Scott Dawson encourages Shelby ministers to be ‘Wellsprings of Water’
Birmingham evangelist Scott Dawson recently told a group of ministers that his work isn’t really a “calling,” but an “adventure.”
“What a privilege to serve the Lord as ministers of the gospel,” he told leaders from Shelby Baptist Association, April 7 at Community Baptist Church Alabaster. “What could we do that would be a better way to see changed lives?”
Dawson noted that though ministry is a privilege, the challenge in today’s culture is great.
“American culture has changed so radically, it’s not that we’re living in a ‘post-Christian’ era, but a ‘pre-Christian’ era, something like the apostles faced in the New Testament.
‘Never easy,’ but ‘can be simple’
“Growth in Kingdom work is never easy, but it can be simple. I suggest we must provide four things in our churches,” Dawson asserted.
The first is what he calls “biblical relational preaching.”
“We can’t just preach the facts from the text, but we must relate it to modern life,” he noted. “We must convince our hearers that the Bible touches them where they live.”
‘Vertical worship’
Another requirement is “vertical worship,” Dawson said, explaining that the “average person in the pew is struggling, and he or she needs to be brought into God’s presence in genuine and encouraging worship.”
“Our churches also need great age-group ministries,” he added. “Be sure you have good groups for children and youth. This is especially significant as we try to reach younger families.”
Dawson said that though he doesn’t discount the value of international mission work, he does see value in “Jerusalem and Judea” ministries in the church’s neighborhood.
“We must shine our light at home first,” he explained. “This impacts the influence we have on our local communities when they see the caring service of Christians.”
The primary way to influence communities is to share the gospel, Dawson asserted.
Overcoming ‘fear of rejection’
“We asked over 6,000 students in a survey why they didn’t share their faith,” Dawson noted. “The number one response was ‘fear of rejection.’ I often point out that Peter promised a blessing to those who suffered abuse for Christ (1 Pet. 4:14), but it’s also true that some will respond positively to the invitation to faith.”
Students also said they like their friends too much to offend them, and they “don’t know enough to share [their] faith.”
Having a Christian testimony is enough to be a witness since believers are telling what they know and what they’ve seen, Dawson said.
“I’m familiar with some programs that suggest six or seven steps to a personal testimony, but I always suggest only three: My life before Christ, how I received Christ and what He’s doing in my life now. This simple outline is enough to engage others in a gospel conversation.”
Dawson said the familiar “Roman Road” consisting of five or six verses in Paul’s letter to the Romans is another simple plan he advises Christians to know and use.
Part of the work of ministry is not only exhorting church members to share the gospel, but ministers sharing themselves.
“I know many ministers are introverts,” Dawson acknowledged. “But one study I read suggested even the most introverted person can influence more than 15,000 people in a lifetime. We have more influence than we often imagine.”
Becoming an influencer
Dawson told the audience that the acronym FIRM is a good way to grow beyond being an introvert to becoming an influencer:
- be Friendly.
- show Interest in others.
- learn their Religious background.
- share the Message of Christ.
“We’re called to be wellsprings of water, so we cannot just soak up the blessings of the gospel for ourselves,” Dawson said. “We have a wonderful opportunity to let others know the blessings God can give them as well.”
For more information about his evangelistic association, contact Dawson at scottdawson.org.
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