TOWARDS A MOTIF OF HOLISTIC EVANGELIZING

TOWARDS A MOTIF OF HOLISTIC EVANGELIZING:

Canada Central District Assembly June 9, 2011 Oliver R. Phillips Director, Mission Support USA/Canada 1 TOWARDS A MOTIF OF HOLISTIC EVANGELIZING

HEALTHY HOLISTIC EVANGELIZING PRINCIPLES:

2 HEALTHY HOLISTIC EVANGELIZING PRINCIPLES Evangelizing should be done as a Tour Guide rather than as a Salesperson. Evangelizing should be grounded in Spiritual Formation and Christian Education. Evangelizing should be done in a Multicultural Context. Evangelizing is most effective with a Wesleyan Quadrilateral.

Salesperson or Tour Guide:

3 Salesperson or Tour Guide CRAZY CAR SALESMAN

DIGGING WELLS OR BUILDING FENCES:

4 DIGGING WELLS OR BUILDING FENCES

DIGGING WELLS OR BUILDING FENCES:

5 DIGGING WELLS OR BUILDING FENCES

Biblical Models of Evangelizing:

6 Biblical Models of Evangelizing The Proclamation Model Matthew 28:18-20 The Incarnational Model John 17:18, 22-23 The Relational Model Philippians 2:12-15 The Proleptic Model 1 Peter 3:15-46 The Liberation Model Luke 4:18-19 Inclusive Definitions Lifestyle Definitions Ideological Definitions

Disadvantages of Sales Approach:

7 Disadvantages of Sales Approach The experience is static; either the sale is made or not made. It excludes anyone who does not make a decision. (Non-participant) Owning the product is secondary to “buying the product.” It emphasizes boundaries, and views procrastinators as “radically different.”

Advantages of the Tour Guide:

8 Advantages of the Tour Guide The Tour Guide considers the journey as important as the destination. The Tour Guide employs the tools of Encouragement and Intervention. The Tour Guide reminds pilgrims of the distance to the destination. The Tour Guide ensures that there is constant movement on the pilgrimage. The Tour Guide points to places of significance along the way.

Evangelizing and Christian Education:

9 Evangelizing and Christian Education CE is about finding answers to the question, “What does this mean?” CE invites people to understand and claim their identity as children of God. CE helps people articulate the meaning of the gospel for themselves, others, and the world. CE prepares those already in the church to share the gospel. Learning is most effective when it results from interaction with others with whom we can test our ideas and receive benefit from their experiences. Evangelizing is the sharing of the answer to those in darkness. "Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you“ -- Matt . 28:20.

Evangelizing and Christian Education:

10 Evangelizing and Christian Education Evangelizing is the demonstration of hospitality as taught through Spiritual Formation. Hospitality is extended beyond the physical boundaries of the church and members of the congregation. Evangelizing, when integrated into CE, reaches other cultures effectively. Evangelizing is the sharing of the gifts of the congregation with strangers who would become friends. CE transforms complaints to commitment, and blame to responsibility. When evangelizing becomes missional, transformation sometimes becomes our own, as well as anyone else. CE teaches us to speak the “Monday language.” "Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you“ -- Matt . 28:20.

Evangelizing in Multicultural Context:

11 Evangelizing in Multicultural Context Christ Did It! Philippians 2:5-11 The First Christians Practiced It! Synagogue – fulfillment of OT Prophecy: Acts 2:14-40; 3:11-26; Stephen- Acts 7; Paul at Antioch – Acts 13 Paul in Athens – Acts 17:16-34 Because It Works! God is above culture, but has chosen to work within it to achieve God’s purposes.

Hiebert’s Radical Contextualization Principles:

12 Hiebert’s Radical Contextualization Principles Keep that which is not Unbiblical. Reject that which is Unbecoming for Christians. Modify Practices to give them Explicitly Christian Meaning. Reject Current Unbiblical Practices and Replace Them. Adopt Rites drawn from the Christian Heritage. Create New Symbols and Rituals.

Slide 13:

13

FAITH SERVING (Good-Newsing):

14 FAITH SERVING (Good- Newsing ) We must always seek to offer the world holistic compassionate ministries. When we give a cup of water, we ought to do so while at the same time naming the name of Jesus. We must care for the sick and needy, and audibly tell persons that our caring is in the name of Jesus. We must not simply bless a hungry person with spiritual words like “God bless you,” but also feed the person or teach the person how to find food.

FAITH SERVING (Good-Newsing):

15 FAITH SERVING (Good- Newsing ) We must allow God to use our spiritual gifts to minister to the whole person. We must verbally share during Sunday worship services and other fellowship times our experiences and signs of God’s present-day revelations in our lives. We should be open to the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives . We should expect the revelation of signs in our speaking and in our doing.

Faith Signing – Means of Grace:

16 Faith Signing – Means of Grace Discover the art of finding God in the places of action. The bread and the drink of Lord’s supper. T he water of baptism. T he beauty of God’s creation. U plifting music in worship. Significance of Christian art. Lives transformed by the Triune God. T he manifestation of the agape love of the Christian community. Signs and wonders often serve to validate both the message and the messenger.

Q & A:

17 Q & A THANK YOU