03/21/18 E-1, E-2, E-3

03/21/18 E-1, E-2, E-3

THIS REALLY IS WORTH READING (even if I did write it).

I recently explained, to the youth in our church, the different levels or divisions of Evangelism and Missions.

Recently, I have been teaching and preaching from the book of Acts. Believers are sent to be witnesses in...
Jerusalem (our own, nearby, homogeneous society),
Judea (other folks like us, separated by a short geographical distance),
Samaria (people separated by distance and who are of a different culture, or language),
Uttermost Parts of the World (people separated by distance, culture, language, world view).

Remember, EVANGELIZING is the ministry of "publishing the good news" to the unsaved, unconverted, unreached, regardless of their response.

Types of Evangelism (or Missions) are categorized by the E-Scale. The E-Scale is based on the number and kinds of barriers that must be crossed in order to share the gospel with another person.

E-0 Evangelizing people who are already favorable to the gospel message and are part of your homogeneous profile (and may be part of your church).
E-1 Evangelizing people who are near neighbors who are homogeneously the same, but do not know the gospel.
E-2 Evangelizing people who are of a similar, but different culture, possible language barrier. This could be ministering to racially different groups in the same community or the same culture/language in another part of the world.
E-3 Evangelizing people who are totally unfamiliar with the gospel (maybe hostile to Christianity or your own culture), separated by greater distance, language, world view. We usually think of this level as Foreign Missions.

It is with this understanding of Evangelism that I made my previous post.
It is valid to spend your time, talents and treasures in a local church by becoming an integral, active part of that church, or by investing yourself as a support ministry to that church.

I UNASHAMEDLY SAY, I have the vision of God to reach local and distant people, but I need others with various skills, who will will share my dreams.

These principles are true, not only for me and my ministry, but for other men of God who are dong a great work, yet needing more workers.

Those who know me, know that I am not advocating anyone take from their local church in order to minister to or with a missions or other ministry program. Be sure your local church is where God wants you, your treasure, your time, your talent, your soul, your family, your friends, your ministry. But be ready to reach beyond your own world by serving through other, viable and worthy ministries.

Acts 6:1-10
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.