1 paul’s approach. sept. 2008copyright by prof. lynn s. nored2 millennial characteristics (births...

1

Paul’s Approach

Sept. 2008 Copyright By Prof. Lynn S. Nored 2

Millennial Characteristics(Births 1982-2000)

Active ConsumersHighly ConnectedHighly Digital (Facebook/My Space/Texting/web/use of Blogs)Highly Tolerant of alternate lifestylesHighly structured and busy activitiesStrong social consciences and concern for environmentDistrustful and cynicalMust see and experience to understand

Struss, S. “Ask an Expert: Avoid hard sell when marketing to younger generations”June 2, 2008. <http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/strauss/2008-06-02-younger-generations_N.htm>


Four Generations How Many Profess Christianity?

83% of those who become Christians do so before age 20.

65

35

15

4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Builders Boomer Busters Bridger

Generation Type

% Professing Christ ianity


Shattering Myths About the Unchurched

Myth #1They are anglo, middle class suburbanitesMyth #1They are anglo, middle class suburbanites Myth #2 They are turned off by the church name (84% Myth #2 They are turned off by the church name (84%

Not)Not) Myth #3 They Myth #3 They nevernever attend church (48% do; 38% NZ) attend church (48% do; 38% NZ) Myth #4 They cannot be reached by personal Myth #4 They cannot be reached by personal

evangelism (65% were)evangelism (65% were) Myth #5 We must be careful about complex biblical Myth #5 We must be careful about complex biblical

truths (91% doctrine important)truths (91% doctrine important) Myth #6 Bible Class and small groups are ineffective Myth #6 Bible Class and small groups are ineffective

(70% yes)(70% yes) Myth #7 The most important relationship are in the Myth #7 The most important relationship are in the

marketplace. ( 43% it was family members)marketplace. ( 43% it was family members) Myth #8 The unchurched are concerned about their own Myth #8 The unchurched are concerned about their own

needs( Most needed challenge; others for children)needs( Most needed challenge; others for children)

T. Ranier. 2003. The Unchurched Next DoorShattering, pp. 46-58 Myths about The Unchurched. Grand Rapids:Zonderan


Rethinking the Church’s Mission

The Postmodern View

“The church is justone marginalized segment in a fragmented world”

No truthWhatever!Decentralized Networks

Unpredictable WorldPessimismRapid Change


Possible Church Focuses

FAITHFULTO THE GOSPEL(LOVE=OBEDIENCE)

Obedience

PRESERVATION

INFORMED BY RESTORATIONHERITAGE(Rational Discernment)

ANTICIPATION

INSPIRED/MOTIVATEDBY CHRIST’SRETURN(HOPE)

CULTURALLY SENSITIVE

MINISTRIES &WORSHIP

RELEVANT TOSETTING

(LOVE=RELATIONSHIPS)

THEMISSIONARY

CHURCH

Adapted fromE. Gibbs, ibed.


Our Mission

Matt5:14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven


How Do We Do This?

By Being Authenic in All RelationshipsBy Being Authenic in All Relationships

Matt22:37 Jesus replied: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’


How Do We Do This?

Modern Thinkers

Historical Critical Lens

Change in Social Identity

New Community

New Language

PostModern Thinkers

Text Interrogates Them

New Worldview

Kallenburg, B. 2002. Live to Tell. Grand Rapids: Brazon.


HOW DO WE DO THIS?

Provide HopeProvide Hope Demonstrate Demonstrate

AuthenticityAuthenticity Explore the Explore the

Spiritual and Spiritual and MysteryMystery

Use NarrativeUse Narrative Share ExperiencesShare Experiences Share CommunityShare Community Demonstrate Demonstrate

ServiceService

Incarnational

What do you hope for in your What do you hope for in your children?children?

What would you do if you got What would you do if you got what you are working for what you are working for now?now?

What kind of injustice makes What kind of injustice makes you angry?you angry?

What kind of people do you What kind of people do you truly admire?truly admire?

What kinds of things What kinds of things separate humans from separate humans from animals?animals?

What makes life worth What makes life worth living?living?

Ask Questions That Probe


How Do We Do This?

It is not as important how you initially broach spiritual questions as what you say thereafter

IT IS INSTRUCTIVE TO SEE WHAT PAUL DID ANDSAID IN A SIMILAR PULARISTIC CULTURE WITHA DIFFERENT WORLDVIEW

AGORA-MARKETPLACE AREOPAGUS-MARS HILL


PAUL’S APPROACH16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols

Assessed culture with Christian eyes—DISTRESSED!

he reasoned in the synagogue.. as well as in the marketplace.. ..to a meeting of the Areopagus

He went to them. Hedid not ask them tocome to him.(neutral)

20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

He talked about ideas(not sports, politics)that brought questionsto their minds.


PAUL’S APPROACH“Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.

He commended them.

Establishment of a entirely different worldview

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.

GOD is transcendent and creator of everything!


PAUL’S APPROACHEstablishment of a entirely different worldview

25 And he is not served by

human hands, as if he needed

anything,

GOD is Self Existing!—a god of aseity (theology)

because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

BUT, we need God!

26 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.

This where we came from!And we were created ethnically diverse without racism


PAUL’S APPROACH


27 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.

Religion is NOT “I do thisfor you God, and You do this for me God.” BUT, God wants a relationshipwith us and we need that Relationship.

28 ‘For in him we live and

move and have our being.’

God is always with us! (Immanent). We have a relationship even if we don’t recognize it.


PAUL’S APPROACH


As some of your own poets

have said, ‘We are his

offspring.’

He used their writings to establish logical conclusions.

29 “Therefore since we are

God’s offspring, we should

not think that the divine

being is like gold or silver or

stone—an image made by

man’s design and skill.

Idolatry is THE problem of man. All evil springs from putting things ( whether material or abstract) before God.


PAUL’S APPROACH


’ 30 In the past God

overlooked such ignorance,

but now he commands all

people everywhere to

repent. 31 For he has set a

day when he will judge the

world with justice by the man

he has appointed.

1) There is a way to break the cycle 2) Justice will be brought to all evil doers3) There is a specific individual to do this.


PAUL’S APPROACH


He has given proof of this to

all men by raising him from

the dead.”

He presents the gospel and provides hope.

We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed.

Hostility Love

Evangelism is a process, not a point conversion

Decision


Paul’s Approach

Establish New Worldview & Relationship With God

God Immanent

Idolatry/EvilJustice

The Gospel

CommendThem

GodTranscendent

God Self Existing

We Need God

ExplainsOrigins

Seeking &Finding God

BeDistressed

Go to Them

DiscussIdeas


Practical Ideas 1.Don’t be mislead into accepting the truth antithesis!

Know Truth

Absolutely

Can’t.Therefore Everything is

Relative

If you did you would be omniscient or God

2.Remember that everyone must fuse their horizons of understanding.

Time

No Understanding

CompleteUnderstanding


Questions to Establish Worldview

Does God Exist?Does God Exist? What is the character and nature of God?What is the character and nature of God? How and How and whywhy was the world created? was the world created? What is the nature and purpose of What is the nature and purpose of

humanityhumanity What happens after we die on earth?What happens after we die on earth? What spiritual authorities exist?What spiritual authorities exist? What is truth?What is truth?Brana, G. Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions. Ventura: Regal Books


Practical Ideas

3. Establish Common Worldviews

4. May use the historical nature of Truth ( “I am the wayThe truth and the life”). If Jesus is not historically true,Christianity is without foundation, a fraud and a lie.

6. Be authentic in all of your interactions with others

7. Make sense of the Cross

5. Better to use the paradigm of “What web of convictions, “What web of convictions, beliefs, and practices must be in place before one can make a beliefs, and practices must be in place before one can make a judgment that a certain statement is true or false”judgment that a certain statement is true or false”


Practical Ideas8. Form relationships ( “Love your neighbor”) not Dependent upon their accepting Christ

a. Be Purposefulb. Focus on Common Interestsc. Take advantage of social eventsd. Be a good listenere. Love the unlovedf. Take advantage of everyday activities to ask probing questionsg. Go slow. Be patient.

9. Use your story to tell “The Story”

24

Pragmatic Incarnational Evangelism


Incarnational Evangelism /Mission Theological Basis Jn 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. was with God, and the Word was God. 22 He was He was with God in the beginning. …with God in the beginning. …55 The light shines in The light shines in the darkness,the darkness, … …1010 He was in the worldHe was in the world, , ..11..11 He He came to that which was his own …came to that which was his own …1414 The Word The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among usbecame flesh and made his dwelling among us

Phil. 2:6 Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8


Incarnational Evangelism /Mission Theological Basis

Presence (Jn 1:15 “among us’)Presence (Jn 1:15 “among us’) Jesus “of Nazareth” for 30 yearsJesus “of Nazareth” for 30 years

Proximity ( Mk1:15 “near”; Luke 19:10, “seek”)Proximity ( Mk1:15 “near”; Luke 19:10, “seek”) Pharisee, prostitutes, soldiers, tax collectors, Pharisee, prostitutes, soldiers, tax collectors,

poor, richpoor, rich Powerlessness (Phil 2:6 “form of a servant”)Powerlessness (Phil 2:6 “form of a servant”)

Humility and serviceHumility and service Proclamation (Jn 1:5 “light shines” Telling the Proclamation (Jn 1:5 “light shines” Telling the

story)story) Contexualized messageContexualized message


Incarnational Evangelism /Mission Theological Basis

CHRIST

Christology

MISSION

DETERMINES

Missiology

CHURCH

DETERMINES

Ecclesiology

Ignorance of God

Culture GapDiscipleship Gospel Gap

Mature Christian

Discipleship?Hirsch, A. Ibid.Frost, et. All., Ibid

WE mustGO to Them


Pragmatic IncarnationThird Place Communities

Cafes, Coffee Shops, Community Centers, General

Stores, Bars, Hangouts,

HobertAustralia

Home

First Place

Workplace

Second Place

Ray Oldenburg


Pragmatic IncarnationShared Projects

One of the interesting trends that seems to be developing in the emerging underground missional church is the

connection between proximity spaces, shared projects, commercial enterprise and indigenous faith communities.

Frost, M. 2001 Church in the Missional Mode. <www.biblesociety.org.uk/exploratory/articles/frost01.doc >

“For Works of

Service”

Eph. 4:12


Pragmatic IncarnationShared Projects

Dialogue Across cultural, racial, economic political and generational boundaries.

Curriculum developmentFrameworks and organisers to understand and create projects that build communities.

Network formationTo link individuals and organisations committed to developing a

positive future for all generations of Tasmanians.

IMAGINE TASMANIA

<http://www.associationoffices.com.au/assn/imagine.htm>

31

The Conversion Process


Evangelism in the Postmodern World

0-10 +10

Large,NegativeHurdles,Belligerent

MatureChristian

Hostility Love

-4

DECISION

Postmoderns are here. No commonWorldview with us

Previous evangelismHas focused here

We must focus here-first with their concernsand attitudes

Evangelism is a process, not a point conversion


Conversion is A Process

YOU must be genuinely interested in the YOU must be genuinely interested in the “person” to develop a “person” to develop a real relationshipreal relationship

A change in social identity and culture is involvedA change in social identity and culture is involved The Christian community participatesThe Christian community participates

Understanding a “new language” is involvedUnderstanding a “new language” is involved Service and Incarnation is a requirementService and Incarnation is a requirement A new world-view/paradigm shift requires A new world-view/paradigm shift requires

dialoguedialogue Telling the story and your story.Telling the story and your story.


The Story of Redemption

Is This the World God Intended?Is This the World God Intended? We were created for communityWe were created for community

What kind of God Do We Serve?What kind of God Do We Serve? We need God’s graceWe need God’s grace

Faith and the Promise to AbrahamFaith and the Promise to Abraham We must trust GodWe must trust God

Jesus’ Birth, Life, and MinistryJesus’ Birth, Life, and Ministry We need the Holy Spirit in our livesWe need the Holy Spirit in our lives

<www.thestoryofredemption.com>


The Story of Redemption

The Radical Life of a DiscipleThe Radical Life of a Disciple Christ calls us to radical lives of Christ calls us to radical lives of

obedienceobedience The Road to the Cross/ Jesus Trial The Road to the Cross/ Jesus Trial

and Crucifixionand Crucifixion Christ’s death redeems us from sinChrist’s death redeems us from sin

The ResurrectionThe Resurrection We can take hold of a new lifeWe can take hold of a new life


Summary of Postmodern Evangelism

In the postmodern world truth is determined only by In the postmodern world truth is determined only by language and communitylanguage and community

Postmodern thinking has affected all aspects of societyPostmodern thinking has affected all aspects of society The “church” is now isolated in the culture The “church” is now isolated in the culture We must become incarnational missional replicating We must become incarnational missional replicating

congreations instead of relying on attractional approahescongreations instead of relying on attractional approahes We must equip all members to use their strengths and gifts We must equip all members to use their strengths and gifts

for missional servicefor missional service Effectives approaches are authentic sharing of community, Effectives approaches are authentic sharing of community,

experiences, and narrative dialogueexperiences, and narrative dialogue We must fundamentally go where the unchurched are in, We must fundamentally go where the unchurched are in,

not expect them to come to us. We must servenot expect them to come to us. We must serve We must recognize conversion requires a complete We must recognize conversion requires a complete

adoption of a new culture and language and is a processadoption of a new culture and language and is a process We must tell Our Story and The StoryWe must tell Our Story and The Story

1 paul’s approach. sept. 2008copyright by prof. lynn s. nored2 millennial characteristics (births...

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