, day-to-day work, which is saturated with a commitment to living and proclaiming the gospel. The leaders need to create and reinforce this gospel culture in which the gospel is lived and talked in a shard life. This is different to our compartmentalized culture where ministry becomes another thing we do.
3. The Gospel Community Authenticating The Gospel Word
This takes the corporate dimension of evangelism seriously. We were made for gospel community and as we live it out non-Christians can come to see through the community the gospel that brings life.
What are your thoughts?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Thanks for the summary. I quite liked the thoughts in this chapter. Thinking of evangelism in a community context leads to rethinking how we do evangelism. That is not so much putting on evangelistic events but just bringing people who don't know Christ into our normal lives as a Christian community and introducing them to God through that. This is not to say that events and such don't or can't work but that evangelism should be part of our ongoing life as a community rather than something we put on a couple of times a year. It also encourages us to use each others abilities to be effective in evangelism.
Post a Comment