This material is from a class presentation by a group of students. The words in bold face type are those which the other students were supposed to write in blank spaces on a printed lecture guide.
Some people are like the "good soil" of Jesus' parable in which the seed of God's Word is planted, takes root, grows, and flowers.
In terms of openness to the gospel, Donald McGavran noted that cultures swing back and forth along an imaginary line -- from hostility, resistance or just indifference, to interest and receptivity. In every population, some people will almost always be scattered along various points of that line although the majority of a population is often clustered at one single point.
Christians must see that the Holy Spirit prepares people. While He reveals God to us and is responsible for conversion, often He chooses to make face-to-face appeals to people through human agents. While the Holy Spirit empowers us to make those appeals, it is He Himself who had already prepared those people. [ more on prevenient grace ]
John Wesley's strategy, like that of Donald McGavran's, stressed concentrating on the harvest. That meant continually seeking out receptive people and attempting to win the winnable.
Speaking to the masses means:
Does the church . . .
| Need help and guidance in personal evangelism? How do you share your faith with someone who appears to be receptive? [ more ] |
-- Howard Culbertson,
Church Health course resources:
Course home page Church analysis
Assimilation analysis
Statistical graph
Leadership survey
Programs survey Sample
graph analysis Steps to planting a
church Devotional thoughts on the church's
task and a restaurant chain Exam study
guides PowerPoint presentations used in
class Why pastors resign
Course syllabus When
trust in a pastor erodes
Challenge: Be passionate
10/40 Window explanation and map Seeking
God's will? African martyr's commitment Mission trip
fundraising
Ten ways to ruin mission trips