More and more I am convinced of the effectiveness and validity of small groups.
We are learning that relationships are the key.
However, relationships are also the key to evangelism as well.
In his book "Out of the Question, Into the Mystery" Len Sweet tells about taking his daughter, Soren, to the dentist. Soren had always been terrified of dentists, so Len picked the one with the best reputation in town.
At his office, as Soren climbed into the big chair, which she referred to as a torture chamber, the dentist showed off his new equipment -- designed specifically to cause less pain and take less time. And then he began to drill. Soren screamed, cried, twisted, turned and had to be held down. When he was finally finished, the dentist asked the Sweets never to return. Within two weeks Soren's new fillings had fallen out.
Finally, Soren was persuaded to try another dentist. This one was different. When she arrived for her appointment the dentist spent the first part of the appointment getting to know her, talking about her likes and dislikes, telling her about his own daughters.
After 25 minutes of conversation, he had earned her trust enough that she was able to open her mouth, and 15 minutes later his work was finished.
The difference between the two dentists was significant. The first tried to gain her trust through facts and information, the second gained her trust through compassion and friendship.
Here's Leonard Sweet's point: "If we shift our focus away from truth as right teaching and correct doctrine, and instead center our lives on truth as a Person and faith as a relationship with that Person, what does this do to evangelism? Evangelism shifts from an attempt to indoctrinate a skeptic into a new belief system and makes the gospel proclamation a process of inviting others into a relationship with God...Evangelism is not leading people to right beliefs about Jesus. It is introducing people to a right relationship with Jesus Christ."
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2 comments:
Hi George!
I've been reading your blog for several months now and have appreciated the things you have written. The stories you use to illustrate points are great.
I agree with you that relationships are key in evangelism. Sweet's comments are excellent. I'm going to make a note of them.
God bless you!
Mark
You're right. After all this time since my other small group had to stop, I've finally taken the first step to going to another one. It's hard to go alone, but I did it. I'm going to do it again, too. It was the best thing I've done for myself in a long time. It's something that people need for many reasons. For one thing, it sure feels good to have other people you can trust and who share the same beliefs as you do. I'll tell you all this, it was so good it got me crying. Something I haven't done in at least 6 months. I pray everyone will go, go alone if you have to. It's only the first time you feel alone anyway, the 2nd time you're not alone anymore. :)
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