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Read the first several lessons in The Person of Jesus manual and
the first Appendix entitled, "An Evangelism Method for a Changed
World."
It is highly recommended that you seek the guidance of someone who has
already led the study. If you do not know anyone who has, contact Paul
Miller during the day at 215-721-3113 or email
him. Your mentor will guide you through the remaining steps.
- The Teacher - The material is designed to be used by someone
with no teaching experience, but some background in teaching would be
best. This person does not have to be an evangelist.
- The Inviters - Who will ask people to come out? Don't be concerned
about whether you know any non-Christians. Some people are like the
disciple Andrew, who always invited people to Jesus. (In John 1, Nathaniel
asks "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?", and Andrew replies,
"Come and see".)
- Those to be Invited - Who are the non-Christians that you or
others will be inviting?
- The Invitation - Would it help to have a written invitation
or is a verbal invite better?
- The Time - Sometimes it is helpful to set a time in advance
and sometimes it is best to wait and let the non-Christians be part
of the decision. Groups have done it both ways.
- The Frequency - Every other week is a good pattern, such as
the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- The Location - It is ideal if you can meet in the house of
a non-Christian, but it is usually a matter of whoever has the biggest
living room and most central location. Don't be locked into one location,
however. It could revitalize your study to move it to a new location
after a year.
- The Dessert - Make sure someone makes dessert and brings drinks.
It is very important after the study to have informal fellowship time
where people just enjoy each other.
- A Caution - Be very careful that you don't make decisions for
the whole group. They will feel that. Make sure that decisions you make
are done with the whole group, including Christians and non-Christians.
Ask their opinions on everything: "Do you want to keep meeting while
so-and-so is on vacation?" "Here are some options on what lesson to
go to next. What would you prefer?" "Whose house should we meet at?"
- Team or Solo? - A team is ideal in doing ministry, and we see
it consistently modeled by both Christ and Paul; but sometimes the nature
of relationships with non-Christians makes a team inappropriate. Unbelievers
might be overwhelmed if they face more than one person. If you are leading
solo, it is crucial that you create a support-team outside of the course
with either your mentor or a friend. The Biblical model for solo ministry
is demonstrated by Paul at Mars Hill, the work of the early deacons,
and Philip and Steven in their evangelism.
- Team Composition - An ideal team has at least three members
and is balanced between men and women. Paul the Apostle rarely went
with just one person; he almost always had a group of three. There is
great strength and support in three, especially if it is comprised of
both men and women.
- Praying As a Team - You need to plan and pray as a team before
you begin the group and as you go along. You are going into enemy territory,
and you must not do it alone or without a cover of prayer. If you have
a long drive to the house where you have the course, you may use that
time to pray and catch-up with each other.
- Church-Based Team Ministry - If possible, this should be done
as a ministry of your church. If you are connected with your church
from the very beginning, it will provide a natural channel of communications
for advice and counsel; and when someone begins to show interest in
Jesus, then your church leadership will be excited about what you are
doing. Most pastors and elders are eager to see their church reach out
and will be more than happy to provide you with "prayer cover" as you
do this. Our work is not separate from the church but an essential part
of it. Furthermore, you can't make people into Christians - only God can.
So prayer is essential. God must do the work.
There are several ways the teacher of the course can get support and
training. You can attend a Saturday Seminar where you see the material
taught. You can also get weekly tutoring over the phone from your mentor.
Some preliminary teaching instructions are given on this website.
This is the simplest thing to but feels like the hardest. You are only
asking them to come to a four-week study on the person of Jesus. (At the
end of the first or second evening together, mention that the study of
Jesus is an in-depth study and that at the end of the fourth week you'll
all decide together if you want to go for another four meetings.) You
will be surprised by people's interest. Just try it. You aren't asking
them to become Christians; you are offering something that will be concretely
helpful to them today. Each lesson is designed to have practical application
with people's lives.
Learn how The Person of Jesus can be used as a tool
for discipleship.
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