by Sean S. O’Neal
Sharing the Gospel in a
POSTMODERN WORLD
T
HE CHALLENGES of sharing the • Knowledge about the Scriptures— (Acts 1:8, NIV). We Pentecostals have often
message of Christ with lost peo- Bible culture felt we have cornered the market on spiri-
ple in a postmodern 21st-century • Knowledge about our audience— tuality, yet our efforts of personal soulwin-
society have resulted in a lethar- their culture ning are lacking. It is clear from this scrip-
gic Church stuck in unfulfilled Preparation is the placing of the tools ture that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit in order
destiny. These challenges include compla- in our toolbox that enable us to lead that we the Church would be sent, thus
cency, a lack of solid evangelical teaching, someone through the Bible, presenting fulfilling the mission of God. In Acts 13
and philosophical differences in the plan of salvation in a simple yet com- the church in Antioch laid hands on Paul
approaches to evangelism. prehensive way. Whether we choose to and Barnabas, sending them out under the
Evangelism apart from a relational develop and utilize a script or thumb power of the Holy Spirit.
faith community is the “doing something through the Bible, it is vital to know and Presence is the incarnational living
is better than doing nothing” approach to understand these scriptures: out of Jesus Christ’s example in the com-
filling the void left behind as the Church 1. Invitation: John 6:44; Revelation 3:20 munity. Often the Church walks away
has moved on, leaving unreached people 2. Reality: Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-12, from society rather than connecting with
outside of its walls. Effective witnessing 23 it in order to bring people to Jesus Christ.
for Jesus Christ involves connecting prag- 3. Hope: John 14:6; Romans 5:8; 6:23; In this regard culture has influenced the
matic methods and faith formation. 8:28 Church more than the Church has influ-
4. Process: John 3:16; Acts 3:19; enced culture. As we endeavor to be pre-
Five Elements of Effective
Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8 sent in the community, we earn the right
Witnessing
Power is an often misunderstood gift of to speak and be heard (as Jesus did in
Sharing the message of Jesus Christ with God in the Pentecostal church. Jesus said, Philippians 2:5-11).
lost people is an act of faith inspired by pas- “You will receive power when the Holy To communicate the Gospel we must
sion formed in the compassion of God Spirit comes on you; and you will be my build relational bridges to people. There
embodied in Christ. This passion wrapped witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea are five we must strive to build every day:
in prayer is the foundation on which effec- and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” bridges from (1) the churched world to
tive communication of the Gospel is
accomplished. The five elements of effec-
tive witnessing are perception, preparation,
power, presence, and persistence.
Perception is the intersection of
knowledge and prayer with the goal of
being guided by the Holy Spirit. This per-
ception (discernment) through the Spirit
directs us to know when to speak and
when to listen as we are communicating
and building relationships with those
who have no relationship with Jesus
Christ. Perceptivity is developed through
prayer and the intentional pursuit of
knowledge in three areas:
• Knowledge about ourselves—
our culture
14 EVANGEL • SEP 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32