Before I start, some housekeeping:
1) Thanks to those who have commented on my last two chapters! I wonder if you wouldn't mind doing me a favour, however - "Unknown," who commented yesterday, I'd love it if you could either email me at hughestech1@optusnet.com.au or FB inbox me to let me know who you are; and Richard, please also email/inbox to let me know WHICH Richard you are (I have some more questions for you!).
2) Normally I wouldn't be commenting on a weekend, but I really want to get through this book in January, and also I am likely to be out on Monday night given that it's the last night of the School Holidays and also that we have the kids being minded! :)
Anyway, let's get into it.
"Many churches lack a strategy for reaching people for Christ, and it shows in their results." I think that line, at least, is fairly self-evident, so let's keep moving.
Warren finds five guidelines for evangelism in Jesus' instructions to his disciples (Matthew 10 and Luke 10).
1) Know what you are fishing for.
This, as far as I can see, is broadly targeted in the previous two chapters. As one person commenting on yesterday's chapter has said, there is a question as to whether a homogenous congregation is ideal or not - just because it seems to make sense to reach those who are like ourselves, does that make it what God wants? However, it remains that in these chapters Jesus did send the disciples after those like themselves.
2) Go where the fish are biting.
In this context Warren is saying that we should spend most of our time working on leading those who are responsive to Christ rather than on those who resist. I would point out here that there is some value to ensuring that even the "hard cases" know that the church cares about them, but Warren has a point - do you really think that another session with someone who has rejected Christ repeatedly is going to make a difference? However, in God's time even the hardest case might thaw.
3) Learn to think like a fish.
This is hard for me - I came to Christ when I was four years old (even though I went through my questioning times at various points of childhood and adulthood). It is often challenging for me to understand how someone with a different experience of God might think. Warren gives the example of church advertising about how they are "Preaching the inerrant word of God!". Similarly, I can see parallels in some of the songs we sing at church (one from a few years back says "I've been forgiven; I've been set free; Restored and sanctified, in Christ I've been released!" Quite apart from words like "sanctified", which don't get used outside of religious contexts, even the normal words like "Forgiven," "Restored" and "Free" have particular meaning to Christians which they don't normally have [i.e. they're part of our jargon]). It is important that we remove barriers between the Gospel and people by at least TRYING to express it in the language of those we're preaching to!
How does one learn to think like an unchurched person? By talking to them. Warren discusses his experiences in doorknocking, and lists five questions which were helpful to him in that task. they are:
* What do you think is the greatest need in this area?
* Are you actively attending a church? (If the answer was "yes", Warren finished the survey there!)
* Why do you think most people don't attend church?
* If you were to look for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
* What could I do for you? What advice can you give a minister who really wants to be helpful to people?
Warren describes the complaints he found. Whilst they are interesting, I'm going to leave them for now - the Australian context will have some similarities, but it will also be different; and rather than focus on what he found, it will be more useful to us to focus on our own findings.
However, his next point is valid - successful evangelism requires one to understand and anticipate objections people may have before they voice them.
Also, because of the difference in contexts, Warren's letter to the local area won't be directly applicable. However, a letter to our area should address any common objections people voice.
4) Catch fish on their terms.
We need to be willing to be uncomfortable to reach people for Christ - and if anything is important enough to be worth a bit of discomfort, it's that!
Catching fish on their terms means:
- Understanding and adapting to the culture of unbelievers. This is fairly straightforward, but in Australia it's very important (especially in Sanctuary's area).
- Letting your target determine your approach. Start wherever people are, and move on from there.
- Beginning with the felt needs of the unchurched. We know that everyone needs to be forgiven, but often that's not what they FEEL. The psychologist Maslow created the hierarchy of needs (diagram right) - his concept was that people aren't interested in needs higher up on the hierarchy until the needs further down are satisfied. Similarly, people probably won't recognise or prioritise real needs until felt needs are taken care of.
-Understanding and responding to the hang-ups of the unchurched. A lot of people will have hang-ups about church; they may be uncomfortable with the church asking them for money, or with being asked to sing, or whatever else. If we want to reach them, we need to be ready to deal with those hang-ups, even when they are based on ignorance.
-Changing methods whenever necessary. If methods aren't working, it's time to try something different. Don't keep doing the same thing hoping it'll start working.
5) Use more than one hook.
Warren says that we need to offer people choices (for example, in worship styles, in service times, etc). Given the size and resources of our church, it's probably better for the moment that we focus our efforts, running one service well. However, that's not to say that we can't try to incorporate a variety of methods into each one.
6) It costs to reach your community
Don't cut advertising and evangelism programs when budgets get tight. They are the source of new blood for your church.
7) Fishing is serious business.
Evangelism isn't a hobby for Christians; it should be our lifestyle.
No comments:
Post a Comment