I have read Chapters 1-3.5. Don't take this to be negative because it is a great book but it
seems to me that RR hasn't asked the question to start this which I think is "why were we created"?

We were created to have a personal relationship with the Trinity. To go along with this we were created to have relationships with each other. Then the questions becomes why haven't we developed these relationships before and how do we do this now?

To me this is sort of where RR starts to explain this in chapters 1-3.5. We have the old model of evangelism which was not fully developed that I personally don't understand which has failed anyway. We have the new model which RR is developing which I believe to be correct. When you look at Blackaby's "Experiencing God" and Rick Warren's books, they seem to say most of these things. What RR is saying is that we have to become relational people to win folks to Christ. That's what Christ and all the apostles did. They went out and made friends and developed relationships.

RR is dead on when he starts with Lord of the Rings and the interaction between persons. Then he goes into where the people are. What he really points out is how bad the previous model was and how bad the church fails as a seemingly majority of the people believe in God they have just been turned off by the church in general. He was dead on with that one. Why were people so turned off by the church? His answers really make sense.

RR was quick to point out the different movies and how they have attracted people. Why?

If we really want to get to know people and properly do evangelism we have to understand where people really are. The movies that people go to is a clue. The bigger the success of a movie the bigger the clue.

To me the church has become very out of touch with the world and the people in it. We don't have to be of the world we just have to understand it and temporarily exist in it.

To me the church became too much like the picture American Gothic with the old man and woman. Who would want to be like that. I know I wouldn't.

Christ loved people and went out among them and was an authentic person who truely loved them. We should do likewise and I believe RR says this quite clearly.

RR is quite clear on what needs to be done and hopefully we will all get the message.

A simple thing like opening the church up to "Friday night at the movies" just for fun and to develop friendships that develop into relationships is a great place to start. Bring your own pop and a few cents to buy popcorn. With our poor ecconomy it could be a great hit. We develop the community and this seems to go along with what RR says on p. 27. "Belonging comes before believing. Evangelism is about helping people belong so that they can come to believe. So our communities need to be places where people can connect before they have to commit." With this we can attract persons from the neighborhood and other friends to come and join us. Would this not be part of what RR is describing? Relationships lead to discussions which are natural where we can share the Gospel and win people to relationships with Christ. How serious are we about this? Are willing to take the time and energy to do something simple like this?

Are we willing to do whatever is nessassary?

Isn't that where we started this?