Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism for the Twentysomething Generation

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Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism for
the Twentysomething Generation

• By
• Tom Cheyney

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Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism
Modern Church
Post-modern Church

• Evangelism is an event you invite people to.
• is primarily concerned with getting people into
  heaven.

• Evangelism is a process that occurs through
  relationship, trust example
• is concerned with peoples experiencing the
  reality of living under the reign of His Kingdom.

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Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism
Modern Church
Post-modern Church

• is focused on pre-Christians.
• is done by evangelists.
• is something you do in addition to discipleship.

• is focused on post-Christians.
• is done by disciples.
• is part of being a disciple.

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Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism
Modern Church
Post-modern Church

• is a message.
• uses reason and proof for apologetics.
• Missions is a department of the church.

• is a conversation.
• uses the church as the primary apologetic.
• the church is a mission.

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Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism

• Some ideas worth considering
• Evangelism offers an invitation into the
  Kingdom, instead of a way to get to heaven.
• Evangelism is less of an invitation to an
  event, and more of an invitation to enter into
  community.

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Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism

• Some ideas worth considering
• Evangelism is more dialogue and listening,
  than preaching and telling.
• Evangelism is part of discipleship and church
  culture, rather than something you do on the side.

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Shifting Values in Approaches to Evangelism

• Some ideas worth considering
• Evangelism is discipleship-evangelism,
  rather than entertainment-based.
• Evangelism may take a lot more time and trust
  today.

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Questions Worth Considering

• What are some specific ways you and your church
  could build the trust of non-Christians through
  dialogue and community?
• Are you up for it?