Education and Evangelism

The age is gone when evangelism was out there and education was

in here.

Education and Evangelism

The postmodern world requires education and evangelism to be united in vision and ministry.

Education and Evangelism

Part of the rational, professional, and institutional nature of the modern

church of the past century was the compartmentalization of ministries.

Education and EvangelismThe 20 Century New Testament scholar C. H. Dodds, made an impact in 1936 with a widely adopted attempt to show that the early church made a definite distinction between preaching and

teaching, that the act of proclamation was a distinct act within the early church and that teaching followed preaching. The general acceptance of his writing

helped to reinforce a distinction between education and evangelism.

Education and Evangelism

Today’s world much like the age of the early church calls for a more permeable

boundary, if any distinction between evangelism and education

Education and Evangelism

The Logic of Evangelism

William Abraham

Evangelistic Love of God and Neighbor:A Theology of Witness and Discipleship

Scott Jones

Education and Evangelism

“Evangelism is that set of loving, intentional activities governed

by the goal of initiating persons into Christian discipleship in

response to the reign of God.”

Education and EvangelismIn The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West . . . Again, George Hunter

writes about the difference between what he describes as the evangelism

approach in Roman and Celtic Christianity.

Education and Evangelism Roman Model Celtic Model Presentation Fellowship Decision Ministry and Conversation Fellowship Belief, Invitation to Commitment

Education and EvangelismChristianity is more caught than taught! As Professor Robin Gill

observes, belonging comes before believing. For this reason,

evangelism is now about helping people to belong so that they can

believe.

Education and Evangelism

The celtic model of evangelism is central to the growth of the emergent church movement in our postmodern

world.

Education and Evangelism

Brian McLaren – More Ready Than You Think, “Post modern evangelism is relational. In essence, Christians are converted first in

authentic spiritual friendship Good evangelists are People who engage others in good conversation about faith, values,

hope, meaning, purpose, goodness, beauty, truth, life after death. Life before

death and God. “

Education and Evangelism

“Good evangelism is the process of being friendly without discrimination and

influencing all of one’s friends toward better living, through good deeds and

good conversations. Engaging in spiritual friendship will not

only help others become Christians, it will help us become better Christians, who

love God more than ever.”

Education and Evangelism

The post modern world calls evangelists and educators to co-join our work and disciplines to reach a world that is hungering for spiritual

relationship, conversation and community.

Education and Evangelism

Three ways for education and evangelism to work together

1. Equiping ourselves and others to be conversational about faith.

Education and Evangelism

Education and Evangelism

Three ways for education and evangelism to work together

2. Go forth into the world….the ‘virtual’ world.

V I T A L I T Y

i.UCC.org

i.UCC.org

V I T A L I T Y

V I T A L I T Y

Education and Evangelism

Three ways for education and evangelism to work together

3. Nurture UCC Discipleship Formation

What Matters to You?

We Thank God By Working for a just and loving World

Matters To A UCC Congregation

Matters To A UCC Member

Our History Matters

Prayer Matters

Education and EvangelismToday’s world calls evangelism and education to an expanded vision that

puts aside our differences and distinctions to rediscover Jesus’ Great Commission which is both evangelical

and educational.

…to go forth into the world, make disciples and teach them.