Well, welcome back to
Living an Evangelistic Life.
00:00:04.80\00:00:08.07
Believe it or not,
00:00:08.10\00:00:09.44
we're ready to begin
our last session together,
00:00:09.47\00:00:12.11
session number seven,
00:00:12.14\00:00:13.81
"Getting Decisions
and Making Appeals."
00:00:13.84\00:00:17.38
Let's pray before we study
00:00:17.41\00:00:18.91
some of these
principles together.
00:00:18.95\00:00:22.05
Heavenly Father,
00:00:22.08\00:00:23.89
Lord, as we
study these principles
00:00:23.92\00:00:25.62
of how to help
people to move forward
00:00:25.65\00:00:27.89
and to make decisions.
00:00:27.92\00:00:29.89
We pray, Lord, you enable us
00:00:29.92\00:00:31.46
to apply these to our life
00:00:31.49\00:00:33.40
to the people
that you have called us
00:00:33.43\00:00:35.13
to work with, and influence.
00:00:35.16\00:00:37.03
Please enlighten our minds,
00:00:37.07\00:00:39.03
we ask it in Jesus' name, amen.
00:00:39.07\00:00:43.27
Now, before we
get into this session,
00:00:43.30\00:00:44.81
there's something
that I need to explain.
00:00:44.84\00:00:47.34
Most of the
other previous sessions
00:00:47.38\00:00:50.41
have been predicated on the fact
00:00:50.45\00:00:52.35
that you are trying to build
a relationship with someone
00:00:52.38\00:00:55.78
because we have
learned that friendship
00:00:55.82\00:00:57.62
is always the first
step of soul winning.
00:00:57.65\00:01:00.36
And so we've
been learning things
00:01:00.39\00:01:01.92
such as how to
connect with someone,
00:01:01.96\00:01:04.73
how to initiate a
spiritual conversation.
00:01:04.76\00:01:08.23
How to know
when the door is open
00:01:08.26\00:01:09.60
and the door is closed.
00:01:09.63\00:01:10.97
How to give a Bible study.
00:01:11.00\00:01:12.53
Well, this is going to
be a little bit different
00:01:12.57\00:01:14.57
in the sense
00:01:14.60\00:01:15.94
that this is
going to be for people
00:01:15.97\00:01:17.51
who are at about a
seven or eight on the scale.
00:01:17.54\00:01:20.38
Now you say what
scale are you talking about?
00:01:20.41\00:01:22.61
Let's say there's
a scale from 1 to 10.
00:01:22.64\00:01:25.85
One being a person who
knows nothing about God,
00:01:25.88\00:01:29.05
nothing about the Bible.
00:01:29.08\00:01:30.42
They're nowhere
near being baptized.
00:01:30.45\00:01:32.65
And someone that's
at a 10 is at the point
00:01:32.69\00:01:35.32
where they are
ready to make a decision.
00:01:35.36\00:01:37.16
They're almost in
the baptismal tank.
00:01:37.19\00:01:39.89
The previous sessions
have basically been for people
00:01:39.93\00:01:42.86
who are below a five.
00:01:42.90\00:01:45.13
We're just simply
trying to plant seeds
00:01:45.17\00:01:47.17
and move them a little forward.
00:01:47.20\00:01:49.80
This session is for people
who you've already worked with,
00:01:49.84\00:01:53.27
and they're somewhere
around a seven, eight or nine,
00:01:53.31\00:01:56.75
and they're at a
point where you think
00:01:56.78\00:01:58.51
they're ready to
make some kind of decision
00:01:58.55\00:02:01.12
and at least move forward
or take a step closer to Jesus.
00:02:01.15\00:02:05.09
So these principles
would probably not apply
00:02:05.12\00:02:07.69
to someone who's that at a one
00:02:07.72\00:02:09.26
and just beginning
the spiritual journey.
00:02:09.29\00:02:12.26
So let's talk about
00:02:12.29\00:02:13.63
getting decisions
and making appeals.
00:02:13.66\00:02:16.43
Some people wonder,
00:02:16.46\00:02:17.80
do I have to be like
a super spiritual person
00:02:17.83\00:02:20.47
to help people get decisions?
00:02:20.50\00:02:23.20
And the answer is no.
00:02:23.24\00:02:24.81
We sometimes think that
00:02:24.84\00:02:26.31
decision getting is only
for a trained evangelist who
00:02:26.34\00:02:29.44
you know, knows
how to sway people.
00:02:29.48\00:02:31.65
Or maybe a pastor
00:02:31.68\00:02:33.01
who's spent three or
four years at the seminary.
00:02:33.05\00:02:35.92
But the truth is,
00:02:35.95\00:02:37.29
laypeople can just
as easily get decisions
00:02:37.32\00:02:40.12
and help others to move forward.
00:02:40.16\00:02:42.79
Sometimes we forget
00:02:42.82\00:02:44.19
that the early Christian church
00:02:44.23\00:02:45.89
turned the world upside down,
basically, through laypeople.
00:02:45.93\00:02:50.27
It was
laypeople who were sharing
00:02:50.30\00:02:52.33
their Christian
faith with others.
00:02:52.37\00:02:54.50
And even in the
early Adventist Church.
00:02:54.54\00:02:57.34
There were very few
pastors who were at a church
00:02:57.37\00:03:00.21
and they certainly didn't pastor
00:03:00.24\00:03:01.71
a particular church
00:03:01.74\00:03:03.08
where they were
there every week.
00:03:03.11\00:03:04.75
Most Adventist
churches were lucky
00:03:04.78\00:03:06.61
if they saw a
pastor a once a quarter.
00:03:06.65\00:03:09.48
And so truly it was laypeople
who took the Advent message
00:03:09.52\00:03:13.36
and the Three Angels Message
00:03:13.39\00:03:14.96
and began to spread it
throughout North America
00:03:14.99\00:03:17.53
and eventually
throughout the world.
00:03:17.56\00:03:20.00
So God truly
wants to use laypeople.
00:03:20.03\00:03:22.80
He wants to use you
to influence others,
00:03:22.83\00:03:25.93
to help them to
make some decisions.
00:03:25.97\00:03:29.10
Now, basically, we
need to know three things.
00:03:29.14\00:03:32.97
Number one, a little knowledge
of human nature is helpful
00:03:33.01\00:03:36.44
to simply
understand how the brain works
00:03:36.48\00:03:39.38
and the process
people go through
00:03:39.41\00:03:41.22
when they
actually make a decision.
00:03:41.25\00:03:43.89
The second thing is
00:03:43.92\00:03:45.62
having a
Christ-like love for people,
00:03:45.65\00:03:48.19
that's even more important.
00:03:48.22\00:03:49.92
Because the truth is,
00:03:49.96\00:03:51.29
if we don't genuinely
care for other people,
00:03:51.33\00:03:54.13
they're going to know that.
00:03:54.16\00:03:56.20
If they sense that I
just think they're a number
00:03:56.23\00:03:59.87
and I just want
to be able to say,
00:03:59.90\00:04:01.24
"Oh, I've baptize
someone" or give a good report
00:04:01.27\00:04:03.71
during the
personal ministries time
00:04:03.74\00:04:05.51
at my church,
00:04:05.54\00:04:06.88
they're going to sense that.
00:04:06.91\00:04:08.64
But they can also tell
when we have a genuine love
00:04:08.68\00:04:12.01
and concern for them.
00:04:12.05\00:04:13.98
We can't make
people just a number.
00:04:14.02\00:04:17.55
And then third,
probably the most important,
00:04:17.59\00:04:20.36
the willingness to
ask for a decision.
00:04:20.39\00:04:23.69
You say, "Well,
Pastor, that's, you know,
00:04:23.73\00:04:25.06
kind of elementary,
00:04:25.09\00:04:26.43
you don't get a
decision unless you ask."
00:04:26.46\00:04:28.73
But do you realize
00:04:28.76\00:04:30.10
how many people
there are walking around,
00:04:30.13\00:04:32.03
sometimes right in church,
00:04:32.07\00:04:34.37
who are ready to make a decision
00:04:34.40\00:04:36.60
and no one's ever asked them.
00:04:36.64\00:04:39.07
I used to hear
evangelists talk about
00:04:39.11\00:04:41.21
how they'd go to a
church and they'd meet someone
00:04:41.24\00:04:43.35
and they were never
asked to be baptized.
00:04:43.38\00:04:45.58
And I would think to myself,
00:04:45.61\00:04:47.42
"Oh, come on, they're
just making that stuff up."
00:04:47.45\00:04:49.92
But I can
honestly say that's true.
00:04:49.95\00:04:52.42
I remember when I worked
Christian Record Services,
00:04:52.45\00:04:55.52
the church's
ministry to the blind,
00:04:55.56\00:04:57.83
I got a chance to speak at
a lot of different churches.
00:04:57.86\00:05:00.83
And I can remember
being at a church in Colorado
00:05:00.86\00:05:03.60
as a guest speaker
00:05:03.63\00:05:05.50
and after the service was over,
00:05:05.53\00:05:07.87
I was sitting at a
table during potluck
00:05:07.90\00:05:10.51
and talking to the man
across the table from me.
00:05:10.54\00:05:13.64
Now I had assumed that
he was already a member,
00:05:13.68\00:05:16.24
because he knew everything
00:05:16.28\00:05:17.85
that was going on in the church,
00:05:17.88\00:05:19.31
he knew everything
the church believed.
00:05:19.35\00:05:21.85
But through the
conversation what I realized
00:05:21.88\00:05:24.55
he had never
actually joined the church
00:05:24.59\00:05:26.55
and been baptized.
00:05:26.59\00:05:28.29
I asked him if he
would ever consider doing so.
00:05:28.32\00:05:32.09
And you know
what his answer was?
00:05:32.13\00:05:33.46
He says, "Well, yes, I would."
00:05:33.50\00:05:35.56
And I asked him,
00:05:35.60\00:05:36.93
"Well, how come you haven't
made that decision before?"
00:05:36.97\00:05:39.83
And I kid you not, you
know, what he said to me?
00:05:39.87\00:05:42.90
"Nobody ever asked me."
00:05:42.94\00:05:46.41
I couldn't believe it.
00:05:46.44\00:05:48.11
I had to make sure to tell
the head elder of the church
00:05:48.14\00:05:50.68
because you know,
the pastor wasn't there,
00:05:50.71\00:05:52.11
that's why I was there speaking.
00:05:52.15\00:05:53.85
I said, "I made
sure he understood."
00:05:53.88\00:05:55.48
This man was
ready to make a decision
00:05:55.52\00:05:57.19
and I pray that they
chose to follow up on that.
00:05:57.22\00:06:01.46
Now when we talk
about making decisions,
00:06:01.49\00:06:04.86
we're not talking
about just preaching.
00:06:04.89\00:06:07.40
We can help people make
decisions in any context.
00:06:07.43\00:06:11.07
When we're
visiting in their home,
00:06:11.10\00:06:13.03
maybe we're having
a personal Bible study
00:06:13.07\00:06:14.84
with them,
00:06:14.87\00:06:16.20
maybe sitting at
a church potluck.
00:06:16.24\00:06:18.57
It could even
happen in recreation,
00:06:18.61\00:06:20.38
when we're having a social.
00:06:20.41\00:06:22.14
Maybe I'm at the church social
00:06:22.18\00:06:23.75
talking to one of the teenagers,
00:06:23.78\00:06:25.28
somehow we get
in a conversation.
00:06:25.31\00:06:27.42
I could ask Jim,
00:06:27.45\00:06:28.78
"Hey, have you ever
thought of being baptized?"
00:06:28.82\00:06:31.09
They can come at any moment.
00:06:31.12\00:06:33.52
We just need to open our
eyes, look for the opportunities
00:06:33.56\00:06:38.06
and know the principles
and the questions to ask.
00:06:38.09\00:06:41.46
Now, when we talk
about making decisions,
00:06:41.50\00:06:44.27
normally what comes
to our mind is we think,
00:06:44.30\00:06:46.43
"Oh, being baptized
00:06:46.47\00:06:47.80
and becoming a
Seventh Day Adventist."
00:06:47.84\00:06:50.01
Well, that's
certainly an important decision.
00:06:50.04\00:06:51.94
But that's not the only decision
00:06:51.97\00:06:53.31
a person makes.
00:06:53.34\00:06:55.14
About any decision in life.
00:06:55.18\00:06:56.78
Maybe a decision to be
ready for the second coming
00:06:56.81\00:06:59.68
of Christ,
00:06:59.71\00:07:01.05
maybe a decision to accept Jesus
00:07:01.08\00:07:02.75
as their Savior,
00:07:02.78\00:07:04.42
maybe a
decision to start keeping
00:07:04.45\00:07:06.19
the Sabbath holy
00:07:06.22\00:07:07.62
or to stop smoking
or to stop drinking.
00:07:07.66\00:07:10.16
There could be 100 decisions
that a person could make.
00:07:10.19\00:07:13.76
So these principles
apply to all of them.
00:07:13.80\00:07:17.93
Now, the first
question we have to ask is,
00:07:17.97\00:07:21.20
"Why do we ask
people for decisions anyway?
00:07:21.24\00:07:23.51
Why make appeals?
00:07:23.54\00:07:25.31
Won't people just make decisions
00:07:25.34\00:07:27.61
when they need to?"
00:07:27.64\00:07:29.41
And the answer is, no.
00:07:29.44\00:07:31.91
Human nature
tends to procrastinate
00:07:31.95\00:07:35.25
and to delay.
00:07:35.28\00:07:36.92
One of the principles
we need to understand is,
00:07:36.95\00:07:39.25
people don't just make decisions
00:07:39.29\00:07:41.16
out of the blue.
00:07:41.19\00:07:42.56
People don't normally
wake up in the morning and say,
00:07:42.59\00:07:44.89
"You know, I think I
should make a decision today.
00:07:44.93\00:07:47.10
I think I should
take God seriously.
00:07:47.13\00:07:49.06
I think I should get baptized."
00:07:49.10\00:07:51.63
Now I understand,
sometimes that does happen
00:07:51.67\00:07:54.50
because God works
in mysterious ways.
00:07:54.54\00:07:57.27
But if we're honest,
00:07:57.31\00:07:58.64
we all know that the
majority of the time,
00:07:58.67\00:08:01.78
it does not happen that way.
00:08:01.81\00:08:04.05
People need some
gentle prompting.
00:08:04.08\00:08:07.58
And by making appeals
00:08:07.62\00:08:09.18
and gently
asking for a decision,
00:08:09.22\00:08:11.79
it plants a seed
in people's minds.
00:08:11.82\00:08:15.26
That's how God wants to use us.
00:08:15.29\00:08:18.26
We actually have an opportunity
00:08:18.29\00:08:20.56
to assist the Holy
Spirit in the Gospel work.
00:08:20.60\00:08:24.90
Now, it's true that we can't
do the work of the Holy Spirit.
00:08:24.93\00:08:28.44
We can't convict someone's heart
00:08:28.47\00:08:30.71
and make them make a decision.
00:08:30.74\00:08:33.81
But when you read about
00:08:33.84\00:08:35.18
how the Gospel
commission is set up,
00:08:35.21\00:08:37.58
God did not designed for
angels to do the work for us.
00:08:37.61\00:08:41.25
He did not even
design for the Holy Spirit
00:08:41.28\00:08:43.55
to work alone.
00:08:43.59\00:08:45.25
The Holy Spirit uses
people and that's you and I.
00:08:45.29\00:08:49.56
And so the Holy Spirit wants
to use us to befriend people,
00:08:49.59\00:08:53.56
and sometimes to just
ask the right question
00:08:53.60\00:08:57.43
to help prompt their hearts
00:08:57.47\00:08:59.70
and enable them to
move a couple steps forward
00:08:59.73\00:09:02.64
and get closer to Jesus.
00:09:02.67\00:09:06.61
In fact,
there's a lot of appeals
00:09:06.64\00:09:07.98
that are in the Bible.
00:09:08.01\00:09:09.48
Now we're not going
to look all these up.
00:09:09.51\00:09:11.55
But you start in Exodus 32:26,
00:09:11.58\00:09:14.48
Moses and the Israelites.
00:09:14.52\00:09:16.69
When they had
made that golden calf
00:09:16.72\00:09:19.05
and danced around
it and worshipped it,
00:09:19.09\00:09:21.02
Moses came back
down from the mountain.
00:09:21.06\00:09:23.16
And he was pretty
ticked off with them.
00:09:23.19\00:09:25.66
When he finally
ground it to powder,
00:09:25.69\00:09:27.36
threw it in the water
and made them drink it,
00:09:27.40\00:09:29.56
I don't imagine
that tasted very well,
00:09:29.60\00:09:31.73
but Moses made an appeal.
00:09:31.77\00:09:33.60
He actually stood...
00:09:33.64\00:09:35.34
he actually stood there
and he said to the people,
00:09:35.37\00:09:37.71
"Whoever is on the Lord's side,
come over and stand with me."
00:09:37.74\00:09:42.24
I mean, that's one
of the first altar calls
00:09:42.28\00:09:44.31
that you read
about in the Bible.
00:09:44.35\00:09:46.05
Moses implored the
people to make a decision.
00:09:46.08\00:09:50.22
Years later,
Joshua did the same thing.
00:09:50.25\00:09:53.05
He said, as for me...
00:09:53.09\00:09:54.42
Choose you this day
whom you will serve.
00:09:54.46\00:09:57.19
But as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.
00:09:57.23\00:10:00.53
Joshua wanted them to choose.
00:10:00.56\00:10:03.20
And Jesus did the same thing.
00:10:03.23\00:10:05.17
You think of
Matthew, the tax collector.
00:10:05.20\00:10:07.44
Jesus didn't just walk
by and think to himself,
00:10:07.47\00:10:10.64
"Well, Matthew's
heard what I preach.
00:10:10.67\00:10:12.47
If he wants to make a
decision, he'll get up,
00:10:12.51\00:10:14.58
he'll get up on
his own and follow me."
00:10:14.61\00:10:16.88
That's not what Jesus did.
00:10:16.91\00:10:19.11
Jesus actually
made a personal appeal
00:10:19.15\00:10:21.75
to Matthew's heart,
00:10:21.78\00:10:23.18
and invited him to
come and follow Him.
00:10:23.22\00:10:26.82
Jesus did the same
with the rich young ruler,
00:10:26.86\00:10:29.86
but the rich young
ruler chose not to follow him.
00:10:29.89\00:10:33.50
And then of course,
00:10:33.53\00:10:34.86
all throughout
the New Testament,
00:10:34.90\00:10:36.23
you have Paul,
00:10:36.26\00:10:37.60
who is described
as persuading people
00:10:37.63\00:10:40.44
to accept the gospel.
00:10:40.47\00:10:42.57
So there is a place for
us to ask the right question,
00:10:42.60\00:10:46.51
and to help people move forward.
00:10:46.54\00:10:49.98
So now let's get
to the practical part.
00:10:50.01\00:10:52.25
What are some things I can ask?
00:10:52.28\00:10:54.45
If I sense that
someone is ready to make
00:10:54.48\00:10:56.92
some sort of spiritual
decision in their life.
00:10:56.95\00:11:00.49
Baptism.
00:11:00.52\00:11:01.99
Starting to come to church.
00:11:02.02\00:11:03.99
Maybe they want to stop smoking.
00:11:04.03\00:11:05.99
Maybe they want to
start returning tithe.
00:11:06.03\00:11:08.93
Maybe they need to
make a choice about
00:11:08.96\00:11:10.90
getting out of a
bad relationship.
00:11:10.93\00:11:13.60
It could be any choice.
00:11:13.64\00:11:15.70
What are some things I can ask
00:11:15.74\00:11:18.37
that will just prompt the
working of the Holy Spirit
00:11:18.41\00:11:22.04
and plant a seed in their heart?
00:11:22.08\00:11:24.88
Let me share with you a phrase
00:11:24.91\00:11:26.25
that I hope that will
be burned into your mind.
00:11:26.28\00:11:29.68
It's on your screen,
it's this phrase that says,
00:11:29.72\00:11:33.32
"Have you ever considered..."
00:11:33.36\00:11:36.52
Now I want to share
with you how this works.
00:11:36.56\00:11:38.06
But first I want to
share where I learned it.
00:11:38.09\00:11:40.96
I can remember when I
first became a pastor,
00:11:41.00\00:11:43.77
I was sitting in
a training session
00:11:43.80\00:11:45.67
that was for those
who were new in ministry,
00:11:45.70\00:11:48.44
and an experienced pastor
was teaching us some things
00:11:48.47\00:11:51.67
and he was talking about
how to work with church boards.
00:11:51.71\00:11:54.84
And he was telling a story
00:11:54.88\00:11:56.78
of how whenever he
would go to a church board
00:11:56.81\00:11:58.95
with an idea that was his own,
00:11:58.98\00:12:00.98
it seemed that they
would want to reject it.
00:12:01.02\00:12:03.25
For example, he came
on one board meeting,
00:12:03.28\00:12:05.75
he said, "You know, this
church really needs a copier
00:12:05.79\00:12:08.22
because I always got to go
to Office Max or somewhere,
00:12:08.26\00:12:11.13
you know, and spend
the church's money."
00:12:11.16\00:12:13.29
Well, since it was his idea,
00:12:13.33\00:12:14.93
and no one else
had thought of it,
00:12:14.96\00:12:16.56
the church board
really didn't like it.
00:12:16.60\00:12:18.10
So it was voted down.
00:12:18.13\00:12:19.97
Well, he learned after a while,
00:12:20.00\00:12:22.20
that he would just go
up to people individually,
00:12:22.24\00:12:24.64
and start planting the seed.
00:12:24.67\00:12:26.84
And he would say to them,
00:12:26.88\00:12:28.98
"Have we ever considered
having a copier in this church?
00:12:29.01\00:12:32.55
Wouldn't it be
neat if we had our own
00:12:32.58\00:12:34.32
and we won't have to
pay other people to do it?"
00:12:34.35\00:12:37.59
And after planting
that seed in their mind,
00:12:37.62\00:12:39.85
you know, for a
few months, he noticed,
00:12:39.89\00:12:42.36
people would come
to the board meeting,
00:12:42.39\00:12:44.36
and the board members would say,
00:12:44.39\00:12:46.36
"You know, Pastor,
00:12:46.39\00:12:47.80
we ought to have a
copier in this church,
00:12:47.83\00:12:49.33
it would make
things much easier."
00:12:49.36\00:12:51.67
The difference was
now it was their idea.
00:12:51.70\00:12:54.87
Now he used this in the
context of a board meeting.
00:12:54.90\00:12:57.77
We can use this in the
context of working with others.
00:12:57.81\00:13:01.64
So say, I'm speaking with Sarah.
00:13:01.68\00:13:04.01
And I sense that
she's almost at the point
00:13:04.05\00:13:06.01
where she's
going to take that step
00:13:06.05\00:13:07.55
to be baptized.
00:13:07.58\00:13:08.92
I can say something like this,
00:13:08.95\00:13:10.79
"Sarah,
00:13:10.82\00:13:12.19
have you ever
considered being baptized
00:13:12.22\00:13:15.12
and taking that step?"
00:13:15.16\00:13:17.46
Now by saying
something so simple,
00:13:17.49\00:13:20.93
I'm not manipulating
her, I'm not pressuring her,
00:13:20.96\00:13:24.77
you're just
asking a simple question.
00:13:24.80\00:13:28.20
"Bob, have you
ever considered..."
00:13:28.24\00:13:30.67
and then you fill in the blank.
00:13:30.71\00:13:32.54
"Susan,
00:13:32.57\00:13:33.91
have you ever considered
just stepping out in faith
00:13:33.94\00:13:35.98
and just
starting to return tithe,
00:13:36.01\00:13:38.35
and see if God will bless you?"
00:13:38.38\00:13:40.72
"Joe, have you ever considered
to just ask God to help you
00:13:40.75\00:13:44.95
to stop smoking?"
00:13:44.99\00:13:47.26
"Margo,
00:13:47.29\00:13:48.62
have you ever
considered joining the church
00:13:48.66\00:13:50.53
since you've been
coming here for so long?"
00:13:50.56\00:13:53.40
So you say it with
a smile on your face,
00:13:53.43\00:13:55.33
not in a pressuring way.
00:13:55.36\00:13:57.43
And by simply
asking that question,
00:13:57.47\00:14:00.74
a seed is planted in their mind.
00:14:00.77\00:14:02.94
And even if they
weren't thinking about it,
00:14:02.97\00:14:05.84
they will now that
you've mentioned it.
00:14:05.87\00:14:08.84
I can't tell you how many
times I've used that phrase,
00:14:08.88\00:14:12.28
"Have you ever considered..."
00:14:12.31\00:14:14.12
because really,
00:14:14.15\00:14:15.48
you're not
telling them what to do.
00:14:15.52\00:14:17.32
You're inviting
them to make a choice
00:14:17.35\00:14:18.75
for themselves.
00:14:18.79\00:14:20.12
Because one
principle about human nature,
00:14:20.16\00:14:22.46
especially with Americans,
00:14:22.49\00:14:24.46
most people do
not like to be told
00:14:24.49\00:14:27.26
what to do.
00:14:27.30\00:14:28.63
They want it to be something
00:14:28.66\00:14:30.00
that comes out
of their own heart
00:14:30.03\00:14:31.43
that they decide for themselves.
00:14:31.47\00:14:33.34
So instead of saying to Joe,
"Joe, you need to be baptized,"
00:14:33.37\00:14:37.47
or "Joe, I want you to
take this step of baptism,"
00:14:37.51\00:14:40.71
You're just asking a question,
you're making an invitation.
00:14:40.74\00:14:44.05
"Joe, have you ever
considered taking that step?"
00:14:44.08\00:14:48.85
Another phrase
that works just as well,
00:14:48.88\00:14:51.92
"I'd like to invite you to..."
00:14:51.95\00:14:54.19
whatever.
00:14:54.22\00:14:55.56
"Joe, I'd like to invite
you to consider being baptized."
00:14:55.59\00:14:58.59
Yeah?
00:14:58.63\00:14:59.96
"Susan, I'd like to invite you
00:15:00.00\00:15:01.33
to just start
returning tithe for two months,
00:15:01.36\00:15:04.13
and test God
00:15:04.17\00:15:05.50
and see if He doesn't
open up the windows of heaven."
00:15:05.53\00:15:08.77
See, again,
you're not telling them
00:15:08.80\00:15:10.41
what to do.
00:15:10.44\00:15:11.77
But you're giving
a simple invitation.
00:15:11.81\00:15:15.04
And people will
tend to respond to that
00:15:15.08\00:15:17.18
much better than
pressure or coercion
00:15:17.21\00:15:20.35
or things like that.
00:15:20.38\00:15:21.92
So what are the two phrases?
00:15:21.95\00:15:23.92
"Have you ever considered..."
00:15:23.95\00:15:26.15
or "I'd like to
invite you to..."
00:15:26.19\00:15:29.12
and then you fill in the
blank for whatever the step
00:15:29.16\00:15:31.99
or whatever the
decision would be.
00:15:32.03\00:15:35.43
Now, some other principles
that are important is this.
00:15:35.46\00:15:38.83
Many years ago,
Mark Finley taught that
00:15:38.87\00:15:41.27
expression deepens impression.
00:15:41.30\00:15:44.91
In other words,
why do we ask people
00:15:44.94\00:15:47.44
to take a visible step of action
00:15:47.48\00:15:51.01
when they make a decision?
00:15:51.05\00:15:52.78
Why not just let
them make the decision
00:15:52.81\00:15:54.52
inside the
privacy of their own heart
00:15:54.55\00:15:56.69
and leave it there?
00:15:56.72\00:15:58.65
Because when you express
your decision in an action,
00:15:58.69\00:16:02.89
it actually
strengthens that decision.
00:16:02.92\00:16:06.49
See, decisions of the heart
they need to be acted upon.
00:16:06.53\00:16:11.27
Let me give you some examples.
00:16:11.30\00:16:13.47
Let's take baptism.
00:16:13.50\00:16:15.44
When a person is baptized,
what are they deciding?
00:16:15.47\00:16:18.91
What are they committing to?
00:16:18.94\00:16:21.08
They've decided that
they want to follow Jesus
00:16:21.11\00:16:23.31
with all their heart.
00:16:23.35\00:16:24.68
They want to have
their sins washed away.
00:16:24.71\00:16:26.75
Well, think about this.
00:16:26.78\00:16:28.42
Have they already
made that decision
00:16:28.45\00:16:30.42
before they got in
the baptismal tank?
00:16:30.45\00:16:33.36
Well, of course they have,
00:16:33.39\00:16:34.72
because the
decision begins in the heart.
00:16:34.76\00:16:38.66
But yet Jesus
gives us the instruction
00:16:38.69\00:16:41.33
that when we
choose to follow Him,
00:16:41.36\00:16:43.37
we're to take the
visible outward action step
00:16:43.40\00:16:47.80
of being publicly baptized
00:16:47.84\00:16:49.84
in front of friends or
family or a church family,
00:16:49.87\00:16:53.01
because taking
the step of action
00:16:53.04\00:16:55.94
is meant to strengthen
00:16:55.98\00:16:57.51
and reinforce the
decision of the heart.
00:16:57.55\00:17:00.62
That's why we ask
people to take steps.
00:17:00.65\00:17:03.22
Now, you could illustrate this
in the secular world as well.
00:17:03.25\00:17:07.49
Now, how many
of you are married?
00:17:07.52\00:17:09.22
I've been married
thus far 19 years.
00:17:09.26\00:17:11.03
It would be 20
years later this year.
00:17:11.06\00:17:13.33
But when two
people stand in a church
00:17:13.36\00:17:16.40
or a civil ceremony,
wherever they may be,
00:17:16.43\00:17:19.13
and they're
exchanging their vows
00:17:19.17\00:17:20.97
and committing to each other,
00:17:21.00\00:17:23.37
they are making the
choice that they want to spend
00:17:23.41\00:17:25.34
the rest of
their lives together.
00:17:25.37\00:17:27.58
But let me ask you something.
00:17:27.61\00:17:29.88
Did they make that decision
before they got to the altar?
00:17:29.91\00:17:34.45
Well, of course they did.
00:17:34.48\00:17:35.82
Or they won't have a
wedding to begin with.
00:17:35.85\00:17:38.09
But we ask them, the
church and the state, ask them
00:17:38.12\00:17:42.02
to take a visible step
of action to have a wedding
00:17:42.06\00:17:45.06
and stand before
family and friends
00:17:45.09\00:17:46.93
to make that public commitment.
00:17:46.96\00:17:49.06
Because that step of action
00:17:49.10\00:17:51.43
is meant to
strengthen the decision
00:17:51.47\00:17:53.87
they've already
made in their heart
00:17:53.90\00:17:55.50
to spend their lives together.
00:17:55.54\00:17:57.91
And in reality,
communion is the same way.
00:17:57.94\00:18:01.74
Communion
represents accepting the body
00:18:01.78\00:18:03.91
and blood of
Jesus all over again,
00:18:03.95\00:18:05.78
making a recommitment to Christ.
00:18:05.81\00:18:08.68
Now a person can
make a recommitment
00:18:08.72\00:18:10.52
in the privacy
of their own heart.
00:18:10.55\00:18:12.89
But yet the Bible gives us
this ceremony of communion,
00:18:12.92\00:18:16.69
that we take an
outward step of action
00:18:16.73\00:18:20.10
and it reinforces a choice
that we've made in our hearts.
00:18:20.13\00:18:23.20
The invisible
choice becomes visible
00:18:23.23\00:18:26.70
when we take that step.
00:18:26.74\00:18:29.60
And it happens in
many places of the world.
00:18:29.64\00:18:31.64
Someone says, "Hey, I
want to get out of debt.
00:18:31.67\00:18:33.71
I got to get rid of
this credit card debt."
00:18:33.74\00:18:35.91
Well, they're making
that decision in their heart.
00:18:35.94\00:18:38.35
But many times what
do we ask them to do?
00:18:38.38\00:18:41.18
Cut up your credit
cards and throw them away.
00:18:41.22\00:18:43.79
Because that step
of action strengthens
00:18:43.82\00:18:46.79
what they've already decided.
00:18:46.82\00:18:50.56
That's what Jesus
did with the woman
00:18:50.59\00:18:52.93
with the issue of blood.
00:18:52.96\00:18:54.30
You remember that story?
00:18:54.33\00:18:55.66
She had followed
Jesus along in the streets
00:18:55.70\00:18:58.53
and when she finally got
close enough to touch the hem
00:18:58.57\00:19:01.30
of His garment,
00:19:01.34\00:19:02.67
she was healed.
00:19:02.70\00:19:04.04
And she was simply ready
00:19:04.07\00:19:05.41
to go back to
her home in private
00:19:05.44\00:19:07.84
and praise God.
00:19:07.88\00:19:09.48
But Jesus stopped her.
00:19:09.51\00:19:11.88
Because Jesus wanted her
to take the step of action,
00:19:11.91\00:19:15.22
where she gave
a public testimony
00:19:15.25\00:19:17.65
of what Christ had done for her.
00:19:17.69\00:19:20.06
And taking that step
00:19:20.09\00:19:22.06
not only
strengthened the decision
00:19:22.09\00:19:24.23
she made in her heart,
00:19:24.26\00:19:26.19
but it became a witness
and an influence to others.
00:19:26.23\00:19:30.23
See, whenever others see
00:19:30.27\00:19:31.97
someone taking
that step of action
00:19:32.00\00:19:34.30
and making a decision,
00:19:34.34\00:19:36.17
it always
influences their heart as well.
00:19:36.20\00:19:41.64
I remember being a
pastor in Pennsylvania.
00:19:41.68\00:19:45.31
We were holding a set
of evangelistic meetings
00:19:45.35\00:19:47.98
at the church.
00:19:48.02\00:19:49.48
And I remember one night
00:19:49.52\00:19:50.85
we handed out
decision cards for baptism,
00:19:50.89\00:19:53.56
and people filled them
out and turned them in.
00:19:53.59\00:19:57.39
And I remember as
we looked over them,
00:19:57.43\00:19:59.83
here, Gladys had
filled out a card
00:19:59.86\00:20:02.66
for baptism.
00:20:02.70\00:20:04.37
Now, Gladys was
about 90 years old.
00:20:04.40\00:20:07.34
She had been a
member of the church
00:20:07.37\00:20:08.97
for probably a gazillion years.
00:20:09.00\00:20:11.11
Everybody knew her.
00:20:11.14\00:20:12.87
And so when she
marked for baptism,
00:20:12.91\00:20:15.41
it kind of
startled me for a moment.
00:20:15.44\00:20:17.05
And I thought, "Well,
you know, she is 90, maybe,
00:20:17.08\00:20:20.32
maybe she didn't understand
what she was marking."
00:20:20.35\00:20:23.28
But you know,
whenever someone hands
00:20:23.32\00:20:24.65
in a decision card,
00:20:24.69\00:20:26.02
no matter who it is,
00:20:26.05\00:20:27.39
we should never,
ever skip over that.
00:20:27.42\00:20:31.46
I mean, that is a sacred trust.
00:20:31.49\00:20:33.13
We need to follow
through no matter who it may be.
00:20:33.16\00:20:37.87
So we went to visit Gladys.
00:20:37.90\00:20:40.00
And we asked her
00:20:40.04\00:20:41.37
why she had checked for baptism.
00:20:41.40\00:20:43.61
And she told us her story.
00:20:43.64\00:20:45.74
She said she'd been
blessed by the meetings.
00:20:45.77\00:20:48.11
And she just been thinking
about things in her life
00:20:48.14\00:20:50.95
and choices she
wished that she had made.
00:20:50.98\00:20:54.48
And she just felt the
prompting of the Holy Spirit
00:20:54.52\00:20:57.05
that she wanted
to be re-baptized
00:20:57.09\00:20:59.09
and recommit herself to Jesus.
00:20:59.12\00:21:02.12
Well, we certainly wanted
to make that possible for her.
00:21:02.16\00:21:05.66
Problem was she
lived in a nursing home
00:21:05.69\00:21:07.60
and she had some
pretty serious back issues.
00:21:07.63\00:21:10.30
And there was no way
00:21:10.33\00:21:11.67
that she was going to be
able to climb up and down
00:21:11.70\00:21:13.70
a baptismal tank,
00:21:13.74\00:21:15.24
or even be able to
get into any body of water
00:21:15.27\00:21:18.37
and kind of be bent over
backwards into the water.
00:21:18.41\00:21:21.41
So baptism was not
physically possible.
00:21:21.44\00:21:24.28
But we wanted to
give her an opportunity
00:21:24.31\00:21:27.62
to take that step of action.
00:21:27.65\00:21:30.45
So what we decided
was that on the day
00:21:30.49\00:21:33.02
when some others
were going to be baptized,
00:21:33.05\00:21:35.12
we would bring Gladys upfront,
00:21:35.16\00:21:37.49
and we would let
her share her testimony.
00:21:37.53\00:21:39.79
And then we
would lay hands on her
00:21:39.83\00:21:42.06
and just pray a special
prayer of recommitment for her.
00:21:42.10\00:21:46.67
And let me tell you,
00:21:46.70\00:21:48.14
when that little
old lady got up front,
00:21:48.17\00:21:50.87
and gave a very brief testimony,
00:21:50.91\00:21:53.48
that church
listened to everything
00:21:53.51\00:21:56.21
that she had to say.
00:21:56.24\00:21:57.68
They listened to her
five-minute testimony
00:21:57.71\00:22:00.52
probably more than any sermon
I could have preached that day.
00:22:00.55\00:22:04.49
And so her being able
to take that step of action
00:22:04.52\00:22:08.26
not only strengthened
a decision in her heart,
00:22:08.29\00:22:11.23
but I know it
influenced many others
00:22:11.26\00:22:13.66
who were watching that day.
00:22:13.70\00:22:16.36
That's why we ask
people to make decisions.
00:22:16.40\00:22:20.74
Now a couple other
principles to keep in mind,
00:22:20.77\00:22:23.61
these are
obstacles to decision making.
00:22:23.64\00:22:27.34
One is information overload.
00:22:27.38\00:22:31.91
Too much information at one time
00:22:31.95\00:22:34.52
just overwhelms people.
00:22:34.55\00:22:35.88
It paralyzes them.
00:22:35.92\00:22:37.55
And it keeps them
from making decisions.
00:22:37.59\00:22:40.39
I mean, you know how you feel.
00:22:40.42\00:22:42.42
If you've ever been at
work first day on the job,
00:22:42.46\00:22:44.89
way too much information
00:22:44.93\00:22:46.29
during your
first day of training.
00:22:46.33\00:22:48.30
Or you take some class
in high school or college
00:22:48.33\00:22:51.23
and you're having a
hard time understanding it.
00:22:51.27\00:22:53.27
And on the first day of class,
00:22:53.30\00:22:54.64
when you go through the syllabus
00:22:54.67\00:22:56.00
and everything
you're expected to do,
00:22:56.04\00:22:57.67
you almost feel
overwhelmed to the point
00:22:57.71\00:22:59.57
where you just want to quit
00:22:59.61\00:23:00.94
and find another class to go to.
00:23:00.98\00:23:03.95
It's the same in
the spiritual life.
00:23:03.98\00:23:06.15
If you give people
too much information
00:23:06.18\00:23:08.32
at one time,
00:23:08.35\00:23:09.75
they can't handle it.
00:23:09.78\00:23:11.49
So decisions should
be made in increments.
00:23:11.52\00:23:15.16
Little decisions
all along the way.
00:23:15.19\00:23:17.69
Or as some people would call it,
00:23:17.73\00:23:19.86
little baby steps.
00:23:19.89\00:23:21.30
So that when you get to
the end of a Bible study
00:23:21.33\00:23:23.47
or whatever it may be,
00:23:23.50\00:23:25.00
you're not asking them
to take one giant leap.
00:23:25.03\00:23:28.00
It's just another little step,
00:23:28.04\00:23:30.41
another decision
they've been making all along.
00:23:30.44\00:23:34.28
So you want to
ask for decisions.
00:23:34.31\00:23:36.64
One on accepting
Christ the Savior.
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.18
Or being ready for the
second coming of Jesus.
00:23:39.21\00:23:42.28
When you study the Sabbath,
00:23:42.32\00:23:43.65
ask them to make a
decision on the Sabbath,
00:23:43.69\00:23:46.19
on baptism, on
uniting with the remnant,
00:23:46.22\00:23:49.26
the point is little
decisions along the way.
00:23:49.29\00:23:54.36
Now another
obstacle to decision making
00:23:54.40\00:23:57.63
and this is going to seem kind
of, "Duh, Pastor, I know that."
00:23:57.67\00:24:02.30
Giving no opportunity to respond
00:24:02.34\00:24:05.31
is an obstacle
to decision making.
00:24:05.34\00:24:08.28
Now think about
that for a second.
00:24:08.31\00:24:10.91
Whether it's preaching,
or giving a Bible study,
00:24:10.95\00:24:15.32
or having a
spiritual conversation
00:24:15.35\00:24:17.12
with someone.
00:24:17.15\00:24:18.89
If we're not inviting them
to make some kind of decision
00:24:18.92\00:24:23.32
or to act on what they've heard,
00:24:23.36\00:24:26.29
that actually leads
to a negative decision.
00:24:26.33\00:24:29.93
In psychological terms,
00:24:29.96\00:24:31.43
it's called
programmed non response.
00:24:31.47\00:24:34.37
In other words, we're
actually programming them
00:24:34.40\00:24:36.84
not to make a decision.
00:24:36.87\00:24:38.57
We're programming them
00:24:38.61\00:24:39.94
that they don't have
to act on what they hear.
00:24:39.97\00:24:43.18
It conditions people to
listen without responding.
00:24:43.21\00:24:47.08
So if I give no
opportunities for decisions,
00:24:47.12\00:24:51.35
that person just gonna
feel totally comfortable
00:24:51.39\00:24:53.52
where they are,
00:24:53.56\00:24:54.89
and they will never be,
00:24:54.92\00:24:56.26
you know, gently challenged
to move forward with Jesus.
00:24:56.29\00:25:00.36
And when you think about it,
00:25:00.40\00:25:02.40
it pretty much
lessens the importance
00:25:02.43\00:25:04.13
of what you're saying.
00:25:04.17\00:25:05.53
I mean, how important can it be
00:25:05.57\00:25:07.80
if you haven't asked
the person to follow it?
00:25:07.84\00:25:12.41
And see, this has a
lot to do with sermons too.
00:25:12.44\00:25:15.64
Now, if I were to break
you up into small groups,
00:25:15.68\00:25:18.38
and I want to ask you, I
want you to define for me,
00:25:18.41\00:25:22.45
what a sermon is.
00:25:22.48\00:25:25.49
What would you say?
00:25:25.52\00:25:27.66
Some would say,
"Well, it's just...
00:25:27.69\00:25:29.09
it's presenting information."
00:25:29.12\00:25:31.73
Others would say,
"Well, it's just a...
00:25:31.76\00:25:34.73
it's just teaching the Bible."
00:25:34.76\00:25:37.77
What's the difference between...
00:25:37.80\00:25:39.20
what should be the difference
00:25:39.23\00:25:41.44
between a sermon and a lecture?
00:25:41.47\00:25:45.67
See, a lecture is something
you would expect in high school
00:25:45.71\00:25:48.48
or in a college class.
00:25:48.51\00:25:50.18
It's presenting information.
It's all intellectual.
00:25:50.21\00:25:54.78
A sermon should be
something that's persuasive
00:25:54.82\00:25:58.12
and asking people to
respond to it in some way.
00:25:58.15\00:26:02.39
And as was written long ago.
00:26:02.42\00:26:04.86
I mean, Ellen White wrote that
00:26:04.89\00:26:06.26
every single sermon
needs to have an appeal.
00:26:06.29\00:26:10.73
Now, it may not be an
appeal to be baptized.
00:26:10.77\00:26:13.64
It may be a simple appeal
to recommit our life to Jesus,
00:26:13.67\00:26:18.01
to keep our eyes on Jesus.
00:26:18.04\00:26:20.24
But every sermon,
00:26:20.28\00:26:21.98
if what we're saying
has any importance to it,
00:26:22.01\00:26:24.75
we should be asking
people to make decisions,
00:26:24.78\00:26:27.68
whether little
decisions or large decisions,
00:26:27.72\00:26:30.69
give people a chance to respond.
00:26:30.72\00:26:34.19
And we've already
learned that with Bible studies.
00:26:34.22\00:26:36.29
At the end of every lesson,
00:26:36.32\00:26:37.66
there's a heart question
that people can respond to.
00:26:37.69\00:26:42.16
Because what you learn
in the world of psychology,
00:26:42.20\00:26:45.03
when the heart is aroused,
00:26:45.07\00:26:47.04
and there's no
outlet to respond,
00:26:47.07\00:26:49.27
that heart will begin to harden.
00:26:49.30\00:26:52.61
It happens in relationships.
00:26:52.64\00:26:55.04
It can happen in marriage.
00:26:55.08\00:26:57.15
It also happens in
the spiritual realm.
00:26:57.18\00:27:00.22
Invite people to make decisions.
00:27:00.25\00:27:04.65
Then lastly,
00:27:04.69\00:27:06.32
another obstacle
to decision making
00:27:06.35\00:27:08.96
is when there's lack of
clarity or understanding.
00:27:08.99\00:27:11.79
In other words, the subject
has to be clear to people.
00:27:11.83\00:27:14.76
Because people don't
make decisions on things
00:27:14.80\00:27:17.80
they don't understand.
00:27:17.83\00:27:19.40
That...
00:27:19.43\00:27:20.77
Either right that one in
our minds or in your notes,
00:27:20.80\00:27:23.20
people don't make decisions
00:27:23.24\00:27:25.71
about things they
do not understand.
00:27:25.74\00:27:28.91
This is why we have
to give people a chance
00:27:28.94\00:27:31.41
to ask questions,
00:27:31.45\00:27:33.52
we need to know if
the subject is clear.
00:27:33.55\00:27:36.52
Once it is clear to them,
00:27:36.55\00:27:38.35
it opens the door
where a decision can be made.
00:27:38.39\00:27:41.19
But if the subject is not clear,
00:27:41.22\00:27:43.43
they're not moving.
00:27:43.46\00:27:44.93
I mean, that would be like if,
00:27:44.96\00:27:46.49
you know, I went
to the opening day
00:27:46.53\00:27:47.86
of college classes
00:27:47.90\00:27:49.23
and we put all
freshmen in one room
00:27:49.26\00:27:50.70
and we said to the freshmen,
00:27:50.73\00:27:52.07
"Before you leave this room,
00:27:52.10\00:27:53.44
you have to tell us
whom you're going to marry
00:27:53.47\00:27:55.84
and what career
you'll be working at
00:27:55.87\00:27:57.61
for the rest of your life."
00:27:57.64\00:28:00.21
Most college freshmen
00:28:00.24\00:28:01.64
would not be
able to answer that.
00:28:01.68\00:28:03.11
I know I wouldn't have been
able to as a college freshman.
00:28:03.14\00:28:05.75
Why?
00:28:05.78\00:28:07.12
Because there's a
lack of clarity about that.
00:28:07.15\00:28:09.08
They don't yet
have all the information
00:28:09.12\00:28:10.89
to answer that question.
00:28:10.92\00:28:12.55
So they can't move
forward in that area.
00:28:12.59\00:28:15.29
It's the same way
in the spiritual life.
00:28:15.32\00:28:19.63
Now let's get a
little more practical.
00:28:19.66\00:28:23.06
Say there's someone
you've been working with
00:28:23.10\00:28:26.10
and you sense that
00:28:26.13\00:28:27.64
they're close to
making a decision.
00:28:27.67\00:28:30.47
But you'd like to learn
00:28:30.51\00:28:31.84
how to ask just
a couple questions
00:28:31.87\00:28:33.38
to just make them think.
00:28:33.41\00:28:35.68
Here's some
questions on the screen
00:28:35.71\00:28:37.45
that you could use.
00:28:37.48\00:28:39.38
You first of all might
begin by just asking this,"
00:28:39.41\00:28:41.58
Is everything that
we talked about clear?"
00:28:41.62\00:28:45.09
I might ask, "Bob, well,
what do you think you should do
00:28:45.12\00:28:48.49
about what you learned?"
00:28:48.52\00:28:50.26
Again, I'm not
telling him, I'm asking.
00:28:50.29\00:28:52.53
Putting it in his
ballpark, his ball court.
00:28:52.56\00:28:54.66
"What do you
think you should do?"
00:28:54.70\00:28:57.07
You know, if they
mentioned an obstacle,
00:28:57.10\00:28:58.97
you could lovingly say,
00:28:59.00\00:29:01.07
"Well, what's
keeping you from doing it?
00:29:01.10\00:29:04.11
Why not do it now, Bob?"
00:29:04.14\00:29:06.84
And see, a lot of it has to do
00:29:06.88\00:29:08.44
with the way in which we asked
the question, the attitude.
00:29:08.48\00:29:12.65
People have to
sense we care for them.
00:29:12.68\00:29:14.95
Because there's a big difference
00:29:14.98\00:29:16.45
between saying,
00:29:16.48\00:29:17.89
"Well, what's
keeping you from doing it?"
00:29:17.92\00:29:19.92
Then,
00:29:19.95\00:29:21.42
"What's keeping
you from doing it?
00:29:21.46\00:29:23.22
Is it something I
can help you with?"
00:29:23.26\00:29:26.13
There's a
difference between saying,
00:29:26.16\00:29:27.90
"Well, why not do it now?
00:29:27.93\00:29:29.26
What are you waiting for?"
00:29:29.30\00:29:30.70
Than saying,
"Joe, why not do it now?
00:29:30.73\00:29:34.70
Why delay?"
00:29:34.74\00:29:36.57
So there's a
difference in body language,
00:29:36.60\00:29:38.37
there's a difference in tone.
00:29:38.41\00:29:40.24
And when people feel threatened,
00:29:40.28\00:29:42.04
they will back off
00:29:42.08\00:29:43.41
and they will
not make decisions.
00:29:43.45\00:29:46.75
Another good one is this one.
00:29:46.78\00:29:48.88
Are you willing to
move forward in this
00:29:48.92\00:29:51.02
and trust Jesus?
00:29:51.05\00:29:53.15
It just plants that seed there.
00:29:53.19\00:29:55.99
Now, here's a whole
pattern that you can follow
00:29:56.02\00:29:58.29
and make helping a
person make decisions.
00:29:58.33\00:30:01.26
"Is this clear to you?"
00:30:01.30\00:30:02.63
If they say, yes, you
can go to the next one.
00:30:02.66\00:30:05.03
"Is there anything
that stands in your way?"
00:30:05.07\00:30:07.44
Let's say, for example,
00:30:07.47\00:30:08.90
you're talking about or
studying about the Sabbath.
00:30:08.94\00:30:11.67
"Joe, is this clear to you?"
00:30:11.71\00:30:13.48
If Joe says no,
00:30:13.51\00:30:15.21
you got to answer his questions,
00:30:15.24\00:30:16.58
or he cannot go on to number two
00:30:16.61\00:30:18.25
because he won't
make that decision,
00:30:18.28\00:30:19.61
if it's not clear.
00:30:19.65\00:30:20.98
If Joe says yes,
now I can ask him,
00:30:21.02\00:30:24.35
"Well, Joe, is there
anything that stands in your way
00:30:24.39\00:30:26.69
from keeping
God's Sabbath holy?"
00:30:26.72\00:30:29.92
And if he says,
"Well, no, not really.
00:30:29.96\00:30:32.33
Just fear, I guess."
00:30:32.36\00:30:34.66
Number three,
00:30:34.70\00:30:36.16
"Would you like to tell Jesus
00:30:36.20\00:30:37.57
that you're
willing to follow Him
00:30:37.60\00:30:39.87
and invite Him to have a
prayer of commitment together
00:30:39.90\00:30:42.97
and pray for Him?"
00:30:43.00\00:30:44.37
"You know, Lord, I want
to keep your Sabbath holy.
00:30:44.41\00:30:46.88
There are some
obstacles I pray, Lord,
00:30:46.91\00:30:48.91
you will remove that."
00:30:48.94\00:30:50.51
Just praying a prayer like
that is a little step of faith.
00:30:50.55\00:30:54.25
It is still a step of action
00:30:54.28\00:30:56.72
that will strengthen
that decision in the heart.
00:30:56.75\00:30:59.09
So remember that
pattern. Is it clear?
00:30:59.12\00:31:02.16
Is there anything
that stands in your way?
00:31:02.19\00:31:04.86
Would you like to tell Jesus
you're willing to follow Him?
00:31:04.89\00:31:08.53
If you just learn that pattern,
00:31:08.56\00:31:10.97
you can be so
effective in working with people
00:31:11.00\00:31:13.74
and helping them to move forward
00:31:13.77\00:31:15.70
in their spiritual life.
00:31:15.74\00:31:17.87
And that truly, if
you forget anything
00:31:17.91\00:31:20.28
that's in this session,
00:31:20.31\00:31:21.68
you just
remember this last slide.
00:31:21.71\00:31:24.11
"To get decisions,
you must ask for them."
00:31:24.15\00:31:28.88
Just be willing to ask.
00:31:28.92\00:31:30.92
See, God's been
using imperfect people
00:31:30.95\00:31:33.25
for a long time.
00:31:33.29\00:31:34.66
You and I may say,
00:31:34.69\00:31:36.02
"Well, maybe I won't
ask it the right way.
00:31:36.06\00:31:38.09
Or maybe I'll be nervous."
00:31:38.13\00:31:40.10
You probably will be nervous,
and there's going to be time,
00:31:40.13\00:31:43.16
you don't ask it the right way.
00:31:43.20\00:31:44.83
It's happened to me many times.
00:31:44.87\00:31:47.44
But, you know, God
is such a loving God.
00:31:47.47\00:31:49.80
He's been working
with imperfect people
00:31:49.84\00:31:52.27
for a long time.
00:31:52.31\00:31:53.81
He doesn't expect
us to do it perfectly
00:31:53.84\00:31:56.14
because most of us
rarely do everything perfectly.
00:31:56.18\00:31:59.21
Just be willing
to step out in faith,
00:31:59.25\00:32:01.58
be willing to take that risk.
00:32:01.62\00:32:03.99
Follow these principles,
just ask in a loving way.
00:32:04.02\00:32:07.66
And when you ask,
00:32:07.69\00:32:09.32
you will see
people making decisions
00:32:09.36\00:32:12.23
for the glory of God.
00:32:12.26\00:32:15.66
Now before we end the session,
00:32:15.70\00:32:18.17
I got to
transition to one other thing.
00:32:18.20\00:32:21.14
We've mainly been talking about
00:32:21.17\00:32:22.54
how to make personal
appeals that are one-on-one.
00:32:22.57\00:32:25.87
But for those of you
who do public speaking,
00:32:25.91\00:32:28.91
and you tend to
preach from the pulpit,
00:32:28.94\00:32:31.41
whether you're a
pastor or a teacher
00:32:31.45\00:32:34.52
or a layperson who
fills in on Sabbath mornings,
00:32:34.55\00:32:38.22
I want to take a few minutes
to talk about public appeals,
00:32:38.25\00:32:42.02
making public
appeals from the pulpit.
00:32:42.06\00:32:45.63
"Are they just for
evangelistic meetings?"
00:32:45.66\00:32:49.20
Anytime you come to
an evangelistic meeting,
00:32:49.23\00:32:51.43
you always see
appeals, altar calls,
00:32:51.47\00:32:54.44
raising hands, decision cards.
00:32:54.47\00:32:57.44
So the question I
would like to pose is,
00:32:57.47\00:33:00.24
"Who says they should only
be for an evangelistic meeting?
00:33:00.28\00:33:03.65
Why can't we do that on
Sabbath mornings regularly
00:33:03.68\00:33:07.48
during our worship services?
00:33:07.52\00:33:09.15
Because visitors
come to church too.
00:33:09.18\00:33:11.82
Can you say, amen?
00:33:11.85\00:33:13.66
See, it creates an atmosphere
of evangelism in the church,
00:33:13.69\00:33:17.56
and you're giving
people a chance to respond.
00:33:17.59\00:33:20.76
You know, a lot of times
00:33:20.80\00:33:22.13
members need to
respond to decisions
00:33:22.16\00:33:24.40
and appeals as well.
00:33:24.43\00:33:26.13
Decisions to
recommit our life to Jesus.
00:33:26.17\00:33:29.64
Decisions to say, "Lord, I
need to make better decisions
00:33:29.67\00:33:32.24
than what I put before my eyes."
00:33:32.27\00:33:35.11
I can know sometimes
I've sat in churches,
00:33:35.14\00:33:38.25
and things were going
on in my spiritual life,
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.32
and I've heard a sermon.
00:33:40.35\00:33:42.25
And there's been a
few times I've thought,
00:33:42.28\00:33:44.55
"Boy, I hope he or
she makes an appeal
00:33:44.59\00:33:46.76
because I feel like I
need to raise my hand,
00:33:46.79\00:33:49.19
or I need to go
forward for something.
00:33:49.22\00:33:50.89
I just, I need to
take that step of action."
00:33:50.93\00:33:54.13
And there was no appeal.
00:33:54.16\00:33:56.26
And I was disappointed.
00:33:56.30\00:33:58.23
See, we got to
get out of this thing
00:33:58.27\00:33:59.93
where we think
churches a spectator sport,
00:33:59.97\00:34:02.54
and people just sit and
watch one person perform,
00:34:02.57\00:34:06.91
fill themselves
with information,
00:34:06.94\00:34:08.91
and that's it.
00:34:08.94\00:34:10.68
Church is about asking people
00:34:10.71\00:34:12.41
to respond to Jesus in some way.
00:34:12.45\00:34:15.45
And so when you make
appeals even on Sabbath morning,
00:34:15.48\00:34:18.25
wherever you are,
00:34:18.29\00:34:19.62
it gives you
interest to work with,
00:34:19.65\00:34:21.66
and it opens a
door of opportunity
00:34:21.69\00:34:23.93
for the Holy Spirit to
move in that congregation
00:34:23.96\00:34:27.03
and in that
Sabbath worship service.
00:34:27.06\00:34:29.80
So let's talk about how
do I make a public appeal?
00:34:29.83\00:34:34.90
You've probably seen
preachers do this on television
00:34:34.94\00:34:37.67
or in your own
church all the time.
00:34:37.71\00:34:40.04
But I want to share with you
four different types of appeals
00:34:40.08\00:34:43.61
that anybody can do.
00:34:43.65\00:34:46.35
Let's start with the first one.
00:34:46.38\00:34:48.62
On the screen,
00:34:48.65\00:34:49.98
you've probably seen
this one multiple times.
00:34:50.02\00:34:53.19
Raising hands or Standing.
00:34:53.22\00:34:54.96
Now how many people
actually saw that one?
00:34:54.99\00:34:57.19
Of course.
00:34:57.23\00:34:58.56
And this is a
very general appeal.
00:34:58.59\00:35:00.56
It helps people
become comfortable
00:35:00.60\00:35:02.53
with responding.
00:35:02.56\00:35:03.93
So if your church
is kind of not used
00:35:03.97\00:35:06.63
to making appeals or decisions
00:35:06.67\00:35:09.07
and if I may be so blunt,
00:35:09.10\00:35:11.27
it is kind of just
used to sitting there
00:35:11.31\00:35:12.87
like bumps on a log,
00:35:12.91\00:35:14.34
you may want to start
with an easier one first.
00:35:14.38\00:35:17.18
This is a good appeal to start
with an evangelistic meetings,
00:35:17.21\00:35:20.12
till people kind
of get used to things,
00:35:20.15\00:35:22.68
and most people respond to this.
00:35:22.72\00:35:25.19
I mean, whenever
the preacher says,
00:35:25.22\00:35:27.09
"You know, if
you'd like to ask Jesus
00:35:27.12\00:35:28.66
to help you take
your spiritual life
00:35:28.69\00:35:31.23
more seriously,
00:35:31.26\00:35:32.59
you want to ask Jesus
to help you follow Him
00:35:32.63\00:35:34.70
with all your
heart and all your soul,
00:35:34.73\00:35:36.16
would you raise
your hand as we pray?"
00:35:36.20\00:35:38.10
How many people
raise their hand?
00:35:38.13\00:35:40.07
Almost everybody.
00:35:40.10\00:35:41.44
You know, hands go up,
00:35:41.47\00:35:42.80
then those who don't
raise their hands look around,
00:35:42.84\00:35:45.04
"Well, I don't want
to seem like a pagan.
00:35:45.07\00:35:46.41
I better raised my hand up."
00:35:46.44\00:35:48.48
It gets people used to it.
00:35:48.51\00:35:50.48
You see, well, then
everybody raises their hand.
00:35:50.51\00:35:52.61
Who do you know sincere.
00:35:52.65\00:35:54.75
God knows who's sincere.
00:35:54.78\00:35:56.99
God knows who is truly
making a decision of the heart
00:35:57.02\00:36:01.16
and God knows who's
going along with the crowd.
00:36:01.19\00:36:04.19
But that is a good way
to start making appeals.
00:36:04.23\00:36:07.30
Something very easy,
something very simple.
00:36:07.33\00:36:11.43
The second one is one
that very rarely is used.
00:36:11.47\00:36:16.10
This is where you have a time
of silent prayer in the pew.
00:36:16.14\00:36:20.58
So in other words,
you're getting to the end
00:36:20.61\00:36:22.04
of your message.
00:36:22.08\00:36:23.95
And you want to
invite the pianist
00:36:23.98\00:36:25.55
or organist or
keyboardist whoever it is
00:36:25.58\00:36:27.98
to maybe just softly play
for about one or two minutes.
00:36:28.02\00:36:31.52
And you invite the
congregation to just,
00:36:31.55\00:36:33.59
you know, stay
seated to bow their head
00:36:33.62\00:36:35.76
and silently talk to God
about what they've heard,
00:36:35.79\00:36:39.76
you know, silently talk
to God about any convictions
00:36:39.79\00:36:42.60
that perhaps His word
has laid on their heart.
00:36:42.63\00:36:47.00
Now, again, this is
more for private things,
00:36:47.04\00:36:49.87
you know, things that people
00:36:49.90\00:36:51.24
probably aren't
going to come forward for
00:36:51.27\00:36:53.27
or raise their hand for,
like maybe unforgiveness.
00:36:53.31\00:36:56.75
You know, if
you're talking about
00:36:56.78\00:36:58.31
unforgiveness in a sermon.
00:36:58.35\00:37:00.72
You just try to make
an altar call like this.
00:37:00.75\00:37:03.82
"Maybe today, you sense
00:37:03.85\00:37:05.19
that you have
unforgiveness in your heart
00:37:05.22\00:37:07.06
and you've been
holding a grudge for years.
00:37:07.09\00:37:09.19
And it's just been
ruining your spiritual life
00:37:09.22\00:37:11.29
and separating you from God.
00:37:11.33\00:37:13.19
Today, you want to say,
00:37:13.23\00:37:14.56
'Lord, I want to let go
of the grudges in my life.'
00:37:14.60\00:37:17.33
I invite you to come
forward, come forward,
00:37:17.37\00:37:20.14
and we'll have a
word of prayer for you."
00:37:20.17\00:37:22.60
You just try that once.
00:37:22.64\00:37:24.11
You're probably not
going to get too many people
00:37:24.14\00:37:25.77
to come forward on that one.
00:37:25.81\00:37:27.94
That's more of a
time of silent prayer
00:37:27.98\00:37:30.71
and the pew that's
more of a private decision.
00:37:30.75\00:37:33.45
Unless of course,
you're at a conference,
00:37:33.48\00:37:35.22
it's about unforgiveness
00:37:35.25\00:37:36.58
and everybody's
in the same boat.
00:37:36.62\00:37:38.49
Or you try doing that
00:37:38.52\00:37:39.95
when you're talking
about sexual purity.
00:37:39.99\00:37:42.46
You just try to make
an altar call that says,
00:37:42.49\00:37:45.66
"Maybe today you're thinking,
00:37:45.69\00:37:47.03
'Lord, I've run
around for most of my life
00:37:47.06\00:37:49.76
up to this point.
00:37:49.80\00:37:51.57
I've just been with
so many people in my life
00:37:51.60\00:37:53.37
is far from pure.
00:37:53.40\00:37:55.00
Oh, Lord, from this day forward.
00:37:55.04\00:37:56.77
I want to be pure for you.'
00:37:56.81\00:37:58.14
Would you come forward as
we have our closing song?"
00:37:58.17\00:38:01.34
Probably not gonna happen.
00:38:01.38\00:38:03.58
But you could ask for a time
of silent prayer in the pew,
00:38:03.61\00:38:07.32
where it's private,
00:38:07.35\00:38:08.92
where it's between
that individual and God.
00:38:08.95\00:38:11.99
The Holy Spirit
will help you to judge,
00:38:12.02\00:38:13.92
you know, what kind of
appeals it is you need to do?
00:38:13.96\00:38:16.66
And that may
depend on your topic.
00:38:16.69\00:38:20.23
Now the one that I like
00:38:20.26\00:38:21.60
is the old
fashioned one, altar call.
00:38:21.63\00:38:24.93
Now this one requires
a major step of action
00:38:24.97\00:38:28.37
because you
can't hide on this one.
00:38:28.40\00:38:30.91
I think what we're
asking people to do,
00:38:30.94\00:38:33.44
they've got to get
up out of their seat,
00:38:33.48\00:38:35.64
somehow get to the aisle
00:38:35.68\00:38:37.51
and come all the way
forward, there is no hiding.
00:38:37.55\00:38:40.92
So when someone
chooses to do that,
00:38:40.95\00:38:43.49
you know, that
they are making a true
00:38:43.52\00:38:46.02
and honest decision.
00:38:46.05\00:38:47.82
I mean, something's
going on in the heart.
00:38:47.86\00:38:50.59
And the wonderful
thing about that is
00:38:50.63\00:38:52.79
because other people see it,
00:38:52.83\00:38:55.26
even though it might
make that person nervous,
00:38:55.30\00:38:58.50
it makes an impression
on those who are watching
00:38:58.53\00:39:02.00
because I'll guarantee you,
00:39:02.04\00:39:03.37
there's someone else
in that congregation,
00:39:03.41\00:39:05.21
in that audience who's thinking,
00:39:05.24\00:39:07.01
they ought to get
up and go forward.
00:39:07.04\00:39:09.34
And when they see
someone else do it,
00:39:09.38\00:39:11.31
it encourages
them to do the same.
00:39:11.35\00:39:15.12
I mean, that is a
big step of action.
00:39:15.15\00:39:18.99
Now one of the temptations
with that is as the speaker,
00:39:19.02\00:39:22.76
we tend to think,
00:39:22.79\00:39:24.13
"Oh, what if
nobody comes forward,
00:39:24.16\00:39:26.63
then I'll look like a fool."
00:39:26.66\00:39:29.86
I have to admit,
I thought of that.
00:39:29.90\00:39:32.30
And that happens to
me. That happened to me.
00:39:32.33\00:39:35.60
But if we were brutally honest?
00:39:35.64\00:39:38.21
That's really
just pride coming out.
00:39:38.24\00:39:40.88
Because I'm
worried about how I look?
00:39:40.91\00:39:44.01
I'm worried about
whether I look like
00:39:44.05\00:39:45.85
I know what I'm doing?
00:39:45.88\00:39:47.22
Whether I look like
a successful preacher
00:39:47.25\00:39:49.02
or evangelist?
00:39:49.05\00:39:50.62
And whenever
that pride takes over,
00:39:50.65\00:39:52.69
it's an obstacle for
the Holy Spirit to work.
00:39:52.72\00:39:55.76
And trust me, I'm
ashamed to say it,
00:39:55.79\00:39:58.99
but I can tell
you from experience,
00:39:59.03\00:40:02.73
it feels a lot worse
00:40:02.76\00:40:06.50
to not have made a call
when you know you should have,
00:40:06.53\00:40:10.67
then to make a call
00:40:10.71\00:40:12.71
and no one comes forward.
00:40:12.74\00:40:15.24
There have been some times
when I have not made a call
00:40:15.28\00:40:18.55
because I was afraid
people wouldn't come forward,
00:40:18.58\00:40:20.78
and I would look embarrassed.
00:40:20.82\00:40:23.39
And you find out later
there was someone ready
00:40:23.42\00:40:26.09
to make a choice.
00:40:26.12\00:40:28.42
I can't tell you
the feeling of just...
00:40:28.46\00:40:30.56
That just comes on
your heart that heaviness.
00:40:30.59\00:40:33.80
And I've learned,
00:40:33.83\00:40:35.86
I'd rather make a call
and have no one come forward,
00:40:35.90\00:40:38.90
then not make one
00:40:38.93\00:40:40.74
when there was
someone ready to respond.
00:40:40.77\00:40:44.77
Then let me give
you a little tip,
00:40:44.81\00:40:46.14
the way to get around
if nobody comes forward
00:40:46.17\00:40:48.38
and sometimes that will happen.
00:40:48.41\00:40:50.25
Number one,
00:40:50.28\00:40:51.61
it's got nothing to
do with you personally.
00:40:51.65\00:40:53.31
It's got nothing to do
00:40:53.35\00:40:54.85
with whether you think
you know what you're doing?
00:40:54.88\00:40:57.29
It has everything to do with
00:40:57.32\00:40:59.05
whether that person is
ready to surrender their hearts
00:40:59.09\00:41:02.62
to the promptings
of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:02.66\00:41:04.66
So if no one comes forward,
00:41:04.69\00:41:06.73
you can quickly
transition to something else,
00:41:06.76\00:41:08.80
and you might be able
to say something like this,
00:41:08.83\00:41:11.43
say, that you have
made a call about someone,
00:41:11.47\00:41:15.77
a call about being baptized,
00:41:15.80\00:41:17.54
and you've invited
people to come forward.
00:41:17.57\00:41:19.41
You know it's about a minute
and no one's come forward.
00:41:19.44\00:41:22.41
Well, you could transition
to something like this.
00:41:22.44\00:41:25.91
"I understand
sometimes it's just so hard
00:41:25.95\00:41:28.28
to get up out of that seat
00:41:28.32\00:41:30.89
and there may be
some people here today
00:41:30.92\00:41:32.39
you really want to come forward
00:41:32.42\00:41:34.76
but nervousness has
just got the best of you.
00:41:34.79\00:41:38.09
Maybe right now if
there's someone here
00:41:38.13\00:41:39.83
that's thinking I
want to prepare for baptism
00:41:39.86\00:41:42.00
one day soon.
00:41:42.03\00:41:43.53
I'd like to give an opportunity
to just slip up your hand
00:41:43.57\00:41:46.23
where you are.
00:41:46.27\00:41:47.60
You don't have to come forward,
00:41:47.64\00:41:48.97
just slip up your hand
and by doing so you're saying,
00:41:49.00\00:41:51.14
'Lord,
00:41:51.17\00:41:52.51
I want to make the
decision to be baptized.
00:41:52.54\00:41:54.84
I want that to happen one day.'
00:41:54.88\00:41:56.31
So you just raise
your hand where you are."
00:41:56.34\00:41:58.98
And you can slip
00:41:59.01\00:42:00.35
into a different
kind of call there.
00:42:00.38\00:42:02.42
Or you can have prayer.
00:42:02.45\00:42:03.92
And in the prayer,
00:42:03.95\00:42:05.29
you can ask people
to raise their hands.
00:42:05.32\00:42:06.65
They may say
something like this.
00:42:06.69\00:42:08.92
With every head
bowed and every eye closed,
00:42:08.96\00:42:11.99
maybe there's someone here today
00:42:12.03\00:42:13.36
who wanted to come
forward at this call,
00:42:13.40\00:42:15.33
but you just couldn't,
00:42:15.36\00:42:16.83
but you want the Lord to know
00:42:16.87\00:42:18.20
that you're thinking
about being baptized.
00:42:18.23\00:42:21.00
I want to invite you to
raise your hand right now.
00:42:21.04\00:42:23.41
Every head is
bowed, every eye is closed,
00:42:23.44\00:42:25.74
my eyes are the only ones open.
00:42:25.77\00:42:28.01
Lord, you see every
hand that's been raised,
00:42:28.04\00:42:30.35
bless them as they
contemplate this decision,
00:42:30.38\00:42:32.78
fill them with Your Holy Spirit.
00:42:32.81\00:42:34.72
We pray in Jesus' name.
00:42:34.75\00:42:37.25
Amen.
00:42:37.29\00:42:38.72
See, you can easily
transition to something else.
00:42:38.75\00:42:41.92
Now when you do
make an altar call,
00:42:41.96\00:42:44.16
this is something that I do,
00:42:44.19\00:42:45.59
you don't have to do it,
00:42:45.63\00:42:46.96
it depends whatever
you're comfortable with
00:42:47.00\00:42:49.36
but what I do is
00:42:49.40\00:42:50.73
I like to invite
people to come forward
00:42:50.77\00:42:53.03
while we're
singing the closing song.
00:42:53.07\00:42:55.30
So what everybody's standing
I've already said in my appeal
00:42:55.34\00:42:59.57
if you'd like
to answer this call
00:42:59.61\00:43:01.24
and recommit your life to Jesus,
00:43:01.28\00:43:03.45
I want to invite
you to come forward
00:43:03.48\00:43:04.98
as we sing our closing song.
00:43:05.01\00:43:07.28
On that first verse
you'll see me step down here
00:43:07.32\00:43:09.78
off the platform
00:43:09.82\00:43:11.15
and that'll be your
cue to just come forward
00:43:11.19\00:43:13.79
stand with me before the altar.
00:43:13.82\00:43:15.59
You don't have to
say or do anything
00:43:15.62\00:43:17.46
but by coming
forward you're saying,
00:43:17.49\00:43:18.99
"Lord, I want my life
to be recommitted to You."
00:43:19.03\00:43:23.10
So you've made that call
00:43:23.13\00:43:24.63
and now everybody's standing
to sing the closing hymn.
00:43:24.67\00:43:27.70
So when people start
singing the first verse,
00:43:27.74\00:43:30.27
you come down off the platform,
00:43:30.31\00:43:32.57
and you just stand there,
and you hold your hymn book
00:43:32.61\00:43:35.11
or whatever
you're singing out of,
00:43:35.14\00:43:36.58
and you sing.
00:43:36.61\00:43:37.95
And you just wait for
people to come forward.
00:43:37.98\00:43:40.22
Now there's a reason
that I do it that way,
00:43:40.25\00:43:41.95
and I'm going to tell you why.
00:43:41.98\00:43:43.75
Number one, if you're doing
it during the closing song,
00:43:43.79\00:43:46.69
what is everybody
in the congregation
00:43:46.72\00:43:48.39
already doing?
00:43:48.42\00:43:49.99
They are standing.
00:43:50.03\00:43:51.53
So that's half
the battle right there
00:43:51.56\00:43:53.33
just to get up on your feet,
00:43:53.36\00:43:54.83
makes it easier for
people to come forward.
00:43:54.86\00:43:57.33
The other reason,
00:43:57.37\00:43:58.70
and this is just
because of my personality,
00:43:58.73\00:44:01.60
I don't want to have to think
00:44:01.64\00:44:02.97
of a hundred
other things to say.
00:44:03.00\00:44:05.17
I like it when the
music simply plays,
00:44:05.21\00:44:08.24
the Holy Spirit can work,
00:44:08.28\00:44:09.84
I can just stand there
and sing with everybody else.
00:44:09.88\00:44:12.68
If I do an altar call
without the closing song
00:44:12.71\00:44:16.08
that means I have to
come down to the platform,
00:44:16.12\00:44:19.32
and I have to keep thinking
of more and more things to say
00:44:19.35\00:44:22.42
for another minute
00:44:22.46\00:44:23.79
or two minutes or three minutes,
00:44:23.83\00:44:25.33
and it's like I have
to think of different ways
00:44:25.36\00:44:27.03
to say the same thing.
00:44:27.06\00:44:28.83
To me, I don't
want that pressure.
00:44:28.86\00:44:31.13
I'd rather make the
appeal a couple times
00:44:31.17\00:44:33.30
at the end of the sermon,
00:44:33.34\00:44:35.24
then let the
closing song be played
00:44:35.27\00:44:37.87
and give people a
chance to come forward
00:44:37.91\00:44:40.31
and that may be a
good way to start for you
00:44:40.34\00:44:42.31
because it just
takes the pressure off
00:44:42.34\00:44:44.25
having to figure
out what in the world
00:44:44.28\00:44:46.28
that you're going to say.
00:44:46.31\00:44:48.55
Finally, the fourth
way is decision cards.
00:44:48.58\00:44:52.02
Now you've probably
seen how that worked
00:44:52.05\00:44:54.39
and this is a
major step of action
00:44:54.42\00:44:56.83
because people have to
mark something on a card
00:44:56.86\00:44:59.66
and turn it in,
00:44:59.69\00:45:01.40
and it will give people a chance
00:45:01.43\00:45:03.16
who may not come
forward in an altar call,
00:45:03.20\00:45:06.63
they can mark that card
00:45:06.67\00:45:08.10
in a little
more of a private way
00:45:08.14\00:45:11.17
and the great thing is,
00:45:11.21\00:45:12.81
it gives you
people to visit with.
00:45:12.84\00:45:15.04
Either after the service
or later on during that week.
00:45:15.08\00:45:19.01
So if you have a
card and there's no reason
00:45:19.05\00:45:21.42
you can't have
cards and the pews
00:45:21.45\00:45:23.45
every Sabbath morning,
00:45:23.49\00:45:24.99
you have to make
sure to go over the card
00:45:25.02\00:45:27.62
with the people.
00:45:27.66\00:45:28.99
So they understand what
they're supposed to mark.
00:45:29.02\00:45:32.09
Now if you make
your own decision cards,
00:45:32.13\00:45:34.96
they probably should
have a progression like this.
00:45:35.00\00:45:38.00
The first line
you're asking is it clear.
00:45:38.03\00:45:40.57
In other words,
it's intellectual.
00:45:40.60\00:45:42.77
The second line is asking
00:45:42.80\00:45:44.21
for a half a
step in the decision.
00:45:44.24\00:45:47.38
The third line is
asking for the full commitment.
00:45:47.41\00:45:51.28
And the fourth line is
asking to request material
00:45:51.31\00:45:54.52
or for a personal
visit to ask a question.
00:45:54.55\00:45:58.09
You see, well, what
would that look like?
00:45:58.12\00:46:00.36
Let's look at a Sabbath card.
00:46:00.39\00:46:02.62
You're going over
this with the people,
00:46:02.66\00:46:03.99
the first line says,
00:46:04.03\00:46:05.49
"It is clear to me
that the Seventh-day Sabbath
00:46:05.53\00:46:08.06
is an important Bible truth."
00:46:08.10\00:46:10.60
Gives them a chance to
mark whether it's clear.
00:46:10.63\00:46:13.64
The second line says,
00:46:13.67\00:46:15.14
"I want to follow
Jesus in my life."
00:46:15.17\00:46:17.21
Okay?
00:46:17.24\00:46:18.57
It's asking for half a step,
00:46:18.61\00:46:19.94
you're not asking them there
to keep the Sabbath just yet,
00:46:19.97\00:46:22.21
you're asking for half a step.
00:46:22.24\00:46:24.41
The third line says,
00:46:24.45\00:46:25.85
"I choose to follow Jesus
00:46:25.88\00:46:27.78
by honoring His
Seventh-day Sabbath."
00:46:27.82\00:46:30.99
That's asking for
the full commitment.
00:46:31.02\00:46:33.66
And then number four,
00:46:33.69\00:46:35.16
"I have some questions,
and I would like a visit."
00:46:35.19\00:46:38.96
It gives everyone a chance
to mark something on that card
00:46:38.99\00:46:42.90
no matter where they are.
00:46:42.93\00:46:44.73
And by the way, they mark it,
00:46:44.77\00:46:46.50
you'll get an
idea where they are.
00:46:46.53\00:46:48.94
Are they halfway there,
are they all the way there,
00:46:48.97\00:46:53.07
or is this just a nice truth
00:46:53.11\00:46:54.78
that they have
intellectually understood,
00:46:54.81\00:46:57.48
but they're not
ready to act on it.
00:46:57.51\00:47:00.48
Decision cards are important
00:47:00.52\00:47:02.32
for revealing
what may be going on
00:47:02.35\00:47:04.62
in someone's heart.
00:47:04.65\00:47:06.76
Now if you choose to
get generic cards printed
00:47:06.79\00:47:10.26
and just put in your church pews
00:47:10.29\00:47:12.29
every single Sabbath,
00:47:12.33\00:47:13.86
cards that will
work with any subject,
00:47:13.90\00:47:16.40
they might look
something like this.
00:47:16.43\00:47:19.20
The first line,
00:47:19.23\00:47:21.50
"The subject we
studied today is clear to me."
00:47:21.54\00:47:24.47
They can mark that if they want.
00:47:24.51\00:47:26.84
The second line,
00:47:26.88\00:47:28.21
"I'm choosing to
follow Jesus in this matter."
00:47:28.24\00:47:31.21
You say, well, what matter?
00:47:31.25\00:47:32.58
Well, they've
listened to the sermon,
00:47:32.61\00:47:33.95
they know what the matter is?
00:47:33.98\00:47:35.35
So that card
applies to anything.
00:47:35.38\00:47:37.62
The third,
00:47:37.65\00:47:39.35
"I would like prayer
concerning this matter.
00:47:39.39\00:47:42.09
Or there are some
obstacles in my life
00:47:42.12\00:47:43.99
I'd like to talk to someone."
00:47:44.03\00:47:46.13
And of course, every
card ought to have a line
00:47:46.16\00:47:48.36
for baptism.
00:47:48.40\00:47:49.86
That way when you're
preaching, whoever is preaching
00:47:49.90\00:47:52.13
even if you didn't think
you were gonna do an altar call
00:47:52.17\00:47:54.30
or some kind of
decision-making device,
00:47:54.34\00:47:57.07
if the spirit prompts you,
00:47:57.11\00:47:58.77
you already know
you've got cards in the pews
00:47:58.81\00:48:01.38
that are there
every single week.
00:48:01.41\00:48:05.58
Now the final few
things I'd like to go over
00:48:05.61\00:48:07.95
have to do with the
language of the appeal.
00:48:07.98\00:48:11.72
If when you're preaching,
00:48:11.75\00:48:13.59
if there is any
part of your sermon
00:48:13.62\00:48:15.49
that you're gonna
write out word for word,
00:48:15.52\00:48:17.69
it should be two parts.
00:48:17.73\00:48:19.06
Do you know what they are?
00:48:19.09\00:48:21.36
The introduction and the appeal.
00:48:21.40\00:48:24.67
I hate writing
sermons out word for word.
00:48:24.70\00:48:27.24
Now sometimes I
force myself to do it
00:48:27.27\00:48:29.04
because I can memorize it better
00:48:29.07\00:48:31.07
but if there's
any part of the sermon
00:48:31.11\00:48:32.71
that I want to
write out word for word,
00:48:32.74\00:48:34.84
it's going to be
whatever the opening story
00:48:34.88\00:48:37.25
or introduction is
00:48:37.28\00:48:39.01
and that's
because studies have shown
00:48:39.05\00:48:42.28
within the first
five minutes of a sermon
00:48:42.32\00:48:45.29
probably the first
three or four minutes,
00:48:45.32\00:48:47.79
people have already decided
00:48:47.82\00:48:49.69
whether they want
to hear the rest of it?
00:48:49.72\00:48:52.39
That's the first impression,
00:48:52.43\00:48:53.80
it's made in the
first three minutes.
00:48:53.83\00:48:55.90
So you got to know it well.
00:48:55.93\00:48:58.10
The last part is the appeal.
00:48:58.13\00:49:00.70
Write your
appeal out word for word
00:49:00.74\00:49:03.00
because when you get to the end
00:49:03.04\00:49:04.54
that's the most
important part of the sermon,
00:49:04.57\00:49:07.01
you want to make sure
00:49:07.04\00:49:08.58
that you know
what you're asking for.
00:49:08.61\00:49:10.78
Now I'm not
saying you write it out
00:49:10.81\00:49:12.25
because you're gonna stand
00:49:12.28\00:49:13.62
and you're just gonna look
down and read it word for word.
00:49:13.65\00:49:15.88
It's just so that in your mind
00:49:15.92\00:49:17.42
you have a clear
idea of the decision
00:49:17.45\00:49:19.29
you are gonna be asking for.
00:49:19.32\00:49:21.82
So be specific in your appeal.
00:49:21.86\00:49:25.16
Be positive, not
negative or belittling.
00:49:25.19\00:49:28.83
There's a principle Mark Finley
talks about called Mini Max.
00:49:28.86\00:49:33.03
Where you
minimize the negatives,
00:49:33.07\00:49:37.11
you maximize the blessings.
00:49:37.14\00:49:39.84
In other words,
00:49:39.87\00:49:41.48
say you're making an appeal
00:49:41.51\00:49:43.98
for people to surrender
00:49:44.01\00:49:45.68
the financial
side of their lives
00:49:45.71\00:49:47.52
and start returning tithe.
00:49:47.55\00:49:49.35
A negative appeal would
sound something like this.
00:49:49.38\00:49:54.46
Maybe today you sense
00:49:54.49\00:49:55.82
that you want to start
returning tithe to Lord,
00:49:55.86\00:49:58.63
and you've sensed in
your heart and you're saying,
00:49:58.66\00:50:00.46
"Lord, I no
longer want to be selfish
00:50:00.50\00:50:02.63
and hoard my money to myself,
00:50:02.66\00:50:04.60
I don't want to
be filled with pride
00:50:04.63\00:50:06.13
for this money that I have.
00:50:06.17\00:50:07.54
So, Lord, I'm
coming forward asking You
00:50:07.57\00:50:09.27
to remove this
pride from my heart
00:50:09.30\00:50:11.14
that I might
start returning tithe."
00:50:11.17\00:50:14.41
You see what's going on there?
00:50:14.44\00:50:16.24
You're appealing
based on the negative,
00:50:16.28\00:50:19.41
you want to appeal
based on the positive.
00:50:19.45\00:50:22.15
So you may say
something like this.
00:50:22.18\00:50:25.95
"If today the Holy
Spirit is spoken to your heart
00:50:25.99\00:50:29.22
and today that
you would like to say,
00:50:29.26\00:50:30.63
'Lord, I recognize
00:50:30.66\00:50:32.23
You are the owner of all things,
00:50:32.26\00:50:34.73
I want to be a
good steward for You.
00:50:34.76\00:50:37.27
And so, Lord, today I
surrender the financial part
00:50:37.30\00:50:39.93
of my life to You.
00:50:39.97\00:50:41.67
And, Lord, I ask you to just
open up the windows of heaven
00:50:41.70\00:50:44.87
that I may receive the blessings
00:50:44.91\00:50:46.34
You seek to give me.
00:50:46.37\00:50:47.78
I trust You with my life Lord,
00:50:47.81\00:50:49.98
and I trust You
even with my finances.'
00:50:50.01\00:50:52.88
If that's the
desire of your heart,
00:50:52.91\00:50:54.85
would you raise your hand?
00:50:54.88\00:50:56.22
Or would you come forward
as we sing our closing song?"
00:50:56.25\00:50:59.55
Do you see the difference
between those two appeals?
00:50:59.59\00:51:02.32
One focuses on the negative,
00:51:02.36\00:51:04.39
one is
appealing to the positive.
00:51:04.43\00:51:08.23
Make sure they understand
what you're asking them to do?
00:51:08.26\00:51:11.50
Do you want them
to raise their hands?
00:51:11.53\00:51:13.47
Are you asking
them to come forward
00:51:13.50\00:51:15.20
if so when are you
asking them to come forward?
00:51:15.24\00:51:18.21
Are they supposed to go
00:51:18.24\00:51:19.57
to a certain side of the church?
00:51:19.61\00:51:20.94
Are they supposed to
sit down in the front pew?
00:51:20.98\00:51:22.68
You've got to be specific
because I've been in Churches
00:51:22.71\00:51:27.65
where sermons
and appeals are made,
00:51:27.68\00:51:30.32
and I'm not sure what
the person is asking for.
00:51:30.35\00:51:32.75
And if people aren't sure,
they're not going to respond.
00:51:32.79\00:51:37.83
And finally,
00:51:37.86\00:51:39.19
you'll probably have to
repeat the appeal a few times.
00:51:39.23\00:51:42.63
Now I don't mean 10 times.
00:51:42.66\00:51:44.70
You know, sometimes you
see preachers on television,
00:51:44.73\00:51:47.50
they appeal for 30 minutes
till somebody comes forward.
00:51:47.54\00:51:50.81
Well, you can let
God guide you with that,
00:51:50.84\00:51:53.31
that's not usually what I do,
00:51:53.34\00:51:54.88
but you may have
to repeat the appeal
00:51:54.91\00:51:56.78
two or three
times in different ways
00:51:56.81\00:51:58.91
as the Holy Spirit is
speaking to a person's heart.
00:51:58.95\00:52:02.92
If you will follow them,
00:52:02.95\00:52:05.05
God will use your
appeal whether it's one-on-one
00:52:05.09\00:52:09.02
or whether it's on
preaching in the pulpit,
00:52:09.06\00:52:11.09
and you will see
people make decisions
00:52:11.13\00:52:13.50
for Jesus.
00:52:13.53\00:52:15.90
So I'd like to end
with this last slide.
00:52:15.93\00:52:20.44
Remember the main point,
00:52:20.47\00:52:23.51
to get decisions,
00:52:23.54\00:52:25.31
you must ask for them.
00:52:25.34\00:52:29.31
Allow God to guide you.
00:52:29.34\00:52:31.91
Allow God to use you.
00:52:31.95\00:52:34.15
And one day in
the kingdom of heaven,
00:52:34.18\00:52:36.69
you will have the
blessings of seeing people there
00:52:36.72\00:52:39.72
and as they
recount their stories
00:52:39.75\00:52:41.52
of how they came to
Jesus and His truth,
00:52:41.56\00:52:44.83
you will be a part of that story
00:52:44.86\00:52:47.13
and people may remember.
00:52:47.16\00:52:49.73
You remember the
question you asked me?
00:52:49.76\00:52:52.87
You remember the
words that you spoke to me?
00:52:52.90\00:52:55.34
You helped me
make that decision.
00:52:55.37\00:52:57.77
You helped me
get over that hump.
00:52:57.81\00:53:00.24
You helped me realize
00:53:00.28\00:53:02.01
that it was
important to step forward
00:53:02.04\00:53:04.65
and to give it all to Jesus.
00:53:04.68\00:53:07.22
To get decisions,
00:53:07.25\00:53:09.25
you must ask for them.
00:53:09.28\00:53:11.32
May God give us opportunity,
00:53:11.35\00:53:13.86
and may God bless you
00:53:13.89\00:53:15.22
with asking for
decisions from people
00:53:15.26\00:53:17.56
who are ready to move forward.
00:53:17.59\00:53:20.93
Would you pray with me?
00:53:20.96\00:53:23.67
Heavenly Father,
00:53:23.70\00:53:25.73
no doubt You've brought
people across our lines,
00:53:25.77\00:53:29.70
people that You're
wanting us to work with.
00:53:29.74\00:53:33.01
And so, Lord,
tonight we again ask
00:53:33.04\00:53:34.74
that You would impress the name
of that person upon our mind
00:53:34.78\00:53:38.81
and when the opportunity
comes to ask the right question,
00:53:38.85\00:53:42.38
and when the opportunity
comes to appeal to their hearts,
00:53:42.42\00:53:46.35
we pray that you
would not only give us
00:53:46.39\00:53:47.82
the words to say
00:53:47.86\00:53:50.29
but give us the
right body language,
00:53:50.33\00:53:52.43
give us the right attitude,
00:53:52.46\00:53:54.50
help people to see the
love of Jesus in our heart.
00:53:54.53\00:53:57.40
Lord, give us the
opportunity to make a difference
00:53:57.43\00:54:00.27
in someone else's life.
00:54:00.30\00:54:01.74
Help us, Lord, to
get decisions for You.
00:54:01.77\00:54:05.41
We pray in Jesus' name.
00:54:05.44\00:54:08.01
Amen.
00:54:08.04\00:54:09.58
Hi, this is David Klinedinst.
00:54:09.61\00:54:12.41
I hope you've been blessed
by the presentation today.
00:54:12.45\00:54:15.62
If you would
like more information
00:54:15.65\00:54:17.35
about our ministry
00:54:17.39\00:54:18.92
or about our other
seminars and presentations,
00:54:18.95\00:54:22.22
visit our websites
at DavidKlinedinst.org
00:54:22.26\00:54:27.23
Or DiscoverBibleProphecy.org.
00:54:27.26\00:54:31.00
If you'd like to make a donation
00:54:31.03\00:54:32.63
to keep these
sermons on the air,
00:54:32.67\00:54:34.70
you can contact us at
Discover Prophecy Ministries
00:54:34.74\00:54:38.64
PO Box 850 Columbia, Maryland
00:54:38.67\00:54:42.18
or call toll-free
00:54:44.45\00:54:46.01
at 855-774-HOPE.
00:54:46.05\00:54:49.72