Plenary Session 4 – The 12th Malaysia Cell Conference

In the fourth session, Dr John Hull spoke about Evangelism Irresistible Influence, which he described as Sensory Evangelism. He said God’s Word calls Christians to be witnesses who proclaim the love of God, in Christ, using all our senses. This the first time I heard evangelism described in this way. It is refreshing and challenging. Followers of Jesus who have “irresistible influence” understanding and use “sensory evangelism”. I think this how Christians should approach non-Christians.

He showed us how to think of the five senses as the ways that allow Christians to become a people of influence in our culture:

1. The sense of hearing. In Romans 10:17 we read “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Every Christians can proclaim the word of Christ so that people can come to Christ by hearing the Word.
2. The sense of taste. Matthew 5:13 says “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. Just as salt adds flavour to the foods we eat, he urged Christians to be the “purifier” and well as the agent of adding “flavour” or values to the lives of the people around us. In this way, we would reflect our love of Christ to others.
3. The sense of sight. Matthew 5:14 says “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. We are called to the light to the world. Is there a place where we can push back darkness? Are we active in any organizations that are fighting against child abuse, drug addiction etc that are keeping the people in darkness.
4. The sense of touch. Here Dr John Hull referred to Matthew 25:31-46 to illustrate his points. We need to get involved in the lives of people who we want to evangelize. Simple gestures of help and care will open ways for us to share the gospels. He mentioned buying dough nuts for colleagues in the meeting.
   
5. The sense of smell. Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 says “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? or we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.(ESV)”. This is a very powerful thought in this modern troubling world. What do we leave behind in our relationships with others?.

He concluded his talk with five questions and asked each person to review of his life as witness of Christ:

• How will I sound today?
• How will I add flavour today?
• How will I look today?
• How can I touch today?
• How can I leave the aroma of Christ today?