1 2 Class Organization Choose a small group. Choose a small group. Decide who will be the leader. Decide who will be the leader. Choose a name for your

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The Principle of ReceptivityThe Principle of ReceptivityThe Principle of ReceptivityThe Principle of Receptivity

When it is apparent that When it is apparent that people are receptive to the people are receptive to the gospel, concentrate your gospel, concentrate your

human and material human and material resources on that resources on that receptive groupreceptive group


human and material human and material resources on that receptive resources on that receptive

groupgroup

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Receptivity Receptivity in the Biblein the Bible

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Matt. 13:18-23Matt. 13:18-23Matt. 13:18-23Matt. 13:18-2318 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (NIV)

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Mark 4: 28,29Mark 4: 28,29Mark 4: 28,29Mark 4: 28,2928 28 All by itself the soil All by itself the soil produces grain - first the produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. full kernel in the head. 29 29 As soon as the grain is As soon as the grain is riperipe, he puts the sickle to it, , he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has because the harvest has come." come." (NIV)(NIV)

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11 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 14 If anyone will not welcome you or If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that off your feet when you leave that home or townhome or town..”(NIV).

Matt. 10:11-14Matt. 10:11-14Matt. 10:11-14Matt. 10:11-14

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Acts 16:6-10Acts 16:6-106 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and GalatiaPhrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asiafrom preaching the word in the province of Asia.. 7 When they came to the border of MysiaWhen they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter they tried to enter Bithynia, Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them toto. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to TroasSo they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to themus to preach the gospel to them.. (NIV)

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Ellen White on ReceptivityEllen White on ReceptivityEllen White on ReceptivityEllen White on Receptivity

Gospel Gospel WorkersWorkers

pp. 136-pp. 136-139139

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Ellen White on Ellen White on ReceptivityReceptivityEllen White on Ellen White on ReceptivityReceptivity

The vision of the berry

field

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““I began to gather I began to gather the fruit near by, the fruit near by, but very carefully, but very carefully, for fear of picking for fear of picking the green berries, ...the green berries, ...

““I began to gather I began to gather the fruit near by, the fruit near by, but very carefully, but very carefully, for fear of picking for fear of picking the green berries, ...the green berries, ...

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“… “… which were so which were so mingled with the mingled with the ripe fruit that I ripe fruit that I could pick only could pick only one or two berries one or two berries from a cluster.”from a cluster.”

“… “… which were so which were so mingled with the mingled with the ripe fruit that I ripe fruit that I could pick only could pick only one or two berries one or two berries from a cluster.”from a cluster.”

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““By looking By looking carefully among carefully among the green berries, the green berries, you will find very you will find very choice fruit.”choice fruit.”

““By looking By looking carefully among carefully among the green berries, the green berries, you will find very you will find very choice fruit.”choice fruit.”

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““In a little while In a little while other berries will other berries will ripen, and we ripen, and we can go over the can go over the bushes again.”bushes again.”

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1.1. Gather the fruit Gather the fruit (receptive (receptive

people)people) near by, near by, but very but very carefully.carefully.

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2. Among the green 2. Among the green berries berries (non-(non-

receptive people)receptive people) you will find very you will find very

choice fruit.choice fruit.

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3.3. Go over the field Go over the field again and again. again and again.

((There will always There will always be be new receptive new receptive

people)people)

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4. “The Lord has placed 4. “The Lord has placed these fruit-bearing these fruit-bearing bushes bushes right in the right in the midst of these thickly midst of these thickly settled placessettled places, and , and He expects you to find He expects you to find them.”them.”

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5. First find the 5. First find the people close by, people close by,

then further away, then further away, then come back then come back

again.again.

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The Principle of ReceptivityThe Principle of ReceptivityThe Principle of ReceptivityThe Principle of Receptivity


human and material human and material resources on that resources on that receptive groupreceptive group

When it is apparent that When it is apparent that people are receptive to people are receptive to the gospel, concentrate the gospel, concentrate

your human and your human and material resources on material resources on that receptive groupthat receptive group

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How Paul Evangelized

How Paul Evangelized

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Satan andSatan andReceptivitReceptivit

yy

Satan andSatan andReceptivitReceptivit

yy

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•2 Cor. 4:4 - He blinds people’s 2 Cor. 4:4 - He blinds people’s minds.minds.

•2 Tim. 3:1-8 - He blinds 2 Tim. 3:1-8 - He blinds people’s minds with 20 sins.people’s minds with 20 sins.

•Eph. 4:17-19 - He causes Eph. 4:17-19 - He causes people to lose religious people to lose religious sensitivity.sensitivity.

•Rev. 14:8, 17:8 - He causes Rev. 14:8, 17:8 - He causes people to believe false people to believe false ideas.

How Satan WorksHow Satan WorksHow Satan WorksHow Satan Works

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““He rules over a He rules over a vast, well vast, well organized organized empire.”empire.”


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Mark 5:9, 10Mark 5:9, 10


Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?“ "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

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Satan has a military Satan has a military organizationorganization

““Satan’s hosts are Satan’s hosts are marshaled in companies.”marshaled in companies.”


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He has well- He has well- organized plans.organized plans.


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His army His army is on the is on the move!move!


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He uses the He uses the

“powers”“powers” of of this worldthis world


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““The people of God in The people of God in these last days must these last days must expect to enter into expect to enter into the thick of the the thick of the conflict.”conflict.”


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God has a military God has a military organization - organization - the the angels.angels.

How God WorksHow God WorksHow God WorksHow God Works

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““Angels work Angels work harmoniouslyharmoniously. … The . … The more closely we imitate more closely we imitate the harmony and order of the harmony and order of the angelic host, the the angelic host, the more successful will be more successful will be (their) efforts on our (their) efforts on our behalfbehalf.”.”


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““If we are If we are undisciplined and undisciplined and disorganized, angels, disorganized, angels, who are organized, who are organized, cannot help us!”cannot help us!”


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Receptivity and Receptivity and Intercessory PrayerIntercessory PrayerReceptivity and Receptivity and Intercessory PrayerIntercessory Prayer•It is through It is through intercessory intercessory

prayerprayer that receptive people that receptive people come to the attention of come to the attention of Christians. An intercessory Christians. An intercessory prayer ministry that prayer ministry that specifically focuses on specifically focuses on receptive people is will openreceptive people is will open the way to finding them.the way to finding them.

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Receptivity and Receptivity and Intercessory PrayerIntercessory PrayerReceptivity and Receptivity and Intercessory PrayerIntercessory Prayer

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Receptivity and Receptivity and Intercessory PrayerIntercessory PrayerReceptivity and Receptivity and Intercessory PrayerIntercessory Prayer““If you pray to be led to If you pray to be led to

receptive people, you will receptive people, you will coincidentally discover themcoincidentally discover them—time and time again. Stop —time and time again. Stop praying to be so led, and the praying to be so led, and the coincidences will stop coincidences will stop occurring.” occurring.” (George Hunter III, (George Hunter III, The The Contagious Congregation,Contagious Congregation, p. 118). p. 118).

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Principle of ReceptivityPrinciple of ReceptivityPrinciple of ReceptivityPrinciple of Receptivity

Talk it Talk it overover

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Finding Finding Receptive Receptive

PeoplePeople

Finding Finding Receptive Receptive

PeoplePeople

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Finding Receptive Finding Receptive PeoplePeopleFinding Receptive Finding Receptive PeoplePeople

There are four general indicators of There are four general indicators of receptivity:receptivity:

1. What other churches are doing.1. What other churches are doing.

2. Find people in changing situations.2. Find people in changing situations.

3. The “common” people.3. The “common” people.

4. People who have4. People who have a common a common denominator.denominator.

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What are other churches What are other churches doing?doing?What are other churches What are other churches doing?doing?

•In what geographical area In what geographical area are churches growing?are churches growing?

•What kind of people are What kind of people are they reaching?they reaching?

•Who is most likely to be Who is most likely to be receptive to our type of receptive to our type of church?church?

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Find people in changing Find people in changing situationssituationsFind people in changing Find people in changing situationssituations

•Cultural change.Cultural change.

•Economic change.Economic change.

•Geographical change.Geographical change.

•Political change.Political change.

•Religious change.Religious change.

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Receptive TimesReceptive TimesReceptive TimesReceptive Times

•Moving to a new community.

•A new baby.

•Death of a loved one.

•A change in marital status.

•A change in job status.

•Sickness.

•First child enters school.

•Change in financial status.

•Foreclosure on a loan or mortgage.

•Outstanding personal achievement.

•Change in social activities.

•Christmas season.

•Retirement.

•Change in residence.

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How To Find Receptive How To Find Receptive PeoplePeopleHow To Find Receptive How To Find Receptive PeoplePeople

•What you already know.What you already know.

•Demographic surveys.Demographic surveys.

•Community survey.Community survey.

•Matching ministry to Matching ministry to needs.needs.

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Resistance/Receptivity Resistance/Receptivity ScaleScaleResistance/Receptivity Resistance/Receptivity ScaleScale

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 + 2 + 3 +4 +5

Very Very resistantresistant

Very receptiveVery receptive

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-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 + 2 + 3 +4 +5 Stony ground

Rocky ground

Thorny ground

Good ground

Very Very resistantresistant

Very receptiveVery receptive

Methods very important

Resistance/Receptivity Resistance/Receptivity MethodsMethodsResistance/Receptivity Resistance/Receptivity MethodsMethods

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Demographic SurveysDemographic SurveysDemographic SurveysDemographic Surveys

•Local school system.Local school system.

•City planning commission.City planning commission.

•Local library.Local library.

•College or university.College or university.

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Community SurveysCommunity SurveysCommunity SurveysCommunity Surveys• Are you an active member of a local church?Are you an active member of a local church?• What do you think is the greatest need of What do you think is the greatest need of

this area?this area?• Why do you think many people do not attend Why do you think many people do not attend

church?church?• If you were looking for a church, what would If you were looking for a church, what would

you look for?you look for?• What advise would you give a church in this What advise would you give a church in this

area that really want to help people and area that really want to help people and serve the community?serve the community?

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•Pray to be led to receptive Pray to be led to receptive people.people.

•Caring for guests (visitors).Caring for guests (visitors).–The 72 hour principle.The 72 hour principle.

•Friendship evangelism.Friendship evangelism.

StrategiesStrategiesStrategiesStrategies

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•Prospect listProspect list

•Continual Continual contact

StrategiesStrategiesStrategiesStrategies

Documents

1 2 Class Organization Choose a small group. Choose a small group. Decide who will be the leader. Decide who will be the leader. Choose a name for your