Evangelists Summit: Michael Ramsden

Michael Ramsden is the real deal. I am always stirred up and provoked by what he says, even though there are definite similarities between different messages I have heard because, simply, that is what he believes.

The strongest apologetic we have is God in us.

• In us
• In our marriage (if we are)
• In our family
• In our friendships

How "attractive" is our life? Is our testimony proved true in how we live, no matter what we face? This is not presenting a saccharin sweet view of a "perfect" life, but showing faith in action.

In Leviticus the calling to the priesthood was a gift.

Calling to serve God is God's gift to us, not ours to Him. Do we allow ourselves to feel we are somehow "doing God a favour" by serving Him in this way. Does the "gift" start to feel more like a burden, like a curse?

He then went on to discuss 1 Corinthians 1: 17-31

The irony of the verses which start with a warning about using words of human wisdom, then breaking into poetry. More so breaking into Hebrew poetry but in Greek, in a passage warning about the dangers of eloquence and pride.

Perecles Funeral Oration regarded a victory, but they were later defeated. In context of that defeat, even the great oratory loses its significance.

Paul's verses here have 71 points of similarity with Pericles' poem: but the significance does not come from the words.

The power of the events is what gives the words power. The significance of the message is what gives the words significance.

So the question for us is do we rely on God and use our gifts,
or do we rely on our gifts and use God?

Are we in danger of allowing our "gift" to replace the "giver"?

Just because we are gifted does not make our life OK or a good witness.

When we meet people are we "tired" and "busy" so we can somehow be congratulated for the way we are serving God?

Then came a very familiar encouragement from 1 Peter 3: 15 & 16

Essentially the point was to see apologetics, giving an answer, as a spiritual act alongside prayer, fasting, theology etc. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 show apologetics is a spiritual act above an intellectual one.

In order to provide answers we need to know their questions. That requires knowing what they read, watch and think about things. But our response needs to be "our" response: not someone else's neatly packaged into pithy sayings. We need to make it our own and express it our way.

Not only is it expressing the truth, but also being an effective witness to the truth as we answer.

My highlight:
"Apologetics is theology with legs that can walk into a pub and impart wisdom"

Evangelists Summit: Phil Moore

Phil Moore is from the Coign Church Woking and really set the scene for the two days with what was essentially a fairly impassioned cry for people to not leave their devotional life underdeveloped while performing public roles.

He used the analogy of cannons asking the question: do we search for a bigger cannon (such as better preaching, bigger Alpha Course etc) or do we desire more gunpowder, e.g. the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we stay close to God.

I found this quite a challenge. It is so easy to just be busy "doing" for God not "being" with Him.

The challenge laid was that prioritising time with God was an act of humility, with a little quip that evangelist's especially are sometimes not known for their humility.

Isaiah 40 29: 31 was used alongside other verses to set the point up clearly

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

There were quotes from Evan Roberts and others highlighting the devotional aspect of the leaders of many of the great revivals.

Here are some particularly pithy quotes used:

"The secret of Christianity is Christianity in secret".

"Our job is not hard, it is impossible. Without the Holy Spirit we are at 0%. With the Holy Spirit we are at 100%."

DL Moody: "Every great move of God can be traced to a single kneeling figure"

John Wesley: "Give me 100 men who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin and I will change this land"

Evangelists Summit: Who are "The Evangelists"

Adrian Holloway from Christchurch London hosted the event and started with a very good pep talk regarding who was there and why we were there.

• There were lots of different people there: different ages, genders, stages, experiences, places
• Not "single issue" people but people with a desire to both do and equip others to do evangelism within their wide-ranging Church responsibilities
• There were (as you would expect) many "preaching" evangelists there but also a whole range of other people in different roles and with different gifts. That pleased me, because it shows it is not seen as an "expert" thing and that the definition is not too narrow.
  

And then the next bit which sounded a bit like a manifesto for evangelism for newfrontiers in the UK.

• Britain is largely unevangelised
• Reaching lost people is a primary goal
• Church planting is essentially an evangelistic activity

We want to see:

• Evangelistic Churches
• Evangelistic members
• Evangelistic meetings / programmes / courses / small groups
  
• Evangelistic preaching

There is more to Church life than just evangelism. But we need to take evangelism very, very seriously as it is such a primary calling.

Evangelists Summit Introduction

Is it really 10 days since my last post?

We had a fantastic couple of days down in Milton keynes being stirred up again about evangelism.

It really was excellent.

The new building of New Life Church North is quite a facility, but what was more exciting was their weekly altar call for people to come to salvation that has seen 19 people respond so far this year.

It is not about buildings and it is not about conferences, it is about those 19 people coming to faith in Jesus.

Evangelists Summit

Tomorrow I go with Terry and a few others from our local region to the rather grandly titled "Evangelists Summit" in Milton keynes.

I went a couple of years back and it was excellent.

I am really looking forward to it for the following reasons:

1. It is INTENTIONAL: Getting loads of people with a passion for mission and a passion for the Church together for the purpose of discussing the Church and mission. It is not rocket science, but is massively releasing, not least because many of those there will not be lead elders or even elders but will be those with the hands on responsibility for mission initiatives, with local experience at the coal face.

2. It is RELATIONAL: Meeting old friends, making new friends, networking ideas and information, inspiring each other. Sharing good practise, sharing each others frustrations.

3. It is INSPIRING: In the past speakers like J.John and Michael Ramsden have been a tremendous encouragement and provocation.

4. It is ACTIVE: This is not some "jolly" for people with a particular title in a Church. These are the people running with initiatives like Frontedge (Evangelistic Healing meetings), preaching the good news, praying for the sick, asking for a resonse, leading people to Jesus. This is the frontline, and the frontline can get bigger and bigger through events such as this

5. It is PRAYERFUL: This will not be about quick fix schemes or ten point guides. This will be about Jesus. Loving Him, worshipping Him, praying "Your Kingdon Come" and then working out how to do it.

So all in all, really looking forward to it. Let's hope it does not disappoint.