The Discipleship of Evangelism

Opening

Bible Trivia

Reverse Bible Drill

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Introduction

Evangelism will change your life.

Not referring to just hearing and responding to the Gospel.

It is necessary to our “following Jesus.

“Making disciples” necessarily involves helping people who are not yet disciples to become disciples—that is, evangelism

Yes your friend needs it, but so do you!

EVANGELISM’S BENEFITS

Evangelism is a necessary part of growing into a mature, joyful disciple of Christ.

1. Evangelism helps keep the gospel central in our lives and churches.

The gospel creates the church. Col 1:5 “5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”

The gospel our chief message. 1 Cor 15:3 “3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

God uses the truth of the gospel in our continued growth. Phil 1:6 “6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Therefore, we ought to do everything in our power to keep it central. We know that the world, our flesh, and the devil will do everything they can to move it out of view.

2. Evangelism deepens our understanding of the most fundamental truths of Scripture.

Conversation about the gospel with our friends causes us to grow in our understanding of the Bible. Philemon 1:6 “6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

God’s character

Man’s creation in God’s image

Sin

Grace

The cross of Christ

As we have to think through explaining these concepts to different people in different circumstances. And we learn better how these truths lace together all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.

3. Properly motivated evangelism grows our love for God and neighbor.

All people are called to wholeheartedly love God and other people Mark 12:28-31 “28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Hard to describe the joy of seeing someone come to know Christ.

Also, hard to describe the work God does in our hearts as we see someone reject this message.

Sharing the gospel, rather it is received or rejected, will help grow our love for the things God loves.

5. Evangelism brings protection.

Protection from falsely assuming everyone around us is saved.

Unregenerate people cannot be discipled in any biblical sense. They do not and cannot grow in godliness. Romans 8:5-8 “5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

But making the gospel a part of our everyday conversation will often result in nominal Christians actually being born again of the Spirit.

The sower spread the seed liberally, seemingly without consideration for where it landed (path, rocks, thorns, soil; Mark 4:2-8). We too should share the gospel broadly and without discrimination, allowing our God to use it however he sees fit, to save the lost as well as encourage the saints.

Protection from those who desire to draw us into the things of the world

Simply, evangelism lets your friends know what you are about. Some will stay and join in the fun and others will distance themselves.

Faithful sharing the gospel will change the landscape of your life.

6. Evangelism increases the likelihood of being persecuted for the gospel, which leads to our growth.

There’s a reason I didn’t start with this “benefit”! Still, consider Romans 5:3-5 “3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

While we should not seek suffering for suffering’s sake, we should be prepared to embrace suffering for the gospel’s sake (2 Tim. 1:8; Rom. 8:17).

In fact, suffering because of our evangelism should be an encouragement to us as it was to the early church (Acts 5:41). And sharing our faith helps ensure that we will suffer because of the gospel itself rather than because of unwise decisions or giving needless offense.

Suffering for our proclamation of the gospel can deepen our faith as we look to our suffering Savior.

Lesson Adapted by an article by Brian Parks in the 9 Marks Journal on Discipleship