Now let's move
into another subject.
00:00:06.17\00:00:10.61
How do we visit former members
00:00:10.64\00:00:14.41
or former
Seventh-day Adventists?
00:00:14.44\00:00:18.78
Now, chances are very strong,
00:00:18.81\00:00:20.15
you know someone who
used to attend the church.
00:00:20.18\00:00:25.19
And, you know,
statistics tell us
00:00:25.22\00:00:27.29
that in the North
American division,
00:00:27.32\00:00:29.42
we've got a
membership of about 1 million.
00:00:29.46\00:00:32.89
But we are also told
00:00:32.93\00:00:34.76
there are about a
million former members now
00:00:34.80\00:00:38.20
who no longer attend,
00:00:38.23\00:00:40.00
either they went to our schools
00:00:40.04\00:00:41.90
and are no longer a part of us
00:00:41.94\00:00:44.41
or they just stopped attending
00:00:44.44\00:00:46.21
or something has
happened in their life.
00:00:46.24\00:00:48.71
Do you realize
if we just reclaim
00:00:48.74\00:00:51.21
the ones we lost,
00:00:51.25\00:00:53.25
we could double the
membership in attendance
00:00:53.28\00:00:55.58
of the North American division.
00:00:55.62\00:00:59.02
Here's what I'd like you to do.
00:00:59.05\00:01:00.66
I'd like you to
hit pause on the video
00:01:00.69\00:01:02.19
and I want you to break
up into your small groups.
00:01:02.22\00:01:04.53
And I want you just
to take a minute or two
00:01:04.56\00:01:06.80
and answer this question.
00:01:06.83\00:01:09.23
How do you think
00:01:09.26\00:01:10.60
you should
visit a former member?
00:01:10.63\00:01:12.73
What are some things
you think you should say
00:01:12.77\00:01:15.64
and the things
you shouldn't say?
00:01:15.67\00:01:17.41
I just want you
to brainstorm this
00:01:17.44\00:01:19.07
before we actually
go into the principles.
00:01:19.11\00:01:21.64
So take two or three minutes,
00:01:21.68\00:01:23.24
talk about this in
groups of two or three or four
00:01:23.28\00:01:27.12
and then we'll
come back together.
00:01:27.15\00:01:28.62
So go ahead and
pause your video now.
00:01:28.65\00:01:32.42
Okay, now that you've
talked into your groups,
00:01:32.45\00:01:34.52
you've had a
chance to brainstorm this.
00:01:34.56\00:01:37.36
Now, let's go
over some principles.
00:01:37.39\00:01:41.16
Chances are,
00:01:41.20\00:01:42.66
this is going to
have to be a visit
00:01:42.70\00:01:44.27
where you just
show up at the door.
00:01:44.30\00:01:47.47
Someone's going
to have to organize
00:01:47.50\00:01:49.14
the visitation list.
00:01:49.17\00:01:50.51
You're going to have to
get the church membership list
00:01:50.54\00:01:52.84
and find out who
are former members
00:01:52.87\00:01:55.21
that are no longer attending.
00:01:55.24\00:01:57.21
And so, when you get that list,
00:01:57.25\00:01:59.35
probably it won't
work to call on the phone.
00:01:59.38\00:02:03.02
Because what do you
think will happen then?
00:02:03.05\00:02:05.29
Yeah, if they
haven't been around
00:02:05.32\00:02:06.65
for a while, and you say,
00:02:06.69\00:02:08.02
"Hey, can I visit
you today or Tuesday?"
00:02:08.06\00:02:09.86
There's always
going to be an excuse.
00:02:09.89\00:02:12.56
So this is one,
00:02:12.59\00:02:13.93
you're just going to
have to show up at the door
00:02:13.96\00:02:16.23
and let the Holy Spirit lead.
00:02:16.26\00:02:18.73
But there are some
things that you can say,
00:02:18.77\00:02:21.67
you don't
necessarily have to fly
00:02:21.70\00:02:23.34
by the seat of your pants.
00:02:23.37\00:02:25.41
So, let's pretend
that we're visiting someone
00:02:25.44\00:02:27.71
by the name of Jim,
00:02:27.74\00:02:29.14
and he hasn't attended church,
00:02:29.18\00:02:30.95
let's say for
four or five years.
00:02:30.98\00:02:34.12
So you go to the
door, you knock on it,
00:02:34.15\00:02:36.42
you may say something like this.
00:02:36.45\00:02:38.65
Well, "Hi. Is this, Jim?"
00:02:38.69\00:02:40.92
Now, by the way,
00:02:40.96\00:02:42.29
why do you suppose
you ask the question,
00:02:42.32\00:02:43.69
is this Jim?
00:02:43.73\00:02:45.06
Well, sure, you want to know
00:02:45.09\00:02:46.43
if you're talking
to the right person,
00:02:46.46\00:02:48.06
because if they hadn't
been to church for a while,
00:02:48.10\00:02:50.20
you know, people
can change over time.
00:02:50.23\00:02:52.50
And even if you have
a pictorial directory,
00:02:52.53\00:02:55.17
they may not
look the way they did
00:02:55.20\00:02:57.51
when that picture was taken,
who knows how many years ago?
00:02:57.54\00:03:01.11
So first, make sure
00:03:01.14\00:03:02.48
you're talking
to the right person.
00:03:02.51\00:03:04.05
So back to the screen.
00:03:04.08\00:03:06.11
"Hi. Is this Jim?
00:03:06.15\00:03:08.28
Well, I'm David from
the Adventist Church.
00:03:08.32\00:03:10.52
I just stopped by for a
minute to visit with you.
00:03:10.55\00:03:14.46
Would that be okay?"
00:03:14.49\00:03:16.86
Now, do you
notice what I said there?
00:03:16.89\00:03:19.73
I just stopped by for how long?
00:03:19.76\00:03:22.90
A minute.
00:03:22.93\00:03:24.27
That lets the person know
00:03:24.30\00:03:26.57
that I'm not
planning to camp out there
00:03:26.60\00:03:29.17
for two or three hours.
00:03:29.20\00:03:30.84
I mean, this is
an unannounced visit,
00:03:30.87\00:03:32.67
you need to
respect people's time.
00:03:32.71\00:03:35.04
So we just let him
know it'll be a short time.
00:03:35.08\00:03:37.91
And then I like to ask,
would that be okay with you?
00:03:37.95\00:03:41.48
Because when they say okay,
00:03:41.52\00:03:43.49
I feel much more comfortable
00:03:43.52\00:03:46.22
and less nervous
when I'm talking to them.
00:03:46.25\00:03:49.02
Because believe it or not,
00:03:49.06\00:03:50.39
pastors and
evangelists get nervous too.
00:03:50.43\00:03:53.93
Now, what if they
say it's not okay?
00:03:53.96\00:03:57.17
What if they're not friendly?
00:03:57.20\00:03:59.83
Then you just have
to talk at the door.
00:03:59.87\00:04:02.47
And you might as well
get to the point quickly,
00:04:02.50\00:04:04.91
don't beat around the bush here.
00:04:04.94\00:04:07.24
You might
simply say, "Well, Jim,
00:04:07.28\00:04:08.91
I know you used to
attend our church at one time,
00:04:08.94\00:04:11.95
I just wanted to stop
by and invite you back."
00:04:11.98\00:04:15.95
Period.
00:04:15.98\00:04:17.32
Sweet, simple to the point.
00:04:17.35\00:04:19.75
Now, of course,
that they've invited you
00:04:19.79\00:04:21.12
into the house,
00:04:21.16\00:04:22.49
you'll be able to
talk about other things.
00:04:22.52\00:04:24.09
And that's where you
can actually use FORT.
00:04:24.13\00:04:26.73
That comes in handy a lot,
you know, family, occupation,
00:04:26.76\00:04:30.27
recreation, spiritual testimony.
00:04:30.30\00:04:33.47
But if you end
up at the doorstep,
00:04:33.50\00:04:35.17
this may be all you get in
and he may not be interested.
00:04:35.20\00:04:39.71
But I want to
tell you something.
00:04:39.74\00:04:42.08
Even if all you get is
60 seconds at the doorstep,
00:04:42.11\00:04:46.31
I want you to know you
have made a difference,
00:04:46.35\00:04:49.88
because I will guarantee you
00:04:49.92\00:04:51.35
that Jim will be thinking
about that 60 second visit
00:04:51.39\00:04:55.06
and there is at least a seed
00:04:55.09\00:04:56.96
that is planted in his heart
00:04:56.99\00:04:58.69
that the Holy
Spirit can work with.
00:04:58.73\00:05:00.46
You may not be able to
see that seed but God can.
00:05:00.50\00:05:05.33
So it's not a
failure if Jim says no,
00:05:05.37\00:05:08.54
and closes the door
00:05:08.57\00:05:10.01
and your visit is
less than a minute,
00:05:10.04\00:05:12.37
God can still work
00:05:12.41\00:05:14.18
and God needs people
00:05:14.21\00:05:15.54
who are willing
to make those visits.
00:05:15.58\00:05:19.55
Now, let's
suppose you do get inside.
00:05:19.58\00:05:23.59
I want to share
some principles with you
00:05:23.62\00:05:26.15
that's important
for us to follow.
00:05:26.19\00:05:28.26
Because the truth is
00:05:28.29\00:05:30.66
visiting a former Adventist
or a non-attending member,
00:05:30.69\00:05:35.36
it is a different kind of visit,
00:05:35.40\00:05:38.63
it's a unique visit.
00:05:38.67\00:05:40.07
And the principle,
00:05:40.10\00:05:41.44
some of the principles
are a little different
00:05:41.47\00:05:42.94
than what you do
in other settings.
00:05:42.97\00:05:45.34
So I want you to take
note of some of these things.
00:05:45.37\00:05:48.78
First of all, you see
00:05:48.81\00:05:50.15
the picture of the
guy on the screen there.
00:05:50.18\00:05:52.31
What do you notice
about his facial language
00:05:52.35\00:05:54.68
and his facial expression
and his body language?
00:05:54.72\00:05:58.45
Yeah, he doesn't seem
too thrilled, does he?
00:05:58.49\00:06:01.19
You know, arms crossed,
00:06:01.22\00:06:03.43
not smiling,
little smirk on his face.
00:06:03.46\00:06:06.36
It's possible that may happen.
00:06:06.39\00:06:08.20
Now understand, not every visit
00:06:08.23\00:06:09.96
to a non-attending
member is like that.
00:06:10.00\00:06:12.17
Some are not bitter.
00:06:12.20\00:06:14.10
They've just let
the things of life
00:06:14.14\00:06:15.47
overtake them
00:06:15.50\00:06:16.84
and they haven't
been there for a while.
00:06:16.87\00:06:19.11
But if you do face
a little negativity,
00:06:19.14\00:06:22.41
please remember these things.
00:06:22.44\00:06:24.71
Number one,
00:06:24.75\00:06:26.08
just let the
bitterness come out.
00:06:26.11\00:06:28.88
When people have
stopped attending church,
00:06:28.92\00:06:31.15
there is always a reason.
00:06:31.19\00:06:32.85
And probably 90% of the time
00:06:32.89\00:06:35.46
is because something
happened in the church
00:06:35.49\00:06:38.56
that hurt their feelings
00:06:38.59\00:06:40.33
or that bothered
them or disgusted them.
00:06:40.36\00:06:43.10
And so, they may have a
little bit of negativity
00:06:43.13\00:06:45.57
inside of them.
00:06:45.60\00:06:47.10
They may have been
holding this negativity in,
00:06:47.14\00:06:49.97
who knows for 10, 20 years
00:06:50.01\00:06:52.17
depending on how long it's been.
00:06:52.21\00:06:54.11
So you just need to
listen kindly to their story.
00:06:54.14\00:06:57.95
Let them share why
they stopped coming.
00:06:57.98\00:07:00.75
And even if they
seem a little bit upset,
00:07:00.78\00:07:03.18
it is actually good
medicine for them to get it out.
00:07:03.22\00:07:06.99
You know why?
00:07:07.02\00:07:08.46
Because it disarms them.
00:07:08.49\00:07:10.03
And once they get it out,
00:07:10.06\00:07:12.56
that is one less
obstacle that keeps them
00:07:12.59\00:07:15.70
from coming back to church.
00:07:15.73\00:07:18.47
And understand,
00:07:18.50\00:07:19.90
it's got nothing to
do with you personally.
00:07:19.93\00:07:23.44
So don't let your
own feelings be hurt.
00:07:23.47\00:07:25.61
You just happened to be
00:07:25.64\00:07:26.98
the representative of the church
00:07:27.01\00:07:28.51
that's there at that time,
00:07:28.54\00:07:30.28
and Jack or Jim
or whoever it is,
00:07:30.31\00:07:32.78
they just need to get
it out, so let them talk.
00:07:32.81\00:07:37.52
The fact that you
listen will impress them
00:07:37.55\00:07:41.09
and help to make a
connection with their heart.
00:07:41.12\00:07:44.46
So just let the
bitterness come out.
00:07:44.49\00:07:47.53
Now, depending
on what they share,
00:07:47.56\00:07:49.66
don't argue with them,
00:07:49.70\00:07:51.50
don't defend anyone.
00:07:51.53\00:07:53.54
Be willing to be the scapegoat.
00:07:53.57\00:07:55.20
You say, "Well, what
do you mean, Pastor Dave?"
00:07:55.24\00:07:58.61
Well, sometimes when
a non-attending member
00:07:58.64\00:08:01.28
shares the
story of what happened
00:08:01.31\00:08:03.45
that caused them not to come.
00:08:03.48\00:08:06.05
It's quite possible
00:08:06.08\00:08:07.42
you're only hearing
their version of the story.
00:08:07.45\00:08:09.98
And that version
might be slanted,
00:08:10.02\00:08:12.22
just a wee little bit.
00:08:12.25\00:08:14.16
In fact, you may have been there
00:08:14.19\00:08:15.79
when it happened.
00:08:15.82\00:08:17.16
And you know, it's
not happening in the way
00:08:17.19\00:08:19.49
that Bob is
saying that it happened.
00:08:19.53\00:08:22.53
That is not the
time to argue with them.
00:08:22.56\00:08:25.70
It's not the time to
try to set them straight.
00:08:25.73\00:08:29.30
They may have talked about how,
00:08:29.34\00:08:31.11
you know, a Suzy
Jones said this to her
00:08:31.14\00:08:34.21
and she never coming back,
00:08:34.24\00:08:35.74
you know, or Deacon Bob
00:08:35.78\00:08:38.18
just snubbed him
one day at the door,
00:08:38.21\00:08:40.62
or the pastor said
this from the pulpit
00:08:40.65\00:08:43.08
and they've got a
problem with the pastor.
00:08:43.12\00:08:45.75
Don't worry about
defending those people.
00:08:45.79\00:08:48.49
They may be your friends,
00:08:48.52\00:08:49.96
and they may be
perfectly innocent,
00:08:49.99\00:08:52.53
but simply defending
them is going to cause
00:08:52.56\00:08:56.00
the former member
to be argumentative
00:08:56.03\00:08:58.40
and it's going to
start building up a wall.
00:08:58.43\00:09:01.10
Let God take care of that.
00:09:01.14\00:09:04.81
In fact, I'm going to go ahead
00:09:04.84\00:09:06.64
and let you in on
the heart of a pastor.
00:09:06.68\00:09:09.64
Chances are strong
00:09:09.68\00:09:11.45
that some of
the people you visit
00:09:11.48\00:09:12.81
who are no longer attending
00:09:12.85\00:09:14.65
are going to have a
problem with the pastor.
00:09:14.68\00:09:17.75
It's just part of
being in leadership.
00:09:17.79\00:09:21.19
When you're visible,
people have a problem with you,
00:09:21.22\00:09:23.99
whether it is right or not.
00:09:24.03\00:09:26.53
And when they say things
about pastor said or did this,
00:09:26.56\00:09:30.33
just listen to them, okay?
00:09:30.37\00:09:33.40
The pastor is, he's a big
boy, he'll be able to handle it,
00:09:33.44\00:09:36.94
let God work
with the pastor, okay?
00:09:36.97\00:09:40.08
You don't have to feel
that you have to defend us.
00:09:40.11\00:09:42.61
The point is, get
this person back to church.
00:09:42.64\00:09:45.75
Let me tell you a
story to illustrate this.
00:09:45.78\00:09:49.75
I remember when I was
pastoring in Pennsylvania,
00:09:49.78\00:09:52.65
I'm not going to say where,
00:09:52.69\00:09:55.52
but I remember that
in one of the churches
00:09:55.56\00:09:57.89
that was within my
particular district,
00:09:57.93\00:10:01.20
I had gone there one Sabbath.
00:10:01.23\00:10:03.30
And, of course,
having multiple churches,
00:10:03.33\00:10:04.90
I wasn't there
every single Sabbath.
00:10:04.93\00:10:07.14
And I noticed there
was one particular couple
00:10:07.17\00:10:10.81
who wasn't attending anymore,
00:10:10.84\00:10:12.21
they hadn't been
there for a while.
00:10:12.24\00:10:14.38
And so, I asked
one of the members,
00:10:14.41\00:10:15.84
I said, "Well,
where is so and so?"
00:10:15.88\00:10:18.61
"Oh, they stopped
coming to church."
00:10:18.65\00:10:20.95
"Really? Well, why?"
00:10:20.98\00:10:22.95
"Well, they're
upset with someone."
00:10:22.98\00:10:25.35
"Who were they upset with?"
00:10:25.39\00:10:27.02
And you know
what the answer was?
00:10:27.06\00:10:29.16
"You, they're
upset with you, Pastor."
00:10:29.19\00:10:32.29
"Me? Well, what did I do?"
00:10:32.33\00:10:35.00
Because I had no idea.
00:10:35.03\00:10:37.67
And the story that came
out of the person's mouth
00:10:37.70\00:10:40.84
just flabbergasted me.
00:10:40.87\00:10:43.20
The story was that
one day me and my wife
00:10:43.24\00:10:46.44
were apparently
at Sabbath School
00:10:46.47\00:10:48.81
at one of the events
00:10:48.84\00:10:50.51
and this person was up
front sharing something
00:10:50.55\00:10:54.55
and they mispronounced the word
00:10:54.58\00:10:56.48
and I leaned over to my wife
00:10:56.52\00:10:58.45
and I made fun of
the person up front.
00:10:58.49\00:11:02.72
Now, I can tell you
that never happened.
00:11:02.76\00:11:04.96
And I'm trying
to think in my mind
00:11:04.99\00:11:08.26
when in the world did
this alleged crime occur
00:11:08.30\00:11:12.30
because I had no idea
what they were talking about.
00:11:12.33\00:11:15.44
In fact to be honest,
00:11:15.47\00:11:16.81
I was little bit upset about it,
00:11:16.84\00:11:18.17
because I thought it
was kind of childish.
00:11:18.21\00:11:19.91
And what really burned me,
now I'm just being honest here.
00:11:19.94\00:11:23.41
What really burned me
00:11:23.45\00:11:25.38
is you know how many people
in the church knew that story?
00:11:25.41\00:11:29.18
Everybody.
00:11:29.22\00:11:30.79
And I'm thinking to myself,
00:11:30.82\00:11:32.15
did we just throw
Matthew 18 out the door
00:11:32.19\00:11:34.22
where you're
supposed to go to your brother
00:11:34.26\00:11:35.62
if you have
something against them?
00:11:35.66\00:11:37.36
So we're just
skipping over that,
00:11:37.39\00:11:38.76
we're getting on the telephone,
00:11:38.79\00:11:40.23
telephones or the
emails or whatever,
00:11:40.26\00:11:42.30
and we're just
spreading this story
00:11:42.33\00:11:43.83
without ever
talking to the person.
00:11:43.87\00:11:45.70
So I got it, me
in my human nature,
00:11:45.73\00:11:47.30
I was upset.
00:11:47.34\00:11:48.94
And I didn't want to visit
00:11:48.97\00:11:50.31
because I felt
this is just childish.
00:11:50.34\00:11:52.94
But the Holy
Spirit got ahold of me.
00:11:52.97\00:11:55.04
And eventually I thought, well,
00:11:55.08\00:11:57.38
the Bible says if
someone has odd against you,
00:11:57.41\00:11:59.51
I don't have to wait for
them to take the initiative,
00:11:59.55\00:12:01.98
I need to take the initiative.
00:12:02.02\00:12:03.99
So I went and I visited.
00:12:04.02\00:12:06.69
I knocked on the door,
00:12:06.72\00:12:08.22
and I got a bit
of a cool receptions,
00:12:08.26\00:12:11.03
they invited me in
and so I shared, I said,
00:12:11.06\00:12:13.46
"Listen,
00:12:13.50\00:12:15.00
I understand that
story going around
00:12:15.03\00:12:18.30
that I made fun of a
word that she mispronounced."
00:12:18.33\00:12:21.07
I said, "You know, I'm sorry,
I just, I don't remember that.
00:12:21.10\00:12:24.84
Could you refresh my memory?
Are you sure that happened?"
00:12:24.87\00:12:27.31
And this person
00:12:27.34\00:12:28.68
absolutely insisted that it did.
00:12:28.71\00:12:30.98
Now, I knew that it didn't.
00:12:31.01\00:12:32.35
Now, it's possible
00:12:32.38\00:12:33.72
that I was
sitting beside my wife,
00:12:33.75\00:12:35.75
and maybe her
and I were discussing
00:12:35.78\00:12:38.25
something humorous.
00:12:38.29\00:12:39.62
And I may have
smiled at the same time
00:12:39.65\00:12:41.59
this person
mispronounced some word,
00:12:41.62\00:12:44.23
but the person
insisted that I did it.
00:12:44.26\00:12:46.43
And so, I remember
just simply saying,
00:12:46.46\00:12:48.06
"Well, you know, I
don't remember that.
00:12:48.10\00:12:49.76
But if that happened, I
just, I want you to know,
00:12:49.80\00:12:52.07
I'm truly sorry for
the misunderstanding.
00:12:52.10\00:12:54.10
I would love to have
you come back to church."
00:12:54.14\00:12:56.60
And you know what,
that's all that it took.
00:12:56.64\00:13:00.34
And they came back to church.
00:13:00.38\00:13:02.51
Now, was it childish?
00:13:02.54\00:13:04.71
Yes, I still think it was.
00:13:04.75\00:13:07.02
But many times the
reasons people share
00:13:07.05\00:13:09.18
as to why they're
no longer attending,
00:13:09.22\00:13:11.62
they will seem childish,
00:13:11.65\00:13:13.56
because people's
feelings have been hurt.
00:13:13.59\00:13:16.22
And we have to remember,
00:13:16.26\00:13:18.16
there have been
times when you and I
00:13:18.19\00:13:20.26
have also done some
childish things as well.
00:13:20.30\00:13:23.33
So we need to be willing
to extend grace and mercy
00:13:23.37\00:13:26.03
to the person.
00:13:26.07\00:13:27.40
Okay?
00:13:27.44\00:13:28.77
The point is to reconnect
them with Jesus and His Church.
00:13:28.80\00:13:33.04
The third principle says,
00:13:33.07\00:13:34.41
"Be willing to
be the scapegoat."
00:13:34.44\00:13:36.85
In other words, apologize.
00:13:36.88\00:13:39.41
Whatever it was that happened
that they're telling you about,
00:13:39.45\00:13:42.32
you may have had
nothing to do with it.
00:13:42.35\00:13:44.22
You may say what, well, Joe,
00:13:44.25\00:13:45.79
I am so sorry
that happened to you.
00:13:45.82\00:13:48.56
I know we're not perfect.
00:13:48.59\00:13:50.29
Would you please forgive
us? We'd like to make it right.
00:13:50.33\00:13:53.96
Oh, that'll shock Joe,
00:13:54.00\00:13:55.86
because he's not
expecting that apology.
00:13:55.90\00:13:59.37
But that's what
he needs to hear.
00:13:59.40\00:14:02.17
And the Holy Spirit will
begin to soften Joe's heart.
00:14:02.20\00:14:05.84
He just needed to know
that someone understood him,
00:14:05.87\00:14:08.18
someone cared.
00:14:08.21\00:14:09.78
You see what,
00:14:09.81\00:14:11.15
why should I
apologize for the church
00:14:11.18\00:14:12.51
that the church wasn't wrong?
00:14:12.55\00:14:14.35
Well, folks, let's be honest.
00:14:14.38\00:14:16.99
I don't know
the Adventist church
00:14:17.02\00:14:18.69
to be in an
infallible as we say,
00:14:18.72\00:14:21.22
I don't know any
leader to be infallible.
00:14:21.26\00:14:24.29
Sometimes we do make mistakes.
00:14:24.33\00:14:26.66
Sometimes on board
meetings, we make a decision.
00:14:26.70\00:14:29.23
And six months later,
when we look back at things,
00:14:29.26\00:14:31.53
we may think to
ourselves, you know,
00:14:31.57\00:14:33.47
we probably could have handled
that a little bit better.
00:14:33.50\00:14:36.14
None of us are perfect,
00:14:36.17\00:14:37.61
because we all
have a human nature.
00:14:37.64\00:14:40.18
And chances are pretty strong,
00:14:40.21\00:14:42.18
the church probably wasn't right
00:14:42.21\00:14:43.65
in every single thing
that it did in that situation.
00:14:43.68\00:14:47.38
So just apologize
for the church and say,
00:14:47.42\00:14:50.02
"Joe, we'd really
like to have you back."
00:14:50.05\00:14:53.22
It will strike a
chord in his heart.
00:14:53.25\00:14:56.69
Ask forgiveness if necessary,
it will do a world of good.
00:14:56.73\00:15:02.76
The point is not to prove
00:15:02.80\00:15:04.40
whether
someone's right or wrong.
00:15:04.43\00:15:06.47
The point is
connect them to Jesus,
00:15:06.50\00:15:09.44
reestablish them to His church.
00:15:09.47\00:15:13.11
Finally, don't
betray confidence.
00:15:13.14\00:15:15.84
You say, "Well,
what do you mean?"
00:15:15.88\00:15:17.28
Well, you know if,
00:15:17.31\00:15:19.78
if Margo talks about how
so and so did this to her,
00:15:19.81\00:15:23.92
you know, and what
Janelle did to her,
00:15:23.95\00:15:26.72
guess what
you're not going to do?
00:15:26.76\00:15:28.89
You're not going
to go back to church
00:15:28.92\00:15:30.26
and tell Janelle
everything in that conversation.
00:15:30.29\00:15:32.83
What you talk about in
that visit is confidential.
00:15:32.86\00:15:36.53
Don't betray confidence.
00:15:36.56\00:15:38.97
So really,
00:15:39.00\00:15:40.34
if you have a hard
time with gossiping,
00:15:40.37\00:15:42.70
this is probably not a
visit that you should make.
00:15:42.74\00:15:47.18
Don't argue over
standards either.
00:15:47.21\00:15:49.84
You say, "Well, what
do you mean by that?"
00:15:49.88\00:15:51.65
Now, I'm not
downplaying standards,
00:15:51.68\00:15:53.55
they're important too.
00:15:53.58\00:15:55.35
But, friends, we all know
there's a time and a place.
00:15:55.38\00:15:58.35
Suppose that you are
visiting someone named Mary.
00:15:58.39\00:16:03.83
And Mary is a 30-year-old woman
00:16:03.86\00:16:06.03
who hasn't been to
church in 10 years.
00:16:06.06\00:16:08.53
The reason she stopped coming
is because when she was 20,
00:16:08.56\00:16:11.53
she came to church one
Sabbath with her skirt too short
00:16:11.57\00:16:14.80
and one of the dear sisters
00:16:14.84\00:16:16.17
reamed her up one
side and down the other.
00:16:16.20\00:16:18.44
And she hasn't been
back to church since.
00:16:18.47\00:16:21.24
So now you're visiting Mary,
she's telling you this story.
00:16:21.28\00:16:25.15
Would that be a
good time for you
00:16:25.18\00:16:27.18
to do a study with her on
the standards of the church?
00:16:27.22\00:16:31.35
Probably not.
00:16:31.39\00:16:32.72
I'm not saying those
standards aren't important.
00:16:32.75\00:16:35.02
But again, there's
a time and a place.
00:16:35.06\00:16:37.19
And if we do that,
00:16:37.23\00:16:38.56
all those memories
00:16:38.59\00:16:40.03
are going to be
relived in her mind.
00:16:40.06\00:16:42.30
The point is, we want
to reconnect with her,
00:16:42.33\00:16:45.63
we want to invite
her back to Jesus.
00:16:45.67\00:16:49.20
Now, someone will say,
00:16:49.24\00:16:50.57
"Well, what if she
comes back to church
00:16:50.61\00:16:51.94
in that same short skirt?"
00:16:51.97\00:16:53.98
Folks, let's be real.
00:16:54.01\00:16:55.64
If she went
through that 10 years ago
00:16:55.68\00:16:57.21
and hasn't forgotten it,
00:16:57.25\00:16:58.68
what do you
think the chances are
00:16:58.71\00:17:00.08
she's going to do
that same thing again.
00:17:00.12\00:17:03.35
See friends,
00:17:03.39\00:17:04.72
we got to learn to accept people
00:17:04.75\00:17:06.82
and meet them where they are.
00:17:06.86\00:17:09.12
Maybe they're not
where they're supposed to be.
00:17:09.16\00:17:11.26
Maybe they've got,
still got some room to grow.
00:17:11.29\00:17:14.20
But criticizing and condemning
00:17:14.23\00:17:16.43
is not going to
bring them closer to Jesus
00:17:16.46\00:17:19.13
and closer to
coming back to the church.
00:17:19.17\00:17:22.00
Make a connection with them.
00:17:22.04\00:17:24.11
And as they get
connected to Jesus,
00:17:24.14\00:17:27.24
the Holy Spirit will take
care of some of the things
00:17:27.28\00:17:30.35
that may be on the outside.
00:17:30.38\00:17:32.91
You see, you and I try
to take care of that first
00:17:32.95\00:17:35.72
before we've
touched their heart,
00:17:35.75\00:17:37.42
and that doesn't work.
00:17:37.45\00:17:38.85
We need to
connect with their heart,
00:17:38.89\00:17:40.72
bring them back
00:17:40.76\00:17:42.09
and let the Holy
Spirit do the work
00:17:42.12\00:17:44.53
that you and I cannot do.
00:17:44.56\00:17:47.76
Lastly, don't overstay,
00:17:47.80\00:17:50.23
end your visit by
inviting them to church
00:17:50.27\00:17:52.87
and having a
special word of prayer.
00:17:52.90\00:17:55.17
And in your prayer,
00:17:55.20\00:17:56.54
just pray a
blessing for their family.
00:17:56.57\00:17:59.14
Please don't
preach in your prayer,
00:17:59.17\00:18:01.41
you know what preaching
in prayer means, don't you?
00:18:01.44\00:18:03.21
You're trying to add a sermon.
00:18:03.24\00:18:04.85
In other words, don't
pray a prayer like this.
00:18:04.88\00:18:07.82
Heavenly Father, thank You
that I could visit Bob today.
00:18:07.85\00:18:10.85
Oh, Lord, please send
Your Holy Spirit to help him
00:18:10.89\00:18:13.59
recognize the error of his ways
00:18:13.62\00:18:15.92
before it's too late
00:18:15.96\00:18:17.29
and he leads his
whole family astray.
00:18:17.33\00:18:19.36
Be with him in Jesus' name.
00:18:19.39\00:18:22.30
That's not a prayer
that you want to pray.
00:18:22.33\00:18:26.33
A simple prayer.
00:18:26.37\00:18:27.70
God, thank You, I
could visit Bob today.
00:18:27.74\00:18:29.90
Just bless him.
Lord, I know he loves you.
00:18:29.94\00:18:31.97
Be with him in the
decisions he makes.
00:18:32.01\00:18:33.74
Send Your Spirit to his family.
00:18:33.78\00:18:35.58
Thank You for his friendship.
00:18:35.61\00:18:37.01
I pray in Jesus' name.
00:18:37.05\00:18:39.21
Amen.
00:18:39.25\00:18:40.85
You get the point?
00:18:40.88\00:18:42.22
If you feel like
00:18:42.25\00:18:43.59
you've got to
criticize or condemn,
00:18:43.62\00:18:45.75
I'm just going to be honest,
00:18:45.79\00:18:47.56
find another
ministry in the church,
00:18:47.59\00:18:49.76
this one isn't for you.
00:18:49.79\00:18:52.33
And really, to be honest,
00:18:52.36\00:18:53.70
I don't know any
ministry in the church
00:18:53.73\00:18:55.06
where criticism and condemnation
00:18:55.10\00:18:57.47
is going to
cause positive results.
00:18:57.50\00:19:01.10
The last thing I
want to cover on visiting
00:19:01.14\00:19:03.00
this type of person is this.
00:19:03.04\00:19:05.64
Suppose you're in the home,
00:19:05.67\00:19:07.28
and now the conversation
really does go deep,
00:19:07.31\00:19:10.18
and it turns spiritual
and they become very open.
00:19:10.21\00:19:13.25
This may happen
on the first visit,
00:19:13.28\00:19:15.12
you may have to go
back three or four times
00:19:15.15\00:19:17.15
over a period of
two or three years
00:19:17.19\00:19:18.79
before you get to this point.
00:19:18.82\00:19:20.89
But here are some
questions you can ask.
00:19:20.92\00:19:23.53
So, Joe, how long has it been
since you've been to church?
00:19:23.56\00:19:25.96
That'll tell you
00:19:25.99\00:19:27.33
whether it's six
months or six years?
00:19:27.36\00:19:29.86
Do you still
believe the Adventist way?
00:19:29.90\00:19:33.03
That helps you to know
00:19:33.07\00:19:34.40
is this a doctrinal
issue or relational one?
00:19:34.44\00:19:37.11
Is it because they don't believe
00:19:37.14\00:19:38.47
the teachings anymore?
00:19:38.51\00:19:39.97
Or is it because
something else happened
00:19:40.01\00:19:42.41
in the church that's relational?
00:19:42.44\00:19:44.51
And 90% of the time,
it's going to be relational.
00:19:44.55\00:19:49.48
You can ask, this
is an important one.
00:19:49.52\00:19:52.19
Well, John,
00:19:52.22\00:19:53.56
have you ever
thought about coming back?
00:19:53.59\00:19:56.09
If that's the only
question you get to ask
00:19:56.12\00:19:58.63
because if they haven't
00:19:58.66\00:20:00.70
they will know
that you asked that.
00:20:00.73\00:20:03.13
And if they say,
"Well, yes, I have."
00:20:03.16\00:20:06.23
And the next
question you can ask is,
00:20:06.27\00:20:08.87
"Well, Bob, what is
it that hinders you?
00:20:08.90\00:20:11.27
Is there anything
I can help you with?"
00:20:11.31\00:20:14.08
And if they share with
you what the obstacle is,
00:20:14.11\00:20:17.31
help them overcome that obstacle
00:20:17.35\00:20:19.41
as far as it's possible for you.
00:20:19.45\00:20:23.18
You may even
want to pick them up
00:20:23.22\00:20:25.19
because the truth is,
00:20:25.22\00:20:26.55
if you've been away for a while,
00:20:26.59\00:20:28.22
it's really hard to
take that first step back,
00:20:28.26\00:20:30.59
isn't it?
00:20:30.63\00:20:31.96
Especially if
it's a small church,
00:20:31.99\00:20:33.33
you know, they don't want people
00:20:33.36\00:20:34.70
to recognize that.
00:20:34.73\00:20:36.23
So, you know,
they walk in the church
00:20:36.26\00:20:37.60
and 20 people run up,
00:20:37.63\00:20:38.97
"Oh, look, Bob's
back, Praise the Lord."
00:20:39.00\00:20:41.07
I know we want to be happy,
00:20:41.10\00:20:42.80
but the person may not
quite want all that attention.
00:20:42.84\00:20:45.51
It's good if they can walk
through the door with a friend.
00:20:45.54\00:20:49.68
You may even ask,
00:20:49.71\00:20:51.91
if they're not
interested in coming back.
00:20:51.95\00:20:53.52
Well, Bob, what
about your children?
00:20:53.55\00:20:56.62
How will your children
grow up to know the Lord?
00:20:56.65\00:20:59.55
Now you can only
ask that question
00:20:59.59\00:21:01.12
if you've made a
good connection with them,
00:21:01.16\00:21:03.19
and you've got to ask it
in the right tone of voice.
00:21:03.22\00:21:06.06
Now, all these questions
come from Fordyce Detamore,
00:21:06.09\00:21:09.06
a very famous
Adventist evangelist.
00:21:09.10\00:21:11.37
I would encourage
you to read his book
00:21:11.40\00:21:12.90
Seeking His Lost Sheep,
00:21:12.93\00:21:15.24
because these are the questions
00:21:15.27\00:21:16.60
that can really get to the heart
00:21:16.64\00:21:18.14
and cause a person to think.
00:21:18.17\00:21:20.98
And so, if God has called
you to this needed ministry,
00:21:21.01\00:21:23.88
you will be blessed
00:21:23.91\00:21:25.25
by seeing people
come back to church
00:21:25.28\00:21:27.58
in whose homes you have been,
00:21:27.62\00:21:29.75
even if it was just
standing on their doorstep.
00:21:29.78\00:21:35.32
Let's transition now to
two more groups of people.
00:21:35.36\00:21:39.76
Now, these won't
take quite as long.
00:21:39.79\00:21:42.23
Let's talk about just
visiting regular church members.
00:21:42.26\00:21:45.43
Because again, the pastor
00:21:45.47\00:21:46.80
is not going to
be able to do that
00:21:46.84\00:21:48.17
all that nor should he.
00:21:48.20\00:21:50.41
So let's suppose
00:21:50.44\00:21:51.77
that your church has developed
a church visitation team,
00:21:51.81\00:21:55.38
and if it hasn't, they should.
00:21:55.41\00:21:57.55
It may involve elders,
00:21:57.58\00:21:58.91
it may involve
deacons but you know what?
00:21:58.95\00:22:01.22
You don't have to be an
elder or a deacon to visit,
00:22:01.25\00:22:03.39
that can be open to anyone
00:22:03.42\00:22:04.89
who has that
calling upon their heart.
00:22:04.92\00:22:07.96
So you'll take
the membership list
00:22:07.99\00:22:10.03
and divide it among
the visitation team.
00:22:10.06\00:22:12.93
Now, this means the
church needs to do what?
00:22:12.96\00:22:15.93
Keep good records.
00:22:15.96\00:22:18.30
That is so important.
00:22:18.33\00:22:19.67
You can't visit anyone
00:22:19.70\00:22:21.04
if you don't
know where they live
00:22:21.07\00:22:22.54
or how to contact them.
00:22:22.57\00:22:24.84
That's a needed ministry.
00:22:24.87\00:22:26.31
Praise God for the clerks. Amen.
00:22:26.34\00:22:28.48
Now, on this one,
00:22:28.51\00:22:29.84
since they're
regular church members,
00:22:29.88\00:22:31.48
probably you can call
00:22:31.51\00:22:33.01
and make an
appointment if necessary.
00:22:33.05\00:22:36.05
And so, when you
are visiting them
00:22:36.08\00:22:37.95
in their home,
00:22:37.99\00:22:39.32
these are some
simple things to ask.
00:22:39.35\00:22:41.32
Now keep in mind,
00:22:41.36\00:22:42.69
these are not non
attending members.
00:22:42.72\00:22:45.33
These are people who
are coming fairly regularly
00:22:45.36\00:22:48.30
so you probably know them, okay?
00:22:48.33\00:22:50.67
But they need to be visited too.
00:22:50.70\00:22:52.63
So here are some questions.
00:22:52.67\00:22:54.77
You can go through
FORT with them, F-O-R-T.
00:22:54.80\00:22:58.04
We've already been through that.
00:22:58.07\00:22:59.41
That starts conversation.
00:22:59.44\00:23:00.78
But when you get
to the spiritual side
00:23:00.81\00:23:03.01
of the conversation,
00:23:03.04\00:23:04.38
here are some
very good questions.
00:23:04.41\00:23:07.62
Number one, you're talking
to an individual you might ask.
00:23:07.65\00:23:11.09
So how are things going
00:23:11.12\00:23:12.45
in your
spiritual life right now?
00:23:12.49\00:23:15.32
And then just
listen to what they say.
00:23:15.36\00:23:18.86
If you want to
word it differently,
00:23:18.89\00:23:20.23
you might say,
00:23:20.26\00:23:21.60
how is your
relationship with God right now?
00:23:21.63\00:23:25.60
Now, this person has a family,
bring the family into it,
00:23:25.63\00:23:29.74
you might ask them,
00:23:29.77\00:23:31.87
Joe, what would you say is
the greatest spiritual need
00:23:31.91\00:23:34.71
of your family right now?
00:23:34.74\00:23:37.48
And let Joe share.
00:23:37.51\00:23:39.81
And as Joe shares
00:23:39.85\00:23:41.18
whatever's on his
heart and mind about himself
00:23:41.22\00:23:43.49
or his family, just listen.
00:23:43.52\00:23:48.16
Encourage them, be positive,
00:23:48.19\00:23:51.76
let them know that
they have a friend.
00:23:51.79\00:23:55.76
At the very end,
you can ask well, Joe,
00:23:55.80\00:23:58.33
how can I pray for you
and your family right now.
00:23:58.37\00:24:02.57
Then gather the family together,
00:24:02.60\00:24:05.07
read a special Bible promise
00:24:05.11\00:24:07.78
and have a prayer
of blessing for them.
00:24:07.81\00:24:10.78
Even if a family is
not part of the church,
00:24:10.81\00:24:14.22
say you're visiting with,
00:24:14.25\00:24:15.72
you know, the wife
00:24:15.75\00:24:17.09
and she's a
Seventh-day Adventist member,
00:24:17.12\00:24:18.89
but the rest of
the family is not.
00:24:18.92\00:24:20.89
If it's possible,
00:24:20.92\00:24:22.26
if they're not in for
the rest of the visit,
00:24:22.29\00:24:23.73
they should be but
that's not always possible.
00:24:23.76\00:24:26.06
At the very least for
the prayer of blessing
00:24:26.09\00:24:28.06
at the end,
00:24:28.10\00:24:29.43
it'd be nice to
bring the family in
00:24:29.46\00:24:30.97
and let them hear
00:24:31.00\00:24:32.33
you pray a
positive prayer for them.
00:24:32.37\00:24:34.37
It plants a seed in the heart.
00:24:34.40\00:24:37.64
And last but not least,
00:24:37.67\00:24:39.27
don't forget about the children.
00:24:39.31\00:24:41.38
If the children is there,
00:24:41.41\00:24:42.74
and the whole
family's part of the church,
00:24:42.78\00:24:44.11
include the
children in the visit.
00:24:44.15\00:24:45.98
Ask them how
things are going for them,
00:24:46.01\00:24:48.12
ask them about
their prayer requests.
00:24:48.15\00:24:50.52
And when you
gather for the prayer,
00:24:50.55\00:24:52.32
you might even want to
invite the children to pray
00:24:52.35\00:24:55.06
if they choose to.
00:24:55.09\00:24:56.49
But you should mention
the names of the children
00:24:56.52\00:24:59.09
in the prayer.
00:24:59.13\00:25:00.46
Visitations
programs for church members
00:25:00.50\00:25:03.77
and it is very, very needed.
00:25:03.80\00:25:06.70
Because in reality,
00:25:06.74\00:25:08.10
you want the
pastor to be able to focus
00:25:08.14\00:25:10.51
on reaching the lost.
00:25:10.54\00:25:13.01
Now, church
members have needs too,
00:25:13.04\00:25:15.84
that's why you need a
church visitation team
00:25:15.88\00:25:19.31
to be able to meet
them and pray with them.
00:25:19.35\00:25:21.58
And I'll guarantee you,
if your church has that,
00:25:21.62\00:25:23.82
your church will grow
00:25:23.85\00:25:25.19
because people will want to
be part of a church that cares.
00:25:25.22\00:25:29.76
If God has called you to
be part of a visitation team
00:25:29.79\00:25:33.06
in your church,
00:25:33.09\00:25:34.43
I pray that you
will answer that call.
00:25:34.46\00:25:36.33
And if your church
doesn't has, well have one,
00:25:36.36\00:25:38.67
start one yourself,
talk to your pastor,
00:25:38.70\00:25:41.54
bring it to your church board,
00:25:41.57\00:25:43.24
find people in your church
00:25:43.27\00:25:44.97
who just have the
gift of visitation,
00:25:45.01\00:25:48.21
because I guarantee you
00:25:48.24\00:25:49.81
there is someone in every church
00:25:49.84\00:25:52.55
that has the natural gift
00:25:52.58\00:25:53.98
of being able to
connect with people.
00:25:54.02\00:25:57.39
But one thing you
need to make sure of,
00:25:57.42\00:25:59.52
you don't want people
on the visitation team
00:25:59.55\00:26:01.79
who have a hobby horse to ride
00:26:01.82\00:26:03.79
and are just going there to push
00:26:03.83\00:26:05.43
their own
certain set of doctrines.
00:26:05.46\00:26:07.80
This has to be someone
00:26:07.83\00:26:09.70
who is not
centered on themselves,
00:26:09.73\00:26:11.87
but centered on the
needs of meeting other people.
00:26:11.90\00:26:16.77
Lastly, let's talk
about how to visit the sick.
00:26:16.81\00:26:21.64
Now, our time's just about up,
00:26:21.68\00:26:23.41
but I want you to
take two minutes right now.
00:26:23.45\00:26:26.15
And I want you to
divide back into your groups.
00:26:26.18\00:26:29.28
And I want you to talk
00:26:29.32\00:26:31.39
about how should
we visit the sick.
00:26:31.42\00:26:33.86
What are some
things we should say
00:26:33.89\00:26:35.89
and shouldn't say?
00:26:35.92\00:26:37.63
You might even share a
story that you went through.
00:26:37.66\00:26:41.20
So just take about
two or three minutes,
00:26:41.23\00:26:42.86
divide in your groups,
then we'll come back together.
00:26:42.90\00:26:45.50
So you can go ahead
and pause the video now.
00:26:45.53\00:26:48.87
I wish I could have
heard everything that you said.
00:26:48.90\00:26:51.87
But let's go
through a few principles.
00:26:51.91\00:26:54.08
For some of you,
you may be thinking,
00:26:54.11\00:26:56.18
I don't need to
have a class on this,
00:26:56.21\00:26:57.75
I know how to visit the sick.
00:26:57.78\00:26:59.98
It's true that for some people
doing this sort of ministry
00:27:00.02\00:27:03.18
is a natural thing.
00:27:03.22\00:27:05.19
For others, you
may have grown up
00:27:05.22\00:27:07.09
in a home where, you know,
00:27:07.12\00:27:08.49
people weren't touchy feely,
00:27:08.52\00:27:10.49
you know, they weren't
hugging types of people and you,
00:27:10.53\00:27:13.06
you didn't readily share
feelings from your heart.
00:27:13.09\00:27:16.10
And so, you
actually have to learn
00:27:16.13\00:27:17.80
how to do this.
00:27:17.83\00:27:19.17
So let's go
through some principles.
00:27:19.20\00:27:21.57
And for those of you
who've already got this down,
00:27:21.60\00:27:24.11
just consider it a good review.
00:27:24.14\00:27:27.61
Number one,
00:27:27.64\00:27:28.98
the sick can be the
most neglected people,
00:27:29.01\00:27:31.81
they need encouragement.
00:27:31.85\00:27:35.28
You know how many
people there are in hospitals
00:27:35.32\00:27:38.22
or in nursing homes
who never get a visit?
00:27:38.25\00:27:42.39
They are there all alone,
because either family is gone,
00:27:42.42\00:27:46.09
or family lives far away.
00:27:46.13\00:27:49.46
Remember the story Jesus told?
00:27:49.50\00:27:51.83
If you've done it
00:27:51.87\00:27:53.20
to one of the least
of these my brethren,
00:27:53.23\00:27:55.80
you've done it unto me.
00:27:55.84\00:27:58.77
You see real ministry
doesn't simply consist
00:27:58.81\00:28:01.34
of only preaching from a pulpit.
00:28:01.38\00:28:04.25
Real ministry consists
of going to where people are
00:28:04.28\00:28:07.88
and connecting with their heart,
00:28:07.92\00:28:09.72
because that's what Jesus did.
00:28:09.75\00:28:11.52
He did a lot more
of personal ministry
00:28:11.55\00:28:14.16
than He did public preaching.
00:28:14.19\00:28:16.93
And even through
the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:28:16.96\00:28:18.56
Ellen White has
told us in the last days,
00:28:18.59\00:28:21.13
we need to do the same.
00:28:21.16\00:28:24.63
Now, what is your
ministry for the sick?
00:28:24.67\00:28:26.67
Oh, well, it's our
pastor, he visits everyone.
00:28:26.70\00:28:30.04
Well, folks, it's
fine to the pastor
00:28:30.07\00:28:31.41
to visit the sick.
00:28:31.44\00:28:33.14
But God's called you to do that.
00:28:33.17\00:28:35.41
I remember as a
pastor sometimes,
00:28:35.44\00:28:37.55
someone would call me and say
so and so is in the hospital,
00:28:37.58\00:28:40.02
and I usually was
the last one to find out.
00:28:40.05\00:28:42.25
You know, I go visit them
00:28:42.28\00:28:43.72
and I find out
00:28:43.75\00:28:45.09
I was the only one in the church
00:28:45.12\00:28:46.45
that visited them.
00:28:46.49\00:28:47.82
I mean, people
00:28:47.86\00:28:49.19
who've known the
person for 30 years,
00:28:49.22\00:28:51.26
and they didn't visit
00:28:51.29\00:28:52.79
because we have this idea
00:28:52.83\00:28:54.53
that it's got to be
the pastor that visits
00:28:54.56\00:28:56.67
and if the pastor visit,
00:28:56.70\00:28:58.23
that visit is more
special and more important
00:28:58.27\00:29:00.80
than the others.
00:29:00.84\00:29:02.17
We just got to
wipe that false doctrine
00:29:02.20\00:29:04.41
out of our minds,
00:29:04.44\00:29:05.77
you know, that
there is no special sense
00:29:05.81\00:29:07.74
that just comes from the pastor,
00:29:07.78\00:29:09.81
as though he is closer
to heaven than anybody else.
00:29:09.84\00:29:13.68
God has called us to
care for one another.
00:29:13.72\00:29:17.59
We all need to be
involved in visiting.
00:29:17.62\00:29:21.22
So when you do,
here's some of the points.
00:29:21.26\00:29:25.46
Your purpose is to
give them encouragement,
00:29:25.49\00:29:28.80
they needed if
they're in the hospital.
00:29:28.83\00:29:31.43
You want to bring a
smile to their face.
00:29:31.47\00:29:34.64
Give them
something to smile about.
00:29:34.67\00:29:37.04
Your visit will
give them some strength
00:29:37.07\00:29:39.41
they need to recover.
00:29:39.44\00:29:41.61
Because if the
person is depressed,
00:29:41.64\00:29:44.11
if the person is
struggling, we already know
00:29:44.15\00:29:46.85
what affects the
mind affects the body,
00:29:46.88\00:29:49.05
they need to be uplifted.
00:29:49.08\00:29:51.95
And then finally
point them to Jesus.
00:29:51.99\00:29:55.19
That last point number four,
00:29:55.22\00:29:57.03
that's what makes
your visit different
00:29:57.06\00:29:58.53
from any of the
others because the truth is,
00:29:58.56\00:30:00.86
an atheist can
do the first three.
00:30:00.90\00:30:03.33
An atheist can
bring encouragement,
00:30:03.37\00:30:05.10
bring a smile to someone's
face and give them strength.
00:30:05.13\00:30:08.67
But it's only you
00:30:08.70\00:30:10.74
who are going to
point them to Jesus.
00:30:10.77\00:30:13.24
Amen.
00:30:13.27\00:30:14.61
So when you're there,
these might be some questions.
00:30:14.64\00:30:17.31
So, Joe, what
brought you here today?
00:30:17.35\00:30:19.71
Even if you already know,
00:30:19.75\00:30:21.08
just let Joe tell the
story to make conversation.
00:30:21.12\00:30:24.49
What did the doctors told you?
00:30:24.52\00:30:26.59
Now, I like to ask
that question simply
00:30:26.62\00:30:28.96
for this reason.
00:30:28.99\00:30:30.43
I want to know what Joe
knows about his condition.
00:30:30.46\00:30:34.23
You know, because
if his wife tells me,
00:30:34.26\00:30:35.60
"Oh, go please visit, we
think he might have cancer."
00:30:35.63\00:30:38.53
And I go in and
visit Joe and say,
00:30:38.57\00:30:40.00
"Hey, Joe, I hear
that you may have cancer."
00:30:40.04\00:30:42.77
And nobody's told
Joe that and he's like,
00:30:42.80\00:30:44.57
what, what, I have cancer.
00:30:44.61\00:30:47.48
So, ask the person
what did the doctors said,
00:30:47.51\00:30:52.15
so that you don't
end up sticking your foot
00:30:52.18\00:30:54.58
in your mouth.
00:30:54.62\00:30:56.42
But here's where
it gets to the heart.
00:30:56.45\00:30:59.22
So how are you
feeling about it, Joe?
00:30:59.25\00:31:02.26
This is where Joe
can share his feelings.
00:31:02.29\00:31:04.89
Maybe he's got heart disease,
maybe he's got a broken leg.
00:31:04.93\00:31:08.30
Let Joe share
what's going on in his mind
00:31:08.33\00:31:10.40
and in his heart right now.
00:31:10.43\00:31:13.00
That's what Joe needs to share.
00:31:13.03\00:31:15.27
Ask him the hard questions,
give him a chance to talk.
00:31:15.30\00:31:19.24
And then ask him,
00:31:19.27\00:31:20.61
is there anything
I can do to help you?
00:31:20.64\00:31:23.68
Now don't stay long
unless they request it.
00:31:23.71\00:31:26.15
And the truth is,
00:31:26.18\00:31:27.52
you don't have to be
limited to those questions.
00:31:27.55\00:31:29.55
Sometimes people just
want to talk about life.
00:31:29.58\00:31:31.65
They don't want to
focus on their sickness
00:31:31.69\00:31:33.76
the entire time.
00:31:33.79\00:31:36.06
At the end of your visit,
00:31:36.09\00:31:37.43
whether it's 5
minutes or 20 minutes,
00:31:37.46\00:31:39.56
whatever it is,
00:31:39.59\00:31:40.93
you can end by
reading a Bible promise,
00:31:40.96\00:31:43.73
find a good
promise from Scripture,
00:31:43.77\00:31:45.97
which you'll probably
want to look up ahead of time
00:31:46.00\00:31:47.80
because trust
me, you get in there,
00:31:47.84\00:31:51.07
and they're surrounded
by other family members
00:31:51.11\00:31:53.14
you don't know
00:31:53.17\00:31:54.51
and you start to get
nervous and you forget things.
00:31:54.54\00:31:57.28
So look up your Bible promise
ahead of time and ask Joe,
00:31:57.31\00:32:00.78
"Joe, would you mind
if I read you a promise
00:32:00.82\00:32:03.39
and just had a word of prayer
00:32:03.42\00:32:04.75
that God will heal
you and bless you?"
00:32:04.79\00:32:07.56
And I can assure you,
00:32:07.59\00:32:09.19
I've never had
anybody in the hospital say,
00:32:09.22\00:32:11.89
"No, don't pray for my healing.
00:32:11.93\00:32:14.56
And don't pray
for me to be blessed."
00:32:14.60\00:32:16.97
Never had that happen.
00:32:17.00\00:32:19.40
In fact, sometimes the
people in the bed next to them
00:32:19.43\00:32:23.54
might want you to
pray for them as well.
00:32:23.57\00:32:26.47
It actually would
be a good idea for you
00:32:26.51\00:32:28.31
to offer that on your own
00:32:28.34\00:32:30.38
include their
roommate in the prayer as well.
00:32:30.41\00:32:34.08
They will remember that.
00:32:34.12\00:32:37.25
Well, folks, that's the
end of this particular session.
00:32:37.29\00:32:40.62
We have learned how to
greet visitors to our church,
00:32:40.66\00:32:44.59
we have learned
how to visit people
00:32:44.63\00:32:46.70
from evangelistic meetings,
00:32:46.73\00:32:49.06
we have learned how to visit
former Seventh-day Adventists,
00:32:49.10\00:32:52.53
we've learned how to
have a visitation program
00:32:52.57\00:32:54.34
in our church,
00:32:54.37\00:32:55.70
and we've learned
how to visit the sick.
00:32:55.74\00:32:59.01
Friends, this is a
ministry that Jesus Himself did.
00:32:59.04\00:33:02.31
And my prayer is
that as you step out,
00:33:02.34\00:33:05.21
and begin to visit
and connect with people,
00:33:05.25\00:33:08.28
that you would experience
the joy of Jesus in your heart,
00:33:08.32\00:33:11.99
and know what it's like
to make a positive difference
00:33:12.02\00:33:15.66
in someone's life.
00:33:15.69\00:33:17.56
Let's pray.
00:33:17.59\00:33:19.63
Heavenly Father,
00:33:19.66\00:33:21.76
it is our prayer to
be missionaries for you.
00:33:21.80\00:33:25.57
Lord, so often we become so busy
00:33:25.60\00:33:27.70
with the mundane things of life
00:33:27.74\00:33:30.11
that we forget
about the importance
00:33:30.14\00:33:31.67
of connecting with people.
00:33:31.71\00:33:34.34
We ask You, Heavenly Father,
00:33:34.38\00:33:35.71
just bring to each of our minds
every person watching this,
00:33:35.74\00:33:39.55
bring us the name of one person,
00:33:39.58\00:33:41.98
whom You're calling
us to be friends with.
00:33:42.02\00:33:45.59
And, Lord, if You're
asking us to reach out
00:33:45.62\00:33:48.19
and be part of a
visitation ministry,
00:33:48.22\00:33:50.93
help us to
comprehend that conviction
00:33:50.96\00:33:54.50
and to go to work for you.
00:33:54.53\00:33:56.70
We pray in Jesus' name.
00:33:56.73\00:33:59.10
Amen.
00:33:59.13\00:34:00.47
Welcome to session four of
Living an Evangelistic Life.
00:34:05.37\00:34:09.54
In this session,
00:34:09.58\00:34:10.91
we're going to be
talking about how to find
00:34:10.95\00:34:13.78
and give a Bible study.
00:34:13.82\00:34:15.98
But before we do,
let's have a word of prayer.
00:34:16.02\00:34:20.29
Heavenly Father,
00:34:20.32\00:34:21.66
we want to ask just now
00:34:21.69\00:34:23.63
that as we realize
00:34:23.66\00:34:24.99
there are so many
people in this world
00:34:25.03\00:34:27.36
who are searching for truth
00:34:27.40\00:34:29.20
or desiring something
better in their lives.
00:34:29.23\00:34:32.53
Lord, many of
them live in our homes,
00:34:32.57\00:34:34.97
our neighborhoods,
even our workplaces.
00:34:35.00\00:34:37.94
And we pray as we
go through this session
00:34:37.97\00:34:39.67
that you might
bring to our minds
00:34:39.71\00:34:41.78
the name of one
person that You're wanting us
00:34:41.81\00:34:44.48
to have a Bible study with.
00:34:44.51\00:34:46.18
And we ask that
You would help us
00:34:46.21\00:34:47.68
to understand these principles
00:34:47.72\00:34:49.62
and apply them
to the opportunities
00:34:49.65\00:34:52.39
You bring our way.
00:34:52.42\00:34:53.76
We ask these
things in Jesus' name.
00:34:53.79\00:34:56.69
Amen.
00:34:56.73\00:34:58.69
Before we start this session,
00:34:58.73\00:35:00.80
I need to share
something with you
00:35:00.83\00:35:02.40
about what these
principles are predicated upon.
00:35:02.43\00:35:06.23
These principles are
not going to be talking
00:35:06.27\00:35:08.44
about how to have a Bible study
00:35:08.47\00:35:10.44
with someone
that you've never met
00:35:10.47\00:35:12.17
in your life.
00:35:12.21\00:35:13.54
This is not going to be
about walking down the street
00:35:13.58\00:35:16.18
and knocking cold
turkey on the door
00:35:16.21\00:35:18.65
of someone that you don't know
00:35:18.68\00:35:20.32
or that you haven't
developed a relationship with.
00:35:20.35\00:35:23.25
Now that's a
fine ministry to have,
00:35:23.28\00:35:25.55
but that's not what
this session is about.
00:35:25.59\00:35:28.32
This session has assumed
00:35:28.36\00:35:30.26
that you have been building
a friendship with someone,
00:35:30.29\00:35:33.29
that this is
someone that you know,
00:35:33.33\00:35:35.40
that you've
cultivated a relationship with,
00:35:35.43\00:35:38.53
and that you have talked
with about spiritual things
00:35:38.57\00:35:41.94
in the past.
00:35:41.97\00:35:43.30
And so now you're at the point
00:35:43.34\00:35:45.14
where you sense that
maybe there's an open door
00:35:45.17\00:35:48.54
that they might be receptive
00:35:48.58\00:35:50.05
to starting a
Bible study with you,
00:35:50.08\00:35:52.68
and you want to
ask them the question.
00:35:52.71\00:35:55.75
So let's pick it up now.
00:35:55.78\00:35:57.12
Let's say if there's someone
00:35:57.15\00:35:58.55
that you've
developed a friendship with
00:35:58.59\00:36:00.19
and you want to ask
them if they're interested
00:36:00.22\00:36:02.22
in having a Bible study.
00:36:02.26\00:36:04.06
So the question
is, what do I say?
00:36:04.09\00:36:06.73
Do I have to
memorize some long spiel
00:36:06.76\00:36:10.30
or give them
some sort of speech?
00:36:10.33\00:36:12.80
And the answer is no.
00:36:12.83\00:36:14.34
Just be yourself.
00:36:14.37\00:36:16.34
Keep it short,
simple and to the point,
00:36:16.37\00:36:19.14
you might say
something like this.
00:36:19.17\00:36:22.21
Joe, have you ever had
someone study the Bible with you
00:36:22.24\00:36:25.95
and explain things?
00:36:25.98\00:36:27.55
I know of some
really good Bible lessons,
00:36:27.58\00:36:30.62
would you like to
study them together?
00:36:30.65\00:36:33.86
Now that's very simple.
00:36:33.89\00:36:35.22
There's nothing manipulative
about that whatsoever.
00:36:35.26\00:36:39.06
You're just simply inviting Joe,
00:36:39.09\00:36:41.23
that if he's never had a
Bible study with someone,
00:36:41.26\00:36:44.17
that could explain things,
00:36:44.20\00:36:45.93
and you know, some
really good lessons,
00:36:45.97\00:36:48.10
you're asking him
if he's interested
00:36:48.14\00:36:50.01
in studying with you.
00:36:50.04\00:36:52.04
Now, there is
only one of two answers
00:36:52.07\00:36:54.84
that Joe can
give and what's that?
00:36:54.88\00:36:57.38
It's either yes or it's no.
00:36:57.41\00:37:00.48
Now, Joe happens to say no,
00:37:00.52\00:37:02.88
that doesn't mean
00:37:02.92\00:37:04.25
you're a bad
missionary for Jesus.
00:37:04.29\00:37:06.49
When someone says no to us,
00:37:06.52\00:37:08.76
we're tempted to put
our tail between our legs
00:37:08.79\00:37:11.59
and to say, well, I
will never do this again.
00:37:11.63\00:37:14.86
But folks, you have to
realize it's going to happen.
00:37:14.90\00:37:18.90
There's times when
people will say no to us.
00:37:18.93\00:37:22.84
It's happened to me,
00:37:22.87\00:37:24.54
it's happened to
many other church members.
00:37:24.57\00:37:26.81
And quite frankly,
it's happened to Jesus.
00:37:26.84\00:37:29.98
Not everyone said yes to Jesus.
00:37:30.01\00:37:32.88
Remember the story
of the rich young ruler
00:37:32.91\00:37:35.58
and Jesus told him to go
sell all his possessions,
00:37:35.62\00:37:39.65
give to the poor,
00:37:39.69\00:37:41.12
and then come
and be My disciple.
00:37:41.16\00:37:43.66
And the rich young ruler
00:37:43.69\00:37:45.03
was not ready to
make that decision.
00:37:45.06\00:37:47.30
And he said no to Jesus.
00:37:47.33\00:37:49.96
So if someone says no,
00:37:50.00\00:37:51.33
it doesn't mean that
you did anything wrong.
00:37:51.37\00:37:53.80
It's just not the right time.
00:37:53.84\00:37:56.64
But understand, no
doesn't mean no forever,
00:37:56.67\00:38:00.74
at least in the
case of a Bible study.
00:38:00.78\00:38:03.14
When someone says no today,
just keep praying for them,
00:38:03.18\00:38:06.61
keep developing a
relationship with them.
00:38:06.65\00:38:09.22
Because in the future,
00:38:09.25\00:38:11.59
something may
happen in their lives
00:38:11.62\00:38:14.22
to make them more
open to spiritual things.
00:38:14.26\00:38:17.09
There could be a
tragedy in their life,
00:38:17.13\00:38:19.36
could be a death in the family,
00:38:19.39\00:38:21.20
it could be just
different circumstances
00:38:21.23\00:38:24.00
that cause them to
think of eternal things.
00:38:24.03\00:38:27.04
So continue to
cultivate the relationship.
00:38:27.07\00:38:30.41
And you can ask
them this question
00:38:30.44\00:38:32.24
again down the road,
00:38:32.27\00:38:33.88
whether it's a few
weeks or a few months
00:38:33.91\00:38:35.88
or maybe even a few years.
00:38:35.91\00:38:37.78
You might simply say, well, Joe,
00:38:37.81\00:38:39.48
I understand
00:38:39.51\00:38:40.85
but if you ever
change your mind,
00:38:40.88\00:38:42.32
the door is always open
00:38:42.35\00:38:43.85
and I'd be happy to
study the Bible with you.
00:38:43.89\00:38:47.26
Now, if Joe says
yes, then what do you do?
00:38:47.29\00:38:51.49
Well, inside your heart,
you're going to be rejoicing.
00:38:51.53\00:38:54.96
But then right away,
00:38:55.00\00:38:56.80
you want to set a time
to start that Bible study.
00:38:56.83\00:39:00.34
Don't say, oh, well, Joe,
00:39:00.37\00:39:01.70
I'll get back to
you in a few days.
00:39:01.74\00:39:03.47
Right then and there set
a time for the first study,
00:39:03.51\00:39:06.81
whether it's
Tuesday at 7 o'clock
00:39:06.84\00:39:08.84
or a Monday
morning at 9 o'clock,
00:39:08.88\00:39:11.25
if it's possible,
00:39:11.28\00:39:12.61
set a time for the
first study right then,
00:39:12.65\00:39:15.85
don't give the
person a few days,
00:39:15.88\00:39:17.42
they may change their
mind, set it right away.
00:39:17.45\00:39:22.32
Now,
00:39:22.36\00:39:23.69
if you sense
that they want to have
00:39:23.73\00:39:25.49
a Bible study,
00:39:25.53\00:39:27.13
but they're hesitating
because they don't want you
00:39:27.16\00:39:29.76
to come to their
home, you have some options.
00:39:29.80\00:39:33.34
Now, why do you think
00:39:33.37\00:39:34.70
someone may not want
you to come to their home
00:39:34.74\00:39:38.07
for a Bible study?
00:39:38.11\00:39:40.44
There's a lot of reasons.
00:39:40.48\00:39:42.14
Perhaps their house is
dirty or not very clean,
00:39:42.18\00:39:44.98
and they might be a
little bit embarrassed.
00:39:45.01\00:39:47.55
They may have some unruly
kids or some family issues
00:39:47.58\00:39:51.19
that maybe they
don't want you to see.
00:39:51.22\00:39:53.86
Or it's possible
they may have a spouse
00:39:53.89\00:39:56.69
who is against religious things.
00:39:56.73\00:39:59.33
Maybe there's a
problem with alcohol
00:39:59.36\00:40:01.23
or any number of things.
00:40:01.26\00:40:03.26
If that's the case,
00:40:03.30\00:40:04.83
there are other
things you can do.
00:40:04.87\00:40:07.17
Number one, you can invite them
00:40:07.20\00:40:08.57
to come to your
house for the Bible study.
00:40:08.60\00:40:11.67
You could do it at your
church, if they're open to that.
00:40:11.71\00:40:15.24
You could even do
it at a restaurant
00:40:15.28\00:40:17.35
while you're eating a meal.
00:40:17.38\00:40:19.45
I remember once seen two people
00:40:19.48\00:40:21.45
doing a Bible study on
a picnic bench in a park.
00:40:21.48\00:40:24.42
I was just walking
along on a beautiful day,
00:40:24.45\00:40:26.89
I saw two people
reading together.
00:40:26.92\00:40:29.02
And I have to admit,
I got a little bit nosy.
00:40:29.06\00:40:31.59
And so, I kind of walked
over to see what they're doing.
00:40:31.63\00:40:34.83
They were studying
the Bible together.
00:40:34.86\00:40:37.80
Nothing says it has to
be in that person's house.
00:40:37.83\00:40:42.14
Now it's ideal if you
can do it in their house,
00:40:42.17\00:40:45.44
because they are
comfortable there
00:40:45.47\00:40:47.18
for the most part,
00:40:47.21\00:40:48.54
but also,
00:40:48.58\00:40:49.94
if there are
unbelieving family members,
00:40:49.98\00:40:52.05
many times
00:40:52.08\00:40:53.42
they may not sit
in on the Bible study,
00:40:53.45\00:40:55.58
but they're listening
to everything that is said,
00:40:55.62\00:40:58.72
plus, it gives
you an opportunity
00:40:58.75\00:41:00.86
to develop a friendship
with other family members.
00:41:00.89\00:41:05.69
Now, let's go through
some other principles here.
00:41:05.73\00:41:08.66
Once someone has said yes,
00:41:08.70\00:41:10.73
I would love to
study the Bible with you,
00:41:10.77\00:41:12.83
and you set a time.
00:41:12.87\00:41:14.70
Now, you've got to find
some really good Bible lessons.
00:41:14.74\00:41:18.71
And there are a lot of choices.
00:41:18.74\00:41:21.28
I can't even begin to list
them on the screen for you.
00:41:21.31\00:41:24.98
You could go to the
Adventist book center,
00:41:25.01\00:41:27.25
or actually you could go online
to the adventistbookcenter.com
00:41:27.28\00:41:32.15
and you can see a whole array
00:41:32.19\00:41:33.72
of different kinds of lessons.
00:41:33.76\00:41:35.86
Now I have listed on the
screen some that I know about.
00:41:35.89\00:41:39.53
There is the
Search for Certainty,
00:41:39.56\00:41:41.53
those are the ones that I like,
00:41:41.56\00:41:43.26
they are from It Is Written.
00:41:43.30\00:41:44.83
There are the
Storacle Prophecy lessons,
00:41:44.87\00:41:47.34
they are from Amazing Facts.
00:41:47.37\00:41:49.34
There's the Discover
lessons from Voice of Prophecy.
00:41:49.37\00:41:52.37
There's the Stay
Alive with Jesus.
00:41:52.41\00:41:54.71
And then there is Lift Him Up.
00:41:54.74\00:41:57.81
That is a series of
lessons by Karen Lewis
00:41:57.85\00:42:01.42
that you can actually
either buy in the book center,
00:42:01.45\00:42:04.95
or you can go to
liftingJesusup.net
00:42:04.99\00:42:09.52
and you can download
them for free and print them.
00:42:09.56\00:42:12.26
Now, of course,
00:42:12.29\00:42:13.63
they won't be fancy and colorful
00:42:13.66\00:42:15.30
like the published lessons,
00:42:15.33\00:42:16.90
they'll just be
printed off in black and white,
00:42:16.93\00:42:19.47
but they are free.
00:42:19.50\00:42:21.30
The point is to
find a set of lessons
00:42:21.34\00:42:23.71
that you're comfortable with,
00:42:23.74\00:42:25.37
or more important
that the other person
00:42:25.41\00:42:27.94
is comfortable with.
00:42:27.98\00:42:29.74
Now, for me personally,
00:42:29.78\00:42:31.88
I like the
question and answer format,
00:42:31.91\00:42:34.68
where there's a question,
00:42:34.72\00:42:36.22
then it gives the Bible
verse where you find the answer,
00:42:36.25\00:42:39.62
and then they have to write out
the answer in their own words.
00:42:39.65\00:42:43.53
I don't prefer for
them to just copy the verse
00:42:43.56\00:42:46.66
because you can
do that mindlessly
00:42:46.70\00:42:49.23
without really thinking
00:42:49.26\00:42:50.87
about the
lessons that are in it.
00:42:50.90\00:42:52.77
So I prefer the
question and answer format,
00:42:52.80\00:42:55.94
but you can use whatever lessons
00:42:55.97\00:42:58.31
is most comfortable for you.
00:42:58.34\00:43:01.98
Now, once you find yourself
sitting down at the table,
00:43:02.01\00:43:05.41
having a one on one
Bible study with someone,
00:43:05.45\00:43:09.05
let's go over some
important principles
00:43:09.08\00:43:12.15
that we need to remember.
00:43:12.19\00:43:14.32
Principle number
one, follow the sequence.
00:43:14.36\00:43:19.06
Now, what do we mean by that?
00:43:19.09\00:43:21.36
You need to go in
the order of the lessons
00:43:21.40\00:43:24.70
as far as possible.
00:43:24.73\00:43:27.27
There's a reason the
topics are in a certain order,
00:43:27.30\00:43:30.87
they are like a link in a chain.
00:43:30.91\00:43:33.84
There are some subjects
that you can't understand
00:43:33.88\00:43:37.45
until you cover
other topics first.
00:43:37.48\00:43:40.72
I mean, for example,
00:43:40.75\00:43:42.15
why would you do lesson 10
00:43:42.18\00:43:44.65
before you've studied
the first nine lessons,
00:43:44.69\00:43:47.62
because what's in
the first nine lessons
00:43:47.66\00:43:50.03
is what prepares you
for what's in lesson 10.
00:43:50.06\00:43:54.16
I remember when I
was in high school,
00:43:54.20\00:43:56.33
I did home school for
ninth grade for one year.
00:43:56.36\00:43:59.47
And that's when I was
introduced to algebra,
00:43:59.50\00:44:02.74
I have to tell
you, I hated algebra.
00:44:02.77\00:44:07.08
It did not make any sense to me,
00:44:07.11\00:44:09.18
you know, X over B and C squared
00:44:09.21\00:44:11.75
and all these things,
00:44:11.78\00:44:13.11
I thought, what in the
world am I going to use this
00:44:13.15\00:44:14.98
in the real world.
00:44:15.02\00:44:16.35
Like I'm going to
go down the interstate,
00:44:16.38\00:44:17.72
it's going to say
that I can only go
00:44:17.75\00:44:19.25
A over B miles per hour.
00:44:19.29\00:44:21.59
The point is, it
causes your mind to process
00:44:21.62\00:44:24.76
and think things through,
you develop cognitive skills.
00:44:24.79\00:44:28.73
But see, you
can't understand algebra
00:44:28.76\00:44:31.97
unless you know
00:44:32.00\00:44:33.34
your multiplication
and division tables first,
00:44:33.37\00:44:35.67
it wouldn't make sense.
00:44:35.70\00:44:37.34
It's the same way when
studying Bible lessons.
00:44:37.37\00:44:40.54
Why would you
talk about the Sabbath
00:44:40.58\00:44:42.91
before you've studied
the importance of God's law?
00:44:42.94\00:44:46.05
And why would you talk
00:44:46.08\00:44:47.42
about the
importance of God's law
00:44:47.45\00:44:49.92
before you've done the lesson
00:44:49.95\00:44:51.29
on how to accept
Jesus Christ as your Savior?
00:44:51.32\00:44:55.06
And why would you
do a lesson about hell
00:44:55.09\00:44:57.03
before you understand
what happens when you die?
00:44:57.06\00:45:00.33
See, all these things are
in the order for a reason,
00:45:00.36\00:45:03.57
follow the sequence.
00:45:03.60\00:45:06.20
Now I remember
one time in ministry,
00:45:06.23\00:45:08.14
well, more than one time,
00:45:08.17\00:45:09.90
I made a mistake
00:45:09.94\00:45:11.27
and I didn't
follow this principle
00:45:11.31\00:45:13.34
and I paid for it.
00:45:13.38\00:45:14.98
Whenever I was pastoring,
a church in Pennsylvania,
00:45:15.01\00:45:18.35
and there was a lady
who was very interested
00:45:18.38\00:45:21.08
in our evangelistic meetings,
00:45:21.12\00:45:22.45
but she didn't make all of them.
00:45:22.48\00:45:24.52
And so, I was giving her
some video Bible studies.
00:45:24.55\00:45:27.96
And so, I would
give her one to look at,
00:45:27.99\00:45:29.92
she'd bring it back
and I'd give her the next.
00:45:29.96\00:45:32.59
Well, for some reason,
00:45:32.63\00:45:34.70
she was interested
00:45:34.73\00:45:36.06
in knowing all about
the seven last plagues,
00:45:36.10\00:45:39.20
and she wanted me to give
her that lesson ahead of time.
00:45:39.23\00:45:42.94
Well, that was lesson number 19.
00:45:42.97\00:45:45.71
So I gave her lesson number 19
00:45:45.74\00:45:49.04
before she had
finished the first 18.
00:45:49.08\00:45:52.55
And what I didn't realize
00:45:52.58\00:45:54.52
is lesson number 19
brought up some topics
00:45:54.55\00:45:58.42
she wasn't ready to handle.
00:45:58.45\00:46:00.32
They were topics
00:46:00.36\00:46:02.06
that she needed to understand
by doing the first 18 lessons,
00:46:02.09\00:46:06.29
she wasn't prepared for it.
00:46:06.33\00:46:07.93
And as a result, we lost her.
00:46:07.96\00:46:10.57
And she didn't come
back to church anymore.
00:46:10.60\00:46:14.14
So when it's all
possible, follow the sequence.
00:46:14.17\00:46:18.17
Now, if there is someone
who just really has a question
00:46:18.21\00:46:21.21
about something,
you know, for example,
00:46:21.24\00:46:23.95
many times
there will be a person
00:46:23.98\00:46:25.55
who says,
00:46:25.58\00:46:26.92
you know, I really want to
know what happens when you die
00:46:26.95\00:46:30.02
because I have a grandfather
or a grandma that I lost,
00:46:30.05\00:46:33.12
I got to know.
00:46:33.15\00:46:35.02
And they're tempted
they want to skip ahead.
00:46:35.06\00:46:37.76
If at all possible,
help them to be patient,
00:46:37.79\00:46:40.80
you might say
something like this,
00:46:40.83\00:46:43.80
"Well, Joe, I understand
00:46:43.83\00:46:45.17
that's a very
important question.
00:46:45.20\00:46:47.00
And we have a whole
lesson coming up in the future
00:46:47.04\00:46:49.77
that's going to deal with that.
00:46:49.80\00:46:51.31
But you see,
00:46:51.34\00:46:52.67
in order to
understand that lesson,
00:46:52.71\00:46:54.68
we have to study
some other lessons first,
00:46:54.71\00:46:57.61
but I can assure you,
00:46:57.65\00:46:59.15
we're not going to
skip your question."
00:46:59.18\00:47:01.58
Usually that will satisfy them.
00:47:01.62\00:47:04.59
If it doesn't,
00:47:04.62\00:47:06.45
then you may need to find
00:47:06.49\00:47:08.09
just a little
booklet to give to them
00:47:08.12\00:47:10.19
or just give
them a little summary
00:47:10.23\00:47:12.79
without all the information
00:47:12.83\00:47:14.86
because it's better
to go out of sequence
00:47:14.90\00:47:17.03
than to lose
00:47:17.07\00:47:18.40
the whole Bible
study all together.
00:47:18.43\00:47:20.44
But whenever
possible, follow the sequence
00:47:20.47\00:47:24.07
because there
is a purpose to it.
00:47:24.11\00:47:26.94
By the way,
00:47:26.98\00:47:28.31
one of the other
things I forgot to mention
00:47:28.34\00:47:30.08
is you can also do
video Bible studies,
00:47:30.11\00:47:33.05
and I'm going to talk about that
00:47:33.08\00:47:34.42
in just a few minutes.
00:47:34.45\00:47:36.75
Principle number two,
do one lesson at a time.
00:47:36.79\00:47:42.19
You know why that is?
00:47:42.22\00:47:44.33
There is something
00:47:44.36\00:47:45.69
that's called
information overload.
00:47:45.73\00:47:48.80
If you give people too
much information at once,
00:47:48.83\00:47:52.87
they can't handle
what you might say
00:47:52.90\00:47:54.67
that it blows a
gasket, it's too much.
00:47:54.70\00:47:57.41
For example,
00:47:57.44\00:47:58.77
let's say there's a
little outlet up here
00:47:58.81\00:48:00.51
on the platform.
00:48:00.54\00:48:01.88
If I were to try to get
all these multi extensions
00:48:01.91\00:48:05.58
and plug about
20 different plugs
00:48:05.61\00:48:08.05
in that socket,
00:48:08.08\00:48:09.42
what would eventually happen?
00:48:09.45\00:48:11.19
It would blow because
it couldn't handle it.
00:48:11.22\00:48:14.72
That's how the
human mind tends to work.
00:48:14.76\00:48:18.16
If you give it
too much information,
00:48:18.19\00:48:21.13
it's going to immobilize
it, it can't deal with it.
00:48:21.16\00:48:24.97
So it's best to do
one lesson at a time,
00:48:25.00\00:48:28.17
so the person
has the opportunity
00:48:28.20\00:48:30.01
to process it,
00:48:30.04\00:48:31.37
and to be able
to think about it.
00:48:31.41\00:48:33.51
Now at most, you
might be able to get away
00:48:33.54\00:48:35.88
with two lessons at a time
or perhaps two lessons a week.
00:48:35.91\00:48:39.58
But I would
never go more than that
00:48:39.61\00:48:41.85
unless that person has
already been studied with.
00:48:41.88\00:48:44.65
So normally one lesson at a time
00:48:44.69\00:48:47.49
so they can process
it and think it through.
00:48:47.52\00:48:51.43
Now, principle
number three says,
00:48:51.46\00:48:54.13
have the person do
the lesson ahead of time.
00:48:54.16\00:48:58.83
In other words,
00:48:58.87\00:49:00.20
the only time
they're doing the lesson
00:49:00.24\00:49:02.20
should not be when
you are right there
00:49:02.24\00:49:04.37
physically with them.
00:49:04.41\00:49:06.34
What should happen
00:49:06.37\00:49:07.74
is you will give them the lesson
00:49:07.78\00:49:09.54
for the next week.
00:49:09.58\00:49:11.08
And you will invite
them through the week
00:49:11.11\00:49:13.42
to do the lesson
and look up the texts.
00:49:13.45\00:49:16.25
Then when you get
together next week,
00:49:16.28\00:49:18.65
they would have
already done the lesson,
00:49:18.69\00:49:21.06
processed the information
00:49:21.09\00:49:23.16
and they know what
their questions are.
00:49:23.19\00:49:25.69
And then you may
not have to cover
00:49:25.73\00:49:27.40
every single question
that's on that lesson booklet.
00:49:27.43\00:49:31.70
The reason that's
important is this,
00:49:31.73\00:49:36.00
by them doing the
lesson ahead of time,
00:49:36.04\00:49:39.24
they are interacting with
God's Word for themselves.
00:49:39.27\00:49:44.15
I mean, there is
power in this Word,
00:49:44.18\00:49:47.12
and the Word is being
implanted in their hearts
00:49:47.15\00:49:49.92
and in their minds,
00:49:49.95\00:49:51.29
and it gives a Holy Spirit
00:49:51.32\00:49:52.65
the chance to work
with them during the week.
00:49:52.69\00:49:56.32
If the only time
they open up their Bible
00:49:56.36\00:49:59.53
is when they are
physically with you
00:49:59.56\00:50:01.40
doing a Bible study,
00:50:01.43\00:50:03.30
then they're not learning
00:50:03.33\00:50:04.67
how to have a
daily devotional life.
00:50:04.70\00:50:07.34
They're not learning how
to interact with God's Word
00:50:07.37\00:50:09.77
for themselves.
00:50:09.80\00:50:11.14
And then when the whole series
of Bible lessons are over,
00:50:11.17\00:50:14.81
they'll probably stop
with studying the Bible.
00:50:14.84\00:50:17.61
You want them to continue on.
00:50:17.65\00:50:20.22
So in other words,
00:50:20.25\00:50:21.58
when you show up
00:50:21.62\00:50:22.95
and you're doing
lesson number three,
00:50:22.98\00:50:24.59
when you're done
studying lesson number three,
00:50:24.62\00:50:26.86
before you leave,
00:50:26.89\00:50:28.29
what are you going to give them?
00:50:28.32\00:50:30.03
You're going to give
them lesson number four.
00:50:30.06\00:50:32.56
During the week, they
do lesson number four,
00:50:32.59\00:50:35.43
and the next week, you come back
00:50:35.46\00:50:37.20
and you study
lesson four with them,
00:50:37.23\00:50:39.87
but they've already done it.
00:50:39.90\00:50:42.17
That's one of the best
ways to do a Bible study,
00:50:42.20\00:50:45.27
they're
interacting with God's Word
00:50:45.31\00:50:46.94
on their own and also with you.
00:50:46.98\00:50:50.18
Does that make sense?
00:50:50.21\00:50:52.48
Well, let's go to
the next principle.
00:50:52.51\00:50:54.78
Usually what I like to do
00:50:54.82\00:50:56.42
and you don't
have to do it my way
00:50:56.45\00:50:57.92
because we all have
different personalities.
00:50:57.95\00:51:01.39
I like to read the
question on the lesson sheet.
00:51:01.42\00:51:05.59
Have the person
read the Bible text
00:51:05.63\00:51:08.36
and then share their answer.
00:51:08.40\00:51:10.87
And with each question,
then you can alternate it,
00:51:10.90\00:51:13.74
you know, then they
can read the question
00:51:13.77\00:51:16.04
and then you
can look up the text
00:51:16.07\00:51:17.91
and they can share their answer.
00:51:17.94\00:51:20.31
And then after you've
done that for the questions
00:51:20.34\00:51:22.71
after say like question one,
00:51:22.74\00:51:24.95
you can make some
comments if you like.
00:51:24.98\00:51:27.55
Now, this is the
part that scares people,
00:51:27.58\00:51:29.58
because they think, well,
00:51:29.62\00:51:30.95
I don't know what to say
or what comments would I make?
00:51:30.99\00:51:34.39
Well, the wonderful
thing about Bible lessons today
00:51:34.42\00:51:37.43
is usually after every question,
00:51:37.46\00:51:39.79
there is usually a paragraph
that makes comments for you.
00:51:39.83\00:51:43.90
So at the very least,
00:51:43.93\00:51:45.57
you can simply summarize
what the paragraph says.
00:51:45.60\00:51:49.40
But you know what's even better,
00:51:49.44\00:51:52.04
is when you can
share personal testimony.
00:51:52.07\00:51:55.78
You see,
00:51:55.81\00:51:57.25
when you are
ordering some lessons
00:51:57.28\00:51:59.28
to do with someone,
00:51:59.31\00:52:01.28
how many sets are
you going to order?
00:52:01.32\00:52:04.42
You're going to order two,
00:52:04.45\00:52:06.59
one for them and
one for who else?
00:52:06.62\00:52:10.93
One for you.
00:52:10.96\00:52:12.39
And so, while Joe
is studying his lesson
00:52:12.43\00:52:15.56
and looking up the
verses during the week,
00:52:15.60\00:52:17.57
what are you doing?
00:52:17.60\00:52:19.10
You're doing the same lesson,
you're writing out the answers.
00:52:19.13\00:52:23.44
And so that gives
you an opportunity
00:52:23.47\00:52:25.87
to write down any comments
00:52:25.91\00:52:27.74
that you might
want to share with Joe.
00:52:27.78\00:52:29.84
And you can write them
00:52:29.88\00:52:31.21
on the side of
your lesson paper,
00:52:31.25\00:52:33.25
and you're
basically making notes.
00:52:33.28\00:52:35.48
So when you sit down with Joe
the next week to do the lesson,
00:52:35.52\00:52:39.22
you're not having to
memorize all this stuff,
00:52:39.25\00:52:41.72
your notes are
right in front of you.
00:52:41.76\00:52:44.76
I mean, maybe you're going to do
00:52:44.79\00:52:46.13
a Bible lesson on
stewardship and tithing.
00:52:46.16\00:52:49.20
And one of the
questions reminds you of a time
00:52:49.23\00:52:51.70
in your life
00:52:51.73\00:52:53.07
when God blessed
you concerning time,
00:52:53.10\00:52:56.30
and you may want to
make a little note to say
00:52:56.34\00:52:58.37
I want to share such
and such story with Joe,
00:52:58.41\00:53:01.01
and then you can
share a personal testimony.
00:53:01.04\00:53:04.45
See when you do it that way,
00:53:04.48\00:53:06.15
and you're doing
the lesson as well,
00:53:06.18\00:53:08.25
it's not nearly as intimidating
as we sometimes think.
00:53:08.28\00:53:13.86
Now, another principle
00:53:13.89\00:53:15.22
that is extremely
important is this.
00:53:15.26\00:53:19.09
Make sure they
understand the topic
00:53:19.13\00:53:22.73
before going to the next lesson.
00:53:22.76\00:53:26.20
Now, I want to say something
I really want this to sink in.
00:53:26.23\00:53:30.61
People don't make decisions
00:53:30.64\00:53:33.41
on things they don't understand.
00:53:33.44\00:53:37.01
Did you catch that?
00:53:37.05\00:53:38.41
I'm going to say it again.
00:53:38.45\00:53:40.25
People don't make decisions
00:53:40.28\00:53:43.25
about things that
they don't understand.
00:53:43.28\00:53:47.39
If there is something
about that lesson or topic
00:53:47.42\00:53:50.49
that doesn't make sense to them,
00:53:50.53\00:53:52.43
they're not going to move
forward and make a decision.
00:53:52.46\00:53:55.86
For example,
00:53:55.90\00:53:57.23
if there is
something about the Sabbath
00:53:57.27\00:53:59.10
that they just
aren't quite grasping
00:53:59.13\00:54:01.34
or understanding,
00:54:01.37\00:54:02.80
they're not going
to make a decision
00:54:02.84\00:54:04.47
to keep the Sabbath holy
00:54:04.51\00:54:06.11
and make it a
part of their life.
00:54:06.14\00:54:08.41
The questions
have to be cleared up
00:54:08.44\00:54:10.55
in their minds.
00:54:10.58\00:54:12.08
And this is true
in the secular world.
00:54:12.11\00:54:15.15
I mean, when
you're buying a new car,
00:54:15.18\00:54:17.35
and you're sitting there
00:54:17.39\00:54:18.72
and you're
looking at the contract,
00:54:18.75\00:54:20.09
and you're about to
sign this notes payable,
00:54:20.12\00:54:23.02
if you don't understand
what that contract is saying,
00:54:23.06\00:54:27.06
and you don't understand
what you're committing to,
00:54:27.10\00:54:29.40
are you going to
sign that contract?
00:54:29.43\00:54:31.60
Of course not.
00:54:31.63\00:54:32.97
Because even in the real world,
00:54:33.00\00:54:34.70
we don't make decisions
00:54:34.74\00:54:36.64
about things that
we don't understand.
00:54:36.67\00:54:40.88
Any more than a
freshman in college
00:54:40.91\00:54:43.04
might be able to decide
00:54:43.08\00:54:44.41
what their major is going to be,
00:54:44.45\00:54:45.88
it may take them some time.
00:54:45.91\00:54:48.62
So we have to let
people ask questions,
00:54:48.65\00:54:53.15
let them clear things up.
00:54:53.19\00:54:55.42
And I'm going to talk
about answering questions
00:54:55.46\00:54:57.66
in just a minute.
00:54:57.69\00:54:59.43
The other principle is
ask for little decisions
00:54:59.46\00:55:01.86
along the way.
00:55:01.90\00:55:03.23
They say, "What
do you mean by that?"
00:55:03.26\00:55:05.77
Don't wait until the
end of 25 or 26 lessons
00:55:05.80\00:55:10.14
and ask them to accept
the whole package all at once.
00:55:10.17\00:55:14.24
That's too much to
handle at one time.
00:55:14.28\00:55:17.65
I mean, let's think
about it for a second.
00:55:17.68\00:55:19.88
If we wait to the
end of say, lesson 26.
00:55:19.91\00:55:23.05
And we're going to ask Joe,
and we're going to say, Joe,
00:55:23.08\00:55:25.35
are you willing to accept
00:55:25.39\00:55:26.72
the Bible as the
holy inspired word of God
00:55:26.76\00:55:28.72
and we need to obey it?
00:55:28.76\00:55:30.09
Are you willing to
accept that when Jesus comes,
00:55:30.13\00:55:32.09
it's literal, it's
audible, it's visible
00:55:32.13\00:55:34.20
and there is no such
thing as a secret rapture?
00:55:34.23\00:55:36.43
Are you willing to
accept Jesus Christ as your Lord
00:55:36.46\00:55:39.00
and your personal Savior?
00:55:39.03\00:55:40.37
Do you believe that
He's your high priest
00:55:40.40\00:55:41.90
in a heavenly sanctuary?
00:55:41.94\00:55:43.34
Joe, are you able to let
God write His law in your heart?
00:55:43.37\00:55:46.47
Joe, are you willing
to accept the Sabbath
00:55:46.51\00:55:48.24
and make those
changes in your life
00:55:48.28\00:55:49.84
and change your
job if necessary?
00:55:49.88\00:55:51.71
Joe, do you realize
that when someone dies,
00:55:51.75\00:55:53.58
they don't go to heaven
they just rest in the grave?
00:55:53.62\00:55:55.85
Joe, do you realize
00:55:55.88\00:55:57.22
that hell doesn't burn
forever but it comes to an end?
00:55:57.25\00:55:59.92
Joe, are you
ready to be baptized?
00:55:59.95\00:56:01.96
Are you ready to
take unclean foods
00:56:01.99\00:56:03.76
and smoking and tobacco
and drugs out of your life?
00:56:03.79\00:56:06.39
And Joe, are you ready to accept
00:56:06.43\00:56:08.20
that the
Seventh-day Adventist churches,
00:56:08.23\00:56:09.56
the remnant
church of Bible prophecy
00:56:09.60\00:56:11.20
become part of it
00:56:11.23\00:56:12.57
and realize
that we need to honor
00:56:12.60\00:56:13.94
the Spirit of Prophecy?
00:56:13.97\00:56:15.30
Joe, are you ready to
become part of the church?
00:56:15.34\00:56:17.77
I mean, really,
00:56:17.81\00:56:19.14
if we give them
all that at once,
00:56:19.17\00:56:22.11
they are not
likely to make a decision.
00:56:22.14\00:56:24.91
Little decisions,
00:56:24.95\00:56:26.48
little baby steps along the way.
00:56:26.51\00:56:29.52
The neat thing
with most Bible lessons
00:56:29.55\00:56:31.95
is they have
application questions
00:56:31.99\00:56:34.09
at the end.
00:56:34.12\00:56:35.89
For example,
00:56:35.92\00:56:37.26
someone just does the
lesson on the Second Coming,
00:56:37.29\00:56:41.06
we might ask them,
00:56:41.10\00:56:42.63
"Well, Joe,
00:56:42.66\00:56:44.13
would you like to pray a
prayer and ask God to help you
00:56:44.17\00:56:47.07
to be ready for
Christ soon return?"
00:56:47.10\00:56:50.54
You're asking Joe
to make a decision.
00:56:50.57\00:56:52.74
It's a little decision.
00:56:52.77\00:56:54.21
Now, I don't mean little
00:56:54.24\00:56:55.58
in that it's
unimportant or insignificant,
00:56:55.61\00:56:58.21
but it's not the whole package.
00:56:58.25\00:56:59.58
You're asking him to take
a little step one at a time.
00:56:59.61\00:57:03.39
When you do the lesson
00:57:03.42\00:57:04.75
on accepting
Jesus as your Savior,
00:57:04.79\00:57:07.02
you may invite Joe,
00:57:07.06\00:57:08.82
"Joe, would you like to pray
00:57:08.86\00:57:10.19
and ask Christ to
come into your life?"
00:57:10.23\00:57:12.93
It's a little decision.
00:57:12.96\00:57:14.83
When you do the
lesson on the law,
00:57:14.86\00:57:16.83
you may say, "Well, Joe,
00:57:16.87\00:57:18.20
would you like to
have a word of prayer
00:57:18.23\00:57:19.57
and let's ask God
00:57:19.60\00:57:20.94
to write His law on our hearts."
00:57:20.97\00:57:23.51
When you do the
lesson on the Sabbath,
00:57:23.54\00:57:25.77
you may ask Joe and invite him
to just come to church with you
00:57:25.81\00:57:28.68
one Sabbath just to
experience the Sabbath blessing.
00:57:28.71\00:57:32.08
You're not asking
him to quit his job,
00:57:32.11\00:57:33.62
you're not asking him
to do a bunch of changes.
00:57:33.65\00:57:35.78
Just a little decision,
00:57:35.82\00:57:37.62
inviting him to take
one small step forward.
00:57:37.65\00:57:41.72
And then when you get
to the end of the lessons,
00:57:41.76\00:57:44.23
you're simply asking
for one more small step.
00:57:44.26\00:57:47.76
They need to be
making smaller decisions
00:57:47.80\00:57:50.53
all along the way.
00:57:50.57\00:57:53.13
And a good set of lessons
00:57:53.17\00:57:55.04
will have decision
questions in the end,
00:57:55.07\00:57:57.51
at the end of each page
or at the end of each lesson.
00:57:57.54\00:58:00.88
And so, you want
to be sure to look
00:58:00.91\00:58:02.71
for those kinds of lessons.
00:58:02.74\00:58:05.05
If you would
like more information
00:58:05.08\00:58:06.82
about our ministry,
00:58:06.85\00:58:08.32
visit our websites
at davidklinedinst.org
00:58:08.35\00:58:13.36
or discoverbibleprophecy.org.
00:58:13.39\00:58:17.09
If you'd like to make a donation
00:58:17.13\00:58:18.69
to keep these
sermons on the air,
00:58:18.73\00:58:20.83
you can contact us
00:58:20.86\00:58:22.20
at Discover Prophecy Ministries,
00:58:22.23\00:58:24.73
PO Box 850,
Columbia, Maryland 21044.
00:58:24.77\00:58:30.61