(What To Expect
In The Lessons To Follow)
The
approach taken in this study
devoted to the
subject of evangelism varies somewhat from
what you might
normally expect to find. It is an effort
to overcome the
sort of problems
that often follow special classes
on personal work.
Such problems
as:
· People losing
their evangelistic zeal
soon after the
study is over, or soon
after any efforts
are made to try to reach others
for Christ
· People who do not have the
ability to teach
being made to feel as
though they are not as dedicated to the Lord as those who do teach
· People going
out to teach before they are really
prepared to teach,
and often doing much harm
in the process
· People who
are unable to
teach not being
shown how they
can greatly assist
those who are able to
teach
· Efforts in evangelism being
carried out without
being accompanied by a
demonstration of the truth
of the gospel in our
own lives
In
trying to overcome
these and similar
problems, this
study is based
upon the following assumptions:
· If people can be properly
motivated and maintain
a positive perspective, they will do
whatever they can in this
enterprise we call
“evangelism”, both now
and in the future
· The Lord
does not expect
everyone to be a “teacher” in the formal
sense of the word (Ja 3:1; 1 Co
12:29; Ro 12:3-8;
1 Pe 4:10:11), and we fail to appreciate the diversity of
function in the
Lord’s body (the
church) if we
expect everybody to become a
teacher
· Developing the
ability to teach
comes only with
time, study, and
training, which is far beyond
the scope of any one
course in evangelism
· Those who may not be able to teach
can still do a lot to greatly
enhance the opportunities for others to
teach, if only
shown how
· The most
effective method of
evangelism is one
where the verbalization of the gospel is
preceded by the incarnation of the
gospel (i.e., demonstrating the truth of the gospel
in our lives before we try to
preach it to
others)
All
may not agree
with some of
these assumptions. Given more
time and experience, I myself may change some of these
views. But for now, and for the purpose
of introducing this
study, these remarks may help to explain
the direction this
study takes...
Having The Right
Motivation In Evangelism
(The “Steam” That
Drives The Train)
With
the right motivation behind our efforts
in evangelism, the job will get done. Whenever
evangelism does not
occur, lack of
motivation (or in
some cases, improper
motivation) is always
at the root of the problem!
WHAT IS "MOTIVATION?"
· “Motivation is an inner
drive, an idea
captured in the
imagination.”
· “Motivation can be harnessed to an intense
drive toward a
goal.”
· “Men and
women who are
motivated push themselves forward, plow through
the inevitable setbacks, heading ever onward
to their dreams.”
· “Motivation is essential to
succeeding in any
endeavor you try.”
Motivation
is like “steam.” Properly
channeled it can move large
objects, like a steam powered
train. But without
it, the train
remains motionless. All the
careful construction in
preparation for travel
is for nothing if
there is no
steam to propel
the train.
So
it is with us. If motivated
and properly channeled, great things can be done in the area of evangelism. Unfortunately, many
people, despite all of the
spiritual education they
have received on
the subject of evangelism, still do very
little with what
they know. The reason?
Lack of proper motivation!
What
should be our
motivation in evangelism? Well,
what motivated Jesus? Certainly
He was successful in
reaching His goals. Since He is to be our example
(1 Pe 2:21), whatever
motivated Him should
be the motivating force driving
His disciples.
At least
five things moved
our Lord in
reaching out to the lost. The first was . . .
COMPASSION FOR LOST SOULS
Jesus
was moved with
compassion when He saw the mass of lost souls (Mt
9:35-36; 14:14; 15:32). Such compassion motivated Him to do two
things.
· First, to ask His
disciples to pray
that God might
“send out laborers
into His harvest” (Mt 9:37-38).
· Then, to do
something about it
Himself (that is, to select
and send out His apostles
(Mt 10:1,5-7).
Do
we ever find
ourselves filled with
compassion for the
lost? And doing something about it? If we
can only have this
same compassion for
lost souls, we
will not rest
till we are
doing something to
save their souls!
How
can we develop or strengthen this compassion for
lost souls? The
best way is let God teach
us to love, as He did with the
Thessalonians (1 Th
4:9). This He does through
the example of
Christ (1
Jn
3:16-17). Therefore, that
the more we
meditate upon God's
love for us as manifested in His Son’s sacrifice, the more we will come to love
others!
It
also helps to be around people. To love people, you have to get to know them. When we do, we can begin to
appreciate the saying
attributed to Will
Rogers, “I never
met a man I did not like.” So beware of
becoming “wrapped up in your
own little world.”
Remember that
Jesus was one to become involved with
“the multitudes.”
Have
we allowed the
love of God to fill
our hearts with
compassion for the
multitude of lost
and dying souls? Are we making
an effort to be around
people and getting
to know them?
Jesus also
had...
A SENSE OF PURPOSE
This
motivating force is
seen in our
Lord’s conversation with
the Samaritan woman
at the well. While speaking with her, his
disciples marveled at
what His motive
might be (Jn 4:27).
Jesus
explained: “To do the will of Him who sent Me...to
accomplish His work” (Jn
4:34).
He
stated this same
purpose in life on many
other occasions (Jn 5:30,36;
6:38; 17:4; 19:28-30). And what was the will of His
Father? To save a dying world (Jn
3:16). To “seek
and save the
lost” (Lk
19:10).
Do
we have this same “sense
of purpose” in our lives? To put first
the Father's will? Jesus
taught that we should
(Mt 6:10,33). But people
often have different
purposes for
living. The
“workaholics” make their
jobs their purpose
in life. Many make
their families, friends
or hobbies the
reason for living.
But
the right
purpose comes
from studying God's
Word. As we understand God’s will for
us, we learn
that our purpose
for being His
special people centers
around proclaiming the
praises of Him who
called us (1
Pe 2:9-10). One way we do this, of
course, is through
evangelism.
Have
we let the Word of God develop
within us the
"right sense of
purpose"? If not, our
motivation will be
inadequate!
Another force
that moved our Lord was...
THE LOVE OF THE FATHER
Jesus
had experienced “the
love of the
Father,” which prompted
Him to love others (Jn 15:9). But it went beyond
that. This “love” was such that He wanted
to share it with others
(Jn 17:26), even if it was necessary for Him to go the
cross to make
it possible!
Have
we experienced “the
love of the
Father” in our
lives? If so, how
can we not be moved (motivated) to want to share it with others?
Is it not worth
sharing? Of course it is! But if we must confess that
our sense of the Father's
love is not as strong
as we would like, how
can we develop a greater
sense of God's
love for us?
The way to experience the Father's love
is to keep the
commandments of Jesus
(Jn
14:21,23). A
most important
commandment in this
regard is the one to love one another as
Christ loved us (Jn
15:12).
This is because loving
one another is
crucial to experiencing the love of the Father
in our lives. As John
wrote: “If we love
one another, God
abides in us,
and His love
has been perfected in us” (1 Jn
4:12).
Another
way to increase our experience of the Father’s
love is to make
our love for
Jesus stronger. This is
because the Father’s
love for us is directly
related to our
love for Jesus
(Jn 16:27). How can one increase
their love for
Jesus? The best way is to spend time
learning more about
Him from the Word of
God.
Have
we experienced the
Father’s love by
loving Jesus and
keeping His commandments (esp. loving one another)?
If not, we will not have
much worth sharing,
nor be motivated to share
it!
We can
also add to our list
of the things that motivated Jesus...
THE TERROR OF THE LORD
Jesus was very much
aware of God's
“righteous indignation.” He taught
that we should “fear” God (Mt
10:28).
He warned of the
judgment to come
(Mk 9:43-48). Knowing the
“terror of the
Lord”, Jesus was
willing to go to the
cross that man
might be saved.
He even prayed for
those crucifying Him (Lk
23:34).
Are
we willing to make the
effort to save
others, like Jesus? We may not have to die for them...but are we even
willing to speak
to them? Or could
it be that we don't
take the “terror
of the Lord” as serious as Jesus’
early disciples did (cf. 2 Co 5:11)?
How
can we develop a healthy
appreciation for “the
terror of the
Lord?” By
frequent meditating
upon the Word
of God, especially those
portions which describe
God’s judgments in the past
(cf. 2 Pe 2:
4-9),
and that provide
warnings of the
Judgment Day to come (2 Th 1:7-10;
Re 20:12-15; 21:8).
Have
we, like many,
become complacent to the fact
that there will be a day of
judgment and condemnation? Could it be we have not let the Word of God have its true
affect on our
lives? A lack of concern
and involvement in
trying to reach
the lost for
Christ would certainly imply this to be the case!
Finally, we see that
the Lord was
moved by...
THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM
As
expressed by the
writer of Hebrews
(He 12:2), Jesus
was motivated by the joyful
prospect of being with His
Father, at His
Right Hand. Notice that
this enabled Him to “endure
the cross” and
“despise the shame.”
Does
not the prospect
of spending eternity
with God move
us to do what we can to
save souls? It must,
if we also are to be willing
to “endure the
cross” or “despise
the shame” that
might be involved
in evangelism!
To
increase our level
of appreciating what
lies ahead for
the faithful, contemplation upon
what God has
prepared for us as
described in the
Word of God is recommended Especially helpful are
those scenes pictured
in Re 7:13-17; 21:1-7.
It also helps
to think of what
God will do for those
we reach. Paul did, as he describes
in 1 Th 2:
19-20; and it no doubt
gave him great
joy that helped
him to press on teaching
others.
CONCLUSION
The
ability to press on...this
is the value of proper motivation. Remember our
earlier definition of motivation?
"Men
and women who are motivated push themselves forward, plow through the
inevitable setbacks, heading
ever onward to their dreams."
Such was case
with our Lord...He fulfilled His
goals, being motivated by:
· Compassion for lost souls
· A strong
sense of purpose
· The
love of the
Father
· The
terror of the
Lord
· The joy set
before Him
Since
Jesus is the author
and finisher of our
faith (He 12:2), we should
be “looking unto
Jesus” for the motivation we
need to do His will.
We should “consider Him”
(He 12:3), lest we become
weary and discouraged in doing God's
will.
The
early church looked
to Jesus, and
found the motivation necessary to grow
as they did. We can do the
same today!
It
should be apparent
by now that the key to developing and strengthening the
proper motivation is to let the Word
of God have its intended
effect upon us. But if Christians are not daily
reading, studying, and
meditating upon the
Word of God, then how can we ever
hope to stay motivated like
Jesus, Paul and
the early church
were?
If
we do read,
study, and meditate
upon the Word
of God, then
we will be
like Jeremiah...who at
first might have made
excuses (Jer
1:6), but as he fed upon the Word
found great joy (Jer
15:16). So much so, that
when ridiculed for
speaking, he first
tried to refrain,
but found that he just
couldn't keep it in (Jer 20:7-9)!
May we also allow
God’s Word and the example
of Jesus to
motivate us in
evangelizing the lost!
Perspectives For Success In Evangelism
(Maintaining A Positive
Attitude)
It
is important to
maintain certain perspectives while engaging in the enterprise we call “evangelism.” Many people start out
with great enthusiasm, but often get
discouraged and in
some cases become apathetic. This happens
even to those who are
highly skilled in
teaching others.
The
problem is one that Zig
Ziegler might call
“stinkin’ thinkin’.” Armed with the wrong
perspectives (or way of looking
at things), many
personal workers eventually lose heart. Before long,
evangelistic efforts dwindle
and in some cases stop
altogether.
What
follows are some
perspectives that have
helped me to
keep a positive attitude about
doing personal work.
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IS AT WORK!
In
nearly every example
of conversion found
in the Book of Acts,
God worked in
some way to
create the opportunity for
the person to
hear the gospel.
For example, Philip was
sent toward Gaza
where he would
meet the Ethiopian
Eunuch (Acts 8). The Lord saw to it that Saul and Ananias
would get together
(Acts 9); likewise, that the household of Cornelius would
have a chance to hear
the gospel from
Peter (Acts 10). The
evangelization of Europe
that started with the conversion of Lydia and the
Philippian Jailor occurred
after the “Macedonian Call” led Paul and his
companions in that
direction (Acts 16).
Granted, these
circumstances are in
keeping with the
miraculous events in
establishing the Lord’s
church,
but I believe they illustrate a principle that
is just as
valid for us
today. That
principle is this:
The Lord, who knows
the hearts of all men
and seeks those
who are seeking
Him (cf. 2
Chr 16:9),
will make sure
that those who
“hunger and thirst
for righteousness” will
somehow be “filled”
(Mt 5:6).
This
is where the providence of God comes in. When
the Lord knows
there are people
who would be
receptive to the
gospel (e.g., those in Corinth,
Ac 18:9-11), He will “open
doors” to give
those who are
seeking the truth
the opportunity to be reached
by those who are prepared
to do the teaching. It may not happen
immediately, but I am persuaded
that if there is someone
who is “asking, seeking, and knocking” for
the truth, the
Lord will see to it
that at some
point in that
person’s life they
will have an opportunity to
hear the gospel.
It
is encouraging to know that we are not alone in our
efforts to lead the lost to Christ.
God will see that every soul
who has an
honest, good, and
seeking heart will
one day come
across someone who
is prepared to explain
the Gospel to him or
her. Indeed, when we
engage in evangelism, we are “God's fellow workers”
(1 Co 3:5-9).
Of
course, how useful
we can be to the Lord leads us to the second
perspective for success
in evangelism...
GOD “OPENS DOORS” FOR PREPARED WORKERS!
The
Scriptures often speak
of the Lord “opening doors”
for His servants
who are ready
to serve Him. Paul wrote about an
“open door” of
opportunity that prompted
him to remain longer at
Ephesus (1 Co
16:9).
He even wrote of one occasion
where there was an “open
door,” but circumstances were such that he did
not take advantage of it (2
Co 2:12-13).
From
the Lord’s remarks
to the church in Philadelphia, we learn that
the Lord opens
doors for those people He can use (Re 3:8). The
implication regarding evangelism is this: If
we desire to be used by the Lord in His providence to reach those who are
seeking the truth, then we must prepare ourselves to be useful (cf. 2 Ti
2:19-21)!
The
principle of preparation applies to both
individuals and congregations. Individuals must
prepare themselves to be able to teach,
or to lead souls to those ready to teach. But
congregations must also be
ready to assimilate new
converts into the
family of God
where they can be nurtured
and protected
during a vital stage of their
newfound life.
Many
congregations may not
find “open doors”
to reach others
because they have
not prepared themselves to be a
place where “babes
in Christ” will
be cared for
properly. Do we really
believe that the Lord through
His providence would
“open doors” for a congregation filled with “carnal
Christians” who would
only devour the
new Christian? The Lord
might often have
to wait a long time
before providentially working
to see that a truth
seeker has an
opportunity to hear
the gospel. Of course,
we would anticipate in
such cases that
the Lord would
use His providence to spare the
truth seeker's life until there
are people ready to teach
and receive him or her into the
family of God.
Whether
or not the last point is true,
the following is still valid
and encouraging: If we will
“prepare” ourselves to be
useful to the Lord, His
providence will "open doors" of opportunity for us
to reach those in our
community who have
honest and good
hearts that are
seeking for the
truth.
An important part of preparation involves another “perspective”...
PRAYER IS THE “CATALYST” IN EVANGELISM!
If
the providence of God is at work
and it involves the lives
of those who
are prepared to be used
as well as those who are seeking
the truth, it should be easy to see that
prayer would play an important role. In the conversion of Cornelius, it was his
prayers that prompted
God to take notice (Ac 10:1-4), and it was a man given
to prayer that
the Lord chose
to use in order to
reach him (Ac 10:9).
Sometimes
much preparation for
evangelism is not too different
from preparing to make a sales pitch. It is
almost as though
people think that if you
follow the right
procedure with anyone,
the desired results must necessarily follow. Certainly that is no one's intention. Yet, prayer
is not often stressed in many
books on how to do evangelism. In contrast, we find Paul
teaching the Colossians to pray that
God would open a door
for the Word
(Co 4:3).
Think
of prayer as a “catalyst,” one that starts
the process of
God's providence in
bringing together the lost
but seeking soul
with the prepared
and seeking servant
of the Lord. When we
have prepared ourselves to be useful
to the Lord and then
diligently pray “Lord,
lead me to
some soul today,”
doors will open
and we will begin to
find souls who
themselves have been
praying and who
will be receptive to the gospel!
Now
for some “perspectives” that are especially crucial to maintaining a high level
of enthusiasm and persistence in evangelism. From The Parable
Of The Sower and
elsewhere in the
Scriptures we can learn some
more things that
can help:
· Remove
the discouragement and
prevent the apathy
that paralyzes so
many today
· Instill
enthusiasm in serving
as laborers in the vineyard
of the Lord!
The
parable itself is found in Lk 8:4-8, and the explanation is found in Lk 8:11-15
(please read). The first principle
we can glean from this
parable is that...
THE POWER IS IN THE SEED (WORD)!
The
Word of God has always
been capable of influencing people,
accomplishing its intended
purpose (Isa 55:10-11). As the author
of Hebrews wrote,
it is both “alive and
powerful” (He 4:12). This is especially
true of the Gospel of Christ, the
“power of God unto salvation” (Ro 1:16).
If
people are going to be truly converted, it will not be through
smooth speech or fancy presentations involving “hi-tech” equipment, but through the
life-changing truth of the gospel.
We can certainly use modern aids
to present the
gospel, but we must
make sure that they are
faithfully communicating the Word.
True
conversion (which involves
a spiritual regeneration) will occur only
if we plant the proper
“seed.” Perhaps we
don't get the
desired result, because
we don't sow
the right seed!
But
even when we
plant the proper
seed, we often
do not see the desired
results. Understanding the reason why
helps one to
maintain the right
perspective...
THE RESULTS DEPEND UPON THE TYPE OF SOIL!
In
the Parable of The Sower,
we see that the same
seed, when sown,
produced different results.
One result was no
reaction whatsoever. Two others
had only temporary success. Only
one out of the four resulted in
bearing fruit!
· Where
lies the blame?
· Upon
the SEED? No!
· Upon the SOWER? No!
· Upon the TYPE OF SOIL? Yes!
This
illustrates where the
area of responsibility lies. The sower fulfills
his responsibility by
sowing the seed (Eze 3:17-19). If the soil rejects the seed,
the soil is
responsible; the sower
should not feel accountable (Mt 10:14-15; Ac 13:44-46).
The
positive implication is
this: Every time we sow the seed, we are successful! If a person rejects it, we have not failed,
they have!
What
is the significance of this
perspective of evangelism? We need
to learn the joy of
sharing the Word for its own sake! There is joy in
sharing Christ with
others (we've got good
news !),
whether or not people
accept Him (we are glad to serve
our Lord in this way!). Of
course, we are
delighted when someone
believes and truly
accepts Jesus as the Lord
of their lives,
but we should consider it as the “icing on the cake.”
Even if we don't
experience the “icing,”
we can still enjoy the
“cake!”
Another
significance of this
principle concerns our goals. They should center on how many
are being taught,
not converted! Too
often, we make
the number of
baptisms (conversions) the
measure of success
or even faithfulness on the part
of the teacher. But
even the most
faithful teachers may
find themselves in
circumstances like Jeremiah
or Jesus, where
very few people
gave heed to their message. Shall we count them
failures? Rather,
let us count them
faithful, if they
have faithfully sowed
the seed!
Closely related
to all this is the
perspective concerning...
THE PLACE OF
THE SOWER
As illustrated in the parable
and elsewhere, we are simply
“seed-throwers” and “water-boys” (cf. 1 Co
3:5-7). One may
plant the seed,
another may water,
but it is God
(through His Word
in a receptive heart) Who gives
the increase! Because of
this, there is no place
for boasting about
numbers of people being converted.
But
there is another
significance to this. God can
even use “defective” seed-throwers (cf. Ph 1:15-18). Not only defective in motive (as seen in the text), but also in experience! This is because
the power is in the seed, not the sower!
Therefore
we should not
feel like we
have to be an accomplished salesman to present
the Gospel. Even those who tremble
and may not be
eloquent can be used by the Lord to reach others
(cf. 1 Co
2:1-5).
And then
there is...
THE PRINCIPLE OF SOWING AND REAPING
In 2 Co 9:6 we find this
principle stated, and it easily
seen in many
different areas of
life:
· In sales,
the ratio of
success is often
one sale out of nine
calls.
· In acting, the ratio
can be as high as one job out of
thirty auditions, even
for successful actors.
· In The
Parable Of The
Sower, only
one out of
four produced favorable results.
Successful
people in different
walks of life
understand that the key to
success is to
increase the number of their
efforts. The
conclusion for us is obvious:
If we desire to reap more, we must be
willing to sow more! Many
people fail in the area of evangelism because they “sow
sparingly” and get
discouraged by the
meager results.
If
we increase the level of sowing, the level of reaping will
rise proportionately. But again,
to avoid discouragement, we need to set goals
on how many are taught, not on how many are converted!
Finally, one last perspective for success in
evangelism...
QUITE OFTEN, ONE SOWS AND ANOTHER REAPS!
Winning
souls involves both
“sowing” and “reaping.” Jesus used
these terms in
talking to His
disciples as recorded
in Jn 4:35-38. Exactly what
is the difference between “sowing”
and “reaping?”
Sowing
is the work necessary to one day being able to reap! In
agriculture, sowing involves
preparing the soil
and planting the
seed. In winning souls
to Christ, sowing
likewise involves preparation and planting:
· In
which the hearts
are being prepared
for the reception of the gospel
· In which the
hearts are first
introduced to the
gospel and its
principles
Reaping
is the actual “harvesting” of
what has been
sown. In agriculture, reaping
is the collection of the fruits which have produced
by the sowing. In
winning souls, reaping
is that harvesting which occurs when
souls who have
had the Word
planted in their
hearts decide to
obey it!
What
is important to appreciate is the statement quoted by Jesus in Jn 4:37, “One sows and
another reaps.” Those who
sow do not always witness
the reaping that
may one day
occur. And
many times those who reap are benefiting from the efforts
of those who did the
sowing before them. In
evangelism, this means
that oftentimes you
will be sowing
the seed and it may
appear that you
are not getting
any results. But some
time later those
souls you were
trying to reach
may decide to
finally obey the
gospel and another
Christian may actually
do the reaping in your
place! Then
again, there will
be times when people just sort of
“fall into your
lap,” ready and
anxious to obey
the gospel with
little effort on
your part. In this
case, you are
reaping what others
have sown!
The
point to keep in mind is that
evangelism involves both
“sowing” and “reaping,” and there will be
times when what you sow will be reaped
by someone else. Let this be an encouragement to you when it
appears that you are not
reaping as you
would hope. You might
actually be making
it much easier for some brother
or sister in the future!
CONCLUSION
An
important element of
success in personal
work is perseverance. Those who persist
in sowing the seed
eventually bear fruit. The
problem with many
people is wrong
perspectives and negative
attitudes. That translates into
failure, no matter
what the task is at
hand.
It
is hoped that
the perspectives shared
above can help
us maintain the
positive attitude necessary to persevere until
Harvest Time is no more!
Increasing Opportunities To
Share The Gospel
(An Approach That
Works!)
The importance of sharing the
gospel of Christ
with those who are lost
cannot be overemphasized.
Jesus
wants everyone to
hear the good
news of salvation (Mk 16:15-16), and has
provided the gospel as God's
power to save
all who believe
it (Ro 1:16-17).
But
what is the
most effective way to reach
people today? The Institute
For American
Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question:
“What was responsible for
your coming to
Christ and this church?” Their replies
were:
· I had a special
need - 3%
· I just
walked in - 3%
· I liked
the minister - 6%
· I visited
there - 1%
· I liked
the Bible classes
- 5%
· I attended
a gospel meeting
- 0.5%
· I liked
the programs - 3%
· A friend or
relative invited me - 79%
What
can we learn from a survey like
this? It does appear
to confirm that
gospel meetings as traditionally held
have lost their effectiveness in reaching
the lost. It also
seems to justify
churches’ concern to pick
their preachers carefully
and to give special regard
to the quality of their
Bible classes.
The
obvious point of the survey
is this: If churches
are to grow, it will
be through the
efforts of individual
members ! Preachers, programs,
classes may help,
but in most cases they
will only maintain the size of the
congregation. Such
congregational efforts are
worthwhile, however, for they can
reach people with
whom we might
otherwise never come
in contact. But the
fact remains: The
greatest potential lies with
those people who have some
contact with members
of the local congregation.
Each
of us have daily contact
with tens of
people who need the gospel
of Christ. In addition
to efforts designed to reach people
"en masse" (via
television, radio, mail),
we need to utilize the
contacts made through
the members. In other
words, the ideal
would be to provide a “two-pronged” approach to evangelism. Unfortunately, when a special
effort is being
made to reach out to the masses,
the tendency in most
congregations is to
neglect the opportunities to follow up
contacts made through
the members.
Two
fundamental things are
needed to utilize
the contacts made
through individual members
of the congregation:
· Concern for the lost
by those members
(Mt 9:36-38; Ro 9:1-3;
10:1)
· Knowledge of how we can
increase our opportunities to share the
gospel with those
with whom we
frequently come into
contact
Assuming that the concern
is there, what
follows are suggestions with accompanying “action
steps” on
how anyone who is a
Christian can increase
opportunities for the
gospel to be
shared with their
relatives,
friends, neighbors, and
others. These suggestions will be based
upon observations of
what has consistently proven fruitful in
other places and
are confirmed by the results
of the aforementioned
survey.
The first
suggestion, along with
its “action steps,”
is to . . .
DO THINGS WHICH MAKE FOR A CARING CONGREGATION
This
suggestion is important
if our efforts in evangelism are going to be fruitful
in the long run. First, because
it will help to confirm
our claim to be true
disciples of Jesus
Christ (notice Jn 13:35). Correct doctrine, organization, worship, etc., are
certainly important; but it is our love for one
another that the Lord
intended to convince
the world that we are
truly the disciples
of Christ!
Also,
our love makes us useful to the Lord! From Re 3:7-8 we
learn that the
Lord knows the
true condition of His churches,
and that He will “open
doors” for those
that can be
useful to Him. If we are a
church that can be used
by Him to:
· Reach
others with the
gospel
· Assimilate them into the
family of God
· Nurture
them in their
spiritual growth
. . . then He will “open
doors” for us as well!
But
suppose we are not a place where
new Christians can grow spiritually in an atmosphere of love? Do we
seriously think that the Lord
will use His
providence to lead us to souls who are seeking
for the truth? Even if we did
reach souls for
Christ, would they
receive the spiritual
nourishment necessary to remain faithful
and strong in the Lord’s
service?
Then
finally, it is
important to practice
hospitality towards Christians because it prepares
us for the kind of personal
work that is the most
effective in leading
others to Christ.
I am referring to “friendship” evangelism (also known as “relationship” or “lifestyle” evangelism), which will require
a willingness to be hospitable
and giving to those we are trying
to reach. If we are unable
(or unwilling) to
practice hospitality towards
our brethren, what
makes us think
we will practice
it towards the
lost?
So
the first thing
to do is make sure
that as a
church we provide
the right kind
of loving and
caring spiritual environment. Here are some "action steps" that one can take:
· Make it a point to get to know all the members
and regular visitors
by name
./
Get
a church directory and begin to
place names with
faces
./
Try
to learn someone
new at each service until
you know them
all
· Practice
hospitality towards the members and regular visitors - 1 Pe
4:8-9
./ Invite them into
your home, or out to eat (set a goal
of one new family or member per month)
./ Visit other Christians each week (esp.
the sick, shut-ins, new members, absent members)
When a
congregation is filled
with loving members
who care for
its own, it is ready
to be used by the
Lord to
reach out and
care for others!
Where does one begin in trying
to reach the
lost? Try this...
MAKE A LIST OF SOULS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAUGHT
Making
a list may not seem
important, but it is! It utilizes
a very helpful technique used
by people successful
in all walks of life
(i.e., having a things to do list).
For us, it helps
to focus our
attention upon those we
hope to reach
for the Lord, and
not neglect them.
In making
up this list, one should
observe the following
suggestions:
· Start
with those who
are close to you and
work outwardly:
./
Family
./
Friends
./
Coworkers
./
Neighbors
./
Relatives of
fellow church members
./
Regular visitors
to the services of the
church
./
Casual acquaintances (mailman, store clerk,
etc.)
· Limit this
list to five or eight
souls (a list
with too many and you will not be able to
focus your efforts effectively).
· Give
priority to those
who are the "unchurched"
./
I.e., who are not
active members of any denomination or particular religion
./ Active members of a denomination or religion are
often very satisfied with their human
traditions and are
not as receptive to the
pure and simple
gospel of Christ
· Husbands and
wives might best
just have one
list (as the
suggestions to follow
will require their
joint cooperation)
Keep
this list where
you will see it daily.
This will
help you to be constantly reminded of these people and
thereby more likely
to do the things mentioned
next...
PRAY FOR THESE SOULS ON YOUR LIST DAILY
Why pray?
First, that God will
work together with
you....
· To give you opportunities to do good for them - 1 Co
3:5-7; Co 4:3
· To give you the wisdom to make the most of those opportunities - Co
4:4-6
· To give you boldness
to say what needs to be said - Ep
6:18-20
Also, that
those on your
list will...
· Have
the opportunity to
hear the truth
· Have
honest hearts to be open and receptive
to the truth
Remember,
it is God who gives
the increase when it comes to evangelism. We are but servants
whom God can use in His
providential workings. So though
we may work as though
it all depends upon us, let
us pray as though
it all depends upon God!
The next
step will take
the most time
in effective evangelism...
DO THINGS WHICH DEMONSTRATE YOUR LOVE FOR THEM
The
importance of this suggestion is seen in the following statement:
“People
don't care how
much we know until
they know how much we
care!” A
demonstration of love
will make a
person more likely to be
receptive to the
gospel of love
when it is
shared (cf. 1 Pe 2:12). By
observing our good
works they will
more likely “glorify
God” by obeying
the gospel when
they hear it. In
other words, our
love
and
good works will
help prepare the
"soil" to be as receptive
as possible when the “seed”
is finally sown.
Some “action
steps” to take
might be...
· Invite
them into your
home for a
dinner or snack
· Visit
them, especially in times of trial or
sickness
· Do things with
them on a social level
In
other words, simple
hospitality and neighborliness will go a long
way in giving you the
opportunity to do good towards
them. And when they see the
“incarnation of the
gospel” (the principles of the
gospel
lived out in the flesh),
they will be more likely
to believe in the “verbalization of the gospel”
(the truth of the gospel
in spoken or
written word).
After you
have spent some
time being hospitable and becoming better
acquainted, the next
step is to...
INVITE THOSE ON YOUR LIST TO ATTEND SERVICES
There are
several good reasons
for wanting them
to attend the
services of the
local church...
· They will (or
should) have an
opportunity to see a caring
congregation in action
./ Combined with
your own demonstration of love as an individual...
./
...the demonstration of love by
others should make a lasting
impression!
· They
will more likely
have an opportunity to be presented with the gospel
of Christ
(more on
this, shortly)
· If they
are attending regularly before conversion to
Christ, they will
more likely continue
to attend after
their conversion
As you
prepare to invite
these souls to
attend services, be
sure to spend
time first in prayer...
· Asking
for wisdom to invite them in the best manner
· Asking
for boldness to
offer the invitation to attend
Of
course, you will
more likely have
people accept your
invitations if they
are among the
“unchurched,” but oftentimes even
the “churched” are dissatisfied with where they
are attending and
are willing to investigate a
different church.
The next
couple of steps
become increasingly important, one being to...
DEMONSTRATE HOSPITALITY TOWARDS THOSE VISITORS WHO DO ATTEND
This would
apply to all
visitors, whether they
were invited by you, someone
else, or are
simply
“walk-ins.” Some
"action steps" might
include:
· Greeting
them, letting them
know they are
welcome
· Inviting
them home or out for a dinner
or snack
· Calling
or visiting them
after they have
attended the services
Showing
such love towards
those who may even be
“strangers” is the true meaning
of hospitality, a virtue that
ought to characterize Christians (cf. He 13:2; Ro 12:13b). Plus, in
doing such things,
you are preparing their hearts for
the gospel! How?
· By
demonstrating love as a congregation of Christians...
· ...they
will be more
likely to believe
in the love of God
demonstrated in the
life of
Christ! - 1
Pe 2:11-12
Finally, we are ready
for the most important step in all our efforts...
SEE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE GOSPEL
Ideally, this
will come AFTER
witnessing a demonstration of the gospel
in our lives...
· By our love,
hospitality, etc.
· Both as individuals and as a
congregation
If you
feel confident in
discussing it with
them, then approach
them yourself and
suggest some sort
of
Bible study.
Either of these two
suggestions may be
effective:
· A Bible study
with them in
their home (using
aids like video
tapes, charts, or
simply an open
Bible)
· That they
study on their
own with the aid of a Bible
correspondence course (like Gene Tope's
“Know Your Bible”
course, or Robert Harkrider's “How To Understand The
Bible” course)
If
you do not feel you
are yet confident in approaching them
concerning a study,
or in conducting it your self, there is still
much good that
you can do:
· Bring
it to the attention of
members who are
able and willing
to teach
· Provide opportunities for the teacher
and the prospect
to become better acquainted, and the teacher
can take it from there
CONCLUSION
These
suggestions are offered with a
firm conviction that if they will be carried
out, opportunities to share
the gospel and save souls will be greatly increased! Also, with the hope that
you will accept
the challenge to implement these suggestions.
This
approach is not only the most
successful in saving
and keeping souls, it is also one of the most natural and easiest
ways to reach the lost for Christ! Remember the survey by The Institute
For American Church Growth? One does
not even have
to be able to teach
to be effective in leading
others to Christ! One simply
has to be a friend to
Christians and to the lost!
And even if we do not
convert a single
soul...
· We will have fulfilled our
obligation to share
Christ with others
· We will have
done it in
such a way as to
become better Christians ,
a better
congregation, better
friends ,
better neighbors
, better coworkers, etc.!
SUGGESTIONS
FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY A CONGREGATION OR A FEW INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS...
Have those
interested in being
involved meet together
on a weekly basis
Encourage one
another to set goals for the coming
week
· Share
ideas for goals;
for example . . .
./
Having over
or visiting one
person or family
from the congregation
./
Making a list of souls for
which to begin
praying
./ What you plan
to do to demonstrate your
love and concern
for those on
your list
./
Who
you will invite
to services
./
What
visitors you will
call, visit, etc.
./ Who you will
offer to have a study,
or put in contact with
someone who will follow-up with a study
· Write the goals
for the coming week down
· Pray
about them, together
and on your own throughout the week
At each
weekly meeting...
· Share
and discuss how
the goals are
being met
· Set new goals
for the coming week
· Write
them, pray about
them
This simple
program should easily
increase opportunities to share the
gospel and bring many souls
to
Christ!
Building Courage To Tell
Others About C(Overcoming The Fear Of Rejection)
After
lack of motivation, a major
reason why more
people do not
engage in personal
evangelism is the fear of rejection. Afraid of being turned
down, laughed at, or looked
upon by others as “religious fanatics” has hindered
many Christians in
their efforts to
tell others about
Christ.
How does one
overcome the fear of rejection? The following
thoughts may be helpful...
TRY TO PLEASE GOD, NOT MAN
We should keep in mind the words of the apostle
Paul, who in Ga 1:10 wrote:
“For
do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I
seek to please men? For if I still
pleased men, I would not be a
servant of Christ.”
If we
are serious in our desire
to be
the servants of Christ, then
we must
make sure it is God
we are
trying to please, and not man.
This is not to suggest that we give no thought as to how to be more pleasing
in our
demeanor or presentation of the
gospel, but it does mean
that we should be more
concerned about what
God thinks, rather
than what people
may think.
PRAY FOR BOLDNESS
Paul was one who wrote about his own fears when it came to sharing the gospel with others (cf. 1 Co
2:1-3). But
he believed
in the
power of prayer to provide
boldness and solicited the prayers
of others
as well in this regard (cf. Ep 6:18-19). In this he was not alone, for when Peter and John had been
threatened, they returned to
their company and together prayed
for boldness,
and the
Lord answered their prayer
(cf. Ac
4:29-31)!
So
as we prepare ourselves to engage in personal evangelism, if we find ourselves lacking courage, then let our
preparation include diligent prayer for
boldness. Even as you walk
up to
the door, or approach someone
you plan
to invite
to services
or to
offer a Bible study, say a short
prayer asking God to give you the boldness
necessary to say
what you have
planned to say.
The suggestions which follow are based on material presented by Brent Hunter in “Personal Work
101” which I
found to be
very practical...
STEPS IN BUILDING COURAGE
TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST
STEP ONE
- Start out sharing Christ in
a way which will not bring
you face
to face
with people.
Select some
tract or tracts
you feel are good and
carry them in your pocket,
purse, or car.
· When you go into a public restaurant, leave it on your table
with your tip.
· When writing
letters to friends,
relatives, drop a tract in the envelope.
Include one even in the bills
you pay!
· Leave a tract in a phone
booth, at a
Laundromat, on the seat of a taxi or bus, in a rest room.
What
happens to the
tract may no
longer concern you;
you've sown the
seed and done
what you are supposed to do. It may be thrown
in the waste paper basket
and the custodian may fish it out and take it home
and his neighbor
may come over
and read it. A custodian was cleaning a
bathroom, saw a
tract and read it. He later obeyed
the gospel and is today a gospel
preacher! Another
case involved a woman who was visiting
her daughter, saw a tract on the
coffee table that had been
sent through the mail, read
it and contacted the person
who sent it,
later obeying the
gospel (even though
her daughter, the
original recipient of the tract,
had no interest in it!). This is one way that the written
word lasts
longer than
the spoken word!
STEP TWO - Let your
light shine naturally
when around non-Christians (Matthew 5:16).
Not
to make a
spectacle of yourself, but to quietly
confess through your
actions and normal
speech that you are a
Christian. There is a
difference between doing
things to be seen of men (condemned by Jesus), and
doing things that
are seen by men (commanded by Jesus). Some examples:
· When you eat in
public places, offer
thanks for your
food. This can be done
silently, with a bowed head.
· Keep a Bible with you at all times
and don’t be
ashamed to be seen reading
it. At work on your desk,
keep a Bible; in your
purse, pocket or coat, keep a New Testament and
read it as you have
opportunity.
· In our
conversation we can
identify ourselves with
Christ. Casually
make mention of things
which indicate your
faith in God. A friend
at work has
confided in you
with
a problem; tell him in all sincerity, “I will keep you in my prayers.”
In everyday conversation you
might mention some
pertinent point made
by the preacher, Bible class
teacher, or what you gleaned
from your own
private study. In making
plans with others, use the expression “Lord willing...” Give credit
to the Lord when the occasion calls for it (“I thank
the Lord for my good
health”).
Casual
conduct and expressions like these (when
done sincerely) not
only help to
build courage, they often serve as “door-openers” for people to
inquire about your
faith.
STEP
THREE - Identify
who you are
and personally hand
your friend (prospect) a tract, cassette
or video.
You
are not directly
teaching yet (only
using “indirect” teaching
methods), but you
are beginning to
face people. Some examples
of how this can be
done:
· Give a tract to a friend and say, “This is a short explanation of the gospel
of Christ.
We've
been friends for
sometime now and I would
like for you to read
this and tell me what
you think.”
· Ask them
if they are
interested in studying
the Bible on
their own time,
at their own pace, in their home,
through a correspondence course.
· Offer to give them a cassette
or video tape of a sermon and ask them if they
would be interested in hearing what
the Bible says
about...
CONCLUSION
At
this point you are actively
involved in sharing
the gospel with
others, even though
you may only use indirect
methods. From here,
you may decide
to try to set up
home studies to be taught
by yourself, or to
set up studies for others
to teach. In either
case, you are
doing much for the Lord!
Principles For Teaching In
Evangelism
(Tips To Remember
When Trying To Teach Others)
Should
you decide you are ready to begin
teaching others, having
an idea of what material
and method (multi-lesson, one-lesson, etc.)
you plan to
use, there are
several principles to
keep in mind
that can increase the
likelihood of success.
For example...
BE "CLASS" CONSCIOUS
Rather
than getting into
religious discussions when
it is not convenient (such
as at work), always think
in terms of turning
religious inquiries into
an opportunity to set up a class
or home study
with the person. There are
several advantages of doing this:
· Those who are not seriously
interested in spiritual
matters will not
consent to a
study; therefore
this will distinguish between the truth
seekers and those
who are not
· It gives you time to
carefully prepare your
lesson(s)
· A
discussion of religious matters is more
productive when there
is ample time,
and the Bible is open to answer
any questions
· There will
be fewer hindrances should the person
decide to obey
the gospel at
that time
Setting
up a class is easy,
just ask! If the
person says no, then just
leave them with an open
invitation to a class
anytime in the
future.
SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD
This
principle is key to any
effective communication, whether
it occur in
business, family relationships, or religious discussions. Applied to
teaching others, it
would involve:
· Asking
questions, then listening carefully to what
the other person
is saying
· Occasionally repeating what they
say, to make
sure you properly
understand them
· Endeavoring to know their
own doctrine as well if not better
than they do themselves
· Trying to put yourself
in their place,
imagining what they
must feel like
to have their cherished beliefs
challenged
This
will not only
improve your ability
to effectively communicate with them, but
will also increase
the likelihood they
will reciprocate by
carefully listening to you!
DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE
People
will frequently disagree
with you, though
some may later
change their minds.
How can we disagree without
being “disagreeable?” How can we discuss
religion without getting
into arguments that generate a lot of heat but
little light? Here are
suggestions based upon the Scriptures:
· Maintain a
spirit of gentleness and humility; but
for the grace
of God you would be lost too!
(Ga 6:1)
· Refuse to be drawn
into religious quarrels;
if a discussion degenerates into
one, admit your
own faults and
suggest the study
continue at another
time (2 Ti 2:
23-24a)
· Don't
try to teach until you
are able to
teach (2 Ti 2:24; Ja
3:1-2)
· Be
patient; some people
take longer than
others (2 Ti
2:24)
· If
necessary to correct
someone who opposes
you, do so
with humility (2
Ti 2:25)
· Remember the
wisdom of Solomon:
“A soft
answer turns away
wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge
rightly, but the mouth of
fools pours forth foolishness.” (Pro 15:1-2)
It
might help to
maintain patience and
humility, if we keep in mind that
Paul says those in error
are in "the snare of the
devil, having been
taken captive by him to do his
will" (2
Ti 2:26). The
only way they
can escape is
through the proper
and delicate use of "the
sword of the
Spirit, which is the
Word of God" (Ep 6:17).
ANSWER QUESTIONS
BY LETTING INQUIRERS READ IT FOR THEMSELVES
When
people ask questions, it is best
to answer them
with the Scriptures. Use an open
Bible to answer their
questions. Better
yet, have them
read it out of their
own Bibles. There are
several reasons for doing this:
· They are more likely
to understand the
point you are
trying to make if they can both read and
hear it
· It is hard for them to
disagree with what
they can read for themselves in their own
Bible
· You gain
their respect and
confidence that you
are only teaching
the Word of
God, and not the
ideas of men
So as often as
possible, let them
answer their own
questions by having
them read it for themselves!
USE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS TO SET UP FUTURE STUDIES
A fear many
people have in
teaching others is that they
will be asked a question
for which they do not know the
answer. But
such questions can be advantageous if handled properly! Here is
how:
· Don't try to bluff
your way through
a subject you
are not prepared
for; gain respect for honesty
by admitting your
need to study
further
· Use that
difficult question as a reason
to continue the
study on another
occasion; explain that to give an
answer the question
deserves, you will
need to study more and
come back at
another time
What
might at first
appear to be a stumbling block to a
teacher can actually
be an a stepping stone
for increased opportunities!
CLOSE EFFECTIVELY
After
you have presented the material in
your lesson(s), you
need to ask
for a response. This
can often be the most
difficult part of
teaching, for now you are
asking the person
to make a judgment about
the truthfulness of what you have
been saying, and to make a decision
as to whether they will
obey it. To close
effectively, you might
ask the person
the following questions...
· “Does
this make sense?”
· “Is there anything
I have said that you do not
understand?”
· “Have I been
teaching you anything
other than what the Bible
teaches?”
Assuming
the person answers
favorably, you then
need to make
the actual request.
Some approaches often sound
like subtle ways to move
someone to do
something they really
don't want to do (sort of like a
salesman trying to make a close with
someone who is
really not sold on the
product!). Since conversion occurs only when our faith is working
in cooperation with
God's power (Co 2:12), it is absolutely necessary that the
prospect has truly
come to faith
and repentance before
they are baptized.
Therefore,
a simple and
direct question is all that is necessary: “Would you like to obey Christ
now and be baptized
for the remission of your
sins?”
If
the person says
no, you might
ask why not,
and depending upon
the answer, study
some more or
set up a time
for future study.
In any case, let
the person know
that you are
always ready to
study further should they
be interested, and
that you are
always available should
they decide to
obey the gospel. Remember, what you sow
today may take
time before it
finally brings forth a harvest.
Finally, a
thought or two
about...
OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS
Certainly
we should ever
be ready and
willing to answer
objections that are
raised. It is proper
to prepare oneself
to answer objections that are commonly
given. But again, unless “you believe
with all your heart” (Ac 8:36-37), God’s blessings
provided in baptism
will not be
found! Therefore, we need to be
careful not to apply undue
pressure. While we want to encourage
others to obey the gospel,
we must make sure that the decision
is theirs.
So
be careful to let gospel
of Christ be the converting power, not “persuasive
words of human wisdom” (1 Co 2:4). If a person
understands what the gospel says, a simple
request accompanied with an earnest
plea for obedience to Jesus Christ
should suffice.
Available Resources For Teaching
Others
(Summary Of Tools
That Can Be
Used)
There
are many different
ways to effectively communicate the
gospel to others.
What follows is a brief
summary and
description of various
tools that may be helpful.
In using them, try to be
flexible, asking God for wisdom
as to which approach to use depending upon the particular circumstances.
VIDEO STUDIES
“How To Understand The Bible” by
Robert F. Harkrider
(five tapes)
This
is a five-lesson series that
presents a survey
of the Bible, salvation, and the New
Testament Church. It includes
study guides for
each lesson. Designed for
those who have
at least a
“basic” knowledge of the Bible.
“The Visualized Bible
Study Series” by Jule Miller
(five tapes)
Another
five-lesson study, presenting a survey of the Bible,
salvation, the New
Testament Church, and the
history of the church. There are also study
guides that accompany
the tapes. This study
might be more appropriate for someone with
virtually no concept
of what the Bible is all about.
BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
“Know Your Bible”
Correspondence Course by Gene Tope (six lessons)
The six
lessons in this
study include such
topics as:
· Introduction To The Bible
· Sin And The
Blood Of Christ
· What
Must I Do To Be
Saved?
· The New Testament
Church
· Denominationalism
· Baptism
This
series has been
used on a number of
occasions where the
lessons were simply
given to a
friend, and they
taught themselves the
gospel.
“Jesus, The Way”
by Sewell Hall (seven
lessons)
The seven lessons in this study include such topics as:
· Jesus,
The Way (Introduction)
· Finding Jesus, The Way
· Jesus,
The Way To A Better
Life
· Jesus,
The Way To
Forgiveness
· Jesus,
The Way To
God
· Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious
Confusion
· Jesus, The Way To Heaven
The first
lesson is designed
for mass mailing,
but can be
used as a
regular correspondence course.
TRACTS
“Facts You Need
To Face” By Haun
Publishing Company
A simple tract
(reading time is five minutes)
that presents the
following "facts":
· You Need To Be Saved
· Christ
Died For You
· To Be Saved
You Must Accept
Christ
· You Can Be
Just A Christian
“The Gospel Of The
Grace Of God” By Leslie Diestelkamp
A medium-length tract
that covers:
· Man's
Unworthiness
· The Gift Of God's Love
· What
Grace Does Not Do
· Grace And Salvation
· Grace And Security
"The Way Of
Christ Without Denominationalism" By
Samuel Dawson
A good sized
booklet that discusses:
· The Harm Of
Denominationalism
· Fellowship With God
· Fellowship With God's People
GOD BLESS YOU
GOD BLESS YOU
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