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topical_evangelism [2020/04/23 12:59] gregkedrotopical_evangelism [2021/05/02 19:11] (current) – [Tracts] gregkedro
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 Evangelism forms part of discipleship. Too often people divorce evangelism from discipleship and that creates a unbiblical dichotomy. Evangelism forms part of discipleship. Too often people divorce evangelism from discipleship and that creates a unbiblical dichotomy.
-  * Evangelism: We "make" disciples (in the sense of "creating" a disciple) through evangelism. +  * **Evangelism:** We "make" disciples (in the sense of "creating" a disciple) through evangelism. 
-  * Edification: We "make" disciples (in the sense of "molding" a disciple into the image of Christ) through edification.+  * **Edification:** We "make" disciples (in the sense of "molding" a disciple into the image of Christ) through edification.
  
 Therefore, we should never talk about "evangelism and discipleship" as if they were two separate things.  Therefore, we should never talk about "evangelism and discipleship" as if they were two separate things. 
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 So... if you're looking for my **//teaching on evangelism//**, please visit [[topical_discipleship|the discipleship page]]!  So... if you're looking for my **//teaching on evangelism//**, please visit [[topical_discipleship|the discipleship page]]! 
- 
----- 
- 
-===== Pissing Up a Rope ===== 
- 
-I've heard it said that open-air preaching is futile and useless. The actual phrase that was used by the brethren was that **street preaching was just "pissing up a rope"** (you can find a nice, lovely, thoughtful definition of that Christian phrase in the [[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=piss%20up%20a%20rope|Urban Dictionary]] or in the [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/piss_up_a_rope|Wiktionary]]). 
- 
-Noah, "a preacher of righteousness" (2Pet 2.5), was given 120 years to preach to lost people, warn them of coming judgment and wrath, and call them to the gracious salvation provided by God. 
- 
-**//But he won no convert//.** 
- 
-Gee... What a **tool** (also defined in the [[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tool|Urban Dictionary]]). I guess he was just pissing up a rope. 
- 
-**For apostasy there is no remedy but judgment.** 
- 
->**2Timothy 4.3-4:** For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 
- 
-With regard to open-air preaching, street ministry, and intentional evangelism... Since that is the clear, biblical model of the main thrust of the Great Commission... 
- 
-**I think that's a fine rope to piss up.** 
  
 ---- ----
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   * 2Timothy 4.5   * 2Timothy 4.5
  
-==== The Evangelist Evangelizes ====+==== [1] The Evangelist Evangelizes ====
  
 >**Acts 21.8:** And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.  >**Acts 21.8:** And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 
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   * (Acts 8.40) He "preached in all the cities."   * (Acts 8.40) He "preached in all the cities."
  
-==== The Evangelist Trains ====+==== [2] The Evangelist Trains ====
  
 >**Ephesians 4.11-12:** And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ... >**Ephesians 4.11-12:** And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ...
  
-The evangelist es also one of the four leaders Christ gave as gifts to the Church for the perfecting of the saints, that the saints might do the work of the ministry that results in the edifying of the body of Christ.+The evangelist is also one of the four leaders Christ gave as gifts to the Church for the perfecting of the saints, that the saints might do the work of the ministry that results in the edifying of the body of Christ.
  
 So we can clearly see the will of God (the divine design) in the evangelist. So we can clearly see the will of God (the divine design) in the evangelist.
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 If you are one of the reconciled, you have been entrusted with the word of reconciliation (the gospel) and God calls you an ambassador for Christ. God expects you to preach this word to those who need reconciliation with God. There is no "gift of evangelism." God called you just like he called me and every other Christian to evangelize. It's not a question of "gifts" but rather of obedience. If you are one of the reconciled, you have been entrusted with the word of reconciliation (the gospel) and God calls you an ambassador for Christ. God expects you to preach this word to those who need reconciliation with God. There is no "gift of evangelism." God called you just like he called me and every other Christian to evangelize. It's not a question of "gifts" but rather of obedience.
  
-==== The Pastor & the Work of an Evangelist ====+==== [3] The Pastor & the Work of an Evangelist ====
  
 >**2Timothy 4.5:** But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  >**2Timothy 4.5:** But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 
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 ---- ----
  
-===== Gospel Tracts =====+===== Pissing Up a Rope ===== 
 + 
 +I've heard it said that open-air preaching is futile and useless. The actual phrase that was used by the brethren was that **street preaching was just "pissing up a rope"** (you can find a nice, lovely, thoughtful definition of that Christian phrase in the [[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=piss%20up%20a%20rope|Urban Dictionary]] or in the [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/piss_up_a_rope|Wiktionary]]). 
 + 
 +Noah, "a preacher of righteousness" (2Pet 2.5), was given 120 years to preach to lost people, warn them of coming judgment and wrath, and call them to the gracious salvation provided by God. 
 + 
 +**//But he won no convert//.** 
 + 
 +Gee... What a **tool** (also defined in the [[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tool|Urban Dictionary]]). I guess he was just pissing up a rope. 
 + 
 +**For apostasy there is no remedy but judgment.** 
 + 
 +>**2Timothy 4.3-4:** For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 
 + 
 +With regard to open-air preaching, street ministry, and intentional evangelism... Since that is the clear, biblical model of the main thrust of the Great Commission... 
 + 
 +**I think that's a fine rope to piss up.** 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== Tracts ===== 
 + 
 +Motivation to pass out tracts: {{ :09_topical:evangelism_george_street.mp3?linkonly |George Street}} (9 mins) 
 + 
 +Buy good tracts: 
 +  * [[https://www.tractplanet.com/|Tract Planet]] 
 +  * [[https://chick.com/|Chick Tracts]] 
 +  * [[http://store.livingwaters.com/gospel-tracts.html|Living Waters]] 
 + 
 +Learn: 
 +  * [[https://markcahill.org/product/one-thing-you-cant-do-in-heaven/|One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven]] by Mark Cahill 
 +  * [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978607538/|Terrified]] by Todd Friel 
 +  * [[https://biblicalevangelism.com/|The School of Biblical Evangelism]] 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== EDDM ===== 
 + 
 +==== The Problem ==== 
 + 
 +One of the problems I have encountered where I live is the restrictive nature of local "soliciting" law. Many of the municipalities where I live define "soliciting" in such a way as to include door-to-door evangelism. 
 + 
 +Lenexa, for example, states the following in their [[http://online.encodeplus.com/regs/lenexa-ks/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=1347|City Ordinance regarding Soliciting]]:  
 +  * **Purpose:** The City has a substantial interest in protecting citizens' right to privacy and quiet enjoyment of their private property. Courts have recognized the government has an interest in protecting individuals from unwanted intrusions into the privacy of their homes. 
 +  * **Definition:** Solicitation defined by the ordinance and it includes leaving a gospel tract or church invitation: "Hanging, leaving, or depositing any advertisement, flyer or handbill on or upon any door, porch, driveway, residence, or business, regardless of whether a doorbell is rung or any physical or verbal contact is made." 
 +  * **Prohibited:** Solicit at a residence, dwelling, business, or individual dwelling unit in a multi-family residential complex, or other location at which a sign bearing the words "No Solicitors" (or similar)... 
 +  * **Prohibited:** Solicit or attempt to solicit at a multi-family residential complex when all street entrances or all primary entrances to the complex have been clearly posted with signs marked "No Solicitors."  
 +  * **Prohibited:** You cannot place gospel tracts on //**vehicles**// in Lenexa, Kansas: "It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or deposit any handbill in or upon any vehicle, unless the vehicle is occupied and the occupant is willing to accept it." 
 + 
 +[[http://online.encodeplus.com/regs/overlandpark-ks/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=1136|Overland Park]] and [[https://www.olatheks.org/government/police/community-outreach/solicitation|Olathe]] have similar City Ordinances. [[https://www.leawood.org/licenses-permits/solicitation-permits/|Leawood]] is even more restrictive (and it's not a bad thing!) in that they require all solicitors to get a permit. 
 + 
 +==== The Solution ==== 
 + 
 +Most people want their privacy at home. They want the quiet enjoyment of their private property (me, too). They don't want unwanted intrusions into the privacy of their homes (me, too). 
 + 
 +In addition to that, we don't want to break the law (Rom 13.1-5, etc.).  
 + 
 +So, how can we reach people in our community with the message of the biblical gospel in a way that abides by the law and doesn't intrude into people's quiet enjoyment of their private property? EDDM is an interesting option... 
 + 
 +**[[https://www.usps.com/business/every-door-direct-mail.htm|Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)]]** 
 + 
 +EDDM is a service offered by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) that reaches every address in a chosen and defined geographic location. 
 + 
 +**The Steps:** 
 +  - Create or Use an Existing USPS.com Account 
 +  - Select Neighborhoods & Audience 
 +  - Design & Print Your Mailpiece 
 +  - Choose Drop-Off Date & Payment Options 
 +  - Print Forms & Prepare Mailing Bundles 
 +  - Drop Off Your Bundles at the Post Office 
 + 
 +**Resources:** 
 +  * [[https://www.usps.com/business/pdf/every-door-direct-mail-user-guide.pdf|EDDM User Guide]] 
 +  * [[https://www.usps.com/business/pdf/quick-reference-guide.pdf|EDDM Quick Reference Sheet]] 
 +  * Mailers: {{ :09_topical:eddm_mailer_9x625.pdf |9x6.25"}} | {{ :09_topical:eddm_mailer_11x625.pdf |11x6.35"}} | {{ :09_topical:eddm_mailer_17x11.pdf |17x11"}} | {{ :09_topical:eddm_mailer_85x11.pdf |8.5x11"}} 
 +  * {{ :09_topical:eddm_min_max_sizes.jpg?linkonly |Comparison}} of minimum and maximum EDDM sizes 
 + 
 +==== Examples ==== 
 + 
 +When I was the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church, we invested in several rounds of EDDM in order to reach our community with the message of the gospel and an invitation to our Bible-believing congregation.  
 +  * Our first mailer: {{:09_topical:eddm_hbc_invitation_1_front.png?linkonly|front}} | {{ :09_topical:eddm_hbc_invitation_2_back.png?linkonly |back}} 
 +  * Our second mailer: {{ :09_topical:eddm_hbc_pretending_1_front.jpg?linkonly |front}} | {{ :09_topical:eddm_hbc_pretending_2_back.jpg?linkonly |back}} 
 +  * One round of 100,000 mailers: {{ :09_topical:eddm_hbc_100k-mailers-1.jpg?linkonly |Pic1}} | {{ :09_topical:eddm_hbc_100k-mailers-2.jpg?linkonly |Pic2}} 
 + 
 +Andy, founder and owner of [[https://www.tractplanet.com/|Tract Planet]], helped us with the mailer design and printing. He's outstanding to work with and a good Christian brother.  
 + 
 +==== Cost ==== 
 + 
 +The USPO charges $0.178 per EDDM mailer (that's less than 18 cents; it's less than half the price of [[https://www.usps.com/business/prices.htm|mailing a normal postcard]]). 
 + 
 +In 2012, Andy (from Tract Planet) designed and printed 100,000 mailers for $7,500.00 (that's $0.075 -- seven and a half cents -- per mailer). Granted prices will have increased since then, but this give you an idea of how relatively inexpensive EDDM is. 
 + 
 +You can reach your entire community with the message of the gospel for about 25 cents each.  
 + 
 +Or... you can keep your quarter laid up in a napkin and see how that works out for you... 
 + 
 +> He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come... And another came, saying, Lord, behold, //**here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin**//... And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. [Luke 19.11-27] 
  
-other fun stuff goes here. 
topical_evangelism.1587646795.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/04/23 12:59 by gregkedro