Copyright © 2014 Clifford Lee Hedges All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. INCREASING EVANGELISTIC EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH INTENTIONAL PRAYER AT OAKLAND BAPTIST CHURCH, KING GEORGE, VIRGINIA A Project Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Clifford Lee Hedges May 2014 APPROVAL SHEET INCREASING EVANGELISTIC EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH INTENTIONAL PRAYER AT OAKLAND BAPTIST CHURCH, KING GEORGE, VIRGINIA Clifford Lee Hedges Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Adam W. Greenway (Faculty Supervisor) __________________________________________ William D. Henard III Date______________________________ To Beth, who has supported me in life and ministry. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii PREFACE .......................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 Purpose ............................................................................................................... 1 Goals .................................................................................................................. 1 Context ............................................................................................................... 2 Rationale ............................................................................................................ 7 2. A BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR EVANGELISTIC PRAYER ....................................................................... 10 Jesus’ Instructions ............................................................................................ 10 Jesus’ Pattern .................................................................................................... 14 Petition 1: Glorification in Mission (vv. 1-3) .......................................... 17 Petition 2: The Return of Glory at the Conclusion of the Incarnational Mission (vv. 4-8) ............................................. 17 Petition 3: Prayer for the Protection of God’s Representatives to the World (vv. 9-15) .................................................................... 18 Petition 4: Prayer for the Holiness of God’s Representatives in the World (vv. 16-19) .................................................................. 18 Petition 5: Prayer for Unity in Mission (vv. 20-23)................................. 19 iv Chapter Page Petition 6: Prayer for the Disciples to Reach their Destiny (v. 24) ......... 21 Having a Heart for the Lost .............................................................................. 22 Desire for the People of God to Point to God .................................................. 28 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 32 3. HISTORICAL AND CURRENT ISSUES LINKING PRAYER AND EVANGELISM ......................................................................................... 34 Jonathan Edwards............................................................................................. 35 Edwards’ Life .......................................................................................... 36 Edwards’ Theology .................................................................................. 39 Edwards’ Instructions for Evangelism and Prayer .................................. 45 Charles Spurgeon ............................................................................................. 49 Spurgeon’s Life ....................................................................................... 49 Spurgeon’s Theology ............................................................................... 54 Spurgeon’s Instructions for Evangelism and Prayer ............................... 56 E. M. Bounds ................................................................................................... 58 Bounds’ Life ............................................................................................ 59 Bounds’ Theology ................................................................................... 63 Bounds’ Instructions for Evangelism and Prayer .................................... 66 Contemporary Church Growth Thinking ......................................................... 69 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 72 4. ELEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY PROJECT ................................................... 74 Pre-Project Questionnaire ................................................................................ 76 Sermon Series .................................................................................................. 76 Introduction .............................................................................................. 76 Inward Transformation ............................................................................ 77 Outward Transformation ......................................................................... 78 v Chapter Page Conclusion ............................................................................................... 79 Adult Sunday School Lessons .......................................................................... 80 Post-Project Questionnaire ............................................................................... 82 Prayer Journal................................................................................................... 82 5. PROJECT EVALUATION ................................................................................. 83 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 83 Evaluation of the Project’s Purpose ................................................................. 83 Evaluation of the Project’s Goals ..................................................................... 83 Strengths of the Project .................................................................................... 88 Weaknesses of the Project ................................................................................ 88 What I Would Do Differently .......................................................................... 89 Theological Reflections ................................................................................... 90 Personal Reflections ......................................................................................... 91 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 92 Appendix 1. PRE- AND POST- PROJECT QUESTIONNAIRE ............................................ 93 2. WEEKLY CLASS INTERACTION ................................................................... 97 3. LETTER TO ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS .............................. 102 4. SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ............................................................. 103 5. SERMON SERIES ........................................................................................... 104 6. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS ........................................................ 118 7. FEEDBACK LETTER ..................................................................................... 171 8. SAMPLE CRITIQUE ....................................................................................... 173 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................... 174 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. The model prayers of Matthew and Luke ..............................................................12 2. Sermon and Sunday School lessons ......................................................................75 3. Survey Questions with shift in opinion .................................................................85 A1. Pre-project questionnaire summary data ...............................................................95 A2. Post-project questionnaire summary data ..............................................................96 A3. Weekly class report data ........................................................................................98 A4. Wednesday teacher training attendance ...............................................................101 A5. Weekly class attendance ......................................................................................103 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Prayer Topics Survey ............................................................................................84 A1. Weekly class report ................................................................................................97 A2. Letter to Adult Sunday School Teachers .............................................................102 A3. Feedback on post-project questionnaire ..............................................................173 viii PREFACE This project is the