Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare, Mentor's Guide, MG08

/ 9 3

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

* Do I show any signs of having the gift of evangelism ? Who can I ask who might be able to confirm my questions about my evangelistic gifts–my believing family members, my small group, my pastor, others? * What is my own sense of penetrating my particular oikos with the Gospel? Who are the members of my immediate and extended family, my friends, and my associates whom I can begin to pray for an opportunity to share the Good News with? * As one charged with equipping others for ministry, what are the ways I can help prepare those under my charge with the skills and attitudes to share the Good News within their own oikos networks? What is the first step to preparing them for greater impact in the Gospel?

Winning the Older Ones through the Younger Ones

The vision of the children’s ministry in church is simple: present the Gospel to every child in our church and the surrounding neighborhood. Knowing that each of the children is part of a larger oikos of kinships, friendships, and associate relationships, how might we challenge the children’s ministry to expand their outreach to become a springboard into a pool of new relationships, rather than a backstop of only focusing on the children themselves?

3

First Things First

A young person who possesses one of the most likeable personalities and most popular reputations among the unsaved high schoolers of her school recently became a Christian. Because she is so popular, such an able communicator, and is completely willing to take the lead in youth ministry outreach, she seems like a natural to put in charge of the youth ministry’s upcoming high school outreach. She is a very new Christian, however, who is a little unclear about the nature of the Christian faith and walk, and still struggling with some of the “loose ends” of her previous life. There is a lively discussion about whether or not to use her as the “front man” for the outreach; if she were, attendance would go up greatly (because she is so popular at school). Others feel it is simply too soon to place her up front before she has a chance to grow up some in Christ. What would you advise the outreach team to do with her?