Intro I wonder how you came to be here today?

Now I am not talking about the mode of transport although the various mode of transport available to us does mean that we are no longer confined to the places where we can walk or cycle to.

But rather how do you come to be in this church today?

Was it your family came, your friends brought you, just share how it happened?

Lets also consider what we understand by evangelism
Please share.

There are many definitions of evangelism

In 1987 seventy nine definitions were given - (David Bosch Transforming Mission p409)

"One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread"

All definitions have their difficulties. The point of the beggar quote is that it highlights the need of humanity to discover Jesus and to be transformed by him. It makes it clear that out of God's love and not our merit we are in a place to offer such love and life to others..

Bosch's definition is very full and requires unpacking.

That dimension and activity of the church's mission which by word and deed and in the light of particular conditions and a particular context, offers every person and community, everywhere, a valid opportunity to be directly challenged to a radical reorientation of their lives, a reorientation which involves such things as deliverance from the slavery to the world and its powers; embracing Christ as Saviour and Lord; becoming a living member of his community, the church; being enlisted into his service of reconciliation, peace, and justice on earth; and being committed to God's purpose of placing all things under the rule of Christ. (Bosch:1994:420)

Time does not allow me to unpack all of that this morning. But I want to present key factors in the task of Evangelism.

Visit to China 1.3 billion people. There are many people that live on this planet which God has made.

1 Tim 2.3 - God wants everyone to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

We have a responsibility to the world with each Church being a mission station for local and world-wide evangelism.

Wesley reminds us that the whole world is our parish, the parish system reminds us of the responsibility to care for those immediately around us.

We need a strategy to present Jesus to the peoples around us.

One such way is a community, newsletter that can be delivered to every home.

Another way is to adopt a street or a road which you regularly visit, whether that be for Christian Aid or delivering invitations to services etc.

Gavin Reed who headed up Mission England in 1984 wrote prior to this about evangelism, I think the book was called the "Gagging of God". In it he states how so often Christians seek to drag others into the Church building rather than going out to where they are.

Joshua 1 emphasises that if Israel was ever to get into the Promised Land, they had to go into it. Jesus in Mat 28 after stating that he has all authority uses that authority to commission the disciples to go. into all the world to make disciples.

Jesus said go. He did say stay in Acts 1 whilst the disciples were waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit but since that time because the Spirit has been given we are empowered and commissioned to go.

Already we have shared something of our own experience of how we came here.

For me having people who were praying for me and an outreach team who came to Bognor Regis seafront and chatted and invited me to a coffee bar was significant.

We live in a post Christian society, which means for many people certainly the Church is viewed by many as not being relevant, The UK has tried all that. Yes some Christian values remain but much has changed.

One of the findings from a community survey that we conducted was that we as Christians need to be much more high profile; we need to use contemporary jargon in people's faces. To make them aware the Church of Jesus Christ is alive, and to promote the life that he offers. People may think they know what it's about, or people may simply not care, we need to raise their curiosity.

This is where the rubber hits the road; the most important badge we must wear is the badge of love.

A command not just an idea - note.

Secondly, 'by this shall all men know that you art my disciples if you have love one for another.'

Paul writes in 1 Cor 13 about the pre-eminence of love and says you can even be a martyr for your faith but if you do not have love it is useless.

I have been a Christian long enough and a minister long enough to know something of the tremendous power of God's love. How hearts can be softened how people can find a sense of value and purpose, how they can be cared for. Yet I also know how easy it easy for Christians to chew one another up.

I was in conversation with a guy on the Mencap trip and he was asking me about the events of September 11. I spoke of the great capacity that humanity has for good but also the horrendous capacity for evil. If we can put into practice the command of Jesus then I can tell you that will speak volumes. For the love of Jesus is sacrificial and not self-seeking. It’s a love that hangs in there even when this means going to die on the cross. It’s a love that triumphs over evil and rises on the third day. It is the spreading flame, which can ignite this world for God.

But it isn't easy as Christians we are not always the easiest people to get alongside; the 12 disciples must have had their battles in learning to love one another. I am overwhelmed by the transformation in John who at one time with his brother was known as the Sons of Thunder. Boanerges.

It is so important to love so that the community that a person enters who is not yet a Christian finds it welcoming.

Being welcome /opening up our homes are all ways in which the love of Jesus can flow.

Evangelism at times can just happen, it can arise out of a spontaneous opportunity to speak, yet at other times it needs to be formalised and there may be a programme of visiting in the local community.

At other times we have friends and family who we long to see becoming Christians. Praying regularly, making time for them, can be crucial factors.

Often it seems to me that as a Minister I can be busy doing Church work, which at times can stop us living our lives as human beings. Doing something that is of interest to you can be great fun it can also create new friendships.

Love people and develop friendships not just for evangelism feed but because these are human beings that matter but recognise too that they need Jesus.

Jesus in Mat 5 talks of Christian being salt and light. Think of your daily life whether that be based in the home or the workplace - think of the people you meet. These places are the immediate missionfields of our lives, don't ignore them, recognise their importance. To be places where as Christians we can touch the lives of others.

The way in which people come into the Christian faith has gone though a significant change. In the past the emphasis was probably on believing, now for many people the starting point is belonging. That reminds us that the church whilst having responsibility for its own members has a huge responsibility to those outside the church. The great danger can be that we can be a community of people looking inwardly rather than those facing outwardly.

Jesus in John 4.35 says

Where is our focus - look around. This means that much of what we do should have the not yet Christian in mind. How we welcome people, the form of our services are they understandable to those who are not Christians. Are they relevant? In content but also in style? The Church is going through a time of transition.

There are many different cultures embodied within the whole. Eg, young person's culture, but within that wide diversity also.

Should our main shop window be Sundays the time when as Church we can meet together or is it in our relationships and activities throughout the week that speak.

I have deliberately spoken today about evangelism and not mission as a whole for mission encompasses evangelism but also includes practical service, campaigning for justice, in short all that works towards the salvation of the world in its fullest sense.

Evangelism has at its goal the realisation of God's Kingdom - the rule of Jesus in each of our lives. It's about life transformation which means bringing a person not only to the place of conversion but into the relationship of a disciple - a continual learner and follower of Jesus.

(Illustration: Taking daughter out in the car).

The challenge of Jesus is not simply to know what he taught but to do it.

God has made you you. And individually and together you are unique and he wants you together to reach out and share the good news of Jesus to live so that others may indeed come to faith and we may see God's kingdom grow.

Acts 1.8 reminds us that the Holy Spirit is indispensable in our evangelism - he creates a heart for it, the Spirit resources us so that we can make a difference giving us a power to be witnesses without which we are fruitless.

Jesus reminds us without him we cannot do as thing.

Pray God creates the opportunities for us, pray that we have the courage and commitment to take them, pray that God brings others into his family. In terms of new birth this has been a barren time let us pray for fruitfulness, for transformation.

From china playing with dynamite, it makes a difference.,

OHP ACETATES: Evangelism - definitions

"One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread"

That dimension and activity of the church's mission which by word and deed and in the light of particular conditions and a particular context, offers every person and community, everywhere, a valid opportunity to be directly challenged to a radical reorientation of their lives, a reorientation which involves such things as deliverance from the slavery to the world and its powers; embracing Christ as Saviour and Lord; becoming a living member of his community, the church; being enlisted into his service of reconciliation, peace, and justice on earth; and being committed to God's purpose of placing all things under the rule of Christ. (Bosch:1994:420)