• Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me
No Result
View All Result
Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me
No Result
View All Result
Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry
No Result
View All Result

The Modern, Postmodern University, part 3: Reaching Postmoderns

August 11, 2022

For explanations of the four student profiles we are discussing, see the past two weeks’ posts.

This week: What does it take to reach the truly postmodern student?

Three steps:

1. Connect. You MUST establish trust. I’m talking personal, heart-felt, self-disclosing trust; traveler-to-traveler bonding, shared human experience.

But take it slow. Don’t look like you’re in a hurry.

Think we-ness.

Not us and them, or us versus them (traditional evangelical categories).

Rather, “we” are in a life boat together. We are trying to survive. We are trying to make a life, figure things out, have a few laughs along the way.

2. Go into their world and affirm whatever you can.

If you’re 45 and older, learn to chill and hang out (If you’re 35 and under you already know how to do this).

Tell your story and listen to theirs. Incarnate yourself just as Jesus did.

Then invite them into your world, and at some point into your ministry context.

But remember, most evangelical ministry settings will be a cross-cultural experience for postmoderns. So you’ll have to explain things to them as well as offer some excellent (but casual) hospitality, or they won’t be back.

3. Optional third step: Question. Bring up the fact that if if everyone merely has their own perspective on things, and there’s no ultimate truth, then I can do whatever I wish to other people, with impunity. After all, my actions, good or bad, merely flow from my perspective.

Like I said, that last step is optional. Some postmoderns don’t care about such things.

I walked through step three with my friend G, awhile back. He was quite startled when he realized the implications of his deep relativism. So in some cases the conversation is worthwhile.

Next week: reaching the modern student.

Suggested resource: I Once Was Lost (five thresholds of postmodern conversion), by Everts and Schaupp. Best book on evangelism I’ve read in a long time.

Share120Tweet75
Rick Mattson

Rick Mattson

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Me

Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry

Rick Mattson

Evangelist & Writer

Hello & welcome to my blog! My name is Rick Mattson and I'm a traveling evangelist/apologist.

SUBSCRIBE! You'll be notified by email whenever a new post comes out
Loading

Categories

  • Apologetics (152)
  • Atheism (47)
  • Bible (32)
  • Church (67)
  • Devotion (102)
  • Evangelism (52)
  • Hiddenness of God (9)
  • Leadership (65)
  • Philosophy (7)
  • Religious Pluralism (14)
  • Science and Faith (3)
  • Theology (1)

Popular

  • Apologetics for Kids

    Apologetics for Kids

    328 shares
    Share 131 Tweet 82
  • Tradition as a Guardrail

    326 shares
    Share 130 Tweet 82
  • Muslim Dialogue

    311 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78
  • Objective Truth is Back

    306 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 77
  • What I’m Working On: Part 1 of 3: Inside-to-Out

    306 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 77
Facebook Twitter

© 2022 Site by 5BCreative

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me