Accidental Evangelist: How NOT to Witness (Man Overboard #1)
3-4
Aug 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Aug 2019, Christ Mountain Top
Praying
the Scripture, Psalm 139.1-12 or entire (depending on service)
the Scripture, Psalm 139.1-12 or entire (depending on service)
Children,
Mark 4.35-41, “cast your burdens onto Jesus”
Mark 4.35-41, “cast your burdens onto Jesus”
Message,
Jonah 1.1-17
Jonah 1.1-17
Mission
Moment, UM ARMY (6:00 and 8:30) – already shared in person at 10:45
Moment, UM ARMY (6:00 and 8:30) – already shared in person at 10:45
EPIC
Witness Fails
Witness Fails
John Wesley in Georgia
The romance
The innovation
The indictment
The escape – by sea, to a storm
John
Wesley’s failure involved personal failure and professional failure
Wesley’s failure involved personal failure and professional failure
Jonah’s
failure involved personal failure and professional success!
failure involved personal failure and professional success!
Everybody on the boat is saved!
Series:
Today:
the accidental evangelist, how NOT to witness
the accidental evangelist, how NOT to witness
Next
week: the hypocritical evangelist, how NOT to pray
week: the hypocritical evangelist, how NOT to pray
Then:
the suicidal evangelist, how NOT to be happy
the suicidal evangelist, how NOT to be happy
Final
week of Aug: Jesus and Jonah
week of Aug: Jesus and Jonah
We’re
going to pay attention to the comedic elements in the story.
going to pay attention to the comedic elements in the story.
if a tall tale … quite a story
if historical … who would tell it so
“straight”? Obviously not someone who takes himself too seriously.
“straight”? Obviously not someone who takes himself too seriously.
Along
the lines of our theme for the day, “how NOT to witness”, we have a comic video
clip for today: “Witnessola” by BluefishTV
the lines of our theme for the day, “how NOT to witness”, we have a comic video
clip for today: “Witnessola” by BluefishTV
Top
Ten List: How NOT to Witness
Ten List: How NOT to Witness
10. Run away from God.
9. Do the exact opposite of what God says. (Oppositional
Defiance)
Defiance)
8. Put others’ lives in jeopardy.
7. Put others’ wealth at risk.
6. Show no concern for persons facing imminent
disaster.
disaster.
5. Don’t lift a finger to help.
4. Use others as a human shield from the wrath
of God.
of God.
3. Make it clear that God really is out to get
us.
us.
2. Ask others to kill you.
1. Make them do it … and deal with the guilt.
Talk
about an epic fail!
about an epic fail!
Yet, everyone on the boat is saved!
Truly, an accidental evangelist
Critical
that we learn how to share our faith, to give witness:
that we learn how to share our faith, to give witness:
I
pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full
understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full
understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Philemon 6 (NIV)
So
difficult to do:
difficult to do:
It is the same as any other important
conversation – our awkwardness is what gets in the way – whether it is the “sex
talk” with your preteen or a promotion talk with your boss.
conversation – our awkwardness is what gets in the way – whether it is the “sex
talk” with your preteen or a promotion talk with your boss.
So, we map out the conversation in
advance. But it rarely follows script. So we stumble and mumble our way
through. Sometimes it is important enough that we have the crucial conversation
even if we are going to stumble through it. “I just need to talk about this.
And I want to give you fair warning that I’m struggling to put it into words.”
advance. But it rarely follows script. So we stumble and mumble our way
through. Sometimes it is important enough that we have the crucial conversation
even if we are going to stumble through it. “I just need to talk about this.
And I want to give you fair warning that I’m struggling to put it into words.”
It
is difficult to do today because of bias in our culture:
is difficult to do today because of bias in our culture:
· No,
I’m not talking about an “anti-Christian” bias
I’m not talking about an “anti-Christian” bias
o
That is minimal, most people are interested in Jesus
That is minimal, most people are interested in Jesus
· I’m
talking about a bias against Christian people who are known for their
un-Christian ways.
talking about a bias against Christian people who are known for their
un-Christian ways.
unChristian
by Dave Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons
by Dave Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons
By
those not in the church, Christians are perceived in mostly unflattering ways
and certainly NOT as embodying the gospel, values and lifestyle of Jesus …
but as thoroughly UN-Christian – hypercritical, insensitive, judgmental,
political.
those not in the church, Christians are perceived in mostly unflattering ways
and certainly NOT as embodying the gospel, values and lifestyle of Jesus …
but as thoroughly UN-Christian – hypercritical, insensitive, judgmental,
political.
The
second bias: That Christians are here to sell something, sell
their faith, and they want to close the deal in the first conversation.
second bias: That Christians are here to sell something, sell
their faith, and they want to close the deal in the first conversation.
Rick Richardson, ReImagining Evangelism
How
do we share our faith? It is easy to do organically, naturally:
do we share our faith? It is easy to do organically, naturally:
Do the opposite of what Jonah does
Run away from God – run toward God
Live in love with God, practice
generosity, prayer …
generosity, prayer …
Put himself first – put others first
Show genuine interest in the
stories of others
stories of others
Offer authentic care and
friendship
friendship
Jesus was so attractive to so
many …
many …
He did not come to be
served but to serve
served but to serve
Avoid the biases
Lead with judgment – lead with love
Close the deal – serve as a guide
St
Francis: preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words
Francis: preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words
Live/embody the gospel (not about silence,
but life)
but life)
John 1.14 – Word/Message became flesh
Embrace the Incarnation in our own
lives
lives
Become the Message (our vows –
spirituality that is real)
spirituality that is real)
Lived
Gospel = Loved People
Gospel = Loved People
People will start coming to you