Arlington Baptist College

Arlington Baptist CollegeArlington Baptist College

Cross Cultural MinistryCross Cultural Ministry

CM 3303CM 3303

Conspiracy of KindnessConspiracy of Kindness

By Steve SjogrenBy Steve Sjogren

The Power of KindnessThe Power of Kindness

Demonstrating the kindness of God Demonstrating the kindness of God by offering to do some act of humble by offering to do some act of humble service with no strings attachedservice with no strings attached

The Power of KindnessThe Power of Kindness

Demonstrating the kindness of God – Demonstrating the kindness of God – Visible Reminders of the HolyVisible Reminders of the Holy

By Offering to do – Service Before SelfBy Offering to do – Service Before Self Some act of humble service – Some act of humble service –

Excellence in all we doExcellence in all we do With no strings attached – “truth in With no strings attached – “truth in

advertising” – Integrity Firstadvertising” – Integrity First

The Power of KindnessThe Power of Kindness

People on the receiving end of simple People on the receiving end of simple acts of kindness come away with a acts of kindness come away with a more positive impression of more positive impression of Christianity than they previously hadChristianity than they previously had

With regular frequency, these deeds With regular frequency, these deeds also open a door to deeper also open a door to deeper communication about the gospelcommunication about the gospel

The Power of KindnessThe Power of Kindness

Servant Evangelsim = deeds of love Servant Evangelsim = deeds of love + words of love + adequate time+ words of love + adequate time

The Power of KindnessThe Power of Kindness

American Christians tend to view American Christians tend to view evangelism as a one-shot deal – a evangelism as a one-shot deal – a “let ‘em have it while we’ve got their “let ‘em have it while we’ve got their attention” blast from both barrels of attention” blast from both barrels of a shotgun loaded with Scripturea shotgun loaded with Scripture

Why does Servant Evangelism Why does Servant Evangelism Work?Work?

It is a process versus a projectIt is a process versus a project Doing acts of kindness is “high Doing acts of kindness is “high

grace”grace” Evangelism hits home when it begins Evangelism hits home when it begins

with acceptancewith acceptance

Why Does Servant Evangelism Why Does Servant Evangelism Work?Work?

Evangelism must overcome a Evangelism must overcome a credibility gapcredibility gap

An experience of love opens a An experience of love opens a person’s heart to a message of loveperson’s heart to a message of love

Unlearning the “E” WordUnlearning the “E” Word

Christians typically approach Christians typically approach evangelism in light of three possible evangelism in light of three possible choices:choices:

The SharkThe Shark The CarpThe Carp The DolphinThe Dolphin

Seeing the World Through Seeing the World Through Jesus’ EyesJesus’ Eyes

Jesus saw through the eyes of the Jesus saw through the eyes of the kingdom of Godkingdom of God

Jesus saw through the eyes of Jesus saw through the eyes of ScriptureScripture

Jesus saw through eyes of mercyJesus saw through eyes of mercy Jesus saw people through the eyes of Jesus saw people through the eyes of

simplicitysimplicity

Seeing the World Through Seeing the World Through Jesus’ EyesJesus’ Eyes

Jesus saw people through the eyes of Jesus saw people through the eyes of integrityintegrity

Jesus saw people through the eyes of Jesus saw people through the eyes of his culturehis culture

Jesus saw people through the eyes of Jesus saw people through the eyes of realityreality

Unlearning the “E” WordUnlearning the “E” Word

““Christians and non-Christians have Christians and non-Christians have one thing in common – they both one thing in common – they both hate evangelism!”hate evangelism!”

Getting Beyond OurselvesGetting Beyond Ourselves

Be with the peopleBe with the people Step out of your comfort zoneStep out of your comfort zone Bring the kingdomBring the kingdom Begin to careBegin to care Make yourself availableMake yourself available

Getting Beyond OurselvesGetting Beyond Ourselves

Manage your fear by going with a Manage your fear by going with a groupgroup

Realize that failure is a givenRealize that failure is a given Sow liberallySow liberally

Five Discoveries that Empower Five Discoveries that Empower EvangelismEvangelism

People listen when I treat them like People listen when I treat them like friendsfriends

When I serve, hearts are touchedWhen I serve, hearts are touched As I serve, I redefine the perception As I serve, I redefine the perception

of a Christianof a Christian Doing the message precedes telling Doing the message precedes telling

the messagethe message Focus on planting not harvestingFocus on planting not harvesting

Servanthood EvangelismServanthood Evangelism

Biblical ConceptBiblical Concept

25 But Jesus called them 25 But Jesus called them unto himunto him, and said, , and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. ransom for many. Matthew 20:25-28 Matthew 20:25-28

Servanthood EvangelismServanthood Evangelism

1. Servanthood Evangelism is 1. Servanthood Evangelism is intentionally sharing Christ by modeling intentionally sharing Christ by modeling biblical servanthood.biblical servanthood.

2. Servanthood Evangelism is a 2. Servanthood Evangelism is a combination of simple acts of kindness combination of simple acts of kindness and intentional personal evangelism.and intentional personal evangelism.

3. What kindness is not – telling people 3. What kindness is not – telling people what they want to hear so they will feel what they want to hear so they will feel good about themselves.good about themselves.

Servanthood EvangelismServanthood Evangelism

4. What kindness is – doing 4. What kindness is – doing something to show the love of Jesus something to show the love of Jesus in a practical way.in a practical way.

5. Servanthood evangelism is made 5. Servanthood evangelism is made of two parts:of two parts: Service (acts of kindness)Service (acts of kindness) EvangelismEvangelism

Servanthood EvangelismServanthood Evangelism

6. Examples of Servanthood Evangelism:6. Examples of Servanthood Evangelism: Handing out soft drinks in a town’s business districtHanding out soft drinks in a town’s business district Going door-to-door in older communities with nine-Going door-to-door in older communities with nine-

volt batteries and checking residents smoke volt batteries and checking residents smoke detectorsdetectors

Absolutely free car wash – no donationsAbsolutely free car wash – no donations Taking light bulbs door to door and focusing on Taking light bulbs door to door and focusing on

Jesus as the light of the worldJesus as the light of the world Taking several rolls of quarters to a laundry mat Taking several rolls of quarters to a laundry mat

and sharing Christand sharing Christ

Servanthood EvangelismServanthood Evangelism

7. Servanthood Evangelism is an 7. Servanthood Evangelism is an effective approach to intentionally share effective approach to intentionally share one’s faith in today’s contemporary one’s faith in today’s contemporary culture – it is trans-cultural evangelism.culture – it is trans-cultural evangelism.

8. Matthew 20.28 “28 Even as the Son 8. Matthew 20.28 “28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”ransom for many.”

Strengths of Servanthood Strengths of Servanthood EvangelismEvangelism

It is effective in reaching people in It is effective in reaching people in today’s culture; it is easily contextualized today’s culture; it is easily contextualized without compromise.without compromise.

People are more likely to allow a person People are more likely to allow a person to share their faith when evangelism is to share their faith when evangelism is combined with simple acts of combined with simple acts of servanthood.servanthood.

It is personal evangelism is a corporate It is personal evangelism is a corporate setting.setting.

Strengths of Servanthood Strengths of Servanthood EvangelismEvangelism

It is low-risk evangelism – it focuses It is low-risk evangelism – it focuses on the Lord of the Harvest versus on the Lord of the Harvest versus some ingenious method or some ingenious method or approach.approach.

It should become an essential part It should become an essential part of the church’s missionof the church’s mission

It is enjoyable and fun!It is enjoyable and fun!

Strengths of Servanthood Strengths of Servanthood EvangelismEvangelism

It involves everyone is evangelism It involves everyone is evangelism and is a wonderful family approach and is a wonderful family approach to witnessing.to witnessing.

Servanthood Evangelism follows the Servanthood Evangelism follows the model of Jesus.model of Jesus.

Servanthood Evangelism allows Servanthood Evangelism allows laypeople to use their creativity to laypeople to use their creativity to initiate ministry opportunities.initiate ministry opportunities.

Strengths of Servanthood Strengths of Servanthood EvangelismEvangelism

Servanthood Evangelism takes very Servanthood Evangelism takes very few resources and can thus be done few resources and can thus be done anywhere in any setting.anywhere in any setting.

Servanthood Evangelism is win-Servanthood Evangelism is win-some because it is not utilitarian in some because it is not utilitarian in its approach – it does not use its approach – it does not use people.people.

Foundational Principles of Foundational Principles of Servanthood EvangelismServanthood Evangelism

Those participating must be Those participating must be intentionally evangelistic.intentionally evangelistic.

Those participating must genuinely Those participating must genuinely care about people.care about people.

Eventually, those participating need Eventually, those participating need to be equipped as personal to be equipped as personal witnesses – it is the result not the witnesses – it is the result not the front-end requirement.front-end requirement.

How To Begin Servanthood How To Begin Servanthood EvangelismEvangelism

S – Seek the Father’s Power and S – Seek the Father’s Power and PresencePresence

E – Enlist the PeopleE – Enlist the People R – ResourceR – Resource V – Vacate the Church and get V – Vacate the Church and get

involved in the local communityinvolved in the local community E – EvaluateE – Evaluate

Final IssuesFinal Issues

Servanthood Evangelism is not an Servanthood Evangelism is not an end unto itself.end unto itself.

Servanthood Evangelism is a Servanthood Evangelism is a process, not a program.process, not a program.

Servanthood EvangelismServanthood Evangelism

Servanthood evangelism has the Servanthood evangelism has the potential of revolutionizing the ministry potential of revolutionizing the ministry of any local congregation, student of any local congregation, student ministry, etc. If properly done on an ministry, etc. If properly done on an intentional basis it will enhance the intentional basis it will enhance the evangelistic ministries that already exist. evangelistic ministries that already exist. The key issue is the corporate The key issue is the corporate development of a servant mentality development of a servant mentality among God’s people.among God’s people.