“Whole-Body” Evangelism Dr. John Chandler The Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership Copyright John P. Chandler, 2000

“The Body” n “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” –Romans 12:4-5

“The Gifts” n “ God gave gifts … to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” –Ephesians 4:11-12

“The Body” n “Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?” –1 Corinthians 12:14-19

Spiritual Gifts “ Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow” -- Peter Wagner n SG: Patterns of God’s activity in a believers life; HS enablements n New Testament lists in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 n “Public” and “Support” gifts n Used alongside Christian “roles”

Some of the gifts... n Administration n Discernment n Evangelism n Exhortation n Faith n Generosity n Helps n Hospitality n Intercession n Knowledge n Leadership n Mercy n Prophecy n Service n Shepherding n Teaching n Tongues n Wisdom

How might body gifts work together to evangelize? n Mercy F building church’s credibility in mind of lost person n Intercession F praying for an unchurched person at proper times n Administration F having hosting team ready for the right response n Teaching F making person aware of need for Gospel

Presence Proclamation Persuasion The “3-P” Evangelism House

3-P Evangelism n 1-P “Presence” F People helped n 2-P “Proclamation” F Gospel presented n 3-P “Persuasion” F Disciples Made

The Presence “Door” n The only way to get into the door of availability to a lost person’s life u Beauty/Goodness before Truth n Non-optional in the total Gospel process of evangelism n People helped or served n Problem: some people stop here

The Proclamation “Window” n Where the “light” comes on/in n People hear/understand Gospel n “-2” on Engel Scale n Essential to biblical evangelism n People converted n Problem: don’t stop here! Crusade evangelism syndrome

Persuasion “Roof” n Completes the project for living n Getting to “+2” on Engel Scale n People discipled n Ongoing function of church life

The Believer-Church “Tag-Team” n Believer: F Presence n Church: F Proclamation n Both: F Persuasion

Evangelism Equation n P1 (Presence) n + P2 (Proclamation) n + P3 (Persuasion) = n ________________ n Biblical Evangelism

Whole-Body Strategy n Individual believers working in partnership with the whole body of Christ in a tag-team strategy to invite lost people to receive the good news of Jesus Christ

One Biblical Strategy: “Matthew” Parties n As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." n (Matthew 9:9-13)

Getting them to a Matthew Party n Discernment, Faith, Mercy u build relationships with lost people n Intercession u pray before/during/after n Service, Helps, Generosity, Administration u pre-create an inviting home setting

Once they’re at the party n Wisdom n Hospitality n Service n Generosity n Mercy n Evangelism

Through the church door... n Leadership, Administration u Prepare the congregation to know how to respond to seekers n Exhortation, Knowledge, Teaching, Prophecy u Proclaim the gospel in a way the unbeliever can hear

After church … n Church: u respond in seeker- appropriate way F perhaps not visitation! n Believer: u be prepared for spiritual conversation if cued

Conclusion n When believers 1/2/3-P tag-team with congregations... F Communicating (i.e. w/staff) F utilizing multiple gifts F allowing different points of impact along evangelism process scale u Lost people come to know Christ!

“Whole-Body” Evangelism Dr. John Chandler Copyright John P. Chandler, 2000