Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare, Mentor's Guide, MG08

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E V A N G E L I S M A N D S P I R I T U A L W A R F A R E

This segment seeks to answer in a brief time the question: What are the steps to incorporating a new believer into a local assembly of believers? Follow-up is the natural next step of evangelism, and its aim is to incorporate new converts into a healthy Christian community where they can publicly affirm their faith, understand their role in the body of Christ, be taught to walk with God personally and as a member of the Christian body, and use their gifts and resources to further advance the Kingdom through their church. These steps require the same kinds of careful and prayerful approach as do sensitive, culturally appropriate presentations of the Gospel message. Although this may appear to be a difficult matter to understand the role of follow-up, the analogy of raising spiritual children should not be lost. In the same way that a newborn needs care and refreshment, cleansing and protection, love and tenderness, so a new Christian requires the same, and all our efforts at evangelism should make ample and careful preparation for the incoming new members! This segment provides a general outline of the various steps and attitudes that we ought to have as we respond to the fruit, those individuals who do repent and believe at our appeal and sharing of the Good News. Recall the actual lesson objectives here, for it can guide you and keep you on track as you relate these items to their evangelistic efforts . Remember, this module is focused on evangelism, and these concepts are spoken of in their relationship to evangelistic outreach. The argument is being made that no evangelism should be undertaken that ignores or counts on spontaneous follow-up. Another way of saying it: don’t conceive children if you have no intention of raising them too!

7 Page 113 Summary of Segment 2

Make sure that you seek to clarify the relationship between follow-up and evangelism here, and cover the individual steps and mechanics of incorporating new believers into the local assembly as well. What our students must grasp is the biblical connection between new birth and ongoing maturity.

8 Page 123 Student Questions and Response

Paul makes this clear in Ephesians:

Eph. 4.11-16 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building