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Chapter 15
Practical Communication Ideas

Discussion Guide for Communication

• McCallum says, "The communication dilemma here isn't hopeless, it's just more demanding than anything western Christians have needed to deal with in our lifetimes." In the circle of people where you get a chance to share, do you feel communicating the gospel is becoming

 More difficult

 About the same as ever

 Easier

• Why do you think this is so? Compare your answers with the others in your group.
• McCallum claims, "Missions experts are well aware of the need for careful research, patient development of relationships within the community, and fluency in local language, including the ability to deliver the gospel in the local vernacular. This means, if we are to be successful at witnessing to postmodern people, including our own kids and their friends, we will have to learn the postmodern outlook." If this claim is true, how would you rate your fluency in postmodern language and thought?

 Not too good--people who think this way seem weird to me

 Barely adequate--I feel stretched, and have some trouble recognizing some of the terms and ideas people refer to these days

 Comfortable--I feel like I understand today's perspective as well or better than my non Christian friends do.

• He also claims we have some good causes for optimism. Are people in your group optimistic about Christian witness today? Compare your rating with others, and discuss what you may need to do to upgrade the morale of the group.

 Not really. People are depressed about how hard it is to reach others in our social circles and we rarely actually share the gospel.

 Only a little. We are hopeful, but I'm not sure how many of us are experiencing any concrete success.

 Pretty much. We may not be experiencing the kind of success we have in earlier times, but we are being heard.

 Very much. We are excited about the openness we are experiencing and the many hungry hearts we see responding to Christ.

• McCallum suggests one model for engaging people in serious conversation about their presuppositions. Do you think his approach sounds promising? Why or why not?
• Do you agree with McCallum that more time is needed today in pre-evangelism? Why would people need more time today than in earlier decades?
• McCallum says, "We believe that in a postmodern culture, friendship evangelism and the subjective evidence of a caring Christian community are going to be more important than ever." Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? What could your group do to enhance these features?
• He also says, "Even though the subjective witness of Christian love is important, it should supplement the truth of the Gospel, not replace it." Who do you think this comment is, or could be, aimed at? Is it appropriate?
• "Our children haven't been protected from postmodern ideology merely because they have never been exposed to it," says McCallum. "They are only safe when they are familiar with postmodern arguments and are prepared to answer them confidently." Do you agree with this line of thought? He thinks small children are exceptions to the need to expose kids to radical postmodern culture. At what age range do you think this transition (between protection and hands-off adulthood) should occur? How could your group do more to facilitate this transition?

Facilitator's Guide for Communication

• McCallum says, "The communication dilemma here isn't hopeless, it's just more demanding than anything western Christians have needed to deal with in our lifetimes." In the circle of people where you get a chance to share, do you feel communicating the gospel is becoming

 More difficult

 About the same as ever

 Easier

• Why do you think this is so? Compare your answers with the others in your group.

- Ask if people are finding it difficult to actually engage others in conversation about what is true because they simply acknowledge everything is true.

• McCallum claims, "Missions experts are well aware of the need for careful research, patient development of relationships within the community, and fluency in local language, including the ability to deliver the gospel in the local vernacular. This means, if we are to be successful at witnessing to postmodern people, including our own kids and their friends, we will have to learn the postmodern outlook." If this claim is true, how would you rate your fluency in postmodern language and thought?

 Not too good--people who think this way seem weird to me

 Barely adequate--I feel stretched, and have some trouble recognizing some of the terms and ideas people refer to these days

 Comfortable--I feel like I understand today's perspective as well or better than my non Christian friends do.

- Compare answers in the group.

• He also claims we have some good causes for optimism. Are people in your group optimistic about Christian witness today? Compare your rating with others, and discuss what you may need to do to upgrade the morale of the group.

 Not really. People are depressed about how hard it is to reach others in our social circles and we rarely actually share the gospel.

 Only a little. We are hopeful, but I'm not sure how many of us are experiencing any concrete success.

 Pretty much. We may not be experiencing the kind of success we have in earlier times, but we are being heard.

 Very much. We are excited about the openness we are experiencing and the many hungry hearts we see responding to Christ.

• McCallum suggests one model for engaging people in serious conversation about their presuppositions. Do you think his approach sounds promising? Why or why not?

- Ask other group members, "What did you answer to this one?"

• Do you agree with McCallum that more time is needed today in pre-evangelism? Why would people need more time today than in earlier decades?

- Accepting the gospel has been compared to moving along a continuum, rather than simply flipping a switch. The longer the continuum, or distance between where people start in their thinking and where they end, the longer it takes to travel that continuum.

• McCallum says, "We believe that in a postmodern culture, friendship evangelism and the subjective evidence of a caring Christian community are going to be more important than ever." Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? What could your group do to enhance these features?

- Maybe plan some social events which include non Christian friends?

• He also says, "Even though the subjective witness of Christian love is important, it should supplement the truth of the Gospel, not replace it." Who do you think this comment is, or could be, aimed at? Is it appropriate?
• "Our children haven't been protected from postmodern ideology merely because they have never been exposed to it," says McCallum. "They are only safe when they are familiar with postmodern arguments and slogans and are prepared to answer them confidently." Do you agree with this line of thought?
• He thinks small children are exceptions to the need to expose kids to radical postmodern culture. At what age range do you think this transition (between protection and hands-off adulthood) should occur? How could your group do more to facilitate this transition?

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