The Easiest, and Most Effective, Way to Evangelize!

Several months ago I attended the funeral of an old family friend. Johnny lived to be 95 years old and had been friends with my parents and grandparents. He loved the Lord and was active in service at his church for many years. When I talked to his son at the funeral, I learned something about Johnny that I never knew. He and his wife were neighbors of my grandparents many, many years ago. One day my grandfather invited them to go to church with him and they gladly accepted. While attending church with my grandparents, Johnny and his wife Gladys were saved! They spent decades of selfless service in the local church, impacting untold numbers of people. Their lives, and the lives of many others, were changed forever because my grandfather just simply extended an invitation to come to church. 

What about us? Are we telling people about our church? Have we made others aware of our church or is it one of our best untold secrets? Our neglect of others around us is costly and devastating, not only to them, but to us as well! Imagine how many Johnnys and Gladys's we've ignored!

We ALL can do this! Some of us may not feel entirely equipped to adequately answer complicated Bible theology questions, but we certainly can extend invitations to people to come to church to find answers. 

What kind of people must we be if we do not ask others to join in on something that is so vitally important in our own lives? What kind of Christians must we be if we're keeping the church to ourselves? The Bible tells us that we are to love others as we love ourselves. I imagine there's much effort and planning that happens in each of our respective families as we prepare ourselves to get to church and small group each week. Shouldn't some of that effort and planning be directed towards other people? 

How do we do that? Here are a few simple thoughts:

• Have regular conversation about your church with family, neighbors, friends and work associates. Talk about what you're learning, what you're involved in and how it's impacting your life. If we really love something, doesn't it just automatically come up in the course of conversation? If something has a regular profound effect in your life, isn't it something you're going to tell everyone? Speak highly of your church. Airing your frustrations or disappointments does great damage in stirring the interest of others.

• Just talking about church may perk someone's ears up and they may come out of curiosity, but some other people need to be asked directly. They need to feel like they are important enough to you and that you cared enough to ask. Just plainly tell them that you'd like them to come to church with you. Offer to sit with them, meet them in the parking lot or offer to pick them up if necessary.

• Be prepared with the church website information, meeting place and time, phone numbers, etc. The refrigerator magnets available on the information table in the lobby are a fantastic tool for this. Carry them with you and give them to people as you extend your invitation.

• Don't forget to pray that God would lead unchurched people to you and that you could seize every opportunity to speak openly about your church.

If our church is going to grow in its capacity to minister to people and make disciples, then we each need to do our part in making sure that everyone we come in contact with knows that they are welcomed to come and worship with us at Harvest! 

Many blessings to you,
Mark

Top Ten Things You Always Need to Remember About Evangelism

Nothing fires me up like evangelism. By no means is that a commentary on me. That is just what God has put in me. I love to tell the story of Jesus, I love to wrestle through tough questions with skeptics, I love seeing the lights come on when it seems like someone is beginning to understand. Love love love love it.

And I have since 1995. Christ changed me so radically, that I remember praying to God and saying, “I just want to tell everyone about you.” And in an act of magnificent grace, He has given me the opportunity to be in ministry and do just that.

So not only do I get fired up about evangelizing, I get fired up about encouraging God’s people in evangelism. In preparing for last Sunday’s message, I went through some evangelism notes on courses I have taught in the past - 97 pages of notes! All that to say: the sermon could have been much longer!

I am not quite ready to get off the topic just yet. If you are born again, you are Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). You represent Jesus, who He is and what He is about, to your family, friends, coworkers, enemies… everyone you come into contact with! And as it is on your heart to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ, allow me to put a PS on Sunday’s message by sharing some encouraging principles of evangelism:

1. Evangelism is most often a process, not a sudden event. Generally, the Holy Spirit works over time in a person’s life. When someone actually receives the Gospel, there is usually much that precedes that, both in circumstances and other believers. (1 Corinthians 3:1-11)
    
2. Evangelism must begin with a holy lifestyle. 1 Peter 2:12 says Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
   
   The “day of visitation” means the day God shows up to save them! But notice how Peter encourages us to make sure our conduct displays we are authentic followers of Christ, because that is what is going to attract people!
    
3. Evangelism is especially effective when strong relationships are built. I am all for sharing the Gospel with strangers. (I was a stranger to the person who shared the Gospel with me!) However, once a relationship is established based on mutual love and trust, the foundation is laid for that person to really hear what you are wanting to share.
    
4. Apologetics (evidence and reasoning to defend the faith) is critically important in penetrating the skepticism of many people today. Some people have “studied” enough to learn a few “objections” that they believe have no answer. (I have a short list of these, another blog, perhaps?) Learn the answers, respectfully give them, and learn to ask questions of your own!
    
5. Once a person sincerely checks out Christianity, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll discover the truth about God. That is, according to God (Proverbs 2:1-5, Jeremiah 29:13). Be encouraged. God is faithful to make this happen.
    
6. Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit. Again, be encouraged. Your job is to tell the story, God does the heavy lifting as He is the only one that can work on a person’s heart. (John 16:7-11)
    
7. Nobody wants to be your “project”. People can sense your motives. Love people, but don’t make them your “project”, that is, “Getting this guy to go to church is at the top of my bucket list.” Loving someone doesn’t have an end-goal of making them feel obligated to you.
    
8. There is no substitute for prayer. Pray big things. You are not alone in this work, you are partnering with the Almighty Sovereign of the Universe. (James 5:16)
    
9. Many times unchurched people are willing to visit a church if they are invited by a friend. Reminder from Sunday: just invite people. Sometimes, that’s all someone needs is an invite to church. And make sure your Pastor is preaching the Gospel. That’s important.
    
10. The church must objectively examine how they will be perceived by an unchurched visitor – without altering the message! Many people have bad thoughts toward the church in general, whether it is from a previous personal experience or an experience heard about second-hand. The church must be ready to love, welcome, and accommodate everyone who comes through the door - without prejudice or a spirit of judgment.

Many people are intimidated about witnessing to someone. Don't be! Let it be natural and authentic. Pray, love people, and take every opportunity God gives you to encourage someone one step closer to Jesus.

p.s. - Is just a nobody telling everybody about Somebody that can save anybody.

Top Ten(-ish) Things You Need to Know About Evangelism

Here’s the evangelism scenario we play out in our minds:

I sheepishly go up to someone to share the Gospel and say, “Do you know that God loves you and…”

I am interrupted by an outraged, offended outburst.

“How dare you push your religion on me! I curse you. You and your whole family. I will never talk to you again. I will tell everyone you know that they, too, should never talk to you again. And they won’t. Be ashamed!”

Then they pull out a megaphone: “Look everybody! A radical religious nut!”

That doesn’t happen. People generally don’t have megaphones on them at all times. But here are 10 things to get you to step off the ledge, and step up to share the Gospel.

1. Evangelism is most often a process, not a sudden event.
   
   Generally the Holy Spirit works over time in a person’s life. When someone actually receives the Gospel, there is usually much that precedes it, both in circumstances and other believers. (1 Corinthians 3:1-11)
    
2. Evangelism begins with a holy lifestyle - people seeing Jesus shine through you.
   
   The New Testament says nothing about how to “share your faith“, but it says much about honoring Christ in your lifestyle and God opening up doors for you to share the Gospel. (1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 4:1-5)
    
3. Evangelism is especially effective when strong relationships are built.
   
   True. I have shared with strangers and friends. Friends know you love them and are often more receptive to what you have to say.
    
4. Apologetics (evidence and reasoning to defend the faith) can be important in penetrating the skepticism of many people today.
   
   Some people will just not know. Some people have only “studied” enough to learn a few “objections” that they believe have no answer. Be ready, but remember you can’t argue someone into the Kingdom. Salvation is the Holy Spirit’s work, no matter how smart you are.
    
5. Once a person sincerely checks out Christianity, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll discover the truth about God.
   
   Let God’s Word speak for itself. It’s like a lion. You don’t need to defend it. Let it out of the cage and it will defend itself.
    
6. Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit.
   
   Oh, yeah, we said that. Still true. Here is a verse for it! (John 16:7-11)
    
7. Nobody wants to be your “project”.
   
   What is your true motivation for evangelism? People can sense your motives. Don’t make someone a project. Love them with the Gospel.
    
8. There is no substitute for prayer.
   
   For boldness, for the right words, for the Holy Spirit to take control of the person’s heart.
    
9. Unchurched people are often willing to visit a church if they are invited by a friend who has already opened up spiritual issues through personal conversation.
   
   Some people are just waiting for an invite to church. Offer one!
    
10. Christians often need to partner with a church (hopefully their own church!) that offers services or events that are evangelistic in nature.
    
    I share the Gospel in some way/shape/form every sermon. Be a part of offering evangelistic services or events with the church / small group.
     
11. The church must objectively examine how they will be perceived by an unchurched visitor – without altering the message!
    
    Many people have bad thoughts toward the church in general, whether it is from a previous personal experience or an experience heard about second-handed. Our job is to remove any obstacle that may hinder the mission. God, let your glory come down on the church. The only thing that really matters in the church service is You showing up!

Deep breath. Evangelism is commanded and empowered. And it is to be more of a natural thing than some people think.

p.s. - I did say 10-ish, right?

You Gotta Have It to Give It

The 4th Pillar of Harvest Bible Chapel is: Sharing the Good News of Jesus with Boldness.

What do you need to do effective evangelism? You have to have the right message (Jesus died for our sins and rose to give us eternal life). You need to have a method to roll it out (an illustration, a bookmarked Bible, etc). These things are easy. Anybody can have those.

But the truth is, something you have to have is something that cannot be taught or learned. You have to have a passion for lost souls. Without this Spirit-inspired motivation, nothing will be effective. The content and means of sharing the message is vital, but a sound message can be possessed by those who are “sound asleep”.

Knowing the message, the methods, and the mandate of the Great Commission does not guarantee that one will go…or go with compassion…or go with enthusiasm…or go with urgency. The great need in evangelism is for the church to recover a passion for souls.

Look at the passion on these famous preachers from the Bible:

• Moses – Exodus 32:32 - But now, if you will forgive their sin--but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.

• Paul – Romans 9:3 - For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
   
• Jesus – Luke 19:41-42 - And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

What do these men all have in common? They were men who had a deep relationship with God the Father themselvesfirst!

I could make you feel guilty for not witnessing. I could take you through every passage of the Bible that stresses the urgency. But these things aren’t going to move you.

What will move you is having a love-relationship with the Lord yourself. When you have a close walk with the Lord, your heart starts to be moved by the things that move His heart. And what moves His heart is compassionately extending His mercy and grace to the lost through His Son.

Bottom line: if you struggle with witnessing, the first question you have to ask yourself is: “How fired up am I about the Gospel?”

You can’t give it if you don’t have it.

p.s. - evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread