“The fields are ripe for harvest…”John 4:35

Charles Scott

The Need• The Christian world view is no longer a

“common denominator” for our society.– “We live in a post-Christian era now, and (people) are

not coming through our doors in sufficient numbers, so we must go to them”. (1) Martin Hendy

Co-chair, Transformation Team, Vancouver Island, Anglican Church

– A large portion of young people have little or no familiarity with Christian truths.

Source: Roszan Holmen, “Anglican diocese considers closing almost half its churches”, Victoria News. Article published: Jan. 26, 2010, sourced from www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/82741892.html

The Need• Consider the transition in marketing.

Product = Benefit

Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yANasBU4jIo

• Consider the transition in marketing.Product = Benefit

Product = Connection with an Ideal

Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCRS0hQctus

The Need

Product = Connection with an Ideal

Product = Personal identity,meaning, purpose in life.

Source: “The Persuaders”, © 2004 WGBH Educational Foundation, downloaded from www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewJ6Wzmr_V0

The entire program may be viewed online at www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/view/

The Need• Consider the transition in marketing.

Product = Benefit

Perspective• How do you perceive this shift?

– The “modern” person views God as irrelevant?– The church has failed to impact the world for Christ?– Here is my view…

MassiveOpportunity!

Worldview:Implications for life, the universe, everything!

Option

There is no God

God exists, but does not get involved.

God is in everything (including me).

God cares / I reach out to connect.

God cares / actively reaches out to me.

Implication

I need to tackle all the big things in my own strength. I am on my own.

As above.

I’m the prime actor in making change. It’s mostly up to me.

I’m on the “good works treadmill”, earning / maintaining God’s favour and attention.

God takes the initiative, reaches out even if I don’t reach back. God’s in charge.

The MessageThe core Christian message (The Gospel) is:

• God’s plan – Peace and Life– God loves me and has a plan for my life

• My problem – Separation– My sin separates me from God

• God’s remedy – The Cross– Because He loves us, God pays the price we cannot

• My response – Receive Christ– Recognise my need, receive the gift, follow God

Refer to: www.billygraham.org/specialsections/steps-to-peace/steps-to-peace.asp

The MessageThe core Christian message (The Gospel) is:

Jeremiah 29:11

John 10:10

Romans 3:23

Romans 6:23

Isaiah 59:2

John 15:11

Romans 5:8John 14:6

Acts 4:12

John 1:12Romans 10:9

John 8:31-32

Reality CheckAn adult is in one of only two states:SalvationUnion with God

DamnationSeparation from God

Everyone loves John 3:16, right?16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned,18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

How, then, to respond?• Jesus’ guidance: Love

John 13:34-35 – Love for fellow Christians

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Matt 5:43-45 – Love for all people

“You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.‘ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

How, then, to respond?• Common mistakes to avoid:

– Shoving the Gospel down peoples’ throats.– Seeing people as projects, to “save” them.– Spewing anger, judgement, hatred.

In other words, not like this…

Or…..

Source: Wikipedia, attributed to the Westboro Baptist Church website, www.godhatesfags.com/photos/2005/20051023_tulsa-ok.html

2007 EmmysSource: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxmXbwCpN68

So, what do we do?• Pray for God to act.

– Saving people is God’s job• We are merely the gloves filled by a divine Hand.

John 6:65

He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

So, what do we do?• Pray for God to act.

• Reach out in genuine love.Example: Dorcas (Acts 9:36-39)

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!“ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

So, what do we do?• Pray for God to act.

• Reach out in genuine love.

• Speak gently when possible.– Example: Paul in Athens (Acts 17:16-32)

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

So, what do we do?• Bring the Gospel to those who need it.

Basis: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Example: The Church at Ephesus (Acts 19:8-10)Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Luke 10:1-2

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”