Now, the O
stands for Occupation.
00:00:04.90\00:00:09.20
Now, most people spend
00:00:09.24\00:00:10.77
at least 40 hours a
week at work or more.
00:00:10.81\00:00:14.98
And even if they're retired,
00:00:15.01\00:00:16.75
they used to spend 40
hours or more a week at work.
00:00:16.78\00:00:20.88
So you can ask them
questions, you know,
00:00:20.92\00:00:22.68
such as, so where do you work?
00:00:22.72\00:00:25.45
Or what do you do for a living?
00:00:25.49\00:00:27.69
You know, well, what
did you do before that?
00:00:27.72\00:00:29.96
How did you get into that career
00:00:29.99\00:00:31.63
or that line of work?
00:00:31.66\00:00:33.60
And if it's a young
person, you might ask them,
00:00:33.63\00:00:36.16
well, what's
your major in college?
00:00:36.20\00:00:38.17
Or what are you
looking to do when you grow up?
00:00:38.20\00:00:41.20
They're just simple questions
00:00:41.24\00:00:43.07
that help to facilitate
and start conversation.
00:00:43.10\00:00:47.68
Well, let's go to R
now. R stands for Recreation.
00:00:47.71\00:00:52.15
Now, this is an important
one. You may ask the person.
00:00:52.18\00:00:56.45
So, Susie, what
do you do for fun?
00:00:56.48\00:01:00.09
What are some of your hobbies?
00:01:00.12\00:01:02.36
Well, what
relieves stress for you?
00:01:02.39\00:01:04.69
What's your
favorite vacation spot?
00:01:04.73\00:01:07.13
The reason this is
important is think about it.
00:01:07.16\00:01:10.53
When you find out
what someone's hobbies are,
00:01:10.57\00:01:14.20
if it turns out they have
00:01:14.24\00:01:16.00
some of the same
hobbies as you do,
00:01:16.04\00:01:19.07
it gives you an automatic
00:01:19.11\00:01:20.94
opportunity to
spend time together.
00:01:20.98\00:01:24.11
So if someone says to me,
00:01:24.15\00:01:25.51
"Oh, I love to play basketball."
00:01:25.55\00:01:27.62
Boom, that's an open door.
00:01:27.65\00:01:29.72
I can invite them to
play basketball with me,
00:01:29.75\00:01:32.49
and we'll be able
to spend time together.
00:01:32.52\00:01:35.36
And the truth is, even
if they mention some sport
00:01:35.39\00:01:39.09
or hobby that you
know nothing about,
00:01:39.13\00:01:42.36
it will still
facilitate conversation.
00:01:42.40\00:01:44.37
You know why?
00:01:44.40\00:01:45.73
You don't have to know
a thing about their hobby.
00:01:45.77\00:01:48.40
All you do is ask questions.
00:01:48.44\00:01:50.11
Ask them to explain it to you.
00:01:50.14\00:01:52.24
And if it's their hobby,
they have a passion for it,
00:01:52.27\00:01:55.24
and they'll be
happy to tell you.
00:01:55.28\00:01:57.48
Let me give you
an example of this.
00:01:57.51\00:01:59.41
And this is a true story.
00:01:59.45\00:02:01.58
Most of you are
familiar with Mark Finley,
00:02:01.62\00:02:04.12
who is a well-known
worldwide evangelist.
00:02:04.15\00:02:07.99
He was holding a set of meetings
00:02:08.02\00:02:09.72
at a particular church one day,
00:02:09.76\00:02:12.66
and one of the ladies of
the church came up to him
00:02:12.69\00:02:15.80
and asked if he
would visit her husband.
00:02:15.83\00:02:19.37
But she told Elder
Finley, she told Mark,
00:02:19.40\00:02:21.90
"Now listen, my
husband hates preachers."
00:02:21.94\00:02:24.24
And he said, "If the
preacher ever comes to his door,
00:02:24.27\00:02:26.84
he's just going
to throw him out."
00:02:26.88\00:02:28.24
But I'm asking, will you
please just try to visit him?
00:02:28.28\00:02:31.75
Well, Mark wasn't
exactly sure what to do.
00:02:31.78\00:02:34.48
So he asked the lady,
00:02:34.52\00:02:35.98
"Well, what is
your husband like to do?
00:02:36.02\00:02:38.62
What are some of his hobbies?"
00:02:38.65\00:02:40.46
"Oh, he likes to collect
guns. He's a gun collector."
00:02:40.49\00:02:45.03
And Mark thought for a
minute and he realized,
00:02:45.06\00:02:47.66
he knows
absolutely nothing about guns.
00:02:47.70\00:02:51.80
So what he did is he
went to the guy's door,
00:02:51.83\00:02:54.17
knocked on it.
00:02:54.20\00:02:55.54
And when the man
answered the door,
00:02:55.57\00:02:56.91
right away he said,
"Hi, I'm Mark Finley,
00:02:56.94\00:02:59.44
the Adventist pastor,
your wife told me that
00:02:59.47\00:03:01.54
you have a gun collection,
would you show it to me?"
00:03:01.58\00:03:04.38
And as soon as he got
those words out of his mouth,
00:03:04.41\00:03:07.12
the man's face
brightened up right away.
00:03:07.15\00:03:09.38
And he said, "Oh,
yeah, sure, come in."
00:03:09.42\00:03:12.92
See before he would have
thrown the guy out the door.
00:03:12.95\00:03:15.49
But because Mark is
asking about his hobby,
00:03:15.52\00:03:18.26
he literally got an open door.
00:03:18.29\00:03:20.36
So the man brought him in,
showed him his gun collection.
00:03:20.40\00:03:23.53
And, of course, Mark didn't know
00:03:23.57\00:03:24.90
one gun from the other.
00:03:24.93\00:03:26.40
So he just asked questions.
00:03:26.43\00:03:28.04
Well, what's the
name of this gun?
00:03:28.07\00:03:30.01
What does this one do?
00:03:30.04\00:03:31.64
How is this one
different from that one?
00:03:31.67\00:03:33.88
And the man just
basically talked forever.
00:03:33.91\00:03:36.54
In fact, he took Mark out back,
00:03:36.58\00:03:38.81
he set up some
cans on the fence,
00:03:38.85\00:03:40.82
and he said, "Let's do
some shooting practice."
00:03:40.85\00:03:43.18
And so he handed Mark the gun.
00:03:43.22\00:03:45.35
Now, Mark had never
fired a gun in his life.
00:03:45.39\00:03:47.79
And so when he
aimed towards the can,
00:03:47.82\00:03:50.03
he just prayed a
quick prayer and said,
00:03:50.06\00:03:51.86
"Dear God,
please let me hit it."
00:03:51.89\00:03:53.93
And so he aimed and he
fired, and believe it or not,
00:03:53.96\00:03:57.97
he hit the can and
the guy got all excited.
00:03:58.00\00:04:01.20
He said, "Pastor, do
it again, do it again."
00:04:01.24\00:04:04.84
And Mark said, "Nope,
00:04:04.87\00:04:06.21
you just get
one shot per visit."
00:04:06.24\00:04:08.44
See, the point
is, just talking about
00:04:08.48\00:04:11.41
the man's hobby
opened a door for Mark
00:04:11.45\00:04:14.88
that normally would
not have been opened
00:04:14.92\00:04:17.65
And eventually
that man started coming
00:04:17.69\00:04:20.66
to the meetings,
00:04:20.69\00:04:22.02
learning about
somebody's recreation
00:04:22.06\00:04:24.89
is very important.
00:04:24.93\00:04:27.10
And then T stands
for Testimony or Tidbit.
00:04:27.13\00:04:31.50
This is where we feel that
00:04:31.53\00:04:33.17
it's time to take a little risk,
00:04:33.20\00:04:35.60
where we look for an opportunity
00:04:35.64\00:04:37.74
to throw out a
small spiritual tidbit
00:04:37.77\00:04:41.31
to just bring up
a religious topic
00:04:41.34\00:04:43.91
or ask a spiritual question
00:04:43.95\00:04:46.11
just to see how
the person responds.
00:04:46.15\00:04:50.49
So here's what I want
to invite you to do now.
00:04:50.52\00:04:52.65
I want you to go ahead
and break up in your groups
00:04:52.69\00:04:55.12
like we did at the last session.
00:04:55.16\00:04:57.13
And I want you to go through
00:04:57.16\00:04:58.66
a role play on
FORT with the person.
00:04:58.69\00:05:01.83
Now, you want
groups of only two,
00:05:01.86\00:05:04.07
maybe three at the most.
00:05:04.10\00:05:05.43
Let's try to do groups of two.
00:05:05.47\00:05:07.10
And so one person,
00:05:07.14\00:05:09.00
I want you to start
asking the other person
00:05:09.04\00:05:11.24
all these
questions through FORT.
00:05:11.27\00:05:13.11
Ask them about family,
occupation, recreation, etc,
00:05:13.14\00:05:17.21
and let the other
person share with you.
00:05:17.25\00:05:19.31
And then I want
you to switch roles
00:05:19.35\00:05:21.12
and do it the other way.
00:05:21.15\00:05:22.72
This will give
you a little practice
00:05:22.75\00:05:24.75
in an easier situation.
00:05:24.79\00:05:27.02
And you may find out,
you might learn something
00:05:27.06\00:05:29.62
about the other person
that you never knew before.
00:05:29.66\00:05:32.76
So let's take about
maybe five to ten minutes,
00:05:32.79\00:05:36.20
and let's go
through this role play.
00:05:36.23\00:05:37.90
So pause the video and
break up into your groups.
00:05:37.93\00:05:42.74
Now, of course,
00:05:42.77\00:05:44.11
this was an
artificial situation.
00:05:44.14\00:05:45.67
We both know it wasn't real,
00:05:45.71\00:05:47.71
but it just gives
you a little practice on
00:05:47.74\00:05:49.71
how this might
work in real life,
00:05:49.74\00:05:52.08
and I can assure you,
when I have visited people,
00:05:52.11\00:05:54.98
whether as a
pastor or an evangelist
00:05:55.02\00:05:57.32
or just out in daily
life, I have used for many times
00:05:57.35\00:06:01.62
when I just could
not think of what to say,
00:06:01.66\00:06:04.19
and it got a
conversation started.
00:06:04.23\00:06:07.80
Well, let's talk more about
00:06:07.83\00:06:09.33
how we throw out
a spiritual seed.
00:06:09.36\00:06:13.74
How do we look for opportunities
00:06:13.77\00:06:16.40
where we can bring
up a spiritual topic
00:06:16.44\00:06:18.87
into a conversation
that doesn't offend people?
00:06:18.91\00:06:23.45
How do we know
when the door is open?
00:06:23.48\00:06:26.88
Let me share with you
an illustration of this
00:06:26.92\00:06:28.95
so you can see how it works.
00:06:28.98\00:06:32.15
When I was a
pastor in Pennsylvania,
00:06:32.19\00:06:35.39
I went to a particular gentleman
00:06:35.42\00:06:37.36
to get my
haircut every few weeks.
00:06:37.39\00:06:41.10
And this was an older man
00:06:41.13\00:06:42.93
and he just had
a one chair shop.
00:06:42.96\00:06:45.07
So basically, you
were the only one in there,
00:06:45.10\00:06:47.47
you had a captive audience.
00:06:47.50\00:06:49.50
Now, his name was Bob.
Now, Bob loved to talk.
00:06:49.54\00:06:54.14
And he would
always be sharing about,
00:06:54.18\00:06:56.14
oh, how terrible the world is.
00:06:56.18\00:06:58.05
What's wrong with
these crazy people?
00:06:58.08\00:06:59.81
Why are the
politicians dishonest?
00:06:59.85\00:07:01.92
What's going on in this world?
00:07:01.95\00:07:03.72
You know, he would just share
00:07:03.75\00:07:05.09
his opinion on
many different things.
00:07:05.12\00:07:07.39
And so one day I
decided to take a risk
00:07:07.42\00:07:10.13
and just throw out
something spiritual,
00:07:10.16\00:07:12.99
you know, not
something offensive,
00:07:13.03\00:07:14.70
or shocking, or overwhelming,
00:07:14.73\00:07:16.60
but just throw it out
and see how he responds,
00:07:16.63\00:07:19.60
see if there is an open door.
00:07:19.63\00:07:21.97
So while he was talking about
00:07:22.00\00:07:23.67
how society
00:07:23.71\00:07:25.04
and how this
world is going to pot,
00:07:25.07\00:07:27.58
I just said something like this.
00:07:27.61\00:07:29.98
"Well, Bob, I understand
what you're saying, you know,
00:07:30.01\00:07:32.15
the Bible tells
me the things like
00:07:32.18\00:07:33.72
this would happen
near the end of time,"
00:07:33.75\00:07:36.89
and I just left it there.
00:07:36.92\00:07:38.65
And I waited to
see what Bob would do.
00:07:38.69\00:07:41.32
Now, if Bob
responded to that and said,
00:07:41.36\00:07:43.76
"Well, what does the Bible
say about the end of time?"
00:07:43.79\00:07:46.86
That gives me an open
door to share something.
00:07:46.90\00:07:50.33
Now, if he just skips over
00:07:50.37\00:07:51.87
what I said and
starts talking about,
00:07:51.90\00:07:53.87
"Hey, how about
those Pittsburgh Steelers,
00:07:53.90\00:07:56.20
how are they doing?"
00:07:56.24\00:07:57.74
Well, then I
know the door's closed
00:07:57.77\00:07:59.47
for that moment and
Bob's not ready to talk.
00:07:59.51\00:08:02.54
Now, that doesn't mean
the door is closed forever.
00:08:02.58\00:08:05.01
The door is just
closed at that moment.
00:08:05.05\00:08:07.15
I have to spend more time
00:08:07.18\00:08:08.75
developing a
relationship with him,
00:08:08.78\00:08:11.09
because before people
00:08:11.12\00:08:12.45
will talk about
religious things,
00:08:12.49\00:08:14.22
they have to feel
comfortable with you.
00:08:14.26\00:08:16.32
You've got to earn that
right through friendship.
00:08:16.36\00:08:20.10
So I need to focus
00:08:20.13\00:08:21.46
a little bit more
on the relationship.
00:08:21.50\00:08:23.93
So here's what I want you to do.
00:08:23.97\00:08:25.30
I'm going to
give you some practice
00:08:25.33\00:08:26.80
in three different situations.
00:08:26.84\00:08:29.47
We're going to talk
about tidbits in conversation.
00:08:29.50\00:08:32.87
I want you to get in your groups
00:08:32.91\00:08:34.71
and you can put about three,
00:08:34.74\00:08:36.14
or four, or
five in these groups.
00:08:36.18\00:08:39.15
I want you to pretend that
you are walking with a friend
00:08:39.18\00:08:42.98
and you see a beautiful
sunset in the distance.
00:08:43.02\00:08:47.19
What is
something you can say that
00:08:47.22\00:08:49.52
throws out a spiritual
seed that's not offensive?
00:08:49.56\00:08:53.36
Just throwing
something out to see
00:08:53.40\00:08:55.66
if it starts a
spiritual conversation.
00:08:55.70\00:08:58.80
I want you to discuss this
00:08:58.83\00:09:00.17
for about two or
three minutes in your group,
00:09:00.20\00:09:02.64
so pause the video,
and you can start meeting
00:09:02.67\00:09:05.41
in your groups now.
00:09:05.44\00:09:08.18
All right, let's
get back together again.
00:09:08.21\00:09:10.48
Now if I was
there with you live,
00:09:10.51\00:09:12.15
I would ask each group
some of the things that
00:09:12.18\00:09:14.52
they came up with,
and you probably came up
00:09:14.55\00:09:17.12
with some really
neat things you could say.
00:09:17.15\00:09:19.62
Now, I've just put
some examples on the screen
00:09:19.65\00:09:21.96
that others have said.
00:09:21.99\00:09:23.83
Someone might say,
"Oh, I love sunsets.
00:09:23.86\00:09:27.20
It reminds me that God
still loves this old world."
00:09:27.23\00:09:31.13
Now, you could throw that out
00:09:31.17\00:09:32.50
and the person is not
likely to get offended by that.
00:09:32.53\00:09:36.27
Another person may say,
"Oh, God is a great artist.
00:09:36.30\00:09:39.74
Isn't He?
00:09:39.77\00:09:41.38
Or God sure can make
some beautiful things."
00:09:41.41\00:09:45.41
See, it's throwing
out something spiritual,
00:09:45.45\00:09:48.05
but not something too
difficult or too overwhelming.
00:09:48.08\00:09:51.92
You're just looking to see
00:09:51.95\00:09:53.49
if the door will open
for a spiritual conversation.
00:09:53.52\00:09:57.09
It is taking a bit of a risk.
00:09:57.13\00:09:59.09
But since you
have already spent time
00:09:59.13\00:10:00.93
with this person and
they are your friend,
00:10:00.96\00:10:04.10
they're not likely
to get upset about it.
00:10:04.13\00:10:07.57
Now, you don't want
to go too far, you know,
00:10:07.60\00:10:09.70
you're not going to
want to say something like,
00:10:09.74\00:10:12.07
"Oh, the red hues of
that sunset remind me
00:10:12.11\00:10:15.24
of the fifth
trumpet of Revelation
00:10:15.28\00:10:17.45
when the blood rises to
200 stadia at the end of time.
00:10:17.48\00:10:21.65
Now, of course, I'm
just being facetious
00:10:21.68\00:10:23.28
and outrageous there,
but you get the point.
00:10:23.32\00:10:26.12
You want to pick
something small, easy,
00:10:26.15\00:10:29.32
and not offensive.
00:10:29.36\00:10:31.79
You ready to try this again?
00:10:31.83\00:10:34.00
Let's put up another
hypothetical situation
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.67
on the screen.
00:10:36.70\00:10:38.47
I want you to get
back in your groups
00:10:38.50\00:10:40.14
and I want you to pretend
00:10:40.17\00:10:42.07
you are in the
car with a friend.
00:10:42.10\00:10:45.14
And you hear another story
about more bombings in Iraq
00:10:45.17\00:10:49.38
or some other part
of the Middle East.
00:10:49.41\00:10:52.35
What is something
you could say that
00:10:52.38\00:10:54.25
throws out a
small spiritual seed,
00:10:54.28\00:10:57.85
maybe a statement you
could make just to see
00:10:57.89\00:11:01.26
if the person responds?
00:11:01.29\00:11:03.59
So go ahead and get back
00:11:03.63\00:11:04.96
in your same
groups and discuss this
00:11:04.99\00:11:07.40
for about three or four minutes.
00:11:07.43\00:11:09.70
So go ahead and
pause the video right now.
00:11:09.73\00:11:13.94
All right, as
you've come back together,
00:11:13.97\00:11:16.30
I'd be interested in
knowing what you said.
00:11:16.34\00:11:18.61
I'm sure your group came
up with some awesome things.
00:11:18.64\00:11:22.34
Now, others have
said things like this.
00:11:22.38\00:11:25.21
Well, the world is
just getting so crazy,
00:11:25.25\00:11:27.45
it must make God weep.
00:11:27.48\00:11:30.75
It would be interesting to see
00:11:30.79\00:11:32.12
how the person
might respond to that.
00:11:32.15\00:11:34.56
Another person might say,
00:11:34.59\00:11:36.49
"I'm sure looking
forward to a better world,
00:11:36.52\00:11:39.79
or I'm glad there won't be
any of that stuff in heaven."
00:11:39.83\00:11:44.70
Now, it's throwing
out something spiritual,
00:11:44.73\00:11:47.00
that's not
likely to be offensive
00:11:47.04\00:11:48.97
and it may start a conversation
and then again, it may not.
00:11:49.00\00:11:54.38
In fact, you probably said
00:11:54.41\00:11:55.94
some of these
things in your group.
00:11:55.98\00:11:58.98
Let's do one more.
00:11:59.01\00:12:00.35
Now, this one we'll do together,
00:12:00.38\00:12:01.72
we won't break up
into groups for this one.
00:12:01.75\00:12:04.02
I want you to pretend
00:12:04.05\00:12:05.39
that a co-worker
has just told you that
00:12:05.42\00:12:08.36
there is a friend or
relative in the hospital,
00:12:08.39\00:12:11.36
and they are worried about them.
00:12:11.39\00:12:13.90
What is something
you could say that
00:12:13.93\00:12:16.50
throws out a spiritual seed
00:12:16.53\00:12:19.53
to try to start a
spiritual conversation?
00:12:19.57\00:12:23.71
Well, there's a number
of things you could do.
00:12:23.74\00:12:25.87
In fact, right now,
00:12:25.91\00:12:27.44
there's probably some
ideas going through your mind.
00:12:27.48\00:12:30.71
What some other groups have said
00:12:30.75\00:12:32.41
is the person could say,
00:12:32.45\00:12:34.35
"Well, what's
your relative's name?
00:12:34.38\00:12:36.05
I'll pray for him or her.
00:12:36.08\00:12:39.09
That's throwing
out a spiritual seed.
00:12:39.12\00:12:41.72
Is it okay if I
put his or her name
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.09
on my church's prayer list?
00:12:44.13\00:12:47.20
What about...
00:12:47.23\00:12:48.66
Would your relative mind
00:12:48.70\00:12:50.03
if I stopped by and
had prayer with him or her?
00:12:50.07\00:12:53.64
Now, of course,
you would have to judge
00:12:53.67\00:12:55.24
whether that's appropriate
00:12:55.27\00:12:56.71
because you probably
don't know that person
00:12:56.74\00:12:59.21
and it might make
them uncomfortable.
00:12:59.24\00:13:01.51
But the truth is,
who says the only people
00:13:01.54\00:13:04.35
we can visit in the
hospital are church members?
00:13:04.38\00:13:07.98
Why not our neighbors?
00:13:08.02\00:13:09.78
Why not our friends at school
if they're in the hospital?
00:13:09.82\00:13:12.52
Why not visit a stranger?
00:13:12.55\00:13:14.52
Most people are readily willing
to accept prayer for healing
00:13:14.56\00:13:18.69
when they're in the hospital.
00:13:18.73\00:13:20.50
In fact, I can
honestly tell you,
00:13:20.53\00:13:22.76
in my 16-17 years as a minister,
00:13:22.80\00:13:26.53
no one has ever
rejected prayer for me
00:13:26.57\00:13:31.04
when they were in the hospital.
00:13:31.07\00:13:32.41
I have never had someone say,
00:13:32.44\00:13:34.01
"Oh, no, please
don't pray for my healing.
00:13:34.04\00:13:35.88
That's not necessary."
Never had that happen.
00:13:35.91\00:13:38.98
Now, it may
happen at some point,
00:13:39.01\00:13:40.62
but I highly doubt it.
00:13:40.65\00:13:42.28
People are open when
they're in the hospital.
00:13:42.32\00:13:45.59
So these are
just different things
00:13:45.62\00:13:47.26
you can say to start a
spiritual conversation.
00:13:47.29\00:13:50.89
In fact, you might even ask,
00:13:50.93\00:13:52.63
is there anything
that I can do to help?
00:13:52.66\00:13:56.36
And then as you
pray for this person,
00:13:56.40\00:13:58.43
you know a couple days later,
00:13:58.47\00:13:59.80
go back to your friend and say,
hey, how is Uncle Bob doing?
00:13:59.83\00:14:02.84
Or how is your brother doing?
00:14:02.87\00:14:04.81
They will be amazed
that you actually remembered.
00:14:04.84\00:14:10.18
Now, let's take
this a step farther.
00:14:10.21\00:14:13.48
Let's talk about
how to use literature
00:14:13.52\00:14:16.85
when it comes to
spiritual conversations.
00:14:16.89\00:14:19.82
Have you ever found
yourself in a conversation
00:14:19.85\00:14:22.22
with someone that
you weren't expecting?
00:14:22.26\00:14:25.06
And you wish that you had
00:14:25.09\00:14:27.33
some piece of
literature to give them?
00:14:27.36\00:14:31.17
Now, it's okay when it's someone
00:14:31.20\00:14:32.67
you see on a regular basis
00:14:32.70\00:14:34.30
because you can always
go back and give it to them.
00:14:34.34\00:14:37.01
But sometimes God brings
us these onetime opportunities
00:14:37.04\00:14:40.68
and we never see
the person again,
00:14:40.71\00:14:42.58
and we wish we had literature.
00:14:42.61\00:14:44.78
I remember once
00:14:44.81\00:14:46.15
when I was traveling to
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
00:14:46.18\00:14:49.42
And when I
landed in the airport,
00:14:49.45\00:14:51.62
I had to get my rental
car because I was going
00:14:51.65\00:14:54.56
somewhere to
teach this very seminar.
00:14:54.59\00:14:57.73
So when I went to
the car rental counter,
00:14:57.76\00:15:00.76
the person took me
out to the parking lot.
00:15:00.80\00:15:03.00
And you know how they
do if you've ever traveled.
00:15:03.03\00:15:05.30
You know, they walk
around the car with you
00:15:05.33\00:15:07.17
and you're supposed to identify
00:15:07.20\00:15:08.70
is there any
scratches or dings on the car
00:15:08.74\00:15:11.04
that they need to mark,
00:15:11.07\00:15:12.44
so that you don't get charged
for it when you come back.
00:15:12.47\00:15:15.71
Well, in the
midst of doing that,
00:15:15.74\00:15:18.11
the lady from the
car rental counter
00:15:18.15\00:15:19.98
actually said to me,
00:15:20.02\00:15:21.35
"So what are you doing in town?"
00:15:21.38\00:15:23.22
Well, I told
her, "I'm a preacher,
00:15:23.25\00:15:24.59
and I'm going to a place
00:15:24.62\00:15:25.95
and I'm going to
teach a seminar."
00:15:25.99\00:15:28.19
And then she said to me,
"Oh, I just moved in town.
00:15:28.22\00:15:32.69
I'm looking for
a church to go to."
00:15:32.73\00:15:36.63
Well, I tell you what?
00:15:36.67\00:15:38.00
I was not expecting
00:15:38.03\00:15:39.37
the car rental
person to tell me that
00:15:39.40\00:15:41.30
they were looking for a church.
00:15:41.34\00:15:42.80
I wasn't ready for that at all.
00:15:42.84\00:15:44.94
But you know, if
we are asking God
00:15:44.97\00:15:46.64
to bring us opportunities,
we have to believe that
00:15:46.68\00:15:49.71
he will sometimes in
the most unlikely places.
00:15:49.74\00:15:54.38
Well, the place where I
was going was an academy.
00:15:54.42\00:15:56.82
It was two hours away,
00:15:56.85\00:15:58.29
so I knew she
wouldn't drive there.
00:15:58.32\00:16:00.12
And I didn't know
any of the churches
00:16:00.16\00:16:01.92
in that particular city.
00:16:01.96\00:16:03.83
And so I had
nothing to give her.
00:16:03.86\00:16:06.46
You know, we
talked a little bit,
00:16:06.49\00:16:08.03
but I wanted so much
00:16:08.06\00:16:09.40
to give her a
piece of literature.
00:16:09.43\00:16:11.63
Well, when I went up to
the academy that weekend,
00:16:11.67\00:16:15.10
I saw a piece of literature
sitting on a table somewhere,
00:16:15.14\00:16:18.74
and I looked at
it and I thought,
00:16:18.77\00:16:20.68
that will do just fine.
00:16:20.71\00:16:22.48
And so on Sunday morning,
00:16:22.51\00:16:23.85
when I was driving
back to the airport,
00:16:23.88\00:16:25.61
I was praying, "Lord,
00:16:25.65\00:16:26.98
please let this
same lady be there.
00:16:27.02\00:16:29.38
So I can give her this booklet."
00:16:29.42\00:16:31.29
And I just prayed and prayed.
00:16:31.32\00:16:33.09
And when I got to
the counter, guess what?
00:16:33.12\00:16:36.22
She wasn't
there. She wasn't there.
00:16:36.26\00:16:40.00
So at that point, I
had a couple options.
00:16:40.03\00:16:42.50
A, I could just
forget the whole thing.
00:16:42.53\00:16:45.43
B, I could send it to her
in the mail at her workplace.
00:16:45.47\00:16:49.30
Or C, I could give
it to her co-worker
00:16:49.34\00:16:52.57
and ask the co-worker
to give it to her for me.
00:16:52.61\00:16:56.28
Well, I'm ashamed to
admit that for a few minutes,
00:16:56.31\00:17:01.02
I actually
didn't want to give it
00:17:01.05\00:17:02.58
to the co-worker.
00:17:02.62\00:17:04.39
Because I thought to myself,
00:17:04.42\00:17:06.49
who gives out religious material
00:17:06.52\00:17:08.09
at a car rental counter?
00:17:08.12\00:17:09.82
These people are gonna think,
I'm some sort of religious nut
00:17:09.86\00:17:12.43
or religious fanatic,
and I actually hesitated.
00:17:12.46\00:17:16.30
Well, fortunately,
00:17:16.33\00:17:17.67
the Holy Spirit
got the victory there.
00:17:17.70\00:17:19.17
And I did end up
giving the co-worker
00:17:19.20\00:17:22.10
the booklet to
give to the friend.
00:17:22.14\00:17:25.11
See, the point is,
literature can be important,
00:17:25.14\00:17:27.61
because your conversation
00:17:27.64\00:17:28.98
with someone may be
five minutes long if that.
00:17:29.01\00:17:32.25
And the literature
can say what you can't.
00:17:32.28\00:17:35.62
The literature can go farther.
00:17:35.65\00:17:37.59
In fact, when they take it home,
00:17:37.62\00:17:39.59
it may sit in their
home and someone else
00:17:39.62\00:17:41.99
may also have the
opportunity to read it.
00:17:42.02\00:17:45.26
See, you're not going to go home
00:17:45.29\00:17:46.63
with that person,
00:17:46.66\00:17:48.00
but the piece of literature
is and it will keep talking.
00:17:48.03\00:17:51.87
Now the question
people want to know is,
00:17:51.90\00:17:53.50
"Well, what types of
literature should I give out?"
00:17:53.54\00:17:57.07
Well, let me give you
a strong recommendation
00:17:57.11\00:17:59.14
I've learned the hard way.
00:17:59.17\00:18:01.08
If you're going to give
a piece of literature out,
00:18:01.11\00:18:03.38
it's probably best that
you read it for yourself first.
00:18:03.41\00:18:07.52
Make sure it's appropriate,
00:18:07.55\00:18:09.48
just because it's a
Christian piece of literature
00:18:09.52\00:18:12.09
doesn't mean it's appropriate.
00:18:12.12\00:18:13.79
It may bring out things
that you weren't expecting,
00:18:13.82\00:18:16.66
which that person
isn't ready to handle.
00:18:16.69\00:18:19.06
So at least skim through
it before you give it out.
00:18:19.09\00:18:22.56
But you don't want to
give out small booklets.
00:18:22.60\00:18:25.00
I mean, don't give a 300
page theological textbook.
00:18:25.03\00:18:28.80
I assure you,
they're not going to read it.
00:18:28.84\00:18:31.27
Things like Steps to Christ
00:18:31.31\00:18:33.88
or maybe some of the
Amazing Facts booklet
00:18:33.91\00:18:36.38
you can get for like $1.
00:18:36.41\00:18:38.08
You know, they're small,
00:18:38.11\00:18:39.45
you can read it probably
in less than 30 minutes.
00:18:39.48\00:18:42.25
The Adventist book center
00:18:42.28\00:18:43.62
always has some
short sharing booklets,
00:18:43.65\00:18:46.62
and you'll want to pick up
things on the five pillars,
00:18:46.65\00:18:49.22
the Second Coming, Salvation,
the Sabbath, and Death.
00:18:49.26\00:18:53.56
You may even want to
get some discover cards
00:18:53.60\00:18:55.56
where people can take a
Bible study through the mail.
00:18:55.60\00:18:58.40
Keep those things in your car.
00:18:58.43\00:19:00.57
If you're a lady with a
purse, keep them in your purse,
00:19:00.60\00:19:03.91
because God will always
give you an opportunity.
00:19:03.94\00:19:08.08
Just in case you didn't know,
00:19:08.11\00:19:09.54
let me share this
resource with you.
00:19:09.58\00:19:12.45
If you should
come across someone
00:19:12.48\00:19:13.85
who is blind or
visually impaired
00:19:13.88\00:19:16.18
and you're developing
a friendship with them,
00:19:16.22\00:19:19.02
there are resources
you can find through
00:19:19.05\00:19:21.56
Christian Record Services.
00:19:21.59\00:19:23.69
Now, Christian
Record Services is a place
00:19:23.73\00:19:25.96
where I used to work
00:19:25.99\00:19:27.33
as the Personal Ministries'
Director a few years ago.
00:19:27.36\00:19:30.57
And they are a
Seventh-day Adventist ministry
00:19:30.60\00:19:33.27
that provides all
kinds of Christian materials
00:19:33.30\00:19:36.10
for people of all faiths,
00:19:36.14\00:19:38.27
things in
Braille, or in large print,
00:19:38.31\00:19:41.44
things on audio
CD, even mp3 players.
00:19:41.48\00:19:45.75
And so they provide
these things free of charge
00:19:45.78\00:19:48.58
to any blind person or
visually impaired person
00:19:48.62\00:19:51.62
anywhere in the world.
00:19:51.65\00:19:52.99
So you don't have to run
00:19:53.02\00:19:54.36
all over town trying to find
special literature for them.
00:19:54.39\00:19:57.33
You can simply contact
Christian Record Services
00:19:57.36\00:20:00.50
at the number on your screen,
or take a look at the website,
00:20:00.53\00:20:04.17
christianrecord.org.
00:20:04.20\00:20:06.70
And you can get familiar
00:20:06.74\00:20:08.07
with everything
that they have to offer.
00:20:08.10\00:20:11.87
Now, let's talk about
video or DVD evangelism.
00:20:11.91\00:20:17.18
See, for some people,
they're a little bit scared
00:20:17.21\00:20:19.11
about giving an actual
Bible study to someone.
00:20:19.15\00:20:22.72
And if that describes you,
00:20:22.75\00:20:24.65
you can actually start
by using DVD evangelism.
00:20:24.69\00:20:28.82
You say, "Well, what's that?"
00:20:28.86\00:20:30.69
Using videos and
DVDs can actually be
00:20:30.73\00:20:34.63
a very effective way to witness.
00:20:34.66\00:20:37.50
So if you're a little scared,
00:20:37.53\00:20:38.87
and you're not sure what to say,
00:20:38.90\00:20:40.74
you can start sharing DVDs
00:20:40.77\00:20:42.77
and let them do
the talking for you.
00:20:42.80\00:20:45.67
Right now in this
age of technology,
00:20:45.71\00:20:48.11
the church has
many Bible studies
00:20:48.14\00:20:50.35
that are on video.
00:20:50.38\00:20:51.91
In fact, I'm just going
to list a few on the screen
00:20:51.95\00:20:53.88
that you may be aware of.
00:20:53.92\00:20:55.38
I mean, there
are so many of them.
00:20:55.42\00:20:57.25
Mark Finley has
Revelation of Hope.
00:20:57.29\00:20:59.95
John Bradshaw
has Revelation Today.
00:20:59.99\00:21:02.92
There's the
Discoveries in Prophecy.
00:21:02.96\00:21:05.46
There's something
called Thunder in the Holy Land
00:21:05.49\00:21:08.26
that is designed more
for a small group setting.
00:21:08.30\00:21:11.50
Or there's one that I've done
00:21:11.53\00:21:13.07
called Discover
Prophecy seminar.
00:21:13.10\00:21:15.30
And you can actually view that
00:21:15.34\00:21:16.81
and purchase it at
discoverprophecyseminar.net.
00:21:16.84\00:21:21.54
But whatever
you're comfortable with,
00:21:21.58\00:21:23.11
you take these DVDs.
00:21:23.14\00:21:24.88
And then as you're having
00:21:24.91\00:21:26.25
spiritual
conversations with someone,
00:21:26.28\00:21:28.32
and you're building a
relationship with them,
00:21:28.35\00:21:30.62
give them one DVD at a time.
00:21:30.65\00:21:33.66
You may say something like,
00:21:33.69\00:21:35.49
"Well, Bob, I know we've been
talking about spiritual things.
00:21:35.52\00:21:38.83
And, you know,
you've had some questions.
00:21:38.86\00:21:40.96
This is a set of videos
00:21:41.00\00:21:42.36
that have really helped
answer some of my questions.
00:21:42.40\00:21:45.03
I think that you
would really enjoy them.
00:21:45.07\00:21:47.14
I would be happy for you
00:21:47.17\00:21:48.50
to borrow these
one DVD at a time.
00:21:48.54\00:21:51.21
Is that something
that would interest you?
00:21:51.24\00:21:53.34
And Bob is either
gonna say yes or no.
00:21:53.38\00:21:56.01
If he says yes,
give him the first DVD.
00:21:56.04\00:21:58.95
Let him watch it in the privacy
of his own home, or better yet,
00:21:58.98\00:22:03.08
he may want you
to watch it with him.
00:22:03.12\00:22:05.39
After he finishes it,
00:22:05.42\00:22:06.82
and he brings DVD
number one back to you.
00:22:06.86\00:22:09.46
You simply ask, "Well, Bob,
do you have any questions about
00:22:09.49\00:22:13.19
what you saw or what you heard?"
00:22:13.23\00:22:15.33
And that begins a
spiritual conversation.
00:22:15.36\00:22:17.90
Then you give
him DVD number two,
00:22:17.93\00:22:20.64
and you just keep doing that,
00:22:20.67\00:22:22.34
giving him or her
one DVD at a time.
00:22:22.37\00:22:26.01
You'd be amazed
what God will do.
00:22:26.04\00:22:28.58
But let me
advise you on one thing.
00:22:28.61\00:22:31.31
As much as possible,
00:22:31.35\00:22:33.08
try to go in the
orders of the DVDs,
00:22:33.11\00:22:36.72
because if you go out of
order, they're watching a topic
00:22:36.75\00:22:40.16
that maybe
they're not prepared for.
00:22:40.19\00:22:42.59
I did that once
and I got burned.
00:22:42.62\00:22:45.19
There was a lady
coming to my church
00:22:45.23\00:22:46.93
and she was really interested
in the seven last plagues.
00:22:46.96\00:22:50.57
Well, I had an
evangelism series on DVD
00:22:50.60\00:22:53.60
that had about 23 DVDs to it.
00:22:53.64\00:22:56.30
The seven last
plagues was DVD number 19
00:22:56.34\00:22:59.57
and I went ahead
and gave it to her.
00:22:59.61\00:23:02.01
And she got so upset
about what was on there,
00:23:02.04\00:23:05.05
she wouldn't come
back to church again.
00:23:05.08\00:23:07.52
And the reason was on video 19,
00:23:07.55\00:23:11.12
the speaker was
revealing some of the things
00:23:11.15\00:23:13.56
they learned in
the first 18 DVDs.
00:23:13.59\00:23:17.26
And, of course, she
hadn't studied those things
00:23:17.29\00:23:19.96
and she wasn't
ready to hear them.
00:23:20.00\00:23:22.46
And so she
listened to it prematurely.
00:23:22.50\00:23:24.77
I should have had her
listen to the first 18 first.
00:23:24.80\00:23:28.20
So whenever possible,
00:23:28.24\00:23:30.04
try to go in the
order that you can.
00:23:30.07\00:23:32.61
But DVDs are a great
way to share with others,
00:23:32.64\00:23:36.64
and most of
them cost under $100.
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.78
It's just a
wonderful way to share
00:23:39.81\00:23:41.88
and it's worth the investment.
00:23:41.92\00:23:43.59
It's very inexpensive.
00:23:43.62\00:23:45.42
You may even ask your
church to purchase a few sets
00:23:45.45\00:23:48.59
of various DVD series
that members can share.
00:23:48.62\00:23:53.96
Now, let's transition
00:23:54.00\00:23:55.33
and talk about
sharing your testimony.
00:23:55.36\00:23:58.20
The whole point of developing
a friendship with someone.
00:23:58.23\00:24:02.10
The whole point of
discovering their interests
00:24:02.14\00:24:04.84
is so that you
can get to a point
00:24:04.87\00:24:06.98
where a door is open for you
00:24:07.01\00:24:09.11
to share your
personal testimony.
00:24:09.14\00:24:12.31
When that door is open,
00:24:12.35\00:24:14.38
when that time comes, you
need to be ready to share,
00:24:14.42\00:24:18.12
share your testimony
in three to five minutes.
00:24:18.15\00:24:22.92
Now notice, there is a hyphen
00:24:22.96\00:24:25.19
between the three and
the five on that screen.
00:24:25.23\00:24:28.03
It does not say 35 minutes.
00:24:28.06\00:24:31.40
I mean, when they
finally ask you a question,
00:24:31.43\00:24:34.17
if you give them
a 35 minute answer,
00:24:34.20\00:24:37.04
I will guarantee you
they will never ask you
00:24:37.07\00:24:39.27
a spiritual question again,
because they're going to think
00:24:39.31\00:24:42.48
I'm going to get a
sermon every time I ask.
00:24:42.51\00:24:45.25
Share it in
three to five minutes.
00:24:45.28\00:24:48.35
And your testimony may
consist of three things.
00:24:48.38\00:24:51.45
Number one, how
you became a Christian.
00:24:51.49\00:24:55.12
Number two, why
you became a Christian.
00:24:55.16\00:24:58.33
And number three,
00:24:58.36\00:24:59.69
the most important,
why is it a blessing?
00:24:59.73\00:25:03.67
You can do the same thing
00:25:03.70\00:25:05.03
for any question like Adventist,
00:25:05.07\00:25:06.80
how you became an Adventist?
00:25:06.84\00:25:08.20
Why you became an Adventist?
Why is it a blessing to you?
00:25:08.24\00:25:12.97
Now understand,
this is not a testimony.
00:25:13.01\00:25:15.71
How did you become a Christian?
00:25:15.74\00:25:17.08
Oh, because my
parents are a Christian.
00:25:17.11\00:25:18.88
You know, why
are you a Christian?
00:25:18.91\00:25:20.35
Because I don't
want to go to hell.
00:25:20.38\00:25:21.75
Why is it a
blessing? I don't know.
00:25:21.78\00:25:23.85
That's not a testimony.
00:25:23.89\00:25:25.85
Be willing to share
in three to five minutes
00:25:25.89\00:25:27.86
how it happened,
why you made the choice,
00:25:27.89\00:25:31.19
and why you find it to
be such a positive blessing.
00:25:31.23\00:25:35.10
Now, if you want
to practice this,
00:25:35.13\00:25:36.46
here's what you do.
00:25:36.50\00:25:38.20
Go home, and
write out your testimony
00:25:38.23\00:25:40.74
on one sheet of
paper, front and back.
00:25:40.77\00:25:43.67
That'll be about
three to five minutes,
00:25:43.71\00:25:45.87
write it out,
because by doing so,
00:25:45.91\00:25:48.68
it'll help you to know it better
00:25:48.71\00:25:50.45
or even to memorize it.
00:25:50.48\00:25:52.51
Now, that doesn't mean that
when someone finally asked you
00:25:52.55\00:25:55.38
or you have an opportunity
00:25:55.42\00:25:56.75
to share your testimony,
you're not going to say,
00:25:56.79\00:25:59.39
"Well, Susan,
just wait a minute,
00:25:59.42\00:26:01.96
let me go get my paper,"
and then you read it to them.
00:26:01.99\00:26:04.26
That's not what you do.
00:26:04.29\00:26:05.83
The paper is just to help you
memorize it more in your mind.
00:26:05.86\00:26:10.87
Just think about
writing out that testimony.
00:26:10.90\00:26:13.50
And you can do the same
with any of the doctrines.
00:26:13.54\00:26:16.91
How did you learn
about the Sabbath?
00:26:16.94\00:26:19.31
Why do you keep it holy?
00:26:19.34\00:26:21.38
How has it been a
blessing to your life?
00:26:21.41\00:26:24.38
Always include the positive
of what it has done for you.
00:26:24.41\00:26:29.25
And after three to five minutes,
00:26:29.28\00:26:31.22
if the person is
still interested,
00:26:31.25\00:26:33.05
and they're
asking you questions,
00:26:33.09\00:26:34.66
by all means, go on.
00:26:34.69\00:26:37.56
But if you go 35
minutes when you shouldn't,
00:26:37.59\00:26:39.66
they'll never ask you again.
00:26:39.69\00:26:41.16
But if you keep it short,
and they want to know more,
00:26:41.20\00:26:44.40
you have a continual open door.
00:26:44.43\00:26:48.57
Now lastly, in this session,
00:26:48.60\00:26:51.37
I want to talk about
one more essential thing
00:26:51.41\00:26:54.88
and that is how to
make a gospel presentation.
00:26:54.91\00:26:59.35
If someone were to ask you,
00:26:59.38\00:27:01.95
how do I accept
Jesus as my Savior?
00:27:01.98\00:27:04.79
What am I supposed to
do? Do I pray a magic prayer?
00:27:04.82\00:27:08.96
Do I come
forward on an altar call?
00:27:08.99\00:27:11.13
What does that mean?
00:27:11.16\00:27:13.33
You and I need to
be able to explain it.
00:27:13.36\00:27:15.96
Every church member
should be able to explain
00:27:16.00\00:27:19.03
in about three or four minutes,
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.34
what the gospel is
and how to accept Jesus.
00:27:21.37\00:27:24.37
You're not going
to call your pastor
00:27:24.41\00:27:25.87
on the phone and say,
"Pastor come out to my office,
00:27:25.91\00:27:28.14
this person wants to
know how to accept Jesus."
00:27:28.18\00:27:30.88
I mean, by that time,
the opportunity is gone.
00:27:30.91\00:27:33.95
God wants you to explain it
00:27:33.98\00:27:35.92
because God called
you to be His missionary.
00:27:35.95\00:27:40.46
So I'm going to
explain what I do.
00:27:40.49\00:27:42.22
Now that doesn't mean
you have to do it my way.
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.13
I just want to give you
a structure to work with.
00:27:44.16\00:27:46.80
Then we're going to
do a role play, okay?
00:27:46.83\00:27:50.00
I like to share
four simple things
00:27:50.03\00:27:52.03
with people that
you see on the screen.
00:27:52.07\00:27:54.57
Number one, I like
to share with them.
00:27:54.60\00:27:57.11
We know, Joe,
ever the Bible says
00:27:57.14\00:27:58.81
everyone has
sinned in their life.
00:27:58.84\00:28:00.88
We were just born with it.
00:28:00.91\00:28:03.01
And you may have noticed,
00:28:03.04\00:28:04.38
it is easy for us
to do wrong, isn't it?
00:28:04.41\00:28:07.28
It's actually hard
for us to do right.
00:28:07.32\00:28:09.88
But, Bob, the Bible says that
the penalty of sin is death,
00:28:09.92\00:28:13.89
which means eventually
00:28:13.92\00:28:15.49
sin is going to
take us to the grave,
00:28:15.52\00:28:17.43
and we'll be
eternally separated from Jesus.
00:28:17.46\00:28:21.40
But you know, the good news
00:28:21.43\00:28:22.76
is the Bible says that
Jesus paid that penalty
00:28:22.80\00:28:26.13
when He died on the cross.
00:28:26.17\00:28:28.60
And since He lived
a perfect life, Bob,
00:28:28.64\00:28:32.04
when you accept
Jesus as your Savior,
00:28:32.07\00:28:34.61
the perfect life that He
lived then counts for you.
00:28:34.64\00:28:39.25
And then I like to ask them.
00:28:39.28\00:28:41.58
Bob, what do you
think it would be like
00:28:41.62\00:28:44.65
to think that
God could look at you
00:28:44.69\00:28:47.49
as though you were perfect?
00:28:47.52\00:28:50.66
But it's
possible when you accept
00:28:50.69\00:28:52.46
Jesus as your Savior.
00:28:52.49\00:28:54.26
But see, we have to take
the step of inviting Him in
00:28:54.30\00:28:58.07
and asking Him to be our Savior.
00:28:58.10\00:29:02.20
Now, someone may
look at that and say,
00:29:02.24\00:29:03.81
"Well, you left
some things out."
00:29:03.84\00:29:05.54
Yeah, I probably did.
00:29:05.57\00:29:07.48
It doesn't have to answer
every conceivable question.
00:29:07.51\00:29:11.01
All a person needs to do
is recognize they're a sinner,
00:29:11.05\00:29:14.08
know that they
have a need for a Savior
00:29:14.12\00:29:16.32
and invite that
Savior into their lives.
00:29:16.35\00:29:18.65
That's the first step.
00:29:18.69\00:29:21.32
So here's what
we're going to do.
00:29:21.36\00:29:22.89
I'm going to do a role
play with a friend of mine,
00:29:22.92\00:29:25.83
then you're going to
break up into your groups,
00:29:25.86\00:29:28.03
and you're going to try this.
00:29:28.06\00:29:30.43
So we need to pause it now.
00:29:30.47\00:29:33.40
Well, Matthew, I'm glad
you had a chance to come over
00:29:33.44\00:29:35.60
and we could share a
meal together tonight.
00:29:35.64\00:29:37.91
We haven't done
that for a while.
00:29:37.94\00:29:39.51
Thanks for inviting me.
The food was really good.
00:29:39.54\00:29:41.64
And one of them,
00:29:41.68\00:29:43.01
my wife's a pretty
good cook, isn't she?
00:29:43.04\00:29:44.48
Yeah.
00:29:44.51\00:29:45.85
I mean, I know I'm a
little biased in everything.
00:29:45.88\00:29:48.25
But I'm kind of curious.
00:29:48.28\00:29:50.25
Over the last few months,
00:29:50.29\00:29:51.62
you and I have talked
about spiritual things
00:29:51.65\00:29:53.46
a number of time
and you've been asking
00:29:53.49\00:29:55.86
about Jesus.
00:29:55.89\00:29:57.23
And I'm wondering, has
anybody ever explained to you
00:29:57.26\00:30:00.00
what it means to
accept Jesus as your Savior
00:30:00.03\00:30:02.96
or what the gospel is?
00:30:03.00\00:30:04.67
No, not really.
00:30:04.70\00:30:06.53
Would you mind if I
took two or three minutes
00:30:06.57\00:30:08.37
just to briefly
explain it to you?
00:30:08.40\00:30:10.87
I appreciate that.
00:30:10.91\00:30:12.27
Okay, and I promise I
won't give you a sermon.
00:30:12.31\00:30:14.98
It's kind of like this.
00:30:15.01\00:30:17.35
You know, the Bible says that
every person is born with sin.
00:30:17.38\00:30:20.85
It's kind of like
a disease we have.
00:30:20.88\00:30:23.15
You know, sin is not just
the bad things that we do.
00:30:23.18\00:30:26.05
It's actually
something that's inside of us.
00:30:26.09\00:30:28.26
And I don't know,
00:30:28.29\00:30:29.62
maybe you've
noticed in your life,
00:30:29.66\00:30:30.99
it's actually
easier for us to do wrong
00:30:31.03\00:30:33.19
than it is for us to do right.
00:30:33.23\00:30:35.06
Do you ever find
that out in our life?
00:30:35.10\00:30:36.43
That's for sure. Oh, yeah.
00:30:36.46\00:30:37.93
I mean, you hit your thumb
00:30:37.97\00:30:39.30
with a hammer and
before you know it,
00:30:39.33\00:30:41.14
a word comes out
without even thinking.
00:30:41.17\00:30:43.77
You know, that's
our human nature.
00:30:43.81\00:30:46.24
And the bad news
is the Bible says that
00:30:46.27\00:30:48.34
the wages of sin or the
penalty of sin is death,
00:30:48.38\00:30:52.18
that eventually sin is
going to lead us to the grave,
00:30:52.21\00:30:55.05
is going to
separate us from God forever.
00:30:55.08\00:30:57.75
Now, so far, that's bad news.
00:30:57.79\00:30:59.45
You know, we're
all born with sin
00:30:59.49\00:31:01.16
and the penalty is death.
00:31:01.19\00:31:02.52
That's not good.
But there is good news.
00:31:02.56\00:31:05.99
And the Bible tells us that
when Jesus died on the cross,
00:31:06.03\00:31:10.07
that was just more than a
good man making a sacrifice.
00:31:10.10\00:31:14.04
That was actually Jesus,
00:31:14.07\00:31:15.70
the Son of God paying
the penalty for our sin.
00:31:15.74\00:31:19.37
In other words, He died for you,
00:31:19.41\00:31:21.21
so that you don't have to.
00:31:21.24\00:31:23.04
And when you accept
Jesus Christ as your Savior,
00:31:23.08\00:31:25.98
that means the
perfect life that He lived,
00:31:26.01\00:31:28.75
actually counts for you.
00:31:28.78\00:31:30.45
It gets put on your record book.
00:31:30.49\00:31:32.35
So when God looks at
your record book in heaven,
00:31:32.39\00:31:35.46
He actually sees
someone who is perfect,
00:31:35.49\00:31:38.63
because Jesus
perfection gets credited to you.
00:31:38.66\00:31:42.93
What do you think it
would be like to know that
00:31:42.96\00:31:45.13
God could look at your
life as though you were perfect?
00:31:45.17\00:31:49.44
I'd like someone
to look at my life
00:31:49.47\00:31:51.61
as though it's perfect.
00:31:51.64\00:31:53.14
That's amazing, isn't it? Yeah.
00:31:53.17\00:31:55.44
But you know, it's
like getting married
00:31:55.48\00:31:56.98
in the sense that
00:31:57.01\00:31:58.35
we actually have to
ask Jesus to be our Savior.
00:31:58.38\00:32:01.25
You know, He
doesn't force His way in,
00:32:01.28\00:32:03.08
we have to give Him permission
00:32:03.12\00:32:05.22
and let Him know that
we need His forgiveness
00:32:05.25\00:32:07.62
and we need Him in our life.
00:32:07.66\00:32:09.76
Is that something you've
ever thought about doing?
00:32:09.79\00:32:13.50
When I was younger, I
thought about it few times,
00:32:13.53\00:32:16.03
but no one talked
to me about it so.
00:32:16.06\00:32:19.87
Let me ask you something.
00:32:19.90\00:32:21.44
Is it something
you might consider
00:32:21.47\00:32:23.04
doing right now?
00:32:23.07\00:32:24.41
I'd be happy to
pray you through it
00:32:24.44\00:32:26.34
if you'd like to take the step
00:32:26.37\00:32:27.71
of inviting
Jesus into your life.
00:32:27.74\00:32:29.74
I really would like that. Okay.
00:32:29.78\00:32:32.25
Well, let's do it this way.
00:32:32.28\00:32:33.85
If you're comfortable,
00:32:33.88\00:32:35.48
I'd like to
invite you to pray first.
00:32:35.52\00:32:37.42
You know, nothing
fancy, just in your own words,
00:32:37.45\00:32:40.42
just tell Jesus that you
want Him to be your Savior.
00:32:40.46\00:32:43.56
Just ask for His forgiveness
and that He would change
00:32:43.59\00:32:46.80
your life just
in your own words,
00:32:46.83\00:32:48.76
and then I'll pray after you.
00:32:48.80\00:32:50.13
Would you be
comfortable doing that?
00:32:50.17\00:32:52.60
I'll try. Okay.
00:32:52.63\00:32:54.00
Why don't you go
ahead and do that?
00:32:54.04\00:32:55.37
And if you don't mind,
00:32:55.40\00:32:56.74
I just like to put my
hand on your shoulder.
00:32:56.77\00:32:58.11
Okay. Go ahead.
00:32:58.14\00:33:01.21
Jesus, thank You
for all the things
00:33:01.24\00:33:04.15
you do for me like,
00:33:04.18\00:33:05.95
I haven't even known
things You've done for me.
00:33:05.98\00:33:09.82
Forgive me of the bad
things I've done in my life.
00:33:09.85\00:33:13.19
Please, bring me and
help me be a better person.
00:33:13.22\00:33:18.29
Thank You for everything you do.
00:33:18.33\00:33:20.16
Amen.
00:33:20.20\00:33:21.93
Heavenly Father,
00:33:21.96\00:33:23.30
I just want to
thank You for the way
00:33:23.33\00:33:24.67
You've worked in Matthew's life,
00:33:24.70\00:33:26.40
the good
conversations we've had,
00:33:26.43\00:33:28.50
and today he has invited you
into his life to be his Savior.
00:33:28.54\00:33:32.44
Thank you, Lord, that
today You give him eternal life.
00:33:32.47\00:33:35.78
Bless him as he develops
a relationship with You.
00:33:35.81\00:33:38.75
I ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:33:38.78\00:33:42.82
You know, right there,
you've taken the first step,
00:33:42.85\00:33:44.82
you've begun a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:33:44.85\00:33:48.46
You know, I'm
just kind of wondering,
00:33:48.49\00:33:50.59
would you be interested in
00:33:50.63\00:33:51.96
having a Bible study once a week
00:33:51.99\00:33:53.56
because now that
you've invited Jesus in,
00:33:53.60\00:33:56.00
you kind of want to
grow in that relationship
00:33:56.03\00:33:57.90
to know Him better?
00:33:57.93\00:33:59.30
Would you be
interested in doing that?
00:33:59.33\00:34:01.10
I would. You know what?
00:34:01.14\00:34:03.94
Let's get together
and maybe we can start
00:34:03.97\00:34:05.74
maybe Tuesdays at 7 o'clock.
00:34:05.77\00:34:07.84
Will that work for you?
That's a good time for me.
00:34:07.88\00:34:10.71
Let's plan for that.
All right, thank you.
00:34:10.75\00:34:12.51
All right. Thank you, Matthew.
00:34:12.55\00:34:15.42
Now, what are some of the things
00:34:15.45\00:34:16.79
you noticed
about that role play?
00:34:16.82\00:34:19.49
Well, you've probably
noticed it was artificial.
00:34:19.52\00:34:22.09
It wasn't real to life.
00:34:22.12\00:34:24.19
There was no way I
can make it real to life
00:34:24.23\00:34:26.46
unless I pull a
stranger off the street
00:34:26.49\00:34:28.46
and did that with them.
00:34:28.50\00:34:29.83
And they probably
wouldn't appreciate that.
00:34:29.86\00:34:32.10
But the point is, you don't even
00:34:32.13\00:34:33.54
have to do it perfectly.
00:34:33.57\00:34:35.10
If I was to do it over,
00:34:35.14\00:34:36.47
I would probably
do it differently.
00:34:36.50\00:34:38.17
Because I found,
I said some things
00:34:38.21\00:34:39.54
I didn't actually mean to say.
00:34:39.57\00:34:41.38
But you know what?
00:34:41.41\00:34:42.84
God's not looking
for perfect people.
00:34:42.88\00:34:45.38
God's been
using imperfect people
00:34:45.41\00:34:48.02
for a long time.
00:34:48.05\00:34:50.05
And it just planted a
seed in Matthew's heart,
00:34:50.09\00:34:52.72
and he accepted Jesus.
00:34:52.75\00:34:54.62
Now, if the person
doesn't want to pray out loud,
00:34:54.66\00:34:56.76
then you can pray for them.
00:34:56.79\00:34:58.36
But I always like to
invite the person to pray
00:34:58.39\00:35:01.40
to ask Jesus into their life
00:35:01.43\00:35:03.37
if they're comfortable doing so.
00:35:03.40\00:35:05.80
Because you know,
00:35:05.83\00:35:07.17
sometimes those
bumbling stumbling prayers
00:35:07.20\00:35:09.60
are the most sincere
ones that you will ever hear.
00:35:09.64\00:35:14.34
If they're not comfortable,
I will pray for them
00:35:14.38\00:35:16.58
or maybe they
can repeat after me.
00:35:16.61\00:35:19.08
And then if it's appropriate,
I like to place my hand on them
00:35:19.11\00:35:22.42
and pray as well.
00:35:22.45\00:35:23.79
Now, when you pray after them,
00:35:23.82\00:35:25.15
don't pray some fancy
prayer and a long prayer
00:35:25.19\00:35:27.89
because then it
will intimidate them
00:35:27.92\00:35:29.89
from praying,
just keep it simple.
00:35:29.92\00:35:31.76
Thank you, Jesus for
giving Matthew salvation today.
00:35:31.79\00:35:35.00
Please continue to be with him,
00:35:35.03\00:35:36.53
bless him to know
You in a deeper way.
00:35:36.56\00:35:39.37
Amen. Just like that.
00:35:39.40\00:35:41.17
Now, of course,
if that was a woman,
00:35:41.20\00:35:42.54
I may not have put my hand on
00:35:42.57\00:35:43.91
or that may not be
appropriate to do so.
00:35:43.94\00:35:46.54
But it's always good to have
human touch when it's possible.
00:35:46.57\00:35:50.98
So if you'll look on the screen,
00:35:51.01\00:35:52.65
these are the things you can do.
00:35:52.68\00:35:54.42
When you've explained
the gospel to someone,
00:35:54.45\00:35:57.02
then you go right
ahead and ask them,
00:35:57.05\00:35:59.15
would you like to invite
Jesus into your life today.
00:35:59.19\00:36:02.32
They're either
going to say yes or no.
00:36:02.36\00:36:04.26
If they say no,
don't get excited,
00:36:04.29\00:36:07.16
you weren't a bad witness,
00:36:07.20\00:36:08.56
it just means
they're not ready yet,
00:36:08.60\00:36:10.57
or they need time
to think about it.
00:36:10.60\00:36:12.70
So just keep praying for them.
00:36:12.73\00:36:15.14
If they say yes,
invite them to pray
00:36:15.17\00:36:17.17
in their own words,
00:36:17.21\00:36:18.54
then you pray a
prayer of confirmation.
00:36:18.57\00:36:21.04
And if they haven't
been going to church,
00:36:21.08\00:36:23.08
invite them to come to
your church right away,
00:36:23.11\00:36:25.65
because now they have to grow.
00:36:25.68\00:36:27.72
And if they're not
doing a Bible study with you,
00:36:27.75\00:36:30.32
that's the time to ask them
00:36:30.35\00:36:32.72
because they need to grow deeper
00:36:32.75\00:36:34.89
in their
relationship with Christ.
00:36:34.92\00:36:37.49
So here's what I want you to
do before we end our session.
00:36:37.53\00:36:41.33
Push the pause button,
00:36:41.36\00:36:43.00
I want you to
get in groups of two,
00:36:43.03\00:36:45.50
and I want you to make
00:36:45.53\00:36:46.87
a gospel
presentation to your partner.
00:36:46.90\00:36:49.20
Now, you can keep on the screen,
00:36:49.24\00:36:50.81
I'll put it back
00:36:50.84\00:36:52.17
and I'll put the
four points up there.
00:36:52.21\00:36:54.21
You can refer to
that if you need to.
00:36:54.24\00:36:56.38
Now, it may seem
awkward at first,
00:36:56.41\00:36:58.11
if you've never
done this before.
00:36:58.15\00:36:59.91
But you're among friends,
00:36:59.95\00:37:01.28
so you don't have to be
nervous and worry about it.
00:37:01.32\00:37:03.89
Just give it a try
and give it practice
00:37:03.92\00:37:06.49
and pray with the other person,
00:37:06.52\00:37:08.16
then switch the roles
00:37:08.19\00:37:09.82
and let the other
person do the same.
00:37:09.86\00:37:12.03
So take about five or
ten minutes to do that,
00:37:12.06\00:37:15.50
and pause the video now.
00:37:15.53\00:37:18.93
I hope that was a
good experience for you.
00:37:18.97\00:37:21.20
And even though
it was artificial,
00:37:21.24\00:37:23.14
when you're asking God
to use you as a witness,
00:37:23.17\00:37:26.41
that opportunity
will one day come
00:37:26.44\00:37:29.21
and you will need to be ready.
00:37:29.24\00:37:31.81
Let's close this
session by taking a look at
00:37:31.85\00:37:34.22
a very powerful quote
written in the Australian Union
00:37:34.25\00:37:38.45
Conference Record of 1902.
00:37:38.49\00:37:40.89
It says, "The one
work more precious
00:37:40.92\00:37:44.46
than any other is
the work of soul-saving.
00:37:44.49\00:37:48.26
The same intensity of
desire for the saving of souls
00:37:48.30\00:37:52.53
that marked the
life of the Savior
00:37:52.57\00:37:55.27
marks the life of
His true followers."
00:37:55.30\00:37:59.11
We need to pray
that God will give us
00:37:59.14\00:38:01.94
the same passion for
souls that Jesus has.
00:38:01.98\00:38:05.31
Because Ellen White writes,
00:38:05.35\00:38:07.12
"That is what marks the life
of His true followers today."
00:38:07.15\00:38:12.42
May God help us to
have a passion for souls
00:38:12.45\00:38:16.46
who don't know Jesus?
00:38:16.49\00:38:18.43
Would you pray with me?
00:38:18.46\00:38:20.90
Heavenly Father,
00:38:20.93\00:38:22.90
these are some
valuable principles
00:38:22.93\00:38:24.60
to use in our life.
00:38:24.63\00:38:27.14
And it may be that right now,
00:38:27.17\00:38:28.50
we don't know
exactly how to use them.
00:38:28.54\00:38:30.87
But we pray that
00:38:30.91\00:38:32.24
You will give us
those opportunities.
00:38:32.27\00:38:35.11
Bring one person across our path
00:38:35.14\00:38:37.88
that maybe sometime
in the next few months,
00:38:37.91\00:38:40.78
we will have a
chance to share the gospel
00:38:40.82\00:38:43.25
with them.
00:38:43.28\00:38:44.62
We ask these
things in Jesus' name.
00:38:44.65\00:38:46.99
Amen.
00:38:47.02\00:38:48.46
Welcome to session three of
Living an Evangelistic Life.
00:38:54.33\00:38:58.67
Today, we're going to talk about
00:38:58.70\00:39:00.54
how to visit people.
00:39:00.57\00:39:03.17
Now, if you've joined us
for the first two sessions,
00:39:03.20\00:39:05.67
we've learned that
friendship is the key word,
00:39:05.71\00:39:08.94
and it is the first
step of soul winning.
00:39:08.98\00:39:12.41
We also learn how to
bring up spiritual topics
00:39:12.45\00:39:15.55
into a conversation
without offending people.
00:39:15.58\00:39:18.22
And we've learned
about sharing our testimony
00:39:18.25\00:39:20.89
and making a
gospel presentation.
00:39:20.92\00:39:23.46
But today, we're
going to spend time
00:39:23.49\00:39:25.76
looking at the
principles of how to visit
00:39:25.79\00:39:28.80
different kinds of people.
00:39:28.83\00:39:30.57
We're going to talk about
00:39:30.60\00:39:31.93
how to connect with
guests at the church.
00:39:31.97\00:39:34.64
We're going to talk
about how to visit people
00:39:34.67\00:39:37.21
who are attending
evangelistic meetings.
00:39:37.24\00:39:39.97
We're going to talk about
how to visit former members
00:39:40.01\00:39:43.08
or former Seventh-day Adventists
00:39:43.11\00:39:45.35
who are no longer attending,
00:39:45.38\00:39:47.35
and then we're
going to spend some time
00:39:47.38\00:39:48.75
talking about how
to visit the sick.
00:39:48.78\00:39:52.32
And the reason this is important
00:39:52.35\00:39:54.12
is because God has called
all of us to be ministers.
00:39:54.16\00:39:57.76
Sometimes we
have the mistaken idea
00:39:57.79\00:40:00.66
that the pastor is the only one
00:40:00.70\00:40:02.86
who's supposed to do visitation.
00:40:02.90\00:40:05.03
And you will find no
such thing in the Bible
00:40:05.07\00:40:07.70
or in the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:40:07.74\00:40:09.84
We've already
seen from scripture
00:40:09.87\00:40:11.44
that the minister's job
00:40:11.47\00:40:12.81
is to equip the
saints for ministry.
00:40:12.84\00:40:15.81
And when you think about it,
00:40:15.84\00:40:17.18
there's no way
that one person can do
00:40:17.21\00:40:19.61
all the
visitation that's necessary.
00:40:19.65\00:40:21.95
In fact, to be honest,
00:40:21.98\00:40:23.39
it can't even be
done by just elders,
00:40:23.42\00:40:25.95
especially if it
is a larger church.
00:40:25.99\00:40:28.76
And the New
Testament has told us that
00:40:28.79\00:40:31.26
we are to care, and encourage,
00:40:31.29\00:40:33.80
and have
concern for one another.
00:40:33.83\00:40:37.00
And so that term
one another means that
00:40:37.03\00:40:39.60
all of us have been
00:40:39.63\00:40:40.97
given the
responsibility for ministry.
00:40:41.00\00:40:44.74
Even back in
the Book of Genesis,
00:40:44.77\00:40:46.81
Cain asked the question,
"Am I my brother's keeper?"
00:40:46.84\00:40:51.01
And God answers that
question by saying, "Yes."
00:40:51.05\00:40:54.28
We are our brother's keeper
00:40:54.32\00:40:56.18
and God has called us
to minister unto them.
00:40:56.22\00:40:59.92
So let's start with
the first group of people.
00:40:59.95\00:41:02.89
And there will be
times throughout this session
00:41:02.92\00:41:04.93
where you will again
need to pause the tape
00:41:04.96\00:41:07.30
and break up into
your small groups.
00:41:07.33\00:41:09.56
But for now, let's talk about,
00:41:09.60\00:41:12.33
how do we connect with a visitor
00:41:12.37\00:41:14.87
who has just come to
the door of our church
00:41:14.90\00:41:17.37
for the first time
or the first few times?
00:41:17.41\00:41:20.71
Now, friends, should we
take visitors seriously?
00:41:20.74\00:41:23.51
Yes or no? Absolutely.
00:41:23.55\00:41:26.48
I mean, that's
why the church exists.
00:41:26.51\00:41:28.75
If your church exists
just to be a social club
00:41:28.78\00:41:31.65
and make its members happy,
00:41:31.69\00:41:33.25
you might as
well close the doors
00:41:33.29\00:41:35.29
because we've missed
the whole point of having
00:41:35.32\00:41:37.49
a gospel commission.
00:41:37.53\00:41:39.56
So let's pretend
now that a visitor
00:41:39.59\00:41:41.80
has come through the door.
00:41:41.83\00:41:43.93
And you need to understand
that when someone walks
00:41:43.97\00:41:47.30
into the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:41:47.34\00:41:49.10
on a Sabbath morning,
00:41:49.14\00:41:50.71
there is always a reason for it.
00:41:50.74\00:41:53.61
Most people don't just get
up on Saturday morning and say,
00:41:53.64\00:41:57.31
"You know, I think I ought to go
00:41:57.35\00:41:58.68
to church on Saturday morning."
00:41:58.71\00:42:00.12
There is something
that has brought them
00:42:00.15\00:42:01.92
through your doors.
00:42:01.95\00:42:03.28
And we've got to
take that seriously.
00:42:03.32\00:42:05.95
So let's pretend
there's a lady named Jean.
00:42:05.99\00:42:08.46
And you feel the conviction
00:42:08.49\00:42:10.36
that you need to
connect with Jean,
00:42:10.39\00:42:12.69
and you'd like to invite
her to your home for a meal.
00:42:12.73\00:42:15.90
What can you say? Is
there some magic words?
00:42:15.93\00:42:19.10
Should we memorize
some sort of speech?
00:42:19.13\00:42:22.00
You might just say
something simple, be yourself.
00:42:22.04\00:42:25.54
You might say
something like this.
00:42:25.57\00:42:28.38
"Jean, I've noticed
you've been coming to our church
00:42:28.41\00:42:31.45
and I haven't really
gotten a chance to know you.
00:42:31.48\00:42:33.72
I'd love to
invite you to our home
00:42:33.75\00:42:35.68
for a meal this week."
00:42:35.72\00:42:37.99
Now, that's predicated that
00:42:38.02\00:42:39.42
you've called them
on the phone earlier.
00:42:39.45\00:42:41.49
Now, if you're just
seeing them at church,
00:42:41.52\00:42:43.36
you would simply say,
00:42:43.39\00:42:44.76
I'd like to invite
you over to my home
00:42:44.79\00:42:46.86
for a meal after church.
00:42:46.90\00:42:49.23
Or if your church
is having potluck,
00:42:49.26\00:42:51.33
simply invite them to
stay by and you sit with them,
00:42:51.37\00:42:55.90
because this is what
gives you an opportunity
00:42:55.94\00:42:58.71
to make a real
connection with this person
00:42:58.74\00:43:01.88
that God has
brought to your church.
00:43:01.91\00:43:05.45
Now, your next question may be,
00:43:05.48\00:43:07.65
well, Pastor Dave,
what do I talk about?
00:43:07.68\00:43:09.98
I'm not such a
great conversationalist.
00:43:10.02\00:43:12.52
Well, this is where
FORT comes into play.
00:43:12.55\00:43:15.39
Now, if you were here
on the second session,
00:43:15.42\00:43:17.49
we took a lot of
time to go through FORT.
00:43:17.53\00:43:20.40
It's an acronym that stands
for things you can talk about
00:43:20.43\00:43:23.20
with someone,
family, occupation,
00:43:23.23\00:43:26.20
recreation, and throwing
out a spiritual testimony.
00:43:26.23\00:43:30.24
I'm not going
to review that now.
00:43:30.27\00:43:32.01
If you weren't
here, make sure that
00:43:32.04\00:43:33.51
you watch session number two,
00:43:33.54\00:43:35.51
but those are all
things that you can use
00:43:35.54\00:43:38.45
to just make a
connection with people.
00:43:38.48\00:43:43.15
Now, let's
suppose it gets to a point
00:43:43.18\00:43:45.05
where you're having
real good conversation.
00:43:45.09\00:43:47.39
It could be in your home,
00:43:47.42\00:43:49.06
it might simply be
at the church potluck.
00:43:49.09\00:43:52.09
What are some things
that you can ask that
00:43:52.13\00:43:54.83
throws out something spiritual,
that you might be able to get
00:43:54.86\00:43:58.63
to the spiritual
heart of the matter
00:43:58.67\00:44:01.00
and just see if
God will open a door.
00:44:01.04\00:44:04.34
These are some non
threatening questions
00:44:04.37\00:44:06.27
you might ask.
00:44:06.31\00:44:08.04
So, Jean, how did you
find out about our church?
00:44:08.08\00:44:11.98
What brought you here today?
00:44:12.01\00:44:14.25
See, there's always a
story involved in that.
00:44:14.28\00:44:16.99
Maybe they watched 3ABN.
00:44:17.02\00:44:19.52
You know, maybe they
watched It Is Written.
00:44:19.55\00:44:21.82
Maybe they're a
former Seventh-day Adventists
00:44:21.86\00:44:23.86
and they've been convicted
to come back to church.
00:44:23.89\00:44:26.43
Maybe some tragedy
happened in their family?
00:44:26.46\00:44:29.40
There could be
any number of things
00:44:29.43\00:44:31.17
going on that
brought them to your church.
00:44:31.20\00:44:33.87
This is a chance for
you to ask a question.
00:44:33.90\00:44:37.04
And if they're willing to share,
00:44:37.07\00:44:39.37
just listen to the
story that they tell.
00:44:39.41\00:44:43.35
You might even ask
them if they've ever been
00:44:43.38\00:44:45.48
to a Seventh-day
Adventist Church before
00:44:45.51\00:44:48.08
and that will kind
of give you an idea
00:44:48.12\00:44:50.25
as to whether they
have any familiarity
00:44:50.29\00:44:52.35
or maybe they grew up
as a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:44:52.39\00:44:55.46
You can even ask them.
00:44:55.49\00:44:56.93
Do you have any
questions about our church?
00:44:56.96\00:45:00.76
All these things
are just designed
00:45:00.80\00:45:02.96
to start a
spiritual conversation
00:45:03.00\00:45:05.20
and help you to
make a deeper connection
00:45:05.23\00:45:07.70
with that person.
00:45:07.74\00:45:09.10
Now, if they're not ready
to talk about those things,
00:45:09.14\00:45:11.24
that's perfectly fine.
00:45:11.27\00:45:12.67
But the fact that you asked
gives the Holy Spirit a chance
00:45:12.71\00:45:16.28
to open a door
where you can learn
00:45:16.31\00:45:18.51
something about
their spiritual journey
00:45:18.55\00:45:20.52
and make even a small connection
00:45:20.55\00:45:23.35
with their heart.
00:45:23.39\00:45:24.72
Can you say amen?
00:45:24.75\00:45:26.09
Now, I'm going to tell you
00:45:26.12\00:45:27.46
a quick story to illustrate
why this is important.
00:45:27.49\00:45:30.76
You realize
especially for greeters.
00:45:30.79\00:45:34.20
The greeter is one of the most
important positions in a church
00:45:34.23\00:45:38.80
because the greeter is
usually the first person
00:45:38.83\00:45:42.74
that a guest sees.
00:45:42.77\00:45:44.57
And studies have shown,
a guest makes an impression
00:45:44.61\00:45:48.08
about your church
about the first 10 seconds
00:45:48.11\00:45:51.65
he walks in the door.
00:45:51.68\00:45:53.18
So the first person
you want them to meet
00:45:53.21\00:45:55.52
is a greeter who is friendly,
00:45:55.55\00:45:57.45
evangelistic and
who wants to make
00:45:57.49\00:45:59.62
a connection with them.
00:45:59.65\00:46:01.46
Now, don't take
this the wrong way.
00:46:01.49\00:46:03.49
But if it is physically
impossible for you to smile,
00:46:03.53\00:46:06.73
do not be a greeter.
00:46:06.76\00:46:08.36
Find some other
work in the church to do.
00:46:08.40\00:46:11.77
I remember my wife,
who does homecare work.
00:46:11.80\00:46:15.20
She had to go out of
town to training one weekend.
00:46:15.24\00:46:19.34
And I won't say
what city it was in,
00:46:19.37\00:46:21.18
but it was a fairly large
city in the United States.
00:46:21.21\00:46:24.25
And this training was
over a Saturday and a Sunday.
00:46:24.28\00:46:27.82
And so my wife had
talked to the trainer
00:46:27.85\00:46:30.29
ahead of time and said,
"Listen, I'm a Sabbath keeper.
00:46:30.32\00:46:33.46
And so on Saturday,
00:46:33.49\00:46:34.99
I'm going to be going to church,
00:46:35.02\00:46:36.69
but Sunday, I'll be
there for the training."
00:46:36.73\00:46:38.99
And they gave her permission.
00:46:39.03\00:46:40.60
And so she looked up a
church in that local area.
00:46:40.63\00:46:44.57
And I remember her
telling me about her experience.
00:46:44.60\00:46:48.00
She drove to the church,
and it was on street parking.
00:46:48.04\00:46:51.81
She had a hard time
finding a place to park,
00:46:51.84\00:46:54.28
but you can't blame
the church for that.
00:46:54.31\00:46:56.38
But she couldn't
figure out what door to go in.
00:46:56.41\00:46:59.45
Nothing was marked,
00:46:59.48\00:47:01.12
and there was no
particular entrance.
00:47:01.15\00:47:03.32
And she couldn't figure
out, do I go in this door?
00:47:03.35\00:47:05.52
Do I go in that door?
What am I supposed to do?
00:47:05.55\00:47:08.86
Because we just take
those things for granted.
00:47:08.89\00:47:11.09
You know, in some churches,
00:47:11.13\00:47:12.46
if you walk
through the wrong door,
00:47:12.49\00:47:13.90
you're going to end up
front on the stage somewhere.
00:47:13.93\00:47:17.03
And so she waited to see
where everybody else would go.
00:47:17.07\00:47:20.44
Well, she walked in, and
nobody really greeted her,
00:47:20.47\00:47:24.77
sat down for Sabbath School
00:47:24.81\00:47:26.47
and when the remarks were over,
00:47:26.51\00:47:28.38
everybody broke
into their classes,
00:47:28.41\00:47:30.25
but no one told her where to go.
00:47:30.28\00:47:32.48
No one invited her to join a
certain Sabbath school group.
00:47:32.51\00:47:36.05
So she just got up
00:47:36.08\00:47:37.42
and she went to one
of the groups on her own.
00:47:37.45\00:47:40.42
Then church time
came, when church came,
00:47:40.46\00:47:43.22
she simply sat in a pew,
00:47:43.26\00:47:45.16
and she waited to see
if people would greet her
00:47:45.19\00:47:47.36
because it was obvious
that she was a visitor.
00:47:47.40\00:47:50.57
And she told me not a
person said a word to her.
00:47:50.60\00:47:54.80
And even when the
worship service was over,
00:47:54.84\00:47:57.34
and they were
going out the door,
00:47:57.37\00:47:58.77
you know how you
usually shake the pastor's hand
00:47:58.81\00:48:00.71
or whatever, even then
no one said anything to her.
00:48:00.74\00:48:04.65
She stood by to wait and
see if there was a potluck
00:48:04.68\00:48:07.62
or hoping that
someone might invite her home
00:48:07.65\00:48:10.09
because she had nowhere to go.
00:48:10.12\00:48:12.22
Nobody said anything.
00:48:12.25\00:48:14.69
In fact, once she
went up to someone
00:48:14.72\00:48:17.03
who I think was
either a greeter or a deacon,
00:48:17.06\00:48:19.63
and she wanted to find
out where the restrooms were.
00:48:19.66\00:48:22.13
And she said, "Pardon me,
00:48:22.16\00:48:24.53
could you tell me
where the restrooms are?"
00:48:24.57\00:48:26.47
And you know what the guy did?
00:48:26.50\00:48:28.84
Didn't even look at her
00:48:28.87\00:48:30.27
and just
continued his conversation
00:48:30.31\00:48:32.14
and just pointed
00:48:32.17\00:48:33.51
in the direction of the hallway.
00:48:33.54\00:48:36.28
I can guarantee you,
00:48:36.31\00:48:38.08
that is a church that has issues
00:48:38.11\00:48:40.35
and will not be a growing church
00:48:40.38\00:48:42.58
until it takes its
visitors seriously.
00:48:42.62\00:48:46.76
And if that's what
God has called you to do,
00:48:46.79\00:48:49.32
it is a very needed ministry.
00:48:49.36\00:48:52.49
Could you say amen?
00:48:52.53\00:48:54.80
Let's talk about
now making visits
00:48:54.83\00:48:56.87
during evangelistic meetings.
00:48:56.90\00:48:59.23
But you may wonder,
00:48:59.27\00:49:00.60
well, why should
a layperson learn
00:49:00.64\00:49:02.50
how to do this?
00:49:02.54\00:49:04.57
We have to keep in mind.
00:49:04.61\00:49:06.54
It can't be the evangelist
that makes all the visits
00:49:06.57\00:49:09.38
even though he or
she may be the speaker.
00:49:09.41\00:49:11.61
They can't get
to all those people.
00:49:11.65\00:49:13.42
And we all realize,
00:49:13.45\00:49:14.78
eventually those
meetings are going to be over.
00:49:14.82\00:49:16.95
And the evangelist is likely
to be gone somewhere else.
00:49:16.99\00:49:20.42
So they've got
to make connections
00:49:20.46\00:49:22.09
with church members.
00:49:22.12\00:49:23.59
And that's many
times where we fail.
00:49:23.63\00:49:25.86
It's not that
evangelism doesn't work.
00:49:25.89\00:49:28.06
It's just that
00:49:28.10\00:49:29.43
we let one
person do all the work.
00:49:29.46\00:49:31.53
The church
doesn't make connections
00:49:31.57\00:49:33.40
with these guests.
00:49:33.44\00:49:34.77
And so when the
evangelist or the pastor leaves,
00:49:34.80\00:49:37.27
they have no one
that they're connected to.
00:49:37.31\00:49:40.24
Friends, public evangelism works
00:49:40.28\00:49:42.84
if we are willing
to go forth the effort
00:49:42.88\00:49:45.78
and visit with people
and make relationships.
00:49:45.81\00:49:49.28
So now let's
pretend you're partway
00:49:49.32\00:49:51.02
through the meetings,
00:49:51.05\00:49:52.39
and you have just
covered the Sabbath topic.
00:49:52.42\00:49:55.52
Now, one of the
things I do in our meetings
00:49:55.56\00:49:58.49
is I hand out a
little book request form,
00:49:58.53\00:50:01.96
that if people are interested
00:50:02.00\00:50:03.60
in learning more
about the Sabbath,
00:50:03.63\00:50:05.23
they can request a free book.
00:50:05.27\00:50:07.27
And many people
usually hand those requests in.
00:50:07.30\00:50:10.94
And then we take those requests,
00:50:10.97\00:50:13.04
and we deliver the
free book in person,
00:50:13.07\00:50:15.34
because it gives
us a chance to visit.
00:50:15.38\00:50:17.55
Now, the book I
would recommend is
00:50:17.58\00:50:19.21
"When God Said
Remember" by Mark Finley.
00:50:19.25\00:50:22.18
It's easy to understand,
00:50:22.22\00:50:24.09
and it answers many
of a person's questions.
00:50:24.12\00:50:28.06
Now, the purpose of
this visit is simply to make
00:50:28.09\00:50:30.59
a personal connection with them.
00:50:30.63\00:50:32.43
You're not going there to share
all the 28 fundamental beliefs,
00:50:32.46\00:50:35.70
you're not even gonna stay long.
00:50:35.73\00:50:37.27
You're just going
there to deliver the book
00:50:37.30\00:50:39.40
and make a personal
face to face connection.
00:50:39.43\00:50:42.90
That's number one.
00:50:42.94\00:50:44.71
Number two, it also
gives you the opportunity
00:50:44.74\00:50:47.68
to determine whether
they're open to the Sabbath
00:50:47.71\00:50:51.05
and gives them
a chance to answer
00:50:51.08\00:50:53.55
or to ask some questions.
00:50:53.58\00:50:55.65
Not everybody will do that
in the hall or in the church
00:50:55.68\00:50:58.79
because so many
people are around,
00:50:58.82\00:51:00.99
but the home is a
good place to do it.
00:51:01.02\00:51:03.86
So let's say
that you have brought
00:51:03.89\00:51:05.36
the book to the door
00:51:05.39\00:51:06.73
of someone
attending the meetings.
00:51:06.76\00:51:08.46
What do you say?
00:51:08.50\00:51:09.90
Well, you might say something
like you see in the screen.
00:51:09.93\00:51:13.60
"Hi, Mary!
00:51:13.64\00:51:14.97
This is David from the
Discover Prophecy Seminar.
00:51:15.00\00:51:17.77
I just stopped by
for a minute to drop off
00:51:17.81\00:51:20.38
the book that you requested."
00:51:20.41\00:51:22.98
Quick, simple and to the point.
00:51:23.01\00:51:26.18
Now, you may say,
00:51:26.21\00:51:27.55
"Well, what if they
didn't request the book?
00:51:27.58\00:51:29.38
Or what if in our meetings,
00:51:29.42\00:51:30.79
we didn't do a
free book request?"
00:51:30.82\00:51:32.95
Then you might
say something like,
00:51:32.99\00:51:34.62
"Well, our Pastor
Mark asked me to stop by
00:51:34.66\00:51:37.19
and give you this book
to thank you for coming."
00:51:37.23\00:51:40.06
It pretty much
works the same way.
00:51:40.10\00:51:42.80
And if all you get
00:51:42.83\00:51:44.17
is a 60 second
conversation on the doorstep,
00:51:44.20\00:51:47.20
that's perfectly fine,
00:51:47.24\00:51:48.67
because you've
still made a connection.
00:51:48.70\00:51:50.91
Now, you may want to call
and try to make an appointment.
00:51:50.94\00:51:53.68
But usually that
doesn't work well
00:51:53.71\00:51:55.41
because people will just say,
00:51:55.44\00:51:56.88
"Well, give it to
me at the meetings."
00:51:56.91\00:51:58.68
And the point is to make
00:51:58.71\00:52:00.08
a personal connection with them.
00:52:00.12\00:52:02.62
So let's say
that you've done this,
00:52:02.65\00:52:04.72
and that Mary has
invited you into the house
00:52:04.75\00:52:08.06
just for a few minutes,
00:52:08.09\00:52:09.69
or maybe you're
talking on the doorstep.
00:52:09.72\00:52:12.39
What are some simple
questions that you can ask?
00:52:12.43\00:52:16.40
You'll find these on the screen.
00:52:16.43\00:52:18.47
You might say, "Well, Mary,
00:52:18.50\00:52:19.83
how did you find
out about the meetings?
00:52:19.87\00:52:21.97
Why did you decide to come?"
00:52:22.00\00:52:23.84
You're smiling
when you say this.
00:52:23.87\00:52:26.47
And what this does,
00:52:26.51\00:52:28.14
you're inviting
them to tell their story.
00:52:28.18\00:52:31.11
Anytime someone comes
00:52:31.15\00:52:33.11
to a public set of
evangelistic meetings,
00:52:33.15\00:52:35.65
there is always
a story behind it.
00:52:35.68\00:52:38.42
They got a brochure in the mail,
00:52:38.45\00:52:40.29
or certain things were
happening in their life,
00:52:40.32\00:52:42.92
or they were involved in
a Bible study on Revelation,
00:52:42.96\00:52:45.83
or they were praying for truth.
00:52:45.86\00:52:47.70
There's a 1000 different stories
00:52:47.73\00:52:49.53
you could hear and
you want to invite that
00:52:49.56\00:52:51.93
person to share it.
00:52:51.97\00:52:54.27
If you have time, you
might even invite them
00:52:54.30\00:52:56.87
to share a little bit
of their spiritual journey
00:52:56.91\00:52:59.31
by asking a simple question.
00:52:59.34\00:53:01.61
Well, Mary, did you
grow up in a Christian home?
00:53:01.64\00:53:04.61
Tell me a little bit about
how you became a Christian?
00:53:04.65\00:53:07.98
Of course, you
can't ask that question
00:53:08.02\00:53:09.68
if they aren't a Christian.
00:53:09.72\00:53:11.35
But if you
determine that they are,
00:53:11.39\00:53:13.49
it just gives them a chance
00:53:13.52\00:53:14.92
to share a little
bit of their story.
00:53:14.96\00:53:17.16
And it will cause
an automatic connection
00:53:17.19\00:53:19.29
to happen between
you and that person.
00:53:19.33\00:53:22.30
And really, the
biggest thing you need to do
00:53:22.33\00:53:24.80
is just ask one
or two questions,
00:53:24.83\00:53:26.67
and then listen, it
will make an impression.
00:53:26.70\00:53:32.04
You may say to Mary,
00:53:32.07\00:53:33.58
"I see that you requested
the book on the Sabbath.
00:53:33.61\00:53:36.71
Was that something
that was new to you?
00:53:36.75\00:53:39.48
What do you think about it?"
00:53:39.51\00:53:41.48
And it invites
you then to solicit
00:53:41.52\00:53:43.05
their response
about the Sabbath.
00:53:43.08\00:53:46.35
You can ask them, "Do
you have any questions?"
00:53:46.39\00:53:49.32
Now, if they say
it was new to them,
00:53:49.36\00:53:51.16
you should ask them
00:53:51.19\00:53:52.53
whether they have any questions.
00:53:52.56\00:53:54.26
You say, "What if I
don't know the answer?"
00:53:54.30\00:53:56.03
That's okay.
00:53:56.06\00:53:57.40
You could share a little
00:53:57.43\00:53:58.77
of your
testimony or you can say,
00:53:58.80\00:54:00.64
you know, I'm
sure that Pastor Dave
00:54:00.67\00:54:02.10
is going to cover
that tomorrow night.
00:54:02.14\00:54:04.91
If the conversation is
just going really well,
00:54:04.94\00:54:07.78
and they're
thinking about the Sabbath,
00:54:07.81\00:54:09.81
and most people the first
time are not going to say,
00:54:09.84\00:54:12.01
"Well, yes, I want to
start keeping the Sabbath holy,"
00:54:12.05\00:54:14.32
because they're processing this.
00:54:14.35\00:54:16.48
But if they're very
positive towards it,
00:54:16.52\00:54:18.29
you may simply end by
saying, Have you ever thought
00:54:18.32\00:54:21.42
about making the
Sabbath a part of your life?
00:54:21.46\00:54:24.69
And if they
haven't thought about it,
00:54:24.73\00:54:26.76
they will now that
you've asked that question.
00:54:26.80\00:54:29.86
Then give them the book,
00:54:29.90\00:54:31.50
encourage them to read it
00:54:31.53\00:54:33.03
to answer their questions,
00:54:33.07\00:54:34.64
and have a short prayer
of blessing for their family.
00:54:34.67\00:54:38.91
You might even invite them
to come to church one Sabbath.
00:54:38.94\00:54:42.21
You know, you're
not inviting them to,
00:54:42.24\00:54:43.65
you know, become a Seventh-day
Adventist member just yet.
00:54:43.68\00:54:46.18
You're simply saying,
00:54:46.21\00:54:47.55
"Well, if you'd like
to experience the Sabbath,
00:54:47.58\00:54:50.19
why don't you come this week
and just see what it's like,"
00:54:50.22\00:54:53.96
and you plant a positive seed.
00:54:53.99\00:54:56.39
That visit could be as
short as maybe 10 or 15 minutes.
00:54:56.42\00:55:01.10
Don't overstay,
00:55:01.13\00:55:02.56
but you're there
to make a connection,
00:55:02.60\00:55:04.53
hear their story,
00:55:04.57\00:55:06.47
and let them ask questions
if they choose to do so.
00:55:06.50\00:55:09.77
And believe me,
00:55:09.80\00:55:11.14
a short visit like
that makes a difference.
00:55:11.17\00:55:13.88
And then they're
connected with you,
00:55:13.91\00:55:16.34
not just simply the
pastor or the evangelist.
00:55:16.38\00:55:21.08
Now, let's talk
about how to make a visit
00:55:21.12\00:55:22.85
to someone who's
considering baptism.
00:55:22.88\00:55:26.22
Say they have filled
out a card to be baptized.
00:55:26.25\00:55:30.79
Or maybe they've
raised their hand
00:55:30.83\00:55:32.49
or they've come
forward on an altar call.
00:55:32.53\00:55:35.86
Now, the pastor,
evangelist probably
00:55:35.90\00:55:37.63
will want to talk with them,
but you can visit them too.
00:55:37.67\00:55:41.10
So the purpose of this
visit is simply to acknowledge
00:55:41.14\00:55:44.81
and affirm this
decision that they've made.
00:55:44.84\00:55:47.74
That one you'll probably
00:55:47.78\00:55:49.11
want to make an appointment for,
00:55:49.14\00:55:50.65
but depending on
your circumstance,
00:55:50.68\00:55:52.61
and whether you
live in a big city
00:55:52.65\00:55:54.28
or in a country setting,
00:55:54.32\00:55:55.95
you can judge
that one for yourself.
00:55:55.98\00:55:58.05
Now, this visit can be
at the hall, at a church,
00:55:58.09\00:56:01.29
but preferably it
should be in their home
00:56:01.32\00:56:04.03
because you make more
of a connection that way.
00:56:04.06\00:56:06.96
You simply ask the question.
00:56:07.00\00:56:09.06
You know, Bob, I see that
00:56:09.10\00:56:10.73
you filled out a
card for baptism.
00:56:10.77\00:56:13.47
Could you share with me,
00:56:13.50\00:56:14.87
why did you decide
to check for baptism?
00:56:14.90\00:56:17.84
And then just
listen to their story,
00:56:17.87\00:56:19.81
because they're going
to share with you why.
00:56:19.84\00:56:22.01
They're going to share with you
what's going on in their heart.
00:56:22.04\00:56:25.61
And you just need to
listen and encourage them
00:56:25.65\00:56:28.62
to continue in that direction.
00:56:28.65\00:56:31.65
Eventually, you will
ask them, is this something
00:56:31.69\00:56:34.89
you're thinking
of doing right now?
00:56:34.92\00:56:37.33
Because that gives you an
idea, are they serious about
00:56:37.36\00:56:40.40
taking this step right
now in the near future?
00:56:40.43\00:56:43.30
Or are they just talking about
00:56:43.33\00:56:44.73
sometime down the road in
three, four or six months?
00:56:44.77\00:56:48.70
You know, it gives you an idea
00:56:48.74\00:56:50.91
of how
important this is to them.
00:56:50.94\00:56:53.74
Then you simply
affirm their decision.
00:56:53.78\00:56:55.94
say, "Oh, Bob, I'm so thankful
to hear of your decision.
00:56:55.98\00:56:58.81
I'm looking forward to
the day when you're baptized."
00:56:58.85\00:57:01.98
And then have a
simple prayer with them.
00:57:02.02\00:57:05.39
Then you'll want to set up
00:57:05.42\00:57:06.76
a time later to
review baptismal statements.
00:57:06.79\00:57:09.72
You know, because you'll explain
00:57:09.76\00:57:11.09
when a person's baptized,
they're going to want to know
00:57:11.13\00:57:13.26
what the church believes.
00:57:13.29\00:57:14.90
And so you'll
set up an appointment
00:57:14.93\00:57:16.46
for later to review
00:57:16.50\00:57:18.40
the baptismal
statements with them.
00:57:18.43\00:57:20.74
And when you do it,
you just read over them,
00:57:20.77\00:57:23.34
let them ask whatever
questions they may have,
00:57:23.37\00:57:25.97
and then you set
the date for baptism,
00:57:26.01\00:57:28.78
and you can rejoice with them.
00:57:28.81\00:57:31.18
Can you say amen?
00:57:31.21\00:57:32.88
See, these are simple visits,
and people may have questions,
00:57:32.91\00:57:36.92
and that's okay.
00:57:36.95\00:57:38.62
But the whole point is that
you are making a connection,
00:57:38.65\00:57:43.16
and you are
building a friendship
00:57:43.19\00:57:45.73
that we hope will last forever.
00:57:45.76\00:57:48.76
Could you say amen?
00:57:48.80\00:57:50.77
Hi, this is David Klinedinst.
00:57:50.80\00:57:53.57
I hope you've been blessed
by the presentation today.
00:57:53.60\00:57:56.77
If you would
like more information
00:57:56.81\00:57:58.47
about our ministry or
about our other seminars
00:57:58.51\00:58:01.78
and presentations,
visit our websites
00:58:01.81\00:58:04.91
at davidklinedinst.org,
00:58:04.95\00:58:08.38
or discoverbibleprophecy.org.
00:58:08.42\00:58:12.05
If you'd like to make a donation
00:58:12.09\00:58:13.76
to keep these
sermons on the air,
00:58:13.79\00:58:15.69
you can contact us
00:58:15.72\00:58:17.16
at Discover Prophecy Ministries,
00:58:17.19\00:58:19.66
PO Box 850,
Columbia, Maryland 21044,
00:58:19.69\00:58:25.53
or call toll
free at 855-774-HOPE.
00:58:25.57\00:58:30.84