21st Century Wineskins

For the last few months I’ve been preparing a seminar based on  the ideas I’ve shared on this blog. I believe God has called me to help others learn to share their faith in Jesus in a way that is natural, relational, and founded in Authentic Christian Community. Here’s a synopsis of what the seminar is about.

New Times Require New Methods

Much of what the church teaches about the “how-to” of sharing our faith focuses on presenting a certain set of propositions (e.g. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life), trying to convince someone to believe those propositions and say a prayer of assent when you get to the end of the booklet. Those tools have their place, and had a degree of success in helping people share their faith. However, the world has changed in the 40+ years since the creation of the most commonly used gospel presentations. Basic assumptions of the nature of truth are different, people are not merely looking for a spiritual belief system to ascribe to, and Christianity is not the default choice for the spiritually curious anymore.

The 21st Century Wineskins Seminar addresses how the church can more effectively communicate the gospel to a skeptical and increasingly post Christian culture.

Module 1: Perception is Reality

Examines the findings of the book UnChristian about how those outside the church perceive us and my own research regarding Christians’ perceptions of non-believers. We take a look at the perceptions, examine how they create obstacles to both receiving and sharing the gospel, and look at ways we have contributed to the problem and how to change for the better.

Module 2: Creating Authentic Christian Community

Looks at some of the characteristics of the early church such as the “Four Devotions” (Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer) and the things these devotions produce (togetherness, generosity, praise, witness, and fruit). This module also suggests ways to help create that type of Authentic Christian Community and shows how it is the context within which effective outreach takes place and is the element that will keep people committed to Christ for the long haul.

Module 3: Building Bridges Strong Enough to Bear the Weight of Truth

Most Christians want to share the gospel, but never feel quite up to the task. This workshop focuses on how to build relational bridges to those with whom you want to share the gospel. Using the metaphor of building a bridge we look at Laying the Foundation (Prayer), Building the Superstructure (Four Key Elements – Observation, Time, Attitudes, & Communication), and Completing the Connection (Establishing Trust & Speaking God’s Truth).

Module 4: Re-Thinking Evangelism

What is the first thing that pops into your head when you think of evangelism? That’s scary? I’m gonna be rejected? Not my spiritual gift? This seminar looks at how most Christians think of evangelism, gives an explanation of Relational Evangelism, and challenges you to rethink how evangelism could be done and will help you begin to share your faith in new and natural ways.

These are some of the things you will learn in this seminar

• Building strong relational bridges based on trust and mutual respect will allow you to lovingly speak God’s truth into a person’s life without damaging the friendship.

• Relational evangelism begins by seeing people as Jesus does, spending time with them, having Christ-like attitudes, and learning to communicate so people understand.

• In the context of Authentic Christian Community everyday Christians experience the power of God and bear fruit for the kingdom.

For more information about how Relational Life Ministries
can help equip you or your church for effective outreach contact:
Chris Hardy
phone: 734-646-3227
email: rlm@provide.net