MISSIONAL OUTREACH & EVANGELISM SEMINAR: REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION FOR CHRIST

A CHRIST-CENTERED MISSION to REACH THE NEXT GENERATION

Session 1: The Biblical-Theological Basis for Being an Evangelistic, Mission(al) Church--
Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (Jn. 20:21). 

This session is sure to help your church understand that being engaged in mission is not an option for a church or Christian, but instead is a biblical and theological imperative.

1. Missional Theology - As the sent out body of Christ (Jn. 20:21), we seek to fulfill Christ’s stated mission to the world: seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10); serve and give our lives for others (Mk. 10:45); and proclaim or share the good news of Jesus and the kingdom of God (Lk. 4:43).
2. Evangelism / Missional Outreach in the Early Church - Includes inspiring examples of how the early church grew and how churches are growing evangelistically today.

Session 2: Reaching the Next Generation: Evangelistic Methods and Messages for Today’s Postmodern World

1. The Need to Change Our Approach to Reach the Next Generation - Why are we not reaching people today, including so many young adults, our children, and our grandchildren? In part because the world has changed. Just as Paul changed his approach in Acts 17, based upon whether he was speaking to a “Bible-believing,” Jewish audience in the synagogue at Thessalonica, or a pagan audience in at Mars Hill in Athens, so too we must adjust our approach to where people are and how they think and come to faith today.
   
   
2. Identifying the Disconnect w/Younger Generations - Characteristics of Postmodernism – Part of our disconnect is that our culture has shifted from modernism to postmodernism, and we have failed to adjust how we articulate and share the biblical message. Gives the characteristics of postmodernism and details the new ways that must be used to reach today’s postmodern generation.
   
   
3. Reaching (and retaining) Millennials for Christ – The Millennial generation is the largest the world has ever seen—and also the most non-religious in the last one hundred years. Gives reasons for the drop in religious connections and specific approaches for how to reach Millennials for Christ

A CHRIST-CENTERED STRATEGY to REACH THE NEXT GENERATION

Session 3: Seeking the Lost
“The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” (Lk. 19:10).
As seen in the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son(s), seeking the lost includes such things as being in proximity to the lost, going after the lost, having a heart for the lost, and looking for the lost. This part covers sessions on:

1. Preparation and developing a heart for mission / Prayer for the lost
   
   
2. Community Analysis (demographics, ethnicity, areas of brokenness, etc.)
   
   
3. Missional Communities (groups of Christians who intentionally reach out to and adopt a particular people group or geographic area, such as a school, neighborhood, single parents, a sports team, etc.)
   
   
4. Missional Lifestyles (BELLS) – weekly practices that imitate the life of Jesus and impact people for Christ, including Blessx3, Eat togetherx3, Listenx1, Learnx1, Sharex2-3
   
   
5. Neighborhood Outreach – suggestions for how to reach out to one’s neighbors (actual and metaphorical) and neighborhood

Session 4: Serving the Community

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man” (Mt. 20:28).

1. Service Ministries – Looks at various ways a church can redemptively serve its community, helping to heal physical, emotional, and relational brokenness (e.g. food, clothing, and homeless ministries, marriage enrichment, Celebrate Recovery, Financial Peace, school adoption, ESL/FriendSpeak, etc.)

2. Partnering with Existing Community Service Groups (non-profits, schools, government agencies, etc.)

3. Spiritual Gifts Discovery and Development – a Spiritual gifts inventory and tool that can help members discover their Spiritual gifts and serve in the different areas of their lives—family, church, work/world/neighborhood; go to www.YourSpiritualGifts.com for a FREE spiritual gifts inventory and receive your top 5 Spiritual gifts!

Session 5: Sharing the Good News
⁴³ But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent” (Lk. 4:43).
In light of Jesus’ example and today’s postmodern culture, how should we share the good news today? Some areas that are gone through include:

A CHRIST-CENTERED STORY / EVANGELISTIC BIBLE STUDY to REACH THE NEXT GENERATION

Session 6: The Story of Redemption - An Evangelistic Bible Study for Postmoderns! 

1. The Study - The Story of Redemption is an eight part evangelistic Bible study that tells the overall biblical story and is designed to lead today’s unchurched, postmodern generation to Christ.

2. How to Use it – Tells how to use the Story of Redemption and set up evangelistic Bible studies and seeker small groups

3. Testimonials – Shares stories and videos of how people who have used this study have come to faith and helped lead others to faith