In search of a biblical-theological, culturally relevant, simple evangelism approach I came across Tim Chester’s The World We All Want. Here is a description of this course:
We all dream of a better world – a world of security, plenty and friendship. Christians believe that God promises just such a new world. The Bible is the story of God making that promise and keeping it. The World We All Want is for people who are interested in the message of the Bible. Developed by the Crowded House, The World We All Want is an evangelistic Bible overview.
One of the key points that Tim has emphasized is beginning our gospel “presentations” with new creation, not with sin. I the Austin context, this is pretty crucial. Beginning with sin smacks of legalism and self-righteousness, but beginning with what we all long for—and what God promises—a world put to rights, full of joy and justice connects with the longing of every human heart. It mines the seed of religion in the heart of man and graciously leads him to repentance over looking to lesser things for fulfillment of this longing.
I just ordered the accompanying book, so more to come. Tim has also graciously posted the pdfs of the session summaries for Alpha course like presentations.
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January 18, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Kez
Sounds like a great book… let me know, if it’s worth getting.
Grace and peace to you!
January 18, 2008 at 6:36 pm
billphillips
I’d have to say I disagree with explaining the new creation before discussing sin. It really doesn’t even make much sense. An unbelievable majority of people think they’re good enough to go to heaven, and don’t think they need to be born again or be a new creation.
It’s not legalistic to discuss sin first. If it’s properly explained, it should leave everyone hopeless. The law stops people from justifying themselves and leaves them hopeless (Romans 3:19-20).
The Pharisees thought they were great, and I don’t think Jesus ever gave them the Gospel, but only discussed how wicked they were. If someone already knows how wicked they are, we should give them the Gospel. If someone thinks they’re good (almost everyone) then, we should discuss sin with them.
Thanks,
Bill
January 18, 2008 at 8:03 pm
jdodson
THanks for your viewpoint, Bill. You make some good points.
You are correct that there are a lot of people who think they are “going to heaven” though they are not, which makes clear and faithful gospel communication all the more important.
Actually, there is no sanctioned order in “sharing the gospel” found in Scripture at all. Jesus starts at different places with different people. The Pharisees were the religious right of their day, in many respects, entrusted with truth but void of grace. Jesus consistently demonstrated and taught the gospel to them. For example, in Luke 6 he patiently teaches them that he is Lord of the Sabbath, while cutting away at their legalistic interpretations of the law. He then demonstrates teh gospel, making the unclean clean, by healing a lame man. He gave them the gospel in word and deed.
In John 4, Jesus starts with a woman’s desire for water and for ethnic reconciliation, not with her immorality or multiple husbands. This is a way of starting with new creation, the longings of the human heart that God promises to fulfill in Jesus–multiethnic harmony and thirst that never ends. Jesus, of course, makes his way to her obstacle in receiving water and peace by pointing out her alternate Lord, sex and ethnic pride. Jesus graciously highlights these sin issues in the context of new creation—”an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” Jesus taps into the hope of new creation in the Samaritan woman’s heart, exposes her false god, and graciously leads her to receive acceptance, living water, and joy in worshipping God.
Many more examples like this could be adduced from Scripture. I did not say it is legalistic to discuss sin first. What I said is that it can smack of legalism…which depends on the spirit and manner in which it is presented. Jesus loves sinners not in spite of their sin but because of it. You and I are no exception to this. We need the whole gospel the whole time, as do unrepentant sinners.
January 18, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Chris
I just want to chime in as a relatively new believer that all of this intellectiual dissecting of the gospel worries me. Am I going to heaven? What kind of question is that?
In my heart, I have accepted, completely, the story of Jesus as my saviour.
The concept of distancing me, through scripture based qualifiers, makes me sad. I am imperfect. I will sin.
But, through Jesus’ sacrifice for me, I am still abe to commune with my creator. My heart is right. My actions may not be. But I will go to heaven. I rely on God’s grace and promise for this to be true.
January 18, 2008 at 9:47 pm
jdodson
Amen. That is partly why i put “going to heaven” in quotes. Christian discipleship is not perfection overnight, but perseverance over a lifetime. The other reason is that in many respects we dont go to heaven; heaven comes to us…in the new heavens and earth.
January 21, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Doug
I agree with the idea that we don’t have to start with sin FIRST in evangelism…yet if we don’t mention it, we don’t have the full gospel. Like you said, jonathan, there are many examples in Scripture that would support that claim of starting with the new creation.
One thing that has not been mentioned is the reality of Rom. 1:18-21. From these verses, it is clear that all of humanity (deep down) knows that there is a God and knows that they will be judged by this God. Therefore, our job is not to bash them with the truth of their sin, but to remind them of this God (his love and holiness) and show them that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save it (John. 3:17) thereby ushering in a new creation that all of us long for.