2. REVIEW 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 A new Identity: Ambassadors for Christ
The Myth: Evangelism is a gift only some have (and only some do)
The Reality: All Jesus’ followers are called to be ambassadors for him
The Way: Many different evangelism styles seen in Scripture and the church
Party Evangelism: The Church as a community living out their different evangelism styles together

3. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Human Condition
Ephesians 2:1 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins”
Unable to respond to spiritual stimulus
Unable to understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Not seeking God (Rom 3:11)
Hostile to God (Rom 8:7)
Unable to come to Jesus (John 6:44)

4. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
God’s Sovereignty
Because the natural human spiritual condition isn’t just sick, but dead, God has to make the first move
God chooses people “before the foundation of the earth” (Ephesians 1:4)
God makes the spiritually dead “alive” (Ephesians 2:5) so they can seek, understand, and come to Jesus
God seals them with the Holy Spirit, preserving them in their faith (Ephesians 1:13-14)

5. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Our Responsibility
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Live as Christ’s Ambassadors
Matthew 10:7-8 – Jesus’ first ambassadors
“Preach this message: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is near.’” (their words)
“Heal the sick, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” (their deeds)

6. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Word and Deed Ministry
Why a ministry of Word?
Romans 10:14 “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
Why a ministry of Deed?
Proverbs 27:14 “If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.”
Our deeds can illustrate or obscure the message

7. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Goal
Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Disciples, not just converts who prayed a prayer
Not just a one time event (baptism), but a life-long process (teaching them to bring all of life under the lordship of Jesus)

8. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Image of God
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.“ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
All people have the utmost value and dignity
What difference should this make in our approach?

9. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
7 Principles
Show respect
Psalm 8:5 Humanity: “Crowned … with glory and honor”, so…
1 Peter 3:15-16 “…give an answer to everyone…But do this with gentleness and respect”
Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace”
Like Jesus in John 4 (speaks with woman, let’s her serve him)
Like Paul in Acts 17 (commends their religious nature)

10. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
7 Principles
Build Bridges
They live in God’s world and can’t escape encountering truth in it
Search for aspects of truth in their thinking and virtue in their lives – commend them for it
All people are religious in that they put their trust in something – find out where their trust lies
Jesus in John 4: seeking life in relationships (“living water”)
Paul in Acts 17: “to an unknown god” (“I…proclaim to you”)

11. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
7 Principles
Understand what they believe
Ask questions to understand what they believe and why (respect), rather than mischaracterize their beliefs (disrespect)
We study what we love. Why not people?
Help them understand themselves too (their idols)
Jesus in John 4: her satisfaction found in relationships
Paul in Acts 17: understood Athenians’ beliefs, worship, culture (quoted 2 of their own thinkers)

12. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
7 Principles
Speak their language
The goal is communication – so meet them where they’re at
Safer to assume no familiarity with language of the Bible
Even familiar terms may have different meaning to them (“freedom,” “love”)
Jesus: used theological terms with Pharisees and agricultural terms in the country
Paul in Acts 17: Used hearer’s expressions for God (“the divine”) and appropriate level of rhetoric (elevated here)

13. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
7 Principles
Reasoned Persuasion
People are rational creatures (homo sapiens) and knowledge of God is in the Heart and mind of every person. (Romans 1)
John (20:31) wrote his gospel to persuade (“that you may believe”) – taking away false beliefs and replacing with truth
Jesus in John 4: Deep longing satisfied with relationship vs. living water
Paul in Acts 17: “he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving…Jesus…is the Christ…some Jews were persuaded [and] a large number of…Greeks”

14. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
7 Principles
Clarify Good News
There are many distorted versions of Christian gospel (be a better person, do religious activities, pray the prayer and you’re done, etc.)
Use those bridges
God clarified for us through incarnation, so can we for others
If the Gospel speaks to every human longing and answers ever honest question, help them see that for themselves
Paul in Acts 13: Old Testament prophesies about Jesus

15. BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
7 Principles
Challenge Heart and Mind
People need to turn away from what living for & trust in Christ
We must deal with what stands between them and God
No challenge = no gospel
Often challenge at same point we commend
Jesus in Mark 1: “Repent and believe”
Paul in Acts 17: Challenged their idols. Called them to turn to true God

16. Putting it all together
BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Putting it all together
Since God is sovereign:
We pray (because he alone can revive and make people responsive)
Since we are responsible:
We apply the 7 principles, trusting God for the results
The order matters:
Talk with God about people before talking with people about God

17. Putting it all together
BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Putting it all together
Acts 17: “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”
The people God put in your life aren’t there by accident
God is not only sovereign over the ends (salvation) but also the means (the people he places in their lives)

18. Assignment – Missional Prayer
BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Assignment – Missional Prayer
Think of who God placed in your life that doesn’t know Him (yet)
Where you live, work or play
Become a “student” of them. What do they believe? What needs do you see in their lives?
How would Jesus respond to those needs? (Word/Deed)
Pray that God would give you an opportunity to make the gospel know in their situation in word / deed
Pray that God would open their hearts to Him