2. INTRODUCTION 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
V. 17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Anyone means … “anyone”
“In Christ” = Paul’s favorite description of a Christian (27x)
Trojan horse: Welcomed as Christ would be welcomed
So what “old” has gone & “new” has come?

3. INTRODUCTION 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
V. 18a “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…”
Old standing:
Enemies of God (Colossians 1:21)
Objects of wrath (Ephesians 2:3)
New standing:
“Reconciled”
Debt paid, peace with God, beloved child

4. INTRODUCTION 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
V. 18b-19a “and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.”
A new ministry: “Reconciliation”
Seeking for others what we have received ourselves
God is on a mission, and we have a role to play

5. INTRODUCTION 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
V. 21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
The “old” way: try to make ourselves righteous
The “new” way: The Great Exchange
Christ, who is righteous, “made … sin”
We, who are sinners, “become the righteousness of God”
Not what we do, but what Jesus did

6. INTRODUCTION 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
V. 19b-20 And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
A new identity: “Ambassadors”
Represent one king/kingdom to another
Appointed to deliver a message
God’s “Plan A” is his people

8. Ryan Lochte

9. How well do we rePresent?
AMBASSADORS
How well do we rePresent?
Representing truth or misrepresenting truth
Bringing blessing or harm
Taking the blame or shifting the blame
Instilling security or fear
Building trust or distrust
“The Big Kahuna”

10. EVANGELISM The Struggle is Real… Why we struggle with the subject...
Awkwardness / feels unnatural / “selling” Jesus
Fear (rejection / loss of relationship)
Negative experiences / models
Unequipped (don’t know what to say/do)
“One size fits all” presentations
Struggle to “shift” conversation
See as “gift” or personality we don’t have

11. The “Gift” of Evangelism
MYTH VS. REALITY
The “Gift” of Evangelism
Ephesians 4:11 - Jesus gave to the church some to be “evangelists”
Why?
Not so they alone can do the evangelizing, but “To prepare God’s people for works of service” (v. 12)
Here an office, not a “gift” some have and others don’t

12. The “Gift” of Evangelism
MYTH VS. REALITY
The “Gift” of Evangelism
1 Peter 3:15 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Addressed to whole church
Made up of people with different gifts and personalities

13. The “Gift” of Evangelism
MYTH VS. REALITY
The “Gift” of Evangelism
Colossians 4:5-6 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Evangelism about both word (“your conversation…that you may know how to answer”) and deed (“the way you act”)

14. ONE BODY, MANY PARTS 6 Evangelism “Styles” Confrontational
Example: Acts 2 (Pentecost)
Who: Peter
Audience: People with many common religious beliefs (all Jewish)
What: Said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”

15. ONE BODY, MANY PARTS 6 Evangelism “Styles” Intellectual
Example: Acts 17 (Thessalonica, Berea, Athens)
Who: Paul
Audience 1: Jews who believed Scripture (vv. 1-17)
What: “Reasoned with them from Scriptures”
Audience 2: Athenian pagans (vv )
What: Reasoned from their own worldview

16. ONE BODY, MANY PARTS 6 Evangelism “Styles” Testimonial Example: John 9
Who: Blind man healed by Jesus
Audience: Those skeptical of Jesus
What: Told them what Jesus had done for him: “I was blind, but now see”

17. ONE BODY, MANY PARTS 6 Evangelism “Styles” Interpersonal
Example: Luke 5:27-31
Who: Matthew
Audience: Tax collectors and “sinners”
What: Threw a party for Jesus where all Matthew’s friends could meet him. Created an environment where Jesus could be encountered.

18. ONE BODY, MANY PARTS 6 Evangelism “Styles” Invitational
Example: John 4
Who: Samaritan Woman at the Well
Audience: Everyone she knew
What: Said, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"

19. ONE BODY, MANY PARTS 6 Evangelism “Styles” Service
Example: Acts 2:45-47
Who: The early Christians
Audience: All of their city
What: “Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need … and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”

20. ONE BODY, MANY PARTS 6 Evangelism “Styles”
Putting it all together (“Party Evangelism”)
Shares her story & invites a friend to church
Another person helps him understand Christianity
Jesus’ grace seen in lives of new Christian friends
They’re served by deacons, like Christ serves us
Someone challenges them to act on what they now know and believe - and they become a Christian!

21. Mr. Miyagi

22. OVERVIEW Biblical considerations / basic principles
“Listening to Hear” not just respond
The “Thresholds” people inevitably cross on their way to faith in Christ – and how to help rather than hinder
The role of hospitality and community
Gospel Boot Camp