Dave
PS I really enjoyed the Interview with the young lady, it was an eye opener!

OA’s actually change US. People who we didn’t even notice suddenly matter to us in ways we can’t explain. And when people matter to us, well…things happen.

It has been my experience that you cannot teach passion. There are charismatic speakers out there who can really get people emotionally fired up, but the fire dies almost as soon as they exit the doors.

By far the best way to open the way for the Holy Spirit to stir passion in a person is to disciple that person by leading. Take them with you to a soup kitchen, to a homless drop-in location, on a short term mission trip where there is true dire need, etc. Let them get their ’spiritual hands’ dirty (and sometimes physical hands). People need to get out of the classrooms and into the real mission field - that is where passion is born. Even if they can’t swim yet, get them wading.

In John 13 we see the King washing the feet of His subjects. Then He asks; “Do you understand what I have just done for you?” He does a little further teaching and then says; “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Knowing doesn’t get it. It is in the doing that the blessing is realized.

That’s what I appreciate about DOable Evangelism - it’s a DO concept as opposed to a know concept. Even OAs begin to stir passion, because people suddenly find themselves involved with God in the process of expanding His Kingdom instead of just knowing more stuff.

We think DE is one very good and practical way to move people off the bench, and we offer several ways to “infect” churches with this new paradigm for evangelism: The DE Seminar, the DE Course Consult, and the book Evangelism Without Additives (which has some discussion questions at the end of the book that a small group could use). Information on the Seminar (what it takes to host one) is here on links above, as is information on the DE Course Consult. Find a DE Seminar near you (calendar has those listed) and bring some folks from your church. Email me. Call me. We want to help.

Harold…You’re right (if I’m understanding your concern correctly). Jesus didn’t go around “getting followers”, if by that you mean that his primary mission was recruiting people. He did, of course, recruit twelve guys to help start the movement (as Brian points out), but from that point on it seems he just sort of attracted a lot of people to himself (despite his disciples antics at times). Generally Jesus was about getting people to hook up with the Kingdom of God…of which he was the King. And given his comments in Matt. 28 regarding what’s next, it looks like we’re supposed to be about making converts of all people and nations, right? (Oh yeah…it’s DISCIPLES, not just converts…how sad that we’ve reduced it this way). Anyway, Jesus seems very interested in people becoming his disciples…which is a word I often translate as “follower of Jesus” for the sake of clarity in our culture. But for the record, that’s what I mean. Hope I “got” your concern and addressed it.

Brian…Thank you so much for your comment as well. Yes, passion is hard to spread, particularly when it comes to evangelism. I know there are Christians who simply don’t care about those who are not yet, and honestly I don’t know how to change their minds about that except to ask them why this is so (and perhaps if they know anyone who is not a disciple of Jesus who matters to them at all). Heaven and Hell aside, I cannot fathom someone loving Jesus and not being concerned about SOMEONE who they know and care about not experiencing life as it was designed to be lived (that whole “abundant life” gig Jesus was about). I don’t hold out much hope for the isolationists among us, frankly.

But most people who love Jesus are not so much disinterested in those who are far from God as they are disinterested in the programs and methods we’ve sold as the way to reach them. Doable Evangelism is a great way to connect their sense of desire to participate with what God is doing in the lives of others with what God is already doing in THEIR OWN LIFE. I mean, if evangelism can be about what we’re already doing, then it’s pretty hard to say no to it!

“Come follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

Randy, love the article. I’m one of those to whom evangelism comes easy, and I’ve taught many people how to “do” evangelism. For me the biggest issue is how to communicate a passion for lost people. And since most don’t have that passion, teaching methods (for better or worse) falls flat.

Brian

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