2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
God’s heart is for all who are lost to return to Him, and every believer is entrusted with the Gospel. God will nudge our hearts to reach out to others, especially when we witness the sufferings in their lives, because we hold the answer to their hopelessness—Jesus. Therefore, we need to be a good befriender, and the Response Pyramid (Source: “Type A” Evangelism Training Workbook by Alfred Yau) is a tool to help us share the Gospel with different kinds of unbelievers.
Broadly speaking, unbelievers will fall into two main categories, namely Type A and B, which can be further broken down into five levels.
Type B (Level 5) represents the largest group of people whose typical mindset is “We’re all going to the same place via different roads”. They have no interest in the Christian faith and may object strongly to the sharing of the Gospel. We need to develop relationships with them and expose them to the reality of Christ in our own lives. Our personal testimony is a powerful tool in making them aware of what Christ means to us. While many deny, ignore or even reject the Gospel, this gives them cause to stop and think.
Type B (Level 4) represents the second largest group. They have an awareness of the Gospel but are not receptive; they have heard about Jesus but choose not to believe.
Type B+ (Level 3) don’t object to being friends with Christians and may attend church or Christian gatherings occasionally. We should engage in friendship evangelism. Sharing your life experience after conversion allows them to see how God has met your needs in the same situations they are facing and may lead to an opening to pray for their situations.
Level 2 (Type A) is open to the Gospel. They may already have some understanding of Christianity and are willing to attend church. It is appropriate to do Bible Study, explain the message of salvation to them or even lead them through the Sinner’s Prayer if they are ready.
Level 1 (Type A) is very close to making a decision for Christ—they may just be waiting to be asked. The best way is to pray for them.
We should all take time to write out our personal testimony. Simply sharing how our life used to be and how it has changed since accepting the Lord as our Saviour is a great door-opener to share the love of Jesus with others because nobody can reject or challenge the story pertaining to our life’s journey.
You and I are the church of the living God. Therefore we should be proactive in reaching out to the lost. The pandemic and the challenges that it brought have humbled the hearts of people and made them more open to the Gospel. Therefore, we should make the most of this opportunity, and arise and build His church.
Sermon Series: Arise and Build (Part 2)
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哥林多后书5:20 现在我们作基督的使者，好像神藉我们劝你们。我们为基督求你们与神和好。
父神的心意是要所有失丧的人归向他，每一个信徒都被托付了福音。上帝会推动我们的心去帮助别人，特别是当我们目睹他们生活中的痛苦时，因为我们拥有解决他们绝望的答案——耶稣。因此，我们需要成为一个好的扶助者，而“响应金字塔”(来源:丘德威的“A型”福音训练手册)是一个帮助我们与不同类型的非信徒分享福音的工具。
广义上讲，不信者主要分为两大类，即A类和B类，再细分为五个等级。
B类(5级)代表了最大的一群人，他们的典型心态是“我们所有人终将殊途同归”。他们对基督教信仰不感兴趣，可能会强烈反对别人与之分享福音。我们需要与他们建立关系，以我们自己生命中的基督让他们看到这个事实，我们个人的见证是一个大能的工具，让他们知道基督对于我们的意义。虽然许多人否认、忽视甚至拒绝福音，但这让他们有理由停下来思考。
B类(4级)是第二大群体。他们知道福音，但不接受;他们听说过耶稣，但选择不信。
B类+(3级)不反对与基督徒交朋友，偶尔会参加教会或基督教聚会。我们应该参与友谊传福音。分享你信主后的生活经历，可以让他们看到当你面对与他们同样的状况时，神是如何 满足你的需要的，这样一来他们就可能愿意让你为他们的处境祷告。
级别2(A类)是对福音持开放态度。他们可能已经对基督教有了一些了解，并且愿意去教会。 他们适合参加查经班，向他们解释救恩的信息，甚至如果他们准备好了，可以带领他们作认罪决志祷告。
级别1(A类)非常接近决志信主的状态——他们可能只是在等着被问到。最好的办法就是为他们祈祷。
我们都应该花时间写下我们的个人见证。简单地分享我们以往的生命是怎样的，以及自从接受主成为我们的救主后，我们的生命是如何改变的，这是一个极佳的敲门砖，可以与他人分享耶稣的爱，因为没有人可以拒绝或挑战有关我们生命旅程的故事。
你我是永生神的教会。因此，我们应该积极主动地向失丧的人伸出援手。疫情及其带来的挑战使人心变得谦卑，使他们对于福音更加敞开。因此，我们应该充分利用这个机会，起来建造他的教会。
讲章系列: 兴起与建造 (第二部分)
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