Relational Evangelism

I was surprised that Wheeler and Whaley did not initially define the difference between Great Commission worship and traditional worship. I see traditional worship more in line with the worship that was described within the Old Testament where Israel simply worshipped God and did not attempt to witness to non-Jews and bring them to know God. Once we study the New Testament it is clear that Jesus commands us to continue to worship but to also evangelize the world. What I think is lost on many is that evangelizing is a form of worship that brings great glory to God as we endeavor to help expand His kingdom.

In their book The Great Commission to Worship: Biblical Principles for Worship-Based Evangelism, authors David Wheeler and Vernon Whaley contribute their respective expertise in evangelism and worship in an attempt to synthesize the two categories by showing each fundamental imperative of the Christian disciple to be integral to and an outflow of the other. The impetus for evangelism par excellence is the “great commission”

The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a changing culture By Will McRaney, Jr. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Academic, 2003, 268 pp., $19.99 paper.

The idea behind the book The Great Commission To Worship by David Wheeler and Vernon Whaley is the combining of worship and evangelism, “Thus evangelism and worship have a unique relationship. … many times in Scripture it appears that while God is always our object of worship, the concept of obtaining salvation (evangelism) appears to be the motivation” (11). As stated by the authors this book is the result of an argument between them as to which was more important, worship or evangelism.

In the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” When Jesus said this, he showed how the Kingdom of Heaven was welcomed for anybody, not only those who were more fortunate than others. Jesus then went on to explain how those who were humble and those who showed righteousness would enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus also told the people how they should spread his word everywhere and teach those to examine all the things He commanded them. In The Great Commission speech, Jesus inspired His

Many within the Christian fellowship have heard of evangelism. Nevertheless, it is not at all surprising that many aren’t quite familiar with the true definition of the term. Furthermore, there are many Christians whom would consider themselves to be faithful and committed followers of Christ who obey and believe the Word of God with a testimony that reveals that they are being the best servant that he or she can be towards the risen Savior. Often times, Christians lead their lives without much consideration about sharing the gospel with anyone other than their immediate family members or close friends. Event then, Christians aren’t too sure of what they should say or how it should be said. Christians have become extremely sensitive of not offending another individual when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is often considered that evangelism is the responsibility of the senior pastor and staff ministers. “Sometimes our problem may be any one of a long list of excuses. Perhaps we don’t know the gospel well enough – or we don’t think we do. Maybe we think it’s someone else’s job, the work of a minister or a missionary” (Dever, 2007, p. 16).

A Great Commission worshipper is a person who is so much in love with Jesus, so committed to worship of Jesus, and so devoted to being obedient to every command of Jesus that he simply cannot restrain himself from telling others about his incredible relationship with the Son of God."1 In The Great Commission to Worship: Biblical Principles for Worship-Based Evangelism the writers join evangelism and love as profound orders that the Christian devotee must follow up on out of acquiescence for God. They state at an early stage that " worship is not an event or something we do for God. Rather it is an act of unbridled obedience even when rational explanations are hard to find."2

I stood on my balcony in one of those late afternoons in a warm summer weather gazing across the road, waiting for the other members of our family to return from work and school. A row of houses stretched along the entire road, with smaller alleys feeding the other rows behind the first and so on. On two of such occasions, I noted several children playing in the road, often running after each other, riding bicycles, hitting balls and skating. For most of these children came from the neighborhood both my side of the road and across, it was normal for them to play together. But I noted two children, and in particular, a girl aged around 8 and a boy of about 6, who remained isolated at their gate, perhaps fearing to

After 12 years of military service I moved to Texas along with my wife and five children. We started worshipping in a small church that was meeting in an elementary school auditorium. We got involved with the planning, location and building of a new place of worship. After completion of the building of the church, my wife and I joined the praise team. This I consider to be life changing, in that it required me to pray for God’s guidance like never before. It involved arranging the songs in a three step process. Beginning songs focused on bringing the congregation into the inter courts from the outer courts of spiritual awareness of God’s presence, before entering the Holies of Holies in a spiritual sense.

What is the difference between relational and programmatic discipleship? The answer to this question is (1) discipling relationship are marked by intimacy whereas programs tend to be focused on information (2) discipling relationship involve full, mutual responsibility of the participants, whereas programs have one or a few who do on behalf of the many (3) discipling relationships are customized to the unique growth process of the individuals, whereas programs emphasize synchronization and regimentation (4) discipling relationship focus accountability around life change, whereas programs focus accountability around content. What might relational discipleship be more effective that programmatic discipleship? Relational discipleship is more effective, because its ultimate goal is to enhance the growth into Christlikeness.

Similar to the first disciples, before doing the tasks that we feel God calls us to do, we need to have the reassurance of the good news in our heart. Simply speaking, we need to become aware that the mission was born in the heart of God out of his love for all people, and it can be perceived solely through experiencing God. Even though our mission is not identical to the mission of God, it begins with it. The missio Dei is revealed from the Father through the ministry of Jesus and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Only then, as we enter into deeper relationship with Trinity, we can fully comprehend the wholeness and intensity of missio Dei. After all, we as a church are not doing our own assignment but rather joining Christ in his mission, which is possible through partnering with the Spirit. As the authors indicate, “when sent on a mission, we are sent to do something – and not everything, either, but rather we are given a particular assignment” (19). The awareness about this particular assignment comes through the personal knowledge of God and intimate relationship with him. We are to carry on Jesus’s mission but definitely not in the same way he carried it out. Our mission is an extension of what the Father already started in Jesus as he sends us out the same way as he was sent by the Father. Thus, the Great Commission

Another way evangelism relates to the Christian walk is that we as Christians relate to each other. Wheeler and Whaley remind us that it is important for the members of the church to get along and love one another. I was going on a witnessing tour through our neighborhood and came across a home that was filled

This method is to use love, compassion, and service to reach people. We have to remember to always have a smile on our face and do this with a generous heart. Meaning that we want to the work of a servant, just as Jesus set an example by washing the disciple’s feet (John 13:1-17). Jesus wants to show that no one is above doing a servant’s work. I also see motivation of servant evangelism in Mathew 25. Jesus is telling his deciples to feed the hungry, give the homeless shelter and cloths, take care of the sick, and meet the essential needs of people, when doing this; it would be the same as if the disciples were meeting the needs of Jesus. Savant Evangelism is more about showing love thru the gospel rather

These words have been stuck in my mind for weeks. After preaching a message at a hometown friend’s church, these were the only words I heard from one particular stranger. That is, these are the only words he said to me before giving me a pat on the back and handing me a crumpled up ball of cash (both of these gestures were received completely unsolicited). The sermon I delivered that morning was titled "The Impossibly Great Commission.” Looking back now, I could have probably worded that better, but the message was clear: we are purposed for a reason and we cannot fulfill that purpose in our own strength. More simply put, "We need Jesus."

The words have stuck to the front of my mind for weeks. After preaching a message at a friend’s church in my hometown, these were the only words one particular stranger said to me. That is, these are the only words he said to me before giving me a pat on the back and handing me a crumbled up ball of cash (both of these gestures were received completely unsolicited). The sermon I delivered that morning was titled "The Impossibly Great Commission". Looking back now, I could have probably worded that better, but the message was clear, we are purpose for a reason and we cannot achieve that purpose in our own strength. More simply put, "We need Jesus."