EVANGELISM a Guide to Evangelism: Guide Book No

SBTS Press c/o Communications 2825 Lexington Ave. Louisville, KY 40280

SBTS Press is a division of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States copyright law.

Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN: 978-0615816791 A Guide to

Evangelism

Dan DeWitt, Editor

To my mom, the most natural evangelist I’ve ever known.

Dan DeWitt A Guide to evangelism Table of Contents

– introduction – 10 Dan DeWitt

– For the church – 14 chapter 1 Theological Incentives for Evangelism Chad Brand

20 Chapter 2 Preaching that Propagates Brian Payne

28 Chapter 3 Evangelism and Church Discipline Denny Burk

34 Chapter 4 A Witnessing Community Jim Stitzinger

6 – For the christian – 44 chapter 5 Evangelism to the Next Generation Troy W. Temple

50 chapter 6 Evangelism to Nominal Christians Owen Strachan

58 chapter 7 Evangelism to World Religions Travis S. Kerns

66 chapter 8 Evangelism to Muslims John Klaassen

74 chapter 9 Evangelism to Skeptics Dan DeWitt

85 Resources

87 Contributors

A Guide to evangelism introduction evangelism: An Introduction

Dan DeWitt

any Christians, according by sharing the gospel. Too often, Mto Russell D. Moore, think we can be guilty of being gospel about evangelism like they think hoarders and simultaneously about flossing.T hey know they spiritually malnourished. If we should do it more often – and hide the gospel away for our they even feel guilty when they’re families, and ourselves, the result reminded of it – but they think of will be an evangelistic anorexia it as an optional discipline. that fails to convince the watching Such a laissez-faire approach world that we have found the to evangelism is certainly foreign source of supreme satisfaction. to Scripture. Charles Haddon God help us. Spurgeon went so far as to say that This little book is designed to this sort of attitude is antithetical help you cultivate your craving to to the gospel itself. “Have you see “grace extend to more and more no wish for others to be saved?” people” so that it “may increase Spurgeon asked. “Then you’re not thanksgiving, to the glory of God” saved yourself, be sure of that!” (2 Cor 4:15). If you finish this Perhaps the metaphor of food guide book and still see the Great is a more appropriate way to Commission like the unfortunate view our responsibility to share duty to floss accompanied by a the gospel. Sri Lankan evangelist scolding from a well-intentioned D.T. Niles said that evangelism is hygienist, then we have failed. And simply, “One beggar telling another so have you. beggar where he can find bread.” It’s our goal that the following We must recognize that lost pages serve you by fanning your people are unlike hungry people passion for the glory of God. And in that they are unaware of their it’s our prayer that each chapter need for spiritual bread. Our task will provide some helpful resources would be much easier if everyone for sharing the gospel with specific sensed the hunger pangs of their people groups, both as individuals sacred starvation. For that matter, and churches. We confess up front our task would be easier if we as our complete reliance upon the believers would better nurture an gospel as the exclusive power of appetite for spreading the faith God for saving sinners (Rom 1:16).

10 A Guide to Evangelism Of this we need not be ashamed. Jesus once told a parable that So, since you own a copy of likened the kingdom of heaven God’s Word, even if you had never to a great wedding banquet stumbled upon this little book, (Matt 22:1-14). After the original you already have all you need to invitations were rejected, the share your faith sufficiently. So servants went out into the main why publish this book? streets and invited everyone they We understand the perennial could find to return with them to need for the scriptural reminder the feast. The surprised guests that sharing the gospel is the joyful were welcomed at the party. duty of every believer. And we want Jesus also told a series of “lost to provide some insights from stories” in Luke 15. One story is leaders who have spent significant about a lost sheep. The second is time evangelizing different groups about a lost coin. The third is about like Mormons, Muslims, skeptics a lost son. All three stories end with and even lost persons who might a party and illustrate the fact that sit next to you in your church pew there is great rejoicing in heaven on Sunday mornings. over one sinner who repents. Take what you can that’s helpful. All of these stories end with Feel free to disregard the rest. And scenes of food, feasts, celebrations as you read, pray that God will give and parties to describe God’s you a boundless passion to see the response to people coming kingdom spread like wildfire from to saving faith. If we look at house to house and shore to shore. evangelism like dental floss, we have missed the point in a bigger way than we may care to realize. Too often, we God entrusts the Christian with the divine duty – the magnificent can be guilty of mandate – to spread the invitation to the eternal celebration of God’s being gospel redeeming love. May this resource encourage you hoarders and to hit the streets in like manner to simultaneously tell hungry beggars where they can find the bread of life. For whoever spiritually encounters Jesus in saving faith will never hunger nor thirst again malnourished. (John 6:35). Let the party begin.

Introduction 11

A Guide to evangelism

For the church Theological Incentives for Evangelism

Chad Brand

s in other areas of Christian practice, worship, prayer, preaching and counseling, evangelism needs to be undergirded by a theological Areflection on just what it is we are doing and why.T his is because, as R.B. Kuiper puts it, “Evangelism has its roots in eternity.” In this chapter, I won’t address the doctrine of salvation directly. Instead, I will address the theological issues that compel Christians to

14 A Guide to Evangelism “go.” In so doing, I will touch on him [Christ] before the foundation some of the important issues that of the world, that we should be relate to the doctrine of salvation holy and blameless before him” itself, but an examination of the (Eph 1:4). The result of this election issues related to a thorough is that a great multitude will be doctrine of salvation will have saved, a multitude of “myriads to be sought elsewhere. of myriads and thousands of thousands” (Rev 5:11). God Compels Us When we think of God’s electing The place to begin articulating purpose and its relation to a theology of evangelism is the evangelism, we should recognize love of God. There is good reason that we are about the task of that John 3:16 is such a beloved calling to salvation all of those text of Scripture. In the first whom the Lord has known to be four chapters of John’s Gospel, his from the foundation of the though the world lies in darkness world (Eph 1:3). It was this truth, and wickedness, God loves it. among others, that compelled one Charles Wesley expressed the idea of the founders of the modern poetically by asking, “Amazing mission movement, William love, how can it be, that thou my Carey, to work for seven years God shouldst die for me?” before he saw a single convert God’s love is not great because in India; he was convinced that the world is so large, but because God had people in that land who the people who dwell in it are so were his own. Election ought not bad. God calls on his people to be merely be a debate point, but a co-lovers of the world with him, central feature of our theology of and in so doing to extend the love of God to those who have not yet recognized and experienced it in a God’s love is not saving manner. We share the gospel because God loves the world. great because the Our theology of evangelism also entails the belief that God has world is so large, chosen to save a great multitude of but because the persons. Not everyone who reads this will agree on how to articulate people who dwell the doctrine of election, but we can all agree that “He chose us in in it are so bad.

For the Church 15 evangelism, even though it might results from evangelism, whether function somewhat differently in our own neighborhood or depending on how we construe around the globe, we bring the it. We need to expend more energy greatest glory to God and extend in preaching for the chosen of the his Son’s lordship. Lord than in debating the doctrine It is not the winning of souls in coffee houses. alone that does this, but also Why is it that people need to be what it entails and what follows: saved? Most foundationally, lost the bowing of knees to the Lord people do not willingly glorify and the initiation of a life of God or submit to the lordship of worship for those so saved. As Christ. The glory of God and the the Dutch pastor, statesman and lordship of Christ are the two theologian, Abraham Kuyper put consuming passions of Scripture's it, “There is not one square inch in authors. God created the world to the whole domain of our human display his glory (Ps 19), and in his existence over which Christ, who resurrection Christ was declared is sovereign over all, does not cry, with power to be both Son of God ‘Mine.’” That domain includes the and Lord of the universe (Acts lives of those who do not yet know 2:36; Rom 1:3-4). their sovereign. In evangelism, and what People Compel Us Evangelism also demands an We need to understanding of the spiritual expend more state of those whom we evangelize. In order for lost energy in people to glorify God rightly and submit to the lordship of Christ, preaching for they need forgiveness of sins. We evangelize because people are the chosen of lost in sins and their only hope is the gospel of Jesus Christ. the Lord than Their problem is doubly bad: they in debating are lost, but do not know it. The apostle Paul depicts the response the doctrine in of unbelievers at the time of the second coming as one of total coffee houses. shock. They will say, “Peace and

16 A Guide to Evangelism In order for lost that entirely clear, as do many other passages. people to glorify Humans also have a fundamental need for a conversion God rightly experience. The greatest of all evangelism texts makes this and submit to abundantly clear: the lordship Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, of Christ, they baptizing them in the name of need forgiveness the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching of sins. them to observe everything I have commanded you. And security,” before he comes like a remember, I am with you thief in the night (1 Thess 5:1-4). always, to the end of the age Lost people do not know (Matt 28:19-20). their peril. Some recognize that they have “problems,” and they We must make disciples, and may employ some self-help, or this most often happens with a “religion,” or attempt to make gospel encounter and a resultant themselves pleasing to God experience of repentance and faith. through philanthropy or moral Curiously, such a theology improvement. But the gospel of evangelism was absent from makes clear that such efforts are most of the church for much of its to no avail. history. Even with the Reformers’ Cornelius Van Til once recovery of the doctrine of illustrated such efforts by justification by faith, they often comparing them to a man made did not call for a “crisis of faith,” of water, trying to get out of a vat or a specific moment when a of water, by climbing up a ladder person became a disciple. They made of water. The analogy, catechized their children (nothing someone might say, is ridiculous wrong with that), and believed – but so is the belief that one can that the elect among their save oneself. The gospel message children (hopefully all of them) articulated by Paul in Romans would find justification. But it was 1-4 and in Ephesians 1-2 renders Anabaptists like Menno Simons

For the Church 17 and Conrad Grebel in that period preach unless they are sent? As it who first urged people to repent is written, ‘How beautiful are the and be baptized. feet of those who preach the good They were followed in the next news!’” (Rom 10:14-15). The “him” century by many Puritans, who in whom they must believe is the spent years “preparing” their “him” of the Gospel narratives, children for conversion, so that the one predicted and anticipated they might be capable of relating in the whole Old Testament, the a genuine conversion, become one explained and commented on “visible saints” and enter into in Acts and Epistles, and the one the full covenant of the church. who appears in all his radiant Then, in the next century it was glory in the book of Revelation. the revivalists Jonathan Edwards, and especially George Whitefield, The “him” in who took that to the next level and preached to large numbers, whom they calling upon them to experience the new birth. must believe is A theology of evangelism must emphasize the conversion the “him” of the experience, even if there are some in the church who do Gospel narra- not remember their moment of conversion; if they are saved tives, the one today, there was a time when their predicted and discipleship was “made.” anticipated in The Task Compels Us What is the primary means by the whole Old which the gospel is set forth? The primary means of evangelism is Testament, the Scripture. Paul asks, “How then will they call on him in whom they one explained have not believed? And how are and comment- they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how ed on in Acts are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to and Epistles.

18 A Guide to Evangelism D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones asserted, “Preaching is the We want to do greatest and highest and most our part to glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called.” He was not extend Christ’s thereby exalting the ministry to a higher vocation than, say, active lordship a butcher or a baker, but was saying that proclaiming the Word into as many is the greatest thing any of us can do. And it can be done by those lives as possible who are not ordained “clergy.” It in the time is in fact the task of all Christians (1 Pet 3:15). we have. One of the reasons we need to address this issue of the power of active lordship into as many lives God’s Word to bring lost people to as possible in the time we have. Christ is that so many in our day J. I. Packer, in addressing the seek to win people to Christianity question of how we know we are by means of entertainment and doing biblical evangelism, says by resorting only to rhetorical this: “The way to tell whether in and emotional appeals without fact you are evangelizing is not sufficient gospel and biblical to ask whether conversions are content. God has promised to use known to have resulted from your Scripture to dissect the thoughts witness. It is to ask whether you and intentions of the heart and are faithfully making known the thereby to change our lives gospel message.” What is that (Heb 4:12), not entertainment or gospel message? It is that Jesus emotional and content-less appeals. died to save sinners, shedding his blood on the cross as our sacrifice Eternity Compels Us and our substitute. What is the Finally, the doctrine that compels response to the gospel message? us to share the gospel as much and It is repentance and faith, faith as widely as we can is the return that Jesus has done all that is of our Lord. We do not know when necessary to save us. Put your he will return, of course, but it hope in him, the one who is coming could be very soon, so we want soon, remembering that after he to do our part to extend Christ’s comes, judgment follows.

For the Church 19 Preaching that Propagates

Brian Payne

had the privilege of playing football at the University of Alabama. It was an opportunity that I wouldn’t trade for anything. However, if I anyone thinks that college football is all about the excitement that takes place on autumn afternoons, they are highly naïve. Most of a college football player’s time is spent in the drudgery of offseason workouts.

20 A Guide to Evangelism trainers pulled me to the side and The Kingdom placed ice on my knee. of Wingo Five minutes into my injury, While at Alabama, my strength Wingo saw me. He said, “BP, get and conditioning coach was on the stationary bike and peddle Rich Wingo, a former linebacker at 1500 RPM’s.” I knew this was for Alabama and the Green Bay a good time to reason with him, Packers. He is the toughest human so I said, “Coach Wingo, I just being I have ever encountered, injured my knee and what you’re and I’m convinced that he must asking would be a challenge for have played without a helmet. If two healthy legs.” you survived a Wingo offseason He looked at me and said, “BP, conditioning workout, it was a get off the bike.” “Ah,” I thought, point of great satisfaction. “he does have a heart.” But at that But Wingo also knew that, no moment, he started pushing the matter how great a motivator bike and told me to follow. He he was, he needed incentives to pushed it outside, where it was encourage the players to push the sleeting. He then looked at me limits of their endurance. So, in and said, “Now maybe you can get the spring of 1989, he told us that, it to 1500 RPM’s.” I decided that at the end of winter workouts, he needed to be reasoned with he would hand out “Bama again. So I said, “Coach Wingo, Pride” workout shirts to those if I can’t peddle this hard in 72 who excelled in the offseason degrees, I will probably have conditioning program. a harder time peddling in 35 To my delight, I was one of five degrees.” He looked at me and players who earned the “Bama said, “BP, lift up your arms.” As I Pride” shirt. Possessing this did, he pulled that “Bama Pride” shirt set you apart as a devoted shirt off my back and said, “you and disciplined disciple of the don’t deserve this anymore.” At Wingo kingdom. that point, I started peddling, But then came a day of because I didn’t know what else reckoning. We were in a spring he might pull off. training scrimmage in our indoor Wingo’s method was effective. practice facility. Then the fullback He knew how to motivate and came out to block me and went for push you beyond your perceived my knee. My knee hyperextended, limits. We knew the terms of putting me in extreme pain, so the his kingdom, and we knew the

For the Church 21 consequences of not meeting those terms. But, in his kingdom, The entire our inner attitude toward him universe is God’s was irrelevant. As long as we showed outward respect to him kingdom, and and met his terms and demands, love or hate toward him was he alone is to utterly inconsequential. That is, in a nutshell, the be worshipped difference between human kingdoms and the kingdom of God. and obeyed. In the former, outward conformity, apparent submission and external and obeyed. Indeed, “The Lord allegiance and obedience are has established his throne in all that matters. But in God’s the heavens, and his kingdom kingdom, why we do what we do rules over all” (Ps 103:19). It is is as important as what we do. undeniable that the Lord reigns This is what Paul means when (Ps 93:1; 97:1; 99:1). he writes that, all that we do is to But if God’s kingdom is already be done with “sincerity of heart, universal and comprehensive, how fearing the Lord,” and “heartily, as do we make sense of Jesus’ prayer for the Lord” (Col 3:22-23). that God’s kingdom come (Lk 11:2)? It’s important, when we think Jesus is referring to something about the kingdom, that we know new – a need brought on by human what it is and how it erupts into sin, rebellion and death. the present age. Before the fall, God created a world that he described as The Kingdom of God: “very good.” Yet now, in light of a human revolt, God’s rule over God’s Reign over creation is rejected by humankind. All of Creation Consequently, we now stand under Through the Messiah God’s sentence of condemnation, Scripture begins with the guilt and death (Gen 2:16-17; Rom announcement that God, as 3:23; 6:23). creator, is the sovereign king of It’s at this juncture that the the universe. In this sense, the Old Testament makes a critical entire universe is God’s kingdom, distinction between the sovereign and he alone is to be worshipped reign of God over the entire

22 A Guide to Evangelism creation and the coming of his announced by the prophets. This saving reign, by which he makes redeemer, who is mysteriously all things right. This salvation both “Mighty God” and a plan becomes the theme of the descendent of David (Isa 9:6-7), Bible and of redemptive history. will have “dominion from sea Israel’s hope becomes a messianic to sea and from the River to redeemer who will set creation the ends of the earth” (Ps 72:8). right – to usher in the saving To say it another way, God’s reign of God. This is the kingdom plan was to glorify himself by that Jesus tells us to pray for – establishing his saving reign a kingdom that will dispel all over all of creation through the sin and rebellion and include a agency of the Davidic Messiah. redeemed people who serve as his The New Testament proclaims vice-regents over a new heaven that, in Jesus Christ, the long- and new earth. awaited kingdom has come and, In the Old Testament, this with him, the deathblow to the hope for a messianic redeemer is rule of sin, death and the devil. In the cross, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, this The New Testa- divine plan has been actualized and God’s saving reign has moved ment proclaims into the world to reconstitute, reconcile and renew a people and that, in Jesus the cosmos. Because of Christ’s Christ, the victory, the kingdom goal is accomplished. There is nothing long-awaited that can or need be added. God in Christ has overcome the kingdom has alienation that characterized fallen creation. come and, with Yet not everyone recognizes or submits to the reign of Christ. him, the death- This brings us to the means of the kingdom. The kingdom is blow to the rule brought about by God through of sin, death Christ by the Holy Spirit. Yet, as the Bible makes clear, God and the devil. employs human means.

For the Church 23 The Means of the “indicative mode.” And that great Kingdom: The declaration can be summarized by the announcement that the Preaching of the kingdom has arrived because Gospel of the Kingdom Christ Jesus, who conquered sin, The primary means by which God death and the devil through his advances the kingdom of Christ is cross and resurrection now reigns Spirit-empowered preaching. The and rules. Puritan preacher, Cotton Mather, Preaching must focus on the said that the great purpose of announcement of God’s victory preaching is to “restore the throne in Jesus Christ through his cross and dominion of God in the souls and resurrection (the indicative). of men.” This is nothing less than the The New Testament makes it gospel of the kingdom. Yet, at clear that the preacher heralds the same time, preaching must the gospel of the kingdom (e.g., Mt demand a response. Sinners do 3:2; 4:7; 9:35; Lk 8:1; 9:2). not enter this kingdom without The gospel of the kingdom is coming on God’s terms – and this: there is one God, and there those terms are repentance is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for Paul summarizes sinners (1 Tim 2:5-6). This is the message for which Paul says he the message was appointed a preacher (1 Tim this way: that 2:7). Paul, elsewhere, summarizes the message this way: that the the Savior Christ Savior Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and Jesus abolished immortality to light through the gospel (2 Tim 1:10). Again, Paul death and adds that it is for this proclaimed message he was appointed a brought life and preacher (2 Tim 1:11). immortality to Unlike many sermons today that are preached in the “imperative light through mode” (commands), the message of the kingdom is primarily in the the gospel.

24 A Guide to Evangelism and faith. This is seen with the apostle Paul, who went about Misdirected “proclaiming the kingdom” love is the (Acts 20:25). Yet, preaching of the kingdom requires a fundamental human response. Hence, Paul’s “testifying … of repentance problem with toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (20:21). lost people. Paul’s model of preaching the kingdom and the terms of the of pleasure rather than God.” All kingdom leads us to the final the vices that fall between these section of this chapter. In this two characteristics are the fruit section, we look at some of the of this misdirected love. In 3:5, final words we ever hear from the the apostle implies that he hasn’t apostle – and, not surprisingly, been primarily referring to those it’s a call to his preacher protégé, outside the church, but those Timothy, to preach. What we see who have “the appearance of is that the message is consistent godliness, but denying its power” elsewhere in the New Testament. (3:5); that is, professing believers Indeed, the passage ties our entire within the church. discussion together. Paul then applies that description to the particular case 2 Timothy 4:1-2 of false teachers in Timothy’s In 2 Timothy, the apostle gives situation. He then reminds to Timothy some last words Timothy that gospel ministry in before the apostle’s subsequent this context is costly and will martyrdom. In chapter 3, Paul lead to persecution (2 Tim 3:10- warns Timothy that in the “last 12). In fact, it will only get worse days” times will be “difficult.” (2 Tim 3:13). He proceeds to list 18 items It is at this point, many church that characterize these times. consultants in our culture The list begins and ends with would say, that Paul needs to be words expressing misdirected innovative with Timothy. Timothy love, suggesting that misdirected needs to do something novel and love is the fundamental problem relevant, or employ effective with lost people. That is, people business and marketing practices will be “lovers of self” and “lovers in order to reach a culture that is

For the Church 25 increasingly secular. of the pending consummation But Paul understands that the of the kingdom, the minister situation is hopeless without is to “preach.” Furthermore, God’s Word. It’s only this authority by placing this command first that can change lovers of self and in verse 2, Paul makes it clear pleasure to those who are lovers that this is the central mark of of God. Consequently, Paul lays Christian ministry. This is seen out the strongest defense in all also in the fact that this command of Scripture for the sufficiency to preach is amplified by the of Scripture in ministry. Because second imperative, “be ready in it is the very “God-breathed” season and out of season,” and Word from God, it is sufficient by the prepositional phrase, “with for salvation and sanctification. complete patience and teaching,” Hence, the Word is sufficient for at the end of the verse. preaching (2 Tim 4:1-2). This command is followed by Paul’s encouragement to four transformational objectives: Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 is given reprove, rebuke, exhort and teach. in the presence of God and Christ, In other words, the gospel of the with distinct reference to Jesus’ kingdom demands a response. return, kingdom and judgeship. In light of Christ’s appearing, It is in the context of this kingdom and impending hope that Paul exhorts Timothy judgment, sinners must come to “preach the Word.” In light to him on his terms, and the preacher’s central responsibility In 2 Timothy is to set forth those terms. Teaching concerns itself with 3:16-17, Paul lays “sound doctrine in accordance with the glorious gospel of the out the strongest blessed God” (1 Tim 1:10-11). Accordingly, it is by the “teaching” defense in all of the realities of the triumph of the kingdom of Christ that the of Scripture for preacher is able to reprove, rebuke and exhort. the sufficiency This brings us to the theme of Scripture of our chapter: preaching that propagates. The American in ministry. Heritage Dictionary defines

26 A Guide to Evangelism 2:1-8). Indeed, God delivers these Christ's king- converts “from the domain of dom requires darkness and transfers” them “to the kingdom of his beloved Son in heartfelt fidelity, whom” they “have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14). faithfulness Conclusion and loyalty. Earthly kings and kingdoms do not require, nor can they require, “propagate” as “to cause to their subjects to love them. In extend to a broader area or larger my case, coach Wingo found it number, spread to make widely inconsequential whether we loved known; publicize.” him or not. He merely demanded What do we extend and spread? outward allegiance. But Christ’s It’s simple: the saving reign of kingdom is not of this world (John Jesus Christ. As sinners are 18:36). This kingdom requires converted to Christ, his saving heartfelt fidelity, faithfulness reign spreads, accomplishing the and loyalty because Christ is our divine purpose to spread his reign king by virtue of creation and his “from sea to sea … to the ends of sufferings, death and resurrection the earth” (Ps 72:8). Furthermore, on behalf of sinners. Indeed, as Jesus’ dominion is extended to Jesus “gave himself for our sins the ends of the earth, the divine to deliver us from the present evil purpose of having the whole earth age, according to the will of our filled with God’s glory is achieved. God and Father” (Gal 1:4). Hence, This is God’s kingdom plan: to he is worthy of all glory, honor, glorify himself by establishing his praise, thanksgiving and love. reign over all of creation through The only message that will his Messiah. provoke that kind of heartfelt This occurs in the present age response is the message of the as sinners are converted to Jesus kingdom. As the preacher proclaims and his rule. In so doing, God the gospel of the kingdom and the “qualifies” these converts (Col 1:12) terms of that kingdom – repentance to “share in the inheritance” of the and faith – the saving reign of LORD’s anointed, who through Christ is propagated. his victory is given the “ends of the earth” as his possession (Ps

For the Church 27 Evangelism and Church Discipline

Denny Burk

number of years ago, I was teaching a Bible study at a large church. After finishing my lesson, a woman approached me in Atears. She wanted to know how she could possibly be a faithful wife to a husband who was not being faithful to her. Her husband was a successful businessman and claimed to be a Christian, but he was not walking with the Lord. Even though I was a guest teacher, I

28 A Guide to Evangelism decided that I would try to reach didn’t necessarily go together for out to this wayward husband and this guy. He considered himself see if I could help reconcile these saved even though he knew two who seemed on the precipice that he was unrepentant of the of divorce. destruction he was heaping on We met at a coffee shop for our his wife and children. first meeting. I asked him what After confronting him over a was going on and why his wife series of meetings, he agreed that was so unhappy. He admitted he needed to change his ways in to drinking pretty heavily order to do right by the Lord and and to staying out late in bars his family. I recommended some almost every weeknight. He also concrete steps of repentance, and confessed that flirting with other he pledged to carry them out. women was a regular feature of But he never really did. He never his nightly carousing. I suspect repented. Even after I brought that he was being unfaithful to his another brother from our church wife – although I never had any along to confront him, he never proof, there was enough smoke changed his ways. One night he to suggest a fire. ended up passed-out drunk in He also claimed to be a his car, having run into the tree Christian. I confronted him on this in his neighbor’s yard. His wife point and told him that his life did had to pull him out of the car and not match his confession and that drag him into the house before the the Bible offers no assurance to neighbors woke up. such people (1 John 2:4-6). I was After that incident, I decided as candid with the guy as I knew we had done all we could do. Even how to be. I warned him that he though it grieved me to admit it, wasn’t just in danger of losing his it was past time for the church family. He was in danger of losing to get involved. So I took the his soul. matter to one of the pastors of He had a distorted view of the church and laid out the whole what the Christian life was all situation. I told the pastor, “It is about. He believed that a person time for the church to intervene could make a profession of faith in discipline.” The pastor could and then live in any way he or not respond immediately, but she pleased while still having wanted more time to think about assurance of salvation. Following next steps. When the pastor finally Christ and being saved by Christ called me back, I couldn’t believe

For the Church 29 the words that came out of his entire process of confrontation mouth about the possibility of is called discipline. church discipline. He said: “We What does church discipline know what the Bible says, but we have to do with evangelism? Well, just can’t do that.” everything. Have you ever heard a skeptic say that he could never The Necessity become a Christian or go to church of Discipline because “All those people are just Is it really an option for Christians a bunch of hypocrites.” When to look at what the Bible teaches churches fail to do redemptive about discipline and conclude, church discipline, that criticism “We just can’t do that?” If you turns out to be right. Discipline were to survey the landscape of is a means by which churches evangelical churches in America encourage holiness among their today, by and large, you would membership. It is also a means find that most churches do, in fact, by which churches distinguish act as if discipline is optional. themselves from the world. In fact, so few churches practice Christians are to be lights in the discipline anymore that many midst of darkness. But where church members don’t even know discipline fails, churches become what it is. The idea of removing darkness in the midst of darkness. a member from fellowship seems unloving and foreign. It seems out of place in the midst of a Christians are to culture that prizes tolerance and be lights in the individual freedom. Yet the New Testament teaches that discipline midst of dark- is by no means optional; it’s a distinguishing mark of faithful ness. But where churches everywhere. The New Testament’s teaching discipline fails, is unambiguous. There comes a time when the church must churches become confront unrepentant sinners darkness in and eventually remove them from membership. This removal from the midst of membership is what theologians call “excommunication.” The darkness.

30 A Guide to Evangelism For this reason, both discipline and excommunication are The only sin essential ingredients both for the that churches church and for its wider witness to the community. discipline for is Two Key Texts unrepentance. How is church discipline to be carried out in the life of the local my Father in heaven. For where church? There are two primary two or three are gathered in my passages in the New Testament name, there am I among them.” that define the practice of church discipline: Matthew 18:15-20 and There is a process that Jesus 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. gives us in this passage. When someone sins against you, you Matthew 18:15-20 don’t go public with it. You go “If your brother sins against private with it. You confront the you, go and tell him his fault, person in private and invite him between you and him alone. or her to repent. If the person If he listens to you, you does not respond, then you take have gained your brother. But someone else with you to invite if he does not listen, take him or her to repent. If the person one or two others along with doesn’t respond to the entreaty you, that every charge may be of witnesses, then you tell the established by the evidence of whole church, which then invites two or three witnesses. If he the sinner to repent. If the person refuses to listen to them, tell it doesn’t respond to the church, to the church. And if he refuses then Jesus commands the whole to listen even to the church, let church to treat the unrepentant him be to you as a Gentile and a sinner as a “Gentile and a tax- tax collector. Truly, I say to gatherer,” which is Jesus’ way of you, whatever you bind on earth saying, “Treat the unrepentant like shall be bound in heaven, and an unbeliever, and excommunicate whatever you loose on earth him or her from the fellowship.” shall be loosed in heaven. Again Notice that the only sin I say to you, if two of you agree that churches discipline for is on earth about anything they unrepentance. At any stage in ask, it will be done for them by the process outlined above, this

For the Church 31 discipline process can end if the his spirit may be saved in the person sinning would simply day of the Lord. “listen” and repent. If that sinner But now I am writing to repents, then there is forgiveness you not to associate with and full restoration to fellowship. anyone who bears the name of How many times do we forgive brother if he is guilty of sexual such sinners who repent? In the immorality or greed, or is an very next passage, Jesus says that idolater, reviler, drunkard, or we must forgive them seventy swindler — not even to eat with times seven (Matt 18:22). Our such a one. forgiveness is unlimited, just like Jesus’ is to us. Notice that, in this passage, In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul deals Paul has no word of rebuke at all with a man in the Corinthian for the two people committing church who is having an affair incest. His entire rebuke is against with his step mother. the church for failing to deal with the sinning members: “You have 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 11 become arrogant, and have not It is actually reported that mourned instead, in order that the there is sexual immorality one who had done this deed might among you, and of a kind that be removed from your midst” (v. is not tolerated even among 2). Paul has righteous indignation pagans, for a man has his about this situation, but he’s father’s wife. And you are mainly angry at the church. Why? arrogant! Ought you not rather Because it is their responsibility to mourn? Let him who has under Christ to preserve the done this be removed from purity of the church. Where sin among you. For though absent is not dealt with, it spreads (1 Cor in body, I am present in spirit; 5:6-7). So the unrepentant must be and as if present, I have already removed in order to protect the pronounced judgment on the spiritual integrity of the church. one who did such a thing. When When a church refuses to remove, you are assembled in the name it is being “arrogant” and acting of the Lord Jesus and my spirit like it knows better how to run the is present, with the power of church than Christ does. our Lord Jesus, you are to And so we too are arrogant if deliver this man to Satan for the we refuse to discipline as Christ destruction of the flesh, so that has commanded us to discipline.

32 A Guide to Evangelism many unbelievers like to blame Failing to their unbelief on the fact that discipline “All those church people are just a bunch of hypocrites. They’re compromises no different than anybody else.” When churches refuse to the witness of discipline, those unbelievers are right. And the very people that the church. we seek to persuade to be saved become unpersuadable because of We don’t need to be trigger- the carnality of those who claim happy about excommunicating to be Christians. God commands members; it ought to grieve us his people to be holy just as he is deeply whenever unrepentant sin holy (1 Pet 1:15-16). leads to excommunication. But we Sinners ought to be able to also must not shrink back when get a glimpse of what God is like the occasion requires. If a member by looking at Christians. When won’t repent, we must obey Christ. a community fails to discipline, that holiness is compromised and What’s at Stake? so, therefore, is its witness. What happens when we fail to discipline? Christ’s rule in our churches is threatened if we don’t obey him in this. When we don’t discipline, eventually the church membership becomes made of believers and unbelievers. A church business meeting then becomes not “Thy will be done” but “my will be done.” When Christ does not rule in the hearts of all the members, then it should be no surprise that carnality will abound. But failing to discipline also has another consequence. It compromises the witness of the church. As I mentioned earlier,

For the Church 33 A Witnessing Community

Jim Stitzinger

ffective evangelism is measured not by individual responses, but by the clarity and accuracy of the message proclaimed. EWhether in a large gathering or from one soul to another, a church functioning at maximum evangelistic capacity will saturate its areas of influence with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If your church ceased to exist, what evangelistic impact would be lost?

34 A Guide to Evangelism Christ, our proclamation of the Exhorting the gospel must come with boldness. church to We look for points of intersection with the unbelieving world, not evangelize points of unification. As the church of Jesus Christ, our role is to carry should be as the gospel so that salt and light collide with decay and darkness. necessary as If the church is to function as the gospel witness to the nations, exhorting a it must be vocal on an individual newborn to cry; level. The church that is most effective in spreading the light it should take of the gospel will be most active in the shadows, faithfully and effort to silence. boldly proclaiming the gospel to every unbeliever its members Evangelism should be know. When believers are faithful instinctive to the church, a to evangelize in the routine of reflex that weaves its way in and life, they more naturally gather through everything else it does together in evangelistic efforts together. Exhorting the church to that flow beyond their immediate evangelize should be as necessary context and into the world. as exhorting a newborn to cry; it The gauge of a church’s should take effort to silence. evangelistic effectiveness is Far too often, the church obedience on an individual functions as sheep in wolves level. The gospel commission is clothing, hiding its identity a call for individual disciples and hoping to avoid detection. to engage individual sinners. Scripture, however, knows The response of sinners is nothing of an incognito Christian. the work of the Spirit, not the Paul rather, calls believers result of our actions. Instead ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor of gauging effectiveness by the 5:20). An ambassador speaks the response, gauge it by faithfulness message they were given with the to Christ’s commission and authority and conviction of the accuracy of the message. one who sends them. So, what are the hallmarks As the church, the bride of of a church functioning at

For the Church 35 it to ourselves and even in role Instead of gaug- play with other believers. Seldom ing effectiveness will you hold your Bible in hand when an evangelistic opportunity by the response, presents itself. While a memorized gospel presentation is not a gauge it by prerequisite for evangelism, it will allow you to present the gospel faithfulness with clarity and conviction. If you're a pastor, set a goal for to Christ’s the entire church to commit the commission and gospel to memory. No matter how young or advanced in years, every accuracy with believer must have the gospel message spring-loaded, ready the message. to give at any moment. A church that propagates is one that takes maximum evangelistic capacity? deliberate steps to keep the saving How can the church individually gospel message on the forefront and collectively raise its of each believer’s mind. evangelistic fervor? Here are a few encouragements for both church 2. Recruit a leaders and members. Though not prayer team exhaustive, they will hopefully The hard work of evangelism help raise the voice for Christ- begins on our knees, petitioning exalting, gospel-proclaiming God to go before us in the hearts evangelism in the local church. of those we engage with the gospel. No amount of human 1. Memorize the gospel effort can save someone. So, in If you’re saved, you know humility and dependency, we enough of the gospel to present approach the throne of God with it to someone else. However, our prayers of intercession. This it takes work to be clear and follows the pattern of Paul, who understandable. Every believer prays earnestly for his mission should commit to memory the field when he says, “Brothers, my basic components of the gospel. heart’s desire and prayer to God for With those elements memorized, them is that they may be saved.” we should work daily to recite Not only does this step add

36 A Guide to Evangelism When you pray, pray for

1. God to draw unbelievers to salvation. In John 6:44, Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him;”

2. The Spirit to accelerate the work of conviction. Jesus said, about the Spirit’s ministry, that “when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8);

3. God to reveal opportunities. We can follow Paul, who asked the Colossian church to “pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ” (Col 4:3); and

4. God to fill you with bold words. Again, Paul asked the Ephesian church to pray “also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph 6:19-20).

For the Church 37 volume to our prayers as a church, it also creates accountability to keep God, in his one another in perpetual motion sovereign grace, toward specific unbelievers. When we pray for specific unbelievers, chose to place as individuals and as groups, we grow increasingly aware of the you in the opportunities Christ is giving to proclaim his name. context of those 3. Live holy particular The most clear and accurate gospel presentation is muted unbelievers. if unbelievers identify you by This is your patterns of sin (anger, lust, gossip, laziness) instead of patterns of mission field. righteousness (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, to place you in the context of those faithfulness, gentleness, self- particular unbelievers. Don’t control). In humility, repent throw away the opportunity to when you sin, and use even your proclaim his saving message. This failures to magnify God’s mercy. is your mission field. Let your holiness and repentance You may find yourself in a distinguish you from the world. season of life where you’re The consistent example of a insulated from the unbelieving changed life is compelling proof world (living at a Christian of salvation. college, at home with a believing family). Or, perhaps you have 4. Engage your drifted toward the relationships personal mission field of least resistance, surrounding As you read this today, who are yourself with like-minded the unbelievers you’re engaging Christians. If this is true for you, with the gospel? It’s not enough remember the example of Christ, to talk about them, you must who was always interacting with talk with them, using the natural unbelievers (Luke 7:34; John 4:7- points of connection in your life to 30), and then take the first step in advance the gospel conversation. the right direction. God, in his sovereign grace, chose Challenge yourself and other

38 A Guide to Evangelism Cultivate gospel instincts

Strategically pursue your mission field. Write out the names of three people who have yet to hear the gospel from you. Take a step to interact with them. Call them, email them or stop by their work and initiate some time with them. Pray for them every day and engage them today.

believers to identify those to Christian love is vital to pursue with the gospel. At the same evangelism because it makes the time, constantly work to create new love of Christ visible for the world networks that open up new mission to see. The world is watching fields for gospel ministry. and must see the transforming power of the gospel on display 5. Relentlessly love other believers The hard work of evangelism Christian love is carried out most vividly when believers speak and act is vital to with Christ-exalting love for one another. Jesus says, “A new evangelism commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have because it makes loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will the love of Christ know that you are my disciples, visible for the if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). world to see.

For the Church 39 in our lives. This was at the heart and others will follow. of Paul’s challenge to Philemon in extending forgiveness to 7. Celebrate salvation Onesimus (Phlm 1:8-10). Never lose sight of the miracle The unbelieving world must that happens in new birth. If see the Holy Spirit enabling heaven explodes in celebration Christians to serve one another, in response to the new birth, so encourage one another, endure should we. One way to do this hardship, refuse gossip, speak is to share testimonies often. the truth in love and embrace We can never hear enough of suffering. To what extent are the the work Christ has done in “one anothers” made visible in drawing someone to salvation. your relationships with other In your church, incorporate the believers? Does your love for other recounting of salvation wherever believers give credibility to your possible. Doing so reminds us gospel presentation? 6. Lead by example The unbelieving No matter your age, level of responsibility or visibility world must see within the church, you can lead by example. The heart of Paul’s the Holy Spirit encouragement to Timothy is to lead by example despite his youth enabling Chris- (1 Tim 4:12). Some of the greatest tians to serve one evangelists are those whose names we won’t remember, but another, encour- were relentlessly faithful to tell others about Jesus. age one another, Those who lead by example in evangelism encourage others to endure hardship, fight the temptation to be lazy and complacent. Tell people about refuse gossip, opportunities God has given you speak the truth to share the gospel and encourage others to share their stories as in love and em- well. Don’t wait for someone else to lead by example, take initiative brace suffering.

40 A Guide to Evangelism added, these simple steps will If heaven develop a stronger evangelistic explodes in culture in your local church. Evangelism isn’t just something celebration in we do, it’s part of who we are. It’s not a question of ability response to or adequacy, it’s a question of obedience to Christ. the new birth, A church that loves Christ is a church that will not be stopped so should we. in its proclamation of the gospel and its demonstration of love for of the many ways the gospel Christ. As ambassadors of Christ penetrates hearts and how God and the gospel, we can engage this chooses to use saved sinners in world boldly and look forward that process. to the work Christ will do in and through us, for his glory. 8. Maximize evangelistic gatherings Certain church gatherings lend themselves to evangelistic purposes with greater clarity than others. For example, hold a Good Friday service in a local park or community center. In the weeks leading up to the evening, saturate the surrounding community with invitations, then maximize the service by presenting the gospel clearly. The same can be done with baptism. Hold a baptism service in a public setting and invite unbelieving family, friends and those you find along the way to listen to the testimonies of new believers. Though many more could be

For the Church 41

A Guide to evangelism

for the christian Evangelism to the Next Generation

Troy W. Temple

hat’s the greatest need for every young person in the world today?” That question has a ton of correct answers. Young “Wpeople need help. They need healing. They need acceptance. They need safety. They need their parents. They need to be led. I could fill pages with answers that would overwhelm you and just might leave you believing that it’s a hopeless venture. And you would be right.

44 A Guide to Evangelism The Need begins with God as we call out to After more than two decades of him in prayer. serving in youth ministry, I am Better methods and more overwhelmed more today than extensive research are not at any point in my brief history. the way to introduce the next The challenges that young people generation to the good shepherd. have faced in recent years have We’ve produced methods and demonstrated that the enemy is research. The way to reach the more serious about the battle than next generation is for God to send the church. So let me answer the people into the fields with a sense question: the greatest need for of urgency to reach them with every young person in the world the gospel. today is the need to know Jesus. In Matthew 9:36, Jesus sees Technology: A Symptom the crowd of people, “harassed of a Deeper Issue and helpless” like sheep without As I think about some of the a shepherd. That’s what this current challenges facing young generation of adolescents needs people – and the challenges they more than anything, a shepherd. will face in the future – I can’t Jesus then exposes the real help but think of technology. The problem: a lack of laborers. His next generation sees technology as solution to the problem is for the default mode for everything it his people to “pray earnestly to does: music, money, relationships the Lord of the harvest to send and recreation. They use it to out laborers into his harvest.” connect with people, and they Reaching anyone with the gospel develop those relationships by exchanging the content of their lives. This has given way to habits The greatest that can become toxic. Technology is not the issue, need for every though. Instead, the way today's youth use technology points to young person in a deeper, more foundational issue. It points to longings for the world today relationships, relevance and is the need to meaning. These longings exist in every person in every generation, know Jesus. and this generation of youth has

For the Christian 45 chosen technology as its voice, doubt that my church wanted to its language, its environment share the gospel with my city. The and the means of fulfilling these gospel message began with the heart cries. redemptive story of the cross and the empty tomb, but it came with Authentic expectations that people change Relationships their lifestyle to fit into the church This generation of youth sees culture. In short, to be a Christian through facades. When a person meant to show up at the church reaches about 12 years old, he and look like a Christian, then or she develops a new part of avoid people who didn’t look like anatomy, something I call a you. But that’s not even close to bologna detector. Whatever you what the gospel is. The gospel isn’t call it, the next generation has an merely a set of “do’s” and “don’ts” ability to detect a phony. Young or a list of doctrines. The gospel is people have been trained to do so summed up in a person and what from an early age because they’ve he did to rescue us. It revolves watched church-going adults say around an authentic relationship one thing and do a completely with Jesus Christ. different thing. The next generation The church has focused on a longs for people to be honest gospel presentation when the about the gospel and to live the next generation wants a gospel message that they proclaim by conversation. Too many Christians demonstrating a genuine concern have allowed the gospel to be for them as people. something they talk about once This kind of authenticity is a week instead of something that so attractive to them because has astonished them. People talk it’s how Jesus lived. Jesus knew about what astonishes them. his message, and cared enough Tragically, what astonishes the about people that he dined with next generation is how Christians sinners and tax collectors often can live their Christian lives in (Matt 9:10). This generation of such mundane ways. youth wants to see an authentic In Matthew 14, Jesus feeds gospel lived out. more than 5,000 people with little I grew up in Charlotte, N.C., more than a fast food meal, and where I was a member of a then follows that up by walking conservative, fundamentalist, on water. But the disciples show Baptist church. There was no almost no signs of astonishment.

46 A Guide to Evangelism centered life and to forging genuine As Christians, relationships with the lost. we’ve let the Relevant Application astonishing sto- I’m not sure where I first heard this, but it’s true: nothing changes ry of the gospel lives like seeing lives changed. The next generation is always become a sub- interested in what really works; false claims are wasted on them. title to a life They've seen fantastic claims on infomercials for the last marked by doing decade, and they’ve bought the church things. products. What attracts them to such products is the personal testimony from people who have Then, Jesus gets into the boat and seen it work. stops the storm. Finally, even the The next generation is hungry disciples can’t miss what they’ve for a faith that "works," with seen. Matthew records that “those relevant application to their lives. in the boat worshipped him, But we haven’t taken the time to saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of understand the issues that young God’” (Matt 14:33). people are struggling to overcome. As Christians, we’ve let the Relevant application does not astonishing story of the gospel require that we find an answer become a subtitle to a life marked for every felt need, it means that by doing church things. We need we are prepared to point the next to recapture the ability to be generation to the truth found in astonished at Jesus and all he God’s Word. The Bible addresses has done. The next generation their very real needs. needs to see us live our lives in For example, the church can true astonishment over the gospel. serve the next generation by True joy in Christ is a compelling showing them all that the Bible witness to the next generation. has to say about relationships, If we truly desire to propagate which are so important to them. the gospel to the next generation, We can show young people that there must be a new commitment relational conflict is caused by to living an authentic gospel- “passions at war within” them (Jas

For the Christian 47 4:1). Likewise, we can show them that the next generation can that healthy relationships result apply every day, and it opens from service and sacrifice, and from the door to introduce them to a desire to “outdo one another in the good shepherd. showing honor” (Rom 12:10). The next generation will These may be hard truths to continue to grapple with some hear, but the next generation of the most difficult issues our will ultimately receive relevant culture has ever seen, and they truth that is not sugar-coated, must know that the Bible speaks but honest. In one instance, to all of those issues. We make a relationships have conflict grave error when we attempt to because people are selfish. In explain the hard questions of life the other instance, relationships by saying “because the Bible says are enriched when we serve one so.” Instead, we should explain the another. This is relevant truth way that God’s Word is relevant to the lives of young people. The next gen- Meaningful Purpose During the past three decades, eration will younger generations have increasingly migrated from pure continue to consumeristic agendas to cause- oriented pursuits. Even the grapple with simplest decisions are measured some of the most by the possible impact on the immediate and global community. difficult issues Life, for the next generation, must not only make sense; it must make our culture has a difference. The next generation is longing and intentionally searching ever seen, and for purpose. As we share the message of they must know the gospel with today's youth, they will continue to ask, “what that the Bible difference does it make?” And they speaks to all of should. We all should. The gospel will always change the way we those issues. look at the world and respond

48 A Guide to Evangelism to the brokenness that sin has purpose. Your primary purpose, inflicted on billions. So we can tell if you’re a Christian, is to “love the next generation that the gospel the Lord with all your heart commands our faithful attention and with all your soul and with toward those who hurt and need. all your mind.” If that is a true Attending the needs of others is reality in our lives as Christ the meaningful purpose of the followers, then we will “love [our] gospel. The activity of the gospel- neighbors as [ourselves].” centered life will carry out what The gospel displays meaningful Christ has instructed us to do. purpose most vividly in Christ’s Beginning with the words of atoning sacrifice.T he greatest Jesus in Matthew 25, we hear purpose that the next generation Jesus place a value on serving the could ever have is believing hungry, the poor, the sick and the that message and loving their imprisoned in the body of Christ. neighbors by sharing it with them. When we attend to the needs of The next generation just needs to these brothers and sisters, we know that the gospel offers such have served Jesus himself. The a purpose. gospel expects that we care for the marginalized. Jesus told the young Conclusion successful professional in Mark Do you truly want to reach the 10:21 to “go, sell all that you have next generation with the gospel? and give to the poor,” but he went Live a life that is authentically away “sorrowful” because he loved gospel-centered. Then you will his possessions. Jesus expected develop genuine relationships that his followers would find ways with those who need to meet to care for the poor and sick. the good shepherd. Lead them to This priority continues in the relevant truth of God’s Word James 1:27, where we read that, that meets the real needs that if our faith is ever to be clean the next generation faces. Derive and with a pure heart, then we your meaningful purpose from the are to care for the afflicted and gospel, demonstrating the same remain untainted by the world. value for others that Jesus did. The meaningful purpose that this The next generation is poised generation seeks is set to task by to receive the good news. the gospel. Matthew 22:37-40 presents a complete picture of meaningful

For the Christian 49 Evangelism to Nominal Christians

Owen Strachan

isruption is not fun. You know the scene: you’re working, trying your best to plug Dinto a task, whether a paper, a sermon or a document for work, and your phone buzzes. Or your email inbox signals the arrival of a new message. Or your friend stops by, and you’re glad to see him, but he doesn’t realize that your leg is uncontrollably tapping not because you're

50 A Guide to Evangelism invested in the conversation, but practice of “creative disruption” because you have 13 tasks to do predates Christensen’s insight. It in the next two hours. seems like a new concept, but it’s But there’s another kind of actually an old one. disruption that’s good for us. Two thousand years old, in fact. The term “disruption” comes from And it comes not from the the business world. Professor marketplace of commerce, but Clayton Christensen of Harvard the mind of Christ. Business School has popularized the term “disruptive innovation” Jesus Gets Disruptive or “creative disruption,” as it’s In Matthew 13:1-9, Jesus tells often called. He claims business a startling story, the parable of leaders need to see what areas the soils. This is no disquisition of their company need shaking on conservation of the earth, up. Corporations and the people however. It’s a spiritual shakeup, who work in them can fall into one announcing that not all who patterns of ease and complacency. seem to have faith will, in the end, Christensen advocates that be saved: leaders regularly “disrupt” the business by trimming what is That same day Jesus went out unnecessary and sharpening what of the house and sat beside the is profitable. sea. And great crowds gathered The church is not a business. about him, so that he got into It’s a living, breathing, spiritual a boat and sat down. And the organism, the body of Christ. whole crowd stood on the But here’s the thing: I think the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as The church is not he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came a business. It’s a and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, living, breathing, where they did not have much spiritual soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no organism, the depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And body of Christ. since they had no root, they

For the Christian 51 withered away. Other seeds fell together until the harvest, and among thorns, and the thorns at harvest time I will tell the grew up and choked them. reapers, Gather the weeds first Other seeds fell on good soil and bind them in bundles to be and produced grain, some a burned, but gather the wheat hundredfold, some sixty, some into my barn.’” thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” There is much to unpack in each of these parables. For our Just a few verses later, Jesus purposes, we note a common delivers a second, equally thread between the two, that not stunning parable. In Matthew all who seem to be Christians are 13:24-30, Christ tells the parable in fact saved. In the first parable, of the wheat and the tares: three out of the four examples of “seed” show themselves, He [Jesus] put another parable ultimately, to be unbelievers. before them, saying, “The The birds almost immediately kingdom of heaven may be devour the first kind of seed; the compared to a man who sowed sun scorches the second kind good seed in his field, but after an initial burst; the thorns while his men were sleeping, choke the third kind after a his enemy came and sowed period. Christ’s examples show weeds among the wheat and us that as we preach the gospel, went away. So when the plants we will encounter people who came up and bore grain, then initially profess faith but who the weeds appeared also. And ultimately show themselves to the servants of the master of be unconverted. the house came and said to him, Jesus underscores this same ‘Master, did you not sow good idea in the second parable. The seed in your field? How then weeds and wheat grow together does it have weeds?’ He said for a long while. At the end of life, to them, ‘An enemy has done it becomes apparent that some this.’ So the servants said to people who consider themselves him, ‘Then do you want us to “wheat” – true believers – are in go and gather them?’ But he fact unbelievers. They never truly said, ‘No, lest in gathering the repented of their sin and believed weeds you root up the wheat in Jesus Christ as their Savior. It along with them. Let both grow is these people who will be cast

52 A Guide to Evangelism in order to draw new members. Nominal They shifted into a model of Christianity church in which congregants were treated as consumers, with develops when the church itself providing them the services or experiences they the gospel is wanted. In some cases, these assemblies did not emphasize a dumbed down transformed life as a necessary mark of ongoing membership. It and made was enough to make an initial profession of faith; church “uncostly.” discipline was largely lost as a means of promoting the gospel. away from the presence of Christ These trends resulted in and banished to eternal darkness churches with far more people on when he returns. the rolls than actually belonged. In both parables, we encounter Beyond this, many people came a problem we’re aware of but may to think of themselves as saved not be able to name: “nominal” who showed little or no spiritual Christianity, or Christianity in fruit (Matt 9:27). Because of this, name only (not reality). This nominal Christianity became a develops when the gospel is troublesome part – a sizeable part dumbed down and made “uncostly,” – of many local churches. when the church does not call for This problem persists in a transformed life as evidence of our day. salvation and when congregations do not practice church discipline Disrupting the to guard the gospel. If this sounds Comforted like a foreboding but far-off What is the secret to solving this problem, it's not. widespread challenge to true It’s as near as your local church. Christianity? Well, there’s no magic Nominal Christianity became bullet. Pastors and concerned a particular challenge in members need to pray to the Lord. the twentieth century. Many They need to ask him to send evangelical churches believed that revival to their churches in order they needed to embrace business that people who have deceived practices in congregational life themselves might be won to Christ.

For the Christian 53 God’s grace alone can solve speak soft words to hard- this problem. hearted people, those who sit This does not mean, however, in our pews each week but that pastors are helpless. God’s resist the transformation of the grace is always an empowering gospel. We cannot abide faith in grace, as texts like Romans 6:6 name only. We cannot content show us. Sin has been crucified ourselves with a thirty-minute with Christ, and we possess all we message, a few songs and a need for life and godliness, as 2 handshake at the door. Instead, Peter 1:3 makes clear. What should as pastors and church leaders, gospel-loving Christians do, then, we see ourselves as disruptors to address nominal Christianity, of a sleeping church. and to show love to those who We are not cruel in this regard; profess faith but do not evidence it? we’re not hearkening back to In answering this, the concept summer camp as a kid, pulling of “creative disruption” comes into pranks on sleeping friends. No, play. Actually, for our purposes, out of love for people who are we need “Christic disruption,” or in eternal jeopardy, we preach “gospel disruption.” What does the gospel as a summons to this mean? repentant faith. It means that pastors cannot As with John to the church in Sardis, we boldly say this:

Pastors cannot Wake up, and strengthen speak soft words what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your to hard-hearted works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what people, those you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not who sit in our wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what pews each week hour I will come against you but resist the (Rev 3:2-3). transformation How can we appropriately mimic John in calling professing of the gospel. believers to robust faith? Here are

54 A Guide to Evangelism some practical ways we can carry leadership that you will not be out this duty of love: swayed by opposition, which you should expect if you challenge 1. Preach true Christianity from Satan on turf he’s claimed; the pulpit. Identify the marks of grace and the fruit of the Spirit 6. Surprise those you think may be (Gal 5:22-23); nominal Christians by repenting when you’re wrong. Many people 2. Call people to embrace true have rarely seen genuine and Christianity. Make clear that the full-throated contrition over sin. duty to repent and believe is an Seeing it afresh – or for the first immanent one – we are not to put time – will speak a stronger word off faith and repentance; than you might think;

3. Make clear that grace is not 7. Don’t assume that you know “cheap,” but “costly,” as Dietrich the hearts of fellow sinners as Bonhoeffer famously said. True God does. Gather as much data faith, in other words, does not ask, as you can, pray for discernment, “What is the minimum I can do but be careful to conclude, and to to be saved?” Rather, it confesses say, that someone is for certain “You have the words of life” to not a Christian; Christ, necessitating that we reject the world and embrace the 8. Pray for God to work among Messiah (John 6:68); your people. Remember Psalm 127:1, which reads, “Unless 4. Love your people. If you only the Lord builds the house, those call them to faith, but do not who build it labor in vain;” make a serious effort to care for them and demonstrate that you 9. Constantly keep in mind that have the utmost care for their you cannot rescue nominal souls, expect that they will tune Christians, but the Lord can; and you out. On the other hand, you may well see the Lord soften their 10. Practice church discipline hearts through a persistent, kind, according to texts like Matthew gospel-saturated witness; 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 5-6, knowing as you do so that just as 5. Lead well and boldly. Show gospel preaching promotes Christ, by courageous, convictional so does guarding the gospel through

For the Christian 55 the preservation of a healthy church believers who would not that shows the world the reality of wholeheartedly commit to the spiritual transformation (though work of God. This was due in part not perfection). to the fact that many people had joined the church as members Conclusion from infancy yet had never fully The problem of nominalism owned the faith. For this reason, is far more difficult in nature Edwards constantly exercised a than are the daily interruptions ministry of gospel disruption, an to our workflow. This is an effort that led both to the fires of ancient quagmire, as Christ’s revival and to his own firing. Some own parables shows. It is not a embraced his call to repentance; challenge faced only by unfaithful others steeled their hearts against or subpar pastors and churches. it and fought him. It is a burden that every shepherd We must remember examples and every assembly will bear at like this. We must also call to some point and in some fashion. mind Edwards’s world-shaking This was true of America’s preaching, with its focus on the best-known shepherd, the perils of sin (as seen in the famous pastor-theologian Jonathan sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of Edwards. Edwards was a peerless an Angry God”) and the glories preacher, yet he struggled almost of true and saving faith. As we continually with professing pursue our own ministries of capitalize disruption, let’s hold Nominalism is out what Edwards calls the “true sense” of the things of God, a burden that knowing as we do that only he can make fellow sinners taste it. As he every shepherd put it in his majestic sermon, “A Divine and Supernatural Light,” and every saving faith is driven by

assembly will A true sense of the divine and superlative excellency of the bear at some things of religion; a real sense point and in of the excellency of God, and Jesus Christ, and of the work some fashion. of redemption, and the ways

56 A Guide to Evangelism and works of God revealed in not only a rational belief that the gospel. There is a divine God is holy, and that holiness and superlative glory in these is a good thing; but there is things; an excellency that is a sense of the loveliness of of a vastly higher kind, and God’s holiness. There is not more sublime nature, than in only a speculatively judging other things; a glory greatly that God is gracious, but a distinguishing them from all sense how amiable God is upon that is earthly and temporal. He that account; or a sense of the that is spiritually enlightened beauty of this divine attribute. truly apprehends and sees it, or has a sense of it. He doesn’t May we sense this beauty merely rationally believe that afresh today, and propagate it God is glorious, but he has in our churches for the salvation a sense of the gloriousness of souls and the glory of of God in his heart. There is almighty God.

Resources

Mike McKinley, Am I Really a Christian? (Crossway/9Marks, 2011).

Owen Strachan and Douglas Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity (part of the five-volume Essential Edwards Collection, Moody, 2010).

Mark Dever, The Church: The Gospel Made Visible (Lifeway, 2012).

John Piper, Finally Alive (Christian Focus, 2009).

For the Christian 57 Evangelism to World Religions

Travis Kerns

magine the following situation. You’re talking to a group of people in a coffee shop, and the issue of religion comes up. Having just Imet them, you don’t know the religious beliefs of the others around you, so you bring up the teachings of Jesus. You make the claim that the teachings of Jesus are worthy of consideration and tell those gathered around the table that Jesus has changed your life, both now

58 A Guide to Evangelism and forever. Someone at the table and leave you helpless, hopeless asks why Jesus is so important, and drained. so you tell him that Jesus claimed Accusations of intolerance, to be God’s Son. unfairness and bigotry – and You go on to explain that the thought processes leading only through faith in Jesus can to those proclamations – are a person’s sins be forgiven and, common whenever Christians immediately, the conversation talk about Jesus as the only way gets heated. One person to God. Christians often don’t exclaims, “I’m not a sinner.” know how to respond to such Another says, “You’re not God. accusations, and may even wonder You can’t tell me how to live.” if the objectors, like those in the A third person responds, “Just conversation above, are right. because a person doesn’t know Maybe people in other religions Jesus doesn’t make him bad. really are okay. Maybe they really There are good people in other don’t need Jesus. Maybe God has religions. They don’t need Jesus; provided a way for members of they’ve got their own way to other religions to be saved. After God. Don’t be so one-sided and all, it’s not fair that a person needs intolerant. Leave them alone.” to hear about and know Jesus just Their reactions surprise you to get into heaven, right? In order to think through these issues rightly, we must answer Accusations of three specific questions. First, why intolerance, should Christians be concerned about spreading the teachings unfairness and of Jesus, especially to persons involved in other religions? bigotry are com- Second, what is the message of Christianity? Third, how should mon whenever we present the teachings of Christianity to non-Christians? Christians talk Lord willing, the discussion that about Jesus as follows will help you understand why there is a need, what the the only way message of Christianity is, and how to present that message in to God. the most effective way possible.

For the Christian 59 Why Be Concerned? Jesus is not just Why should Christians be one way among concerned about spreading the teachings of Jesus, especially many, he is the to persons involved in other religions? This is an important only way. question for all Christians to answer, and a few New Testament Christian asks a Christian why passages will help answer it. he is so happy, joyful and hopeful, The first passage is 1 Peter 3:14- the Christian is to be ready with 15. In this passage, Peter writes: a response. Also important is the manner in which Peter instructs But even if you should suffer Christians to answer non- for righteousness’ sake, you Christians: with gentleness and will be blessed. Have no fear respect. Christians are not only to of them, nor be troubled, but in talk about the mercy and grace of your hearts honor Christ the God in Christ, but also to show the Lord as holy, always being mercy and grace of God in Christ prepared to make a defense with our actions and words. When to anyone who asks you for a non-Christians ask us to defend reason for the hope that is in our hope, we are commanded by you; yet do it with gentleness Scripture to give an answer, and and respect. we honor Christ when we do so. We’ll discuss what that answer Peter notes that obedient should be later. Christians will likely face The second passage is John suffering, and such suffering 14:6. John records the words of should be received as a blessing, Jesus: “I am the way, and the because the believer has the honor truth, and the life; no one comes to suffer for the sake of Christ. to the Father except through Verse 15 is most instructive for me.” This verse is crucial for the our purposes. Peter writes that non-Christian, especially for the we should honor Christ, or set member of another religion. Put him apart, as Lord in our hearts. simply, Jesus declares that the The way to honor Christ is to be only way to God the Father is prepared to talk about Christ himself, Jesus the Son. Notice at any moment. Anytime a non- Jesus does not say he is a way,

60 A Guide to Evangelism a truth or a life, but he says he leader; salvation is found only in is the way, the truth and the life. and through Jesus. Here, Jesus tells his listeners – So, Christians should be and us as readers – that he is the concerned with the spread of only way to get to God. Jesus is Christ’s message to members not just one way among many, of other religions because (1) it he is the only way. Indeed, Jesus is a means of honoring Christ, is the only road leading to God (2) other religions do not follow the Father. Jesus and (3) though members of The third passage is Acts other religions think they have 4:12, where Luke records Peter’s found salvation, they have not sermon after Peter and John are found anything. arrested for spreading the gospel. Concerning Jesus, Peter declares What’s the Message that “There is salvation in no one of Christianity? else; for there is no other name Now that we understand why we under heaven given among men should be concerned for members by which we must be saved.” Peter of other religions, we come to affirms that, similar to John 14:6, our second question: what is Jesus is undeniably the only way the message of Christianity? to find salvation. Salvation is not The message of Christianity is a found in the teachings of any profoundly simple message of sin, other religious figure or religious atonement and redemption, all through Christ. If the message is Salvation is not so simple (though not simplistic), is there an easy way to share the found in the message? In this section, let’s consider an easy way to share the teachings of any message of Jesus, a way known commonly as the Romans Road. other religious The Romans Road is a simple way to share the gospel with figure or leader; non-Christians, consisting of six salvation is found passages: only in and 1. Romans 3:23, everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s through Jesus. perfect standard, his glory.

For the Christian 61 2. Romans 6:23, there is a penalty for sin: physical and spiritual The only way death, and which also makes the to find true and free offer of eternal life from God through Jesus Christ. lasting peace 3. Romans 5:8, Jesus has died for with God is by sinners. confessing Jesus 4. Romans 10:9-10, salvation is offered through confession of as Lord. Jesus and real belief that God raised Jesus from the dead. so rightly deserve, and the way of escape is the free gift of eternal life 5. Romans 5:1, true, lasting peace offered by God the Father through with God the Father is offered Jesus Christ the Son, who died for only through justification by faith. sinners. Only by confessing Jesus In other words, humans can have as Lord and believing in him can peace with God even though they anyone escape spiritual death. are all sinners and have all fallen Likewise, the only way to find short of his perfect standard. The true and lasting peace with God only way to have peace is through is by confessing Jesus as Lord and trusting Christ and believing in believing in him. After doing so, his work and message. the new Christian finds no more need to be concerned about eternal 6. Romans 8:1, eternal condemnation. condemnation for sin is now no longer a worry for the person who trusts in Christ. How Should Christians Talk to Members Thus, the message of Christianity of World Religions? is simple. All humans are sinners; Unfortunately, Christians all have missed God’s perfect, occasionally treat members of required standard. All humans other religions of the world as receive physical and spiritual inferior to them, and may even death as payment for their sin. take the opportunity to be a However, God has provided a way “jerk for Jesus.” This is not only to escape the spiritual death we unfortunate, but unbiblical. As

62 A Guide to Evangelism we saw in 1 Peter 3:15 earlier, the Former dean of Harvard Divinity Holy Spirit, through Peter’s pen, School, Krister Stendahl, when commands followers of Jesus to he spoke to a gathered media be gentle and respectful when press conference in 1985, gave interacting with unbelievers three basic rules for interacting about the gospel. Telling the with members of other religious non-Christian the gospel is groups, and his three “rules of confrontational in itself; the religious understanding” can be Christian need not make it more very instructive for our purposes. so. When the non-Christian hears Stendahl’s first rule is that that he is a sinner, that he deserves Christians should learn about physical and spiritual death and the beliefs of another religion that the only way to escape is from members of that religion. by placing his faith and trust in We would expect this from others Jesus, the non-believer will be as well. Any time Christianity offended by the message. There is the subject of a news report is no reason for the Christian to or something of that nature, add more offense to the message Christians are usually interviewed by his conduct. for their view. In the same way, if How, then, should Christians Buddhism is the subject of a news interact with members of other report or media feature, Buddhists religions? Is there a good, practical are usually interviewed about guide for doing evangelism? their Buddhism. This is a normal occurrence within our culture, Telling the and our evangelism should focus on the beliefs of others non-Christian in the same way. If your calling in life is to minister to Muslims the gospel is and you would like to know what Muslims believe, ask a Muslim. If confrontational your calling in life is to minister to Mormons and you would like to in itself; the know what Mormons believe, ask a Mormon. This is not to say there Christian need is no place for books, articles or not make it explanations about religions by non-members. There is absolutely more so. a place, a much needed place, for

For the Christian 63 works of that sort. Comparative Stendahl’s third rule is that religion is a vitally important we should leave room for “holy field and more work needs to be envy.” Though this sounds a bit done in that area. This first rule ecumenical, Stendahl simply is simply that the most accurate means there are likely aspects understanding of a particular of other religions, and aspects religion and its belief system is of the lives of members of other likely to come from a member of religions, from which we can that religion. learn. Here, the Christian does Stendahl’s second rule is that not need to agree with the other we should make fair comparisons. religion or with the member of When listening to debates between the other religion, but he can members of various religions or recognize that the Buddhist may reading works by members of pray more intently, the Hindu various religions, make sure to may believe more strongly, the listen to debates between parallel speakers or to read works by parallel writers. By this, Stendahl If the Christian simply means that we should compare apples to apples and believes he is oranges to oranges. Don’t read a work about Jesus by a Christian absolutely, with a Ph.D. and compare it to a work about Jesus by a Muslim objectively layman. Don’t read a work about correct in his creation by a Buddhist with a Ph.D. and compare it to a work belief, he should about creation by a Hindu layman. Likewise, don’t compare have the most the Christianity of David Koresh or Jim Jones to the Hinduism intense prayer, of Mahatma Gandhi, and don’t compare the Islam of terrorists the strongest to the Christianity of Mother belief, the most Teresa. Put simply, compare equals and you’ll be on the right liberal giving and path toward understanding for the sake of evangelism. the fullest love.

64 A Guide to Evangelism Mormon may give more liberally questions as we present Christ or the Jew may love more fully to them. Acts 17 serves as a good than the Christian. This is example of how the early church where holy envy is found. If did this very thing. the Christian believes he is Third, we go. Matthew 28:18-20 absolutely, objectively correct commands us to go into all the in his belief, he should have the world, proclaiming the gospel most intense prayer, the strongest and making disciples. belief, the most liberal giving and May God grant us the courage, the fullest love. The devotion the boldness, the compassion, of members of other religions the ability and the burden to should drive Christians to be propagate the gospel to members even more serious about their of the world’s religions. deeply held convictions. Conclusion Our final question, then, is somewhat borrowed from Francis Schaeffer: namely, how should we then evangelize? How can we most effectively propagate the gospel to world religions? First, we pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands us to pray continually, and our prayers should include petitions for opportunity to speak with members of other religions, boldness when confronting false belief and compassion over the lost condition of those involved in other religions. Second, we study. 1 Peter 3:15 commands us to be ready to give a defense for our hope in Christ whenever we are asked. The best way to defend the hope we have is to know what others believe and to be ready to ask them difficult

For the Christian 65 Evangelism to Muslims

John Klaassen

very Wednesday a Muslim woman would come to meet with a group of ladies at our house. Over sweet mint tea, they would Estart in the Old Testament and work their way toward Jesus. After they met, the woman would leave as quickly as she came. Then, one day, it all changed. Jesus became more than a prophet to her, more than a name in history. On that day, Jesus became God incarnate, Savior and

66 A Guide to Evangelism Lord. Not long after, she followed her Savior in baptism with her When most of new sisters in Christ, confessing us think of Islam a new birth and a new life. Sharing the gospel with and Muslims, Muslims is one of the great privileges I have had in my we think of lifetime. Some of my greatest memories are of sitting on the extremists and floor, telling people Old Testament stories of sacrifice and service to terrorists. Instead, God, and then talking about what it means for Jesus to be God and we should think the ultimate sacrifice. of our Muslim One day, a friend with whom we had shared the gospel many neighbors down times said to me, “John, I think you are right, Jesus did suffer the street. on the cross for my sins.” For a Muslim, this was a big step. But Islam and Muslims, we think of not big enough, so we kept telling extremists and terrorists. Our him biblical stories of faith and images are of women wearing Jesus. Sometime later he said, burkas and men in head scarves. “John, I think you are right, Jesus Instead, we should think of our did die on the cross for my sins.” Muslim neighbors down the Then he added, “And Jesus and street, worried about their kid’s the Prophet, they are the same.” education, how things are going Again a big step, but not enough, at work and about their marriages so we kept telling him biblical and in-laws. They’re not so stories and sharing how Jesus different from you and me. So how is much more than any prophet do you share your faith with a that ever lived. Finally, one day, Muslim? When I think of sharing he said “You are right, Jesus is my faith with a Muslim, I like to God, he is Savior, he is Lord.” On think in terms of C. Peter Wagner’s that day, he took a step of faith, 3 P’s in evangelism: presence, “confessing with his mouth Jesus proclamation and persuasion. I as Lord” (Rom 10:9-10). like to add a fourth “P:” prayer, When most of us think of which is the foundation of all

For the Christian 67 of our evangelism. Think of countries where we have little to these four P’s as building blocks no access are coming to us. If God forming a pyramid. has placed a Muslim in your life, you have a responsibility to share Prayer the gospel with him. You are an Prayer is the biggest block and the answer to the prayer for laborers. foundation for working with any It’s important to understand people group. To neglect this block that prayer, as one of the five pillars is to take away your foundation of Islam, is also important to the and ignore what God wants to Muslim. If a Muslim practices do in the lives of the people with these five pillars – confession, whom you work. Jesus says in daily prayers, almsgiving, Luke 10, “The harvest is plentiful, Ramadan and the pilgrimage but the laborers are few. Therefore to Mecca – perfectly, he could pray earnestly to the Lord of the possibly earn his way to heaven. harvest to send out laborers into Muslims recite a ritual prayer his harvest.” five times a day, facing Mecca. Jesus reminds his hearers that This prayer is called the “salah.” there is a harvest. In the time I Many believe that is the extent of have worked with Muslims – more their prayers, but Muslims also than 22 years now – I have been pray throughout their day with reminded over and over again that supplications known as the “dua.” the Lord is calling out his own When praying the “dua,” Muslims from among the most forgotten hold their hands open in front people groups all over the world, including people from the hardest Islamic sects and restricted When you pray access nations. It’s noteworthy that Jesus does not ask us to pray with a Muslim, for people in need of the gospel. Rather, he directs us to pray for though, always more workers. God is working in Muslim lives. close your We pray that God will call and prayer with send thousands more into the harvest fields of Islamic lands “in the name and even places like the U.S. and Europe, where refugees from of Jesus.”

68 A Guide to Evangelism of the chest, raise their eyes to heaven and make petition and If you plan to praise to Allah. These prayers are share the gospel offered anytime, anywhere. Often, after eating in our with your Muslim friends’ homes, our friends would offer the “dua.” Muslim friends, When we had Muslim friends in our home, we would do the same. you need to Praying with a Muslim (offering the “dua,” not the “salah”) is one carve time out of the great acts you can perform with your Muslim friend. Offering of your schedule to pray for them and to pray with to be with them. them distinguishes you from other westerners and helps them However, if you plan to share the understand that you’re a person gospel with your Muslim friends, of prayer who knows God. you need to carve time out of your When you pray with a Muslim, schedule to be with them. Invite though, always close your prayer them to go places with you, even with “in the name of Jesus.” When if it seems mundane. Remember, you pray in the name of Jesus it’s about time, do not worry (John 14:13-14), you pray with about what you are doing; just power, and you pray in a way that be with them. is distinctly Christian. As you spend time with your Muslim friends, it’s important Presence that you help them with the needs Presence, the second largest of they have here in the U.S. When our blocks, is about being with you go to their home, ask if you your Muslim friends. Muslims, can help them with something. and middle-easterners in general, Maybe they need help with a are event-oriented people. It’s not letter they received from their about “quality time” for them; it’s school about their kids, but they about the quantity of time you do not understand what they are spend with them. This is difficult supposed to do. Perhaps they need for most of us to understand help making a doctor’s visit or because we lead busy lives that going to the dentist. leave little time for friendship. If they’re immigrants to the

For the Christian 69 U.S., take them grocery shopping and show them the things you Proclamation buy. Something as simple as Proclamation is sharing of the navigating the grocery store can good news, and the pyramid make a difference; in their home cannot exist without it. Religious country there are probably only conversations are never difficult one or two choices for something to get into with a Muslim, but they like milk or bread. In the U.S., can be difficult to end without the options may overwhelm starting a debate. If you have them. When my wife and I lived practiced the first two “P’s,” you’ll overseas, it was incredible to find that your friend will listen find those friends who helped to you. But don’t wait to start us understand how schools and proclaiming the good news of doctors worked. So do likewise, Jesus. From the very beginning, help your Muslim friend figure establish the fact that you are out those differences, and you a follower of Jesus, and that he will win a friend for life. makes a difference in your life. If you live overseas, make sure Talk to them about your prayer life the native people understand your and what God is doing in your life. role in the community and how One way to initiate a good you add value to it. If you run a conversation is to ask your friend business, make a profit and work if you can share your story with at your business. While overseas, them about how God has changed we worked for a humanitarian your life, and then share your relief agency. The neighbors saw testimony with your friend. me go to work every day and Remember, though, everyone saw the results of our aid and has a story. You might find that development work. At times, they your Muslim friend has a similar asked us to visit other villages to story to yours about how Islam do development work there. The has changed his life, so don’t just key is to make sure your job is stop with your story, but share legitimate and that you produce a biblical story as well. When I something of value. If you do share my testimony I also tell not assign yourself a “role” they the story of Cornelius in Acts understand, then the community 10, emphasizing that Cornelius will assign you a role, and it might was a godly man by everyone’s not be the “role” for which you standards, but that was not had hoped. enough. He still needed Jesus in

70 A Guide to Evangelism his life, so God sent Peter to tell him the rest of the story. I then tell Never, ever deny my friend that I am there to tell the truth of the him the rest of the story. From that point, you can gospel, no share the gospel story of God’s redeeming act from creation to matter what the cross. Remember to emphasize that God created us to have a the situation. relationship with him, but sin has destroyed that relationship (Gen a strong relationship with your 1-3). Only the blood of sacrifice friend, you can say what needs to can bring about the forgiveness of be said. You must eventually share sins (Heb 9:22), and God provided that Jesus is the only way to have Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, peace with God. You must share the propitiation for our sins (Rom that, without repentance, there is 3:25; Heb 2:17). In other words, as no forgiveness for sins. You must the perfect sacrifice, Jesus took share that Jesus is God. on the wrath of God for our sins. When your friend argues with The first time you share this you, don’t back down. Respond story, your Muslim friend will with affection in your voice. If he argue that God would never have offends you, you can articulate allowed Jesus to die on the cross. that, but continue to pursue him Don’t worry, just keep telling the with love. And never, ever deny story and reminding him of the the truth of the gospel, no matter importance of sacrifice. It will what the situation. take time and multiple tellings It’s in persuasion that of the same story, but God will contextualization is most slowly work on his heart and powerful, but remember that begin to awaken your friend to contextualization never softens the truth of the gospel. the gospel; it clarifies the gospel in such a way that the truth Persuasion penetrates the heart of the hearer The smallest of the “P’s” is so that he can no longer ignore the persuasion, which is also the truth of the gospel, but must act on point of the pyramid – or the what he has heard. Acceptance or tip of the spear, to use another rejection of the gospel is no longer metaphor. Once you’ve established dependent on you, but on God.

For the Christian 71 between God and man, mankind A Bridge with itself and man and nature. Finally, let me give you an easy- The curse that God placed to-remember bridge to use as on nature, mankind and the you share the gospel with your serpent was a result of one sin. Muslim friend. Whenever you The curse can be summed up meet Muslims, they’ll say, “As- as the elimination of peace on salam alaykum,” meaning “peace earth. Since Adam, we have lived be on you.” Ask them about that in enmity with God, others and peace, where it comes from, how nature. Because of our sin, there it’s attained, whether anyone can is nothing we can do to restore have it and why there is such a our relationship with God. Our sin lack of peace on earth. Then ask broke the relationship with God if you can tell them a story. and only he can restore it. Jesus Share with them the creation came to restore that relationship, story. The Genesis account is to pay the penalty for our sins and rich – not too different from their to create a path to God by dying own account – and will provide and rising from the dead. a common ground. After God Remember, your Muslim friend created everything, he said it was probably won’t embrace the good. All of creation was at peace whole story the first time you with God; all of creation was at tell it. Sharing your faith with a peace with itself. In fact, Moses Muslim is about prayer, presence, tells us in Genesis 2:25 that the proclamation and persuasion. man and woman were naked and There are no shortcuts. It doesn’t not ashamed. Everything was typically happen overnight, but as perfect – there was no fear, and your friend listens to the truth of there was no shame in the garden. the gospel, God’s Spirit will work. Then, sin entered through the John writes in Revelation 7:9-10, disobedience of Adam and Eve. The first thing Adam and Eve After this I looked, and behold, did after their sin was to make a great multitude that no one coverings for themselves. For the could number, from every first time in their lives they knew nation, from all tribes and shame and fear. When God came peoples and languages, standing to walk with them in the cool of before the throne and before the the garden, they hid. For the first Lamb, clothed in white robes, time in history, peace was broken with palm branches in their

72 A Guide to Evangelism sisters from the hardest places on One day in earth will stand before the throne. heaven, there Your friend, who seems so hard right now, may be one of them. will be a We see also that salvation is attributed to God, and also “to the multitude so lamb.” Your Muslim friend will never get to heaven apart from the large that no one lamb. For that matter, no one gets to heaven apart from the lamb. can count it. John quotes Jesus as saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the Your friend, who life. No one comes to the Father seems so hard except through me” (John 14:6). Paul reminds us in Romans, “How right now, may then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how be one of them. are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how hands, and crying out with a are they to hear without someone loud voice, “Salvation belongs preaching?” (Rom 10:14) to our God who sits on the No Jesus means no salvation, throne, and to the Lamb!” And no hope and no peace with God. all the angels were standing Will you be the one to take the around the throne and around gospel to your Muslim neighbor, the elders and the four living friend or coworker? If not you, creatures, and they fell on their then who will get that privilege? faces before the throne and Do not miss out; share your faith worshiped God, saying, “Amen! with a Muslim. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” One day in heaven, there will be a multitude so large that no one can count it. In that number will be men and women from every place on earth. Brothers and

For the Christian 73 Evangelism to Skeptics

Dan DeWitt

haring the gospel with skeptics is not an endeavor to be taken lightly. It is a risky enterprise, and the greatest risks involve Sthe apologist’s own soul. That’s why C.S. Lewis, in the midst of his WWII evangelistic endeavors, warned youth leaders of the need to walk circumspectly when operating on the front lines of apologetic activity:

74 A Guide to Evangelism That is why we apologists take truth. That’s why evangelism in our lives in our hands and can any setting should include both an be saved only by falling back affirmation of what the gospel is as continually from the web of well as a defense against objections our own arguments, as from and misunderstandings. Without a our intellectual counters, into balanced approach, the apologist the Reality — from Christian will be tempted to abdicate certain apologetics into Christ Himself. biblical foundations for the sake of That also is why we need one establishing neutral ground. another’s continual help. So what is the best way to share the gospel with skeptics? What In addition to risking public is the best form of apologetics? reputation, and the real possibility Those familiar with the nuances of spiritual fatigue, the apologist of apologetic approaches will will also be forced to come face-to- know that there is no shortage face with his true convictions. The apologist’s views will be laughed at, and his commitments scorned. Unless the Unless the evangelist to skeptics is adequately rooted and established evangelist to in his convictions, there will be temptation to dilute beliefs in skeptics is order to earn credibility. A great deal of these adequately temptations stem from a lack rooted and of confidence in the gospel and a misunderstanding of the established in nature of ministry to skeptics. Many think evangelism aimed his convictions, at this demographic is limited to apologetics, a defense of the there will be faith. This notion is too narrow, though. Evangelism is not merely temptation to negative and reactive. dilute beliefs in Seeing evangelism as negative and reactive can lead to a passive order to earn witness instead of an intentional and positive assertion of the credibility.

For the Christian 75 of controversy regarding which reality. In fact, an atheistic form is the most biblical, so I worldview is actually forced to don’t intend to answer these borrow certain assumptions that questions for you in this brief flow from a theistic outlook in chapter. Instead, I’d suggest that order to formulate an argument you consider a book like Steve against it. Cowan’s Five Views on Apologetics Consider how we use the basic to inform, shape and refine your laws of logic in our everyday own convictions. What I would conversations. The law of non- like to offer are seven imperatives, contradiction, for example, is or broad categories, for sharing utilized in evaluating truth the gospel with skeptics. These claims. This is the principle are parameters to keep your that something cannot be both gospel witness on track without true and false at the same time falling into compromise. and in the same way. But have Regardless of the strategy you you ever thought about how a use, the following principles naturalistic framework might will allow you to do evangelistic account for such a law? How can work among skeptics for the eternal, mindless and impersonal advancement of the kingdom and matter produce logical laws that the glory of God. guide our thought? Seven Imperatives for Sharing the Gospel The laws of logic with Skeptics flow smoothly 1. Present truth out of a world- as knowable Christians can easily become view that places intimidated when sharing the gospel with the “intelligentsia.” an eternal, This should not be so. The believer need not assume a intelligent and position of weakness when personal creator talking with skeptics. The Christian worldview offers much as the source more than many people realize when it comes to describing of all things.

76 A Guide to Evangelism On the other hand, the laws brain is reliable. of logic flow smoothly out of Apologists have consistently a worldview that places an exploited this worldview eternal, intelligent and personal weakness. C.S. Lewis claimed creator as the source of all that this difficulty is a self- things. This underscores part contradiction in naturalism. of a perennial problem for the G.K. Chesterton called this the atheistic outlook. Atheists from “thought that stops all thought.” previous generations like H.G. Though much more can be said Wells, and even contemporary about this topic, the apologist atheistic philosophers like must recognize that only Thomas Nagel, recognize that Christianity provides a reasonable in atheistic naturalism there is explanation for reason itself. Even no objective reason to trust our arguments against God are forced cognitive faculties. to presuppose logical laws that Both Wells and Nagel offered only make sense if God exists. these concerns in print, calling Thus, when the apologist presents into question the bravado with the gospel, he should do so with which people boast of their the confidence that it is the power brainpower for comprehending of God unto salvation. The gospel the world; Wells in an article, makes sense of the world we live “Doubts of the Instrument,” where in and provides a foundation instrument refers to the brain, and for rational discussion. Truth is Nagel in his recent book, Mind knowable because, as Francis and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Schaeffer said, “God is there and Neo-Darwinian Conception of he is not silent.” Nature Is Almost Certainly False. Both men doubt that unguided 2. Present God nature is able to provide a basis as sovereign for cognitive confidence. We are to present truth as This doubt can be traced back knowable because of the triune to Charles Darwin himself, who God who is sovereign. If we water questioned whether or not he down our conception of God to could trust his mental thoughts make the gospel message more if his brain is merely a product of palatable we will find that, in the evolution. He understood that, if end, we are no longer doing true nature is all there is, then there evangelism. We merely market could be no certainty that our a god of our own invention,

For the Christian 77 attempting to woo people in with a hazy image of an impotent deity. Don’t dilute We have to remember that God in order to the people with whom we speak actually believe in God, make him more regardless of the labels they employ. The apostle Paul makes marketable. this clear in Romans. God has revealed his invisible attributes Don’t propagate to all men – his eternal power and his divine nature – so they idolatry. Present are without excuse (Rom 1:19- 20). The principal problem for the sovereign unbelievers is that they, due to the God of the Bible fall, suppress the knowledge of God and worship creation rather as the key to than creator. When we speak with unbelievers, understanding we must keep in mind that they possess an innate knowledge of the human God’s existence. Understanding humanity’s innate knowledge narrative. of God also helps to explain the campaign against religion in our their childhood. But why did Peter contemporary culture. return, while others have continued Doug Wilson said there are “two in their rage against the God in fundamental tenets of true atheism. whom they don’t believe? One: there is no God. Two: I hate Paul’s account in Romans 1 him.” Peter Hitchens, brother of the of man’s implicit knowledge of late atheist journalist Christopher God is telling. Just compare it Hitchens, describes his personal to Psalm 19, which says, “The conversion to Christianity in his heavens declare the glory of God.” book The Rage Against God: How What Paul writes in Romans 1 Atheism Led Me To Faith. Peter is similar, but the differences Hitchens’ conversion illustrates are significant. “For the wrath that belief cannot be dismissed of God,” Paul says, “is revealed as merely cultural. Both he and from heaven.” For the believer, the his brother rejected the faith of heavens display the glory of God.

78 A Guide to Evangelism For the unbeliever, the heavens When we share the gospel with reveal the wrath of God. skeptics, we speak to their innate This knowledge of God knowledge of God and their deep brings a sense of judgment and understanding of their moral condemnation for the unbeliever. guilt. But we must remember that This is a good thing. It’s actually guilt is only a symptom. Sin and part of the divine design. That’s separation from God are the true why the cosmos is our ally in problems. And grace is the only sharing with skeptics. Both antidote. This is why evangelism physical nature and human with skeptics should begin and nature point us upward. “God’s end with a simple presentation kindness,” Paul tells us, leads us of the gospel, and this is why “to repentance” (Rom 2:4). The the Christian apologist need not message of the gospel is that our water down the gospel in order inner sense that there is a God, to gain a hearing. Why concede and the troubling sense that we the only truth powerful enough have offended him, are both true. to change hearts? And it is to this point that we This doesn’t mean the apologist should direct our witness. should avoid responding to Don’t dilute God in order to questions or offering arguments make him more marketable. that force the atheist to reconsider Don’t propagate idolatry. Present his or her own objections. But it the sovereign God of the Bible does mean that the apologist can as the key to understanding the never improve on Jesus’ assertion, human narrative. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the 3. Present Christ as savior The human epic is stained by Evangelism with guilt, shame and regret. Even if some deny the reality of God, skeptics should they cannot functionally deny the existence of guilt. People can try to begin and end discard it as a social construct, or with a simple repress it through medication, but there is a proven track record that presentation of emancipation from guilt can’t be obtained through human efforts. the gospel.

For the Christian 79 Father except through me” (John You are not God’s editor. You’re 14:6). For all of your logic and all more like a publicist. God is not of your evidences, never abdicate waiting for your revisions. He’s your responsibility to share the already gone to press. good news. Our arguments cannot, This is not to say that every in and of themselves, save anyone. argument must be a sermon or Only Jesus can. a Bible commentary. But you should not compromise the 4. Present Scripture trustworthiness of the Bible as authoritative in word or attitude in order to I remember my good friend Mark’s placate a skeptic’s objections. quote in our senior yearbook as As you evangelize, you must if it were published yesterday. consider where your authority Though we attended a public is found. school, he didn’t shy away from If you’re like most, you likely sharing his beliefs. Under his came to faith by someone opening senior picture he placed this their Bible and sharing a simple verse, “The grass withers and the presentation of the gospel. Don’t flower fades but the Word of our doubt that the gospel’s power, on God will stand forever” (Is 40:8). the authority of God’s revelation, I’m not even sure where I’ve can do the same for those to whom stored my senior yearbook, but you minister. one thing is certain: God’s Word will still remain long after my 5. Present man high school memorabilia is gone. as depraved This book that you’re reading Mankind is not morally neutral. will one day rot away. The paper When you share the gospel, it is printed on will deteriorate. you don’t speak to someone But God’s Word will not. Not only who is devoid of worldview is it lasting, it is sharper than a commitments. You don’t witness two-edged sword (Heb 4:12). So, in a spiritual vacuum. as you share with skeptics, don’t The Bible makes this relegate Scripture to obscurity abundantly clear. Consider or even to peer status among Psalm 10, where the wicked says other sources. It will outlive in verse five, “There is no God,” your arguments, resources and and later in verse eleven, “God evidences. Don’t neglect, deny or has forgotten, he has hidden his seek to alter it. face, he will never see it.” There

80 A Guide to Evangelism is a rejection of God’s existence, thinking neutrality is a viable then, in the same breath, a fear of option for the unbeliever. God’s judgment. This illustrates Everyone brings a set of biases that one’s inner knowledge of God against belief in God (see Ps 10). cannot be dismissed by merely You will encounter resistance proclaiming that he doesn’t exist. and opposition, and this is to This cognitive dissonance is as be expected. Stand on the Word old as the Garden of Eden. of God and trust the gospel as The biblical account of origins the central answer for man’s takes a tragic turn in the third ultimate questions. chapter of Genesis. The earthly utopia of the first two chapters 6. Present regeneration is merely a speed bump on the as necessary road to redemption. The rest of the Nearly everyone I’ve known who biblical narrative unfolds God’s is active in apologetic work deeply plot to restore a relationship understands the necessity of the with fallen man. The biblical Spirit to bring about conversion. storyline makes no sense without I’ve never met an apologist who an understanding of the fall. And sincerely believed his arguments neither will your apologetics. could, in and of themselves, Don’t make the mistake of change someone’s heart. I have, however, met many who pray fervently that God will use their Sharing the meager attempts to help remove gospel with some of the intellectual obstacles. But they also pray with equal skeptics is the passion for the Spirit to bring about the conviction of the task of shining truthfulness of the gospel. Sharing the gospel with the light of the skeptics is the task of shining the light of the gospel into the gospel into darkness of Satan’s temporal the darkness of domain. If you do it in your own power, you will fail. Like the Satan’s temporal apostle Paul, we should pray for our audience, that the eyes of domain. their hearts might be enlightened

For the Christian 81 so they might understand the truthfulness and riches of the When Christ is gospel (Eph 1:18). Without the Lord, and when work of the Spirit, all of our work is in vain. we are humble, 7. Present yourself then we have as humble There is nothing worse than an found our sweet arrogant or angry apologist, or an unnecessarily edgy evangelist. I spot for doing don’t care how right he or she might be; I can’t stomach to watch it. The evangelism condescension is just too much. with skeptics. Scripture says that we are clay pots carrying about the treasure we are humble, then we have of God’s riches in Christ (2 Cor found our sweet spot for doing 4:7). We shouldn’t take this to evangelism with skeptics. When mean, however, that God has a we understand the sovereignty low estimation of how we convey of God, the authority of the Bible the gospel message. Superior and the necessity of the Spirit attitudes should be remedied by because of the fallenness of taking seriously the most quoted humanity, then we are well on our verse in all of the Bible regarding way to a Christ-exalting and God- our defense of the faith, “But in glorifying approach to evangelism your hearts honor Christ the Lord with atheists and agnostics. as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone Northern Exposure who asks you for a reason for Throughout my childhood, my the hope that is in you; yet do family made annual trips to the it with gentleness and respect” beautiful Upper Peninsula of (1 Peter 3:15). We are to present Michigan. I have fond memories the reasons for our hope within of playing in the cold water of a framework of humility. Lake Superior with my cousins. As we present truth from a Even as an adult, I try not to let Christian basis, we point others more than a couple of years go to Jesus, the truth incarnate. by without making a nostalgic When Christ is Lord, and when pilgrimage to the north.

82 A Guide to Evangelism After I became a Christian He asked his son what he needed at the age of fifteen, I became to do to have a relationship acutely aware of friends and with God through Jesus Christ. family members who didn’t My uncle Kevin followed in his know Christ. I remember one footsteps. He repented of his sins conversation I shared with my and trusted Christ as Lord and uncle Kevin while fishing for Savior. Today, he and my aunt are walleye off of his pontoon boat on active members of a small church Lake Michagamme. “Do you believe in their community. Jonah was really swallowed by a This story illustrates the final whale?” Kevin asked. “Uncle Kevin, point I’d like to share: presenting I believe God created the whole the gospel to skeptics is a lifelong world, so that’s not that big of a commitment. If you are out for miracle, in my opinion,” I returned. quick conversions, or easy It was an honest question. But I evangelism, then you should avoid don’t think Kevin was all that this type of ministry. It’s hard impressed with my answer. work. It will challenge your faith Kevin has always been a great and often drain your soul. But guy. But he’s consistently been on like the apostle Paul at Mars Hill, the skeptical side of belief. That’s though many may mock, others why my mom sent my aunt Toni will stick around and inquire. (Kevin’s wife) a copy of a book And who knows, maybe the Spirit filled with letters from a pastor will blow in like a crisp northern to his skeptic father. My aunt Toni wind, and some will believe (Acts took a great interest in the book, 17:32-34). and my uncle Kevin even became intrigued. She would often read chapters aloud on their lengthy drives across Michigan. Kevin would frequently agree with the skeptic father’s concerns and questions, but he was equally impressed with the clarity of the answers that were provided. Toward the end of the book, the father confessed his belief in God and his understanding of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

For the Christian 83

A Guide to evangelism Resources

Further Reading Apologetics to the Glory of God: An Introduction, John M. Frame Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, Bryan Chapell The Church: The Gospel Made Visible, Mark Dever Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions: Revised and Updated Edition, Larry A. Nichols, George Mather, Alvin J. Schmidt Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer Five Views on Apologetics, Steven B. Cowan, ed. The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence, Thabiti Anyabwile Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Timothy Keller reThink, Steve Wright A Shot of Faith (to the Head): Be a Confident Believer in an Age of Cranky Atheists, Mitch Stokes

The Bevin Center for Missions Mobilization aims to train and mobilize the Southern Seminary community to be relentless in evangelism, engaged in missions and deployed in church planting from the city of Louisville to the ends of the earth. For more information, visit missions.sbts.edu

85 From Southern Seminary Also in the Guide Book Series from SBTS Press, available at press.sbts.edu

A Guide to A Guide to Expository Adoption and Ministry Orphan Care (SBTS Press, (SBTS Press, 2012 $5.99), 2012 $5.99), Dan Dumas Russell D. Moore, Editor

A Guide to Biblical Manhood (SBTS Press, 2011 $5.99), Randy Stinson and Dan Dumas

Publications from Southern Seminary Southern Seminary Magazine

Towers: A News Publication of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology

The Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry

The Southern Baptist Journal of Missions and Evangelism

Connect with Southern News.sbts.edu Seminary online Facebook.com/TheSBTS Twitter.com/SBTS

For more information about Southern Seminary, visit sbts.edu; for information about Boyce College, visit boycecollege.com

86 A Guide to Evangelism A Guide to evangelism Contributors

Editor Dan DeWitt is the dean of Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously served as the lead pastor of Highview Baptist Church’s University of Louisville Campus Church, minister to students at Judson Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., and associate minister to students at Highview Baptist Church. DeWitt and his wife, April, have been married for more than ten years, and are the proud parents of Isaiah, Micah, Josiah and Addilynn. DeWitt posts regularly on his blog theolatte.com

Contributors Chad Brand is associate dean for biblical and theological studies and professor of Christian theology at Boyce College, where he has taught since 1999. Before coming to Louisville, Ky., he taught at North Greenville College in South Carolina. Brand is co-editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary and editor of Five Views of Church Governance and Perspectives on Spirit Baptism. Brand has served as pastor of churches in Texas and as interim pastor of churches in South Carolina, Indiana and Kentucky. Brand and his wife, Tina, have three children, Tashia, Owen and Cassandra.

Denny Burk is associate professor of biblical studies at Boyce College. Burk is the author of Articular Infinitives in the Greek of the New Testament and the forthcoming What Is the Meaning of Sex? He has also contributed to Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words and Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day. He serves as editor for The Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and as associate pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. Burk and his wife, Susan, have four children, Emily, Abby, Denny and Lucy.

87 Travis Kerns is assistant professor of Christian worldview and apologetics at Boyce College. An expert in new religious movements, he has spoken at numerous churches and conferences dealing with the history and belief structures of the world’s religions and new religious movements. Kerns is a contributing author to the forthcoming Baker Dictionary of Cults and Sects. His desire is to lead young men and women to have a passion for apologetics and to see persons involved in other world religions and new religious movements come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Kerns is married to Staci, and they have one son, Jeremiah.

John Klaassen is associate professor of Christian missions at Boyce College. He is the son of missionary parents and missionary grandparents, born in Colombia, South America. Klaassen and his wife, Shari, have served with the International Mission Board since 1991, primarily in North Africa. The Klaassens, their two children and their team initiated work with three unreached people groups and helped develop a relief and development agency as a pathway for work in a restricted access nation. He completed his doctorate from Southern Seminary in 2011.

Brian Payne is assistant professor of Christian theology and expository preaching at Boyce College. He played football for the University of Alabama and then coached there as a graduate assistant. He has served in a Christian children’s home, taught at a Christian high school, worked in the business world and pastored and served interim pastoral positions. Payne’s desire is to teach young, aspiring pastors to be faithful in administrating and in preaching the Word of God in the local church. He also serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Fisherville, Ky. Payne is married to Heather, and they have four children, Ella, Nate, Seth and Ava.

88 A Guide to Evangelism Jim Stitzinger is the director of the Bevin Center for Missions Mobilization at Southern Seminary. He previously served as a church planter and pastor in southwest Florida, and as pastor of local outreach and evangelism at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, Calif. He contributed to Evangelism in the John MacArthur Pastoral Library Series and edited the Grace Evangelism training curriculum. In addition, Stitzinger served as adjunct professor of evangelism for The Master’s Seminary in L.A. He and his wife, Sky, have three daughters, Macy, Jessy and Clancy.

Owen Strachan is assistant professor of Christian theology and church history at Boyce College. He previously served as the managing director of the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., and the founding associate director of the Jonathan Edwards Center at TEDS. He is co- author of the five-volume Essential Edwards Collection, co-editor of The Pastor as Scholar, the Scholar as Pastor: Reflections on Life and Ministry and contributor to Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day. Strachan also currently serves as executive director of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. He and his wife, Bethany, are the parents of Ella and Gavin.

Troy Temple is associate professor of youth and family ministry at Southern Seminary. He has served in local church youth ministry for over two decades in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana, and on the faculty and staff at Liberty University. He is actively involved in developing formal youth ministry training at seminaries in Mexico, Ukraine, Kenya, Malaysia and Nepal. He serves local church ministries by speaking to teenagers and parents, training volunteers and consulting in youth ministry. He and his wife, Karla, are the parents of Madeleine and Kathryn.

89 Production

Project Editor: Matt Damico is a staff writer for Southern Seminary. He earned a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Minnesota in 2008 before moving to Louisville, Ky. He graduated from Southern with a master of divinity in 2012, and currently serves as pastor of worship at Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville. He is married to the wonderful Anna.

Designer and illustrator: Andrea Stember joined Southern Seminary’s creative team in 2011 after working four years in the Chicago, Ill., graphic design scene. Andrea was born and raised in the state of Iowa, where she earned her bachelor of fine arts in graphic design from Iowa State University. She is married to Daniel, and they are the proud parents of Eleanor.

90 A Guide to Evangelism