Posts
by Samuel E. Ward
Part IIa: Approaches to the Mission
August 11, 2013
View the Powerpoint Slide Presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/approaches-to-the-mission-pt-i-ia
The Mission:
Utilizing the training received by observing the attitudes, approach, and methods of Jesus Christ, each disciple will engage in bringing the gospel to their own areas of influence. This shall be done with loving attitudes, respect for those to whom the gospel is presented, and a variety methods designed to attract people to Christ. We shall seek to be persuasive without being deceptive or manipulative.
Winsome Approaches Which Attract Others to Christ:
1. Cultivate Friendships.
2. Connect with People Where They Are.
3. Care for What People Have To Say.
4. Candidly Address the Root of People's Problems.
5. Consider People's Questions Seriously.
6. Confront People with the Choice to Believe Without Coercion.
I. Jesus Cultivated Friendships.
A. He Considered His Disciples To Be His Friends, John 15:12-15.
(John 15:12-16 NIV) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. {13} Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. {14} You are my friends if you do what I command. {15} I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. {16} You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
True friends of Christ love each other. True friends of Christ are willing to die for each other. True friends of Christ follow His instructions. True friends of Christ know His business or mission and join in it.B. He Considered Judas His Friend, Mat 26:47-50.
(Mat 26:47-50 NIV) While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. {48} Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." {49} Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. {50} Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
Jesus does not abandon His friends, though some abandon him.
C. He Considered Himself a Friend of "Sinners", Mat 11:18-19.
(Mat 11:18-19 NIV) For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' {19} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."
Christ did not call us to become members of a "Super Saints" club so that we would isolate ourselves from the "sinners" of the world. That would be the error of the Pharisees. Jesus wanted us to become so blessed by how the gospel affected our lives that we would be compelled to share it with others so that they could be blessed, as well.
D. He Came Seeking New Friends, Mat 9:10-13.
(Mat 9:10-13 NIV) While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. {11} When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" {12} On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {13} But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
II. Jesus Connected with People Where They Were.
A. The First Two Disciples Were Fishermen at Work, Mark 1:14-18.
(Mark 1:14-17 NIV) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. {15} "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" {16} As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. {17} "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
B. The Woman at the Well Was in the Middle of an Errand, John 4:7-15.
(John 4:7-15 NIV) When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" {8} (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) {9} The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) {10} Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." {11} "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? {12} Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" {13} Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, {14} but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." {15} The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
C. A Person in the Crowd Came to Him with a Complaint, Luke 12:13-23.
(Luke 12:13-23 NIV) Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." {14} Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" {15} Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." {16} And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. {17} He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' {18} "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. {19} And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' {20} "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' {21} "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." {22} Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. {23} Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Where do we find people who would benefit from knowing Christ"
1. In the workplace
2. In a public place
3. In "chance" conversations where issues are raised. Be careful about becoming argumentative rather than instructive.
4. In hospitals
5. Everywhere, Mark 16:19-20.
(Mark 16:19-20 NIV) After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. {20} Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
III. Jesus Cared For What People had To Say.
A. He Listened to Nicodemus' Questions, John 3:1-15.
(John 3:1-15 NIV) Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. {2} He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." {3} In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." {4} "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" {5} Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. {6} Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. {7} You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' {8} The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." {9} "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. {10} "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? {11} I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. {12} I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? {13} No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. {14} Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, {15} that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
Listening Skills
1. Listen for statements which indicate curiosity.
2. Build on the curiosity with spiritual truth that will inspire a spiritual answer .
3. Answer the initial question.
4. Lead the discussion to the ultimate truth that eternal life is found only by trusting in Christ.
B. He Listened to The Disciples As …
1. They reported their adventures in the ministry in order to teach about essential components in successful ministry, Luke 9:1-2, 10. See also Mark 9:17-18, 27-29; Mat 17:19-20.
(Luke 9:1-2, 10 NIV) When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, {2} and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. . . . {10} When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.
Here is a basis of giving believers ministry assignments in order to teach the challenges and blessings of ministry as well as to discover what makes it a success. Mark's gospel is probably Peter's recollection of one of the incidents in which the disciples were presented with the opportunity to cast out a demon. This became a teachable moment about a necessary element in successful ministry—prayer.
(Mark 9:17-18, 27-29 NIV) A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. {18} Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.". . . {27} But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. {28} After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" {29} He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
Matthew was one of the disciples involved in the incident and remembered another element needed for successful ministry--faith.
{Mat 17:19-20 NIV} Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" {20} He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
2. They offered their solutions to challenges in ministry in order to frame a teachable moment, Mat 14:14-21.
(Mat 14:14-21 NIV) When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. {15} As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." {16} Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." {17} "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. {18} "Bring them here to me," he said. {19} And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. {20} They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. {21} The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Immediately following this miracle designed to show that Jesus has the power to meet any need, Jesus reinforces the lesson with more situations to manifest their level of comprehension.
a. The disciples encountered a storm on the lake, Jesus walked on water, Peter showed "shaky" faith, Jesus stepped into the boat and calmed the storm.
b. The disciples miss the point of Jesus' warning about the Pharisees' "yeast" which corrupted the true teachings of God for concern about forgetting to bring bread.
One of the truths Jesus taught through all of these experiences was that He was sufficient for every need. All the disciples needed to do was to trust Him for their needs and concentrate on building their faith in Him while being alert to spiritual forces working against their mission.
3. They answered questions He asked to lead them to spiritual enlightenment, Mat 16:13-16.
(Mat 16:13-16 NIV) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" {14} They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." {15} "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" {16} Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
It was a question to guide them to comprehend fully who Jesus was. Were they finally "getting it" after all the signs, wonders, ministry, and teaching? Were they connecting Christ with what the Scriptures taught about Him?
4. They expressed grief over apparent defeat, Luke 24:13-32. See also John 14:2-3; 1 Pet 4:12-13.
The key to overcoming all grief is faith in the gospel and promises of God. How soon the disciples forgot all that Christ had told them to prepare them for His passion, death, and resurrection. Those who did see Jesus at the first were doubted by others who had not. Later, Jesus appeared to them all and then to over 500 at one time.
Even then, all is not fulfilled in our lifetime. Apparent defeat in battles here will be overcome by victory in the war overall. Jesus has left His word and the Holy Spirit inspired other writers of the New Testament of this very fact.
(John 14:2-3 NIV) In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
(1 Pet 4:12-13 NIV) Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. {13} But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Conclusion
We have taken note of three key approaches we can take when we seek to draw people to Christ. We should look and then make the most of opportunities to . . .
1. Cultivate friendships.
2. Connect with people where they are.
3. Care for what people have to say.
