Equipping Dinner: Engaging the Community

Equipped to Endure

Last year God showed me that the theme would be Equipped to Endure

Increase in Love

Engage the Community

Apply the Word

Encounter the Spirit

Tonight we are going to look at the Engaging the Community

We have done equipping dinners on

Progressive Christianity

Critical Race Theory

Secularism

Gender Ideology

We’ve equipped you with the facts. How do you now go into the community and engage the people?

Engage the Community

Engage = Participate, become involved in

John 17:14–15 ESV

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

When people hear the term “Engage the Community” think of Food Pantries or homeless shelters

Homeless only represent a tiny fraction of the community

SB County has 446,476

Lompoc has 43,834

Village has 7,945

Between 12-17% are Christians

Around 7,500 are Christians

How are we going to reach the lost?

The most effective way of reaching people is relationship evangelism

76% of people come to church because they were invited by someone they knew

82% people were introduced to Jesus by someone they knew

Outreach & Community service have their place but they are not the most effective way in reaching people with the Gospel

They are great in increasing Christians heart for the community

Jesus has placed you in your world as a missionary to engage those who are lost

Vision: To engage the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Going beyond inviting people to church

Engage in discussions

Plant-> Water-> Harvest

If we are going to engage the community we need to take a plant, water, harvest mentality

When most think of evangelism they think of sharing the gospel and the person receiving Christ

That happens, but not as much as you think

Most hear the gospel at church, watch the witness of Christians, have deep discussions about questions they have, and then come to Jesus

The gospel needs to be sown, watered, and then harvested

1 Corinthians 3:5–8 ESV

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

We have to be willing to engage people with the Gospel

Matthew 9:36–38 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Are you moved with compassion for the weary?

Do you see the community that is ripe for the harvest?

Are you ready to do the labor?

Objections:

People aren’t open to church or the Gospel

I can’t answer their objections

Can you have a simple discussion with a friend?

Game Plan

How many of you have heard of a guy by the name Columbo?

He was great at looking confused and inept

He was a master question asker

Instead of going on the defensive, learn to ask questions

It’s okay to act clueless, it might help

What would you do if you were at a party and someone made one of the four claims?

“It’s not rational to believe in God. There is no proof”

Christianity is basically the same as all other religions. The main similarity is love. We shouldn’t tell others how to live or believe.”

“You take the Bible too seriously, because it was only written by men, and men make mistakes.”

“It’s wrong to force your view on other people. You can’t legislate morality. Christians involved in politics violates the separation of church and state.”

Video by Greg Koukl

Your first response shouldn’t be to preach or disagree, but to enter into a discussion

Discussion Keys

You don’t have to defend every accusation

Put the burden of proof back on the person making the claim

Make them defend their statement

Keep your tone relaxed and cordial

Be inquisitive, not accusational

Gathering Information

Ask: “What do you mean by that?”

The key is gathering information

Questions clarify meaning so you aren’t misunderstood

It also forces the other person to think more carefully about they do mean

Ask them to spell out his objection

Be a student of other views

Claim #1 What do you mean by God?

What specifically is irrational about believing in God?

Turn the Tables

Ask: “How did you come to that conclusion?”

Have fair expectations for what they think is important

Don’t give critics a free ride

You don’t have to defend everything

Reverse the burden of proof

It’s not your duty to prove the person wrong, its the other persons duty to prove themselves right

Opinions are not proof, make them support claim with evidence

Most accusations are straw men, they won’t stand up on their own

Claim #2 How much have you studied other religions to find a common theme?

Did Jesus think all religions were basically equal?

Isn’t telling people to love one another just another example of doing what your objecting to?

Making a Point

Ask: “Can you clear this up for me...”

Claim #3: Do you have any books in your Library?

Do you find any truth in those books, also written by humans who are prone to error?

Is there a reason you think the Bible is less reliable than other books you own?

Don’t worry about getting it right

If you get into too deep you can always say “Let me think about that.”

Engaging people is the key

Sharing the Gospel

What is the Gospel?

Gospel = Good News of Jesus Christ

We are all sinners. Jesus came to take our place and die on the cross to pay the debt of our sin. His resurrection from the grave means that we are forgiven and granted access to heaven

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Every Christian should be able to articulate the Gospel

Tony Evans video

There are multiple ways you can share the gospel

3 Circles video

Flip over your handout and give is a shot

Share your testimony

Spiritual Disease

Resources

Tactics by Gregory Koukl

In book store Sunday for $10