Archive | June, 2010

Tough Questions…

Churches often run courses like  So Many Questions , to equip believers to know what to say in response to many common questions about Christianity.  We do however, mainly run these type of courses or hot topic nights for the insider /believer, training them up to send them out to share what they learn with the people they are in relationship. This is really important element in the training of evangelism in churches.

However how about killing two birds with one stone: turn this evangelist training course into mini-evangelistic events. Open the event up to not just cater for the Christian. Promote it as something Christians could even bring unbelievers to.

  1. For the Christian – To train up and equip your church about the defeater beliefs, objections to Christianity, and tough questions that they face in the conversations they are having with their friends.
  2. For the Unbeliever – They would not only cater for the Christian but the unbelieving friend also. They would be nights where you could easily invite your friends to, and allow them to hear more about the Christian worldview.

Get a speaker to speak on their hobby horse topic, have a panel of speakers, or even open it up for questions time also.
Topics could include:

» Resurrection proof
» Hasn’t science disproved Christianity
» Reliability of the bible
» Objective Morality
» Ultimate truth/Exclusivity of Christianity
» Where is God during the GFC
» God hates religion – cause of all wars
» Christian disunity
» Role of sex in relationships
» Christianity is a group of homophobes
» Place of suffering in humanity
» Origin of creativity and beauty
» Purpose of work/career
» Toxic Culture
» Money

*Free EP Track from Jesus Culture…

“God of victory you are my passion,
its in the way you are, you don’t change at all…
my strength in life is I am Yours
my soul delights because I am Yours,
my will on earth is all I am living for,
Jesus I glorify…
you are my hearts desire,
I live to know you more”

- Jesus Culture


If you like them, why not buy their new 3 track EP ‘My Passion’,
available for download on iTunes.

What do you love about the gospel?

  • The hope of the future – eternal life
  • Being drawn to God
  • Relevant forever
  • Simplicity
  • Being satisfied
  • Seeing God at work in the world.
  • It’s worth knowing – many blessings
  • Unconditional
  • Joy and Peace from believing it.
  • All encompassing
  • Experiencing the love
  • Not a system it is relational
  • Freedom to live life as it should be lived
  • Comfort of knowing the God of all comfort
  • Being under Christ’s rule
  • Getting the gift of the Spirit to empower you to live
  • The buzz from sharing it with others
  • No longer an enemy.
  • No longer running
  • Being FOUND in Christ
  • It’s transforming power.
  • Having purpose and an identity that is not fickle
  • knowing the Creator God and being known by him
  • Being cared for by the Good Shepherd

18 Confessions… Power of God | 18



My hope is that this series of posts "18 Confessions" 
will deepen the believers empathy for those seeking out
the faith and bring insight into the internal wrestles of a new
Christian or perhaps if you relate to the thoughts or 
struggles in  these posts that you would consider the
lasting satisfaction and joy that can  only be found in Jesus.

What is the gospel?

  • Forgiveness
  • “repent and be baptised”
  • Not a system but relational
  • Jesus
  • Death conquering and life giving
  • 1 Corinthians 15
  • God’s will to save
  • God’s love and Grace
  • Bought by the blood of Jesus
  • Life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • John 3:16
  • Debts canceled.
  • “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”
  • Repentance
  • Demands action and/or response
  • Good news
  • Cross of Christ
  • Spirit of life
  • 2 Tim 2:8
  • No burning in hell
  • Jesus is Lord and Saviour
  • Jesus is the Son of God.
  • It is promised and planned
  • Salvation.
  • Romans 1:1-5
  • Love that has seeked us out.
  • He died in our place.
  • Life eternal through the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Redemption
  • Powerful
  • Words of eternal life
  • Hope

5 Quick Questions…

One method for walk up or door-knocking evangelism is take with you a survey to complete with those who speak with. One of the surveys that I have used while on Summerfest is ’5 quick questions’:

  1. What characteristics best fits your idea of God?
    a. Loving
    b. Angry
    c. Distant
    d. Relational
    e. Other
  2. Who do you think Jesus is/was?
  3. What do you think is the biggest cause of the problems in the world?
  4. If you could ask God one question what would it be?
  5. Why do you think God hasn’t stopped the suffering in the world?

BENEFITS

  • Like all surveys, where you ask a large collection of people, you can gauge popular opinion.
  • You can get to know the peoples beliefs, concerns, ideas, of those who your church is trying to reach.
  • The questions get to the heart of most peoples objections to Christianity.
  • It’s a 2-way conversation, where the respondent has the power of the conversation. Less threatening for them as they can say no to you, turn you away, or stop you mid-survey.
  • Helpful diagnostic tool to see where people are at with the Christian Faith.
  • The results in themselves are valuable as they give you insight, plus they might even provide some sermon illustration material; bible study openers: how would you respond to the person who says… etc.
  • Stimulates conversation.

CHALLENGES

  • Can just look manipulative. Just using the survey to get in so to bible bash them.
  • Sometimes hinders ability to share the gospel (often the aim of door-knocking) as once the survey is completed the conversation is over.

TIPS

  • Be polite and friendly.
  • Introduce yourself…
    Hi I’m Hayley, I go to Church by the Bridge, just doing a survey & would love your opinions on a 5 quick  questions…
  • If they say NO straight out… respect their decision and thank them for their time:
    Thanks anyway, hope you enjoy the sunshine this afternoon.
  • Be genuinely interested in hearing peoples responses.
  • Don’t force conversation on people.
  • Be happy to walk away with just survey results.
  • Close the survey by saying: ‘just wondering if I can ask one more question in response to one of your answers… e.g.
    Why do you think God is…
    What do you mean when you say Jesus is the Son of God?
    If Jesus is just a good teacher, why do you think Jesus was killed by the authorities for disturbing the peace (insurrection)?
    You said, Jesus was the Saviour? Who do you think he was saving and what was he saving them from?
    How does your worldview answer the question about suffering, if you think Christianity can’t?

Raising a Churchless Child

A parent is quoted saying:

As an intelligent human being, it’s her job to find the belief system that is right for her and makes her feel happy and fulfilled.  If she has a burning desire to become a Catholic or a Wiccan or whatever floats her spiritual boat, I’m behind her.

And the encouragement to be moral is:

Do it because it’s right, not because you fear retribution or judgment.

I am uncertain how happiness can decide the fate of ones life so strongly, considering happiness is often so subjective. What if the daughter decided on being a cannibal who murdered her food. As long as she was happy doing this, working 9-5 in her city job, married, serving the neighbours limb to the kids for dinner this would make the mum proud as punch: “At least she is happy”.

Obviously we want objectivity, correct? How do we have objective morality when we believe in no objective moral giver, namely God, who cares about right and wrong, is just and will bring to account the wrongs that have occurred in our lives?

26 Outreach Ideas for Christmas…

I know it is only June, but what are you thinking of doing this Christmas?

Are you going to be exploiting the festive cheer to preach the good news of Jesus Christ given unto us?

Ideas for Christmas Outreach:

  1. Community Carols Event
  2. Christmas Festive Market
  3. Anglicare Christmas Appeal – Toys and Tucker
  4. Blue Christmas (church service for those grieving)
  5. Free Community Christmas Day Lunch
  6. Kids holiday program
  7. Letterbox drop
  8. Christmas Hampers for those in need in the local area
  9. Music / Concert / Recital
  10. Gingerbread House making night
  11. Nursing home visit with caroling
  12. Street Christmas party
  13. Apartment block Christmas party
  14. Outdoors large Nativity scene
  15. Nativity Play
  16. Church Christmas Tour
  17. Youth Band Night
  18. Additional Church services to the normal weekend
  19. Carols by Candlelight
  20. Midnight Mass Christmas Eve
  21. Family Christmas Service
  22. Christmas movie night screen “The Nativity Story” (bit old but…)
  23. Operation Christmas Child, invite community to take part.
  24. Christmas Shopping Child minding… look after kids while people shop. Have gospel content… Christmas craft etc.
  25. Christmas tree delivery
  26. Bible / Scripture giveaway
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