Evangelism
Evangelism is the preaching of the Gospel to draw new disciples to the Father and Christ.
Some have the idea that all you have to do to save the lost is build a
building or put out a sign and the lost will flock in to be saved. But that is
not how it happens.
Christians are called to share their faith in hope with others, becoming
disciples, and in turn bringing in others to a relationship with the Lord. We
are all called to serve in sharing our faith to the world as ambassadors, and as
lights to a dark world, in all we say and do. Each of us can expect to be
rewarded according to our works here, now in this life.
Read the parable of the talents in Luke 19:11-26.
We need a sense of urgency in our lives, for we now live in the last days.
Look into what the Bible really says about evangelism.
Psalms 51:13 "I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you."
Ezekiel 3:18-19 & 33:8-9 "When I say to the wicked, you will surely die and you do not warn him, or speak to warn the wicked to change his way to save his life; the wicked will die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, and you will have delivered your soul."
Matthew 5:17-19 "[Jesus said] Whoever will break the least of the commandments and teach men to do so, he will be the least in the kingdom of heaven. But who ever will do and teach them, that same person will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 9:37-38 "Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Mark 16:15-16 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized will be saved, but he that does not believe will be damned."
John 15:2-5 "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
John 15:6 "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
Romans 10:14-15 "How then will they call on him that they have not believed? And how will they believe in him whom they have not heard of? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
1 Corinthians 9:7-18 "Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel."
1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore beloved brethren be steadfast, unmovable, always alive in the work of the Lord, for your labor is not in vain."
Colossians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
2 Timothy 4:2-5 "Preach the word, be urgent in good season, in bad season; chasten, reprimand, urge with longsuffering and doctrine ... be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, doing the work of an Evangelist, making full evidence of your ministry."
James 5:19-20 "Brethren if any of you err from the truth, and someone converts him, let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the err of his way will save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins."
Read the parable in Luke 12:42 regarding who is a wise and faithful
steward.
We are also instructed in l Peter 3:15 and 4:11 to always be ready to
give answer, and let it be from the oracles (word) of God.
Different Approaches to Evangelism:
- Personal Evangelism: I/we get out and speak to others.
- Second Person Evangelism: I/we pay someone else to get out and speak to others.
- Third Person Evangelism: I/we pay for some form of printed or electronic media to be distributed, Booklets and magazines, Radio, television and Internet, Sermon tapes.
- For those that are shy or have difficulty speaking fluidly, the best and easiest to pursue using one of the following methods;
- Leave tracts on shelves in stores
- Place tracts in dressing rooms
- When paying bills enclose a tract with your payment
- Traveling by plane place inside Magazines on the plane or terminals waiting areas
- Driving leave them at Rest Areas
- At Motels on the Dressers for the Maid or in the Gideons Bible
- At Hospitals leave tracts on the waiting room tables and place tracts inside any magazines
- Having a garage sale? Set up a "free" tract table
We all can Evangelize in some way, be it in personal contacts, mailing out
pamphlets, via the internet, or other ways. What way would you feel most
comfortable with? Do it!
Remember that the church (the body of believers) has many tasks, but only one
mission.
Does your organization serves the mission of evangelism or does the church exist
to serve the organization?
Most true Christians are producing little or no fruit, yet those who preach a
false Christ are working over time and getting results, are you?
We came into the world without anything, and we will leave the world without
anything, yet we can build up treasures in heaven that can never be taken away.