College lecture evangelism

Prayer

Set expectations: this is the heartbeat of our church

“Gods heart beats with an evangelistic tone” - Sinclair Ferguson

“Some like the sound of church bell on a Sunday, but I would rather set up a rescue shop a hundred yards from the gates of Hell” - CT Studd.

PART 1: EVANGELISM EXAMINED:

While preaching to his London congregation in 1869 about the responsibility of evangelism, C. H. Spurgeon said,

If I never won souls, I would sigh till I did. I would break my heart over them if I could not break their hearts. Though I can understand the possibility of an earnest sower never reaping, I cannot understand the possibility of an earnest sower being content not to reap. I cannot comprehend any one of you Christian people trying to win souls and not having results, and being satisfied without results.

Whitney, Donald S. 1991. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

SO …..WHAT IS EVANGELISM?

Sharing our faith with another.

Sharing the gospel with an unbeliever

Having a burden for the lost (to encounter Jesus personally(.

What is evangelism? If we want to define it thoroughly, we could say that evangelism is to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to sinful people, in order that they may come to put their trust in God through Him, to receive Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church. If we want to define it simply, we could say that New Testament evangelism is communicating the gospel. Anyone who faithfully relates the essential elements of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is evangelizing. This is true whether your words are spoken, written, or recorded, and whether they are delivered to one person or to a crowd.

Whitney, Donald S. 1991. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(What ISN’T Evanglism)

Going to church

participation in Christian things

Being apart of a Christian culture.

Sharing a reel

Sharing a podcast

(Ie secondary things are NOT direct Evanglism. They help).

1.EVANGELISM IS EXPECTED

SOUL WINNING IS THE LIFESTYLE OF THE BELIEVER.

You witness with WORD

And With DEED

And with LIFE.

HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE IS THE GREATEST EVALISTIC CRUSADE YOU WILL EVER HOLD.

The most powerful ongoing Christian witness has always been the speaking of God’s Word by one who is living God’s Word.

Whitney, Donald S. 1991. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 4:11 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

2.….. IS EMPOWERED

By who?

By the spirit of GOD

By the Presence of JESUS himself.

Only a fool think that it is he that is doing the witnessing…it’s actually God empowering your words that does the real witnessing

That’s where the knife edge is

Researcher George Barna offers another explanation for Christians’ fear of evangelism.

One dominant reason underlying the increasing reluctance of Christians to share their faith with nonChristians pertains to the faith sharing experience itself. In asking Christians about their witnessing activities, we have found that nine out of ten individuals who attempt to explain their beliefs and theology to other people come away from those experiences feeling as if they have failed.… The reality of human behavior is that most people avoid those activities in which they perceive themselves to be failures. As creatures seeking pleasure and comfort, we emphasize those dimensions and activities in which we are most capable and secure. Thus, despite the divine command to spread the Word, many Christians redirect their energies into areas of spiritual activity that are more satisfying and in which they are more likely to achieve success.

Whitney, Donald S. 1991. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

ALL WE ARE DOING IS DELIVERING A MESSAGE: We are the postal service of God. The gospel newspaper distribution network.

“When the son of man is lifted up he will draw all men to himself”.

3.…. IS A DISCIPLINE

McArthur makes the case i agree with when he talks about evangelism which is this.

Most people agree

Few people do it

Fewer people prepare to do it

Or in or their words, the reason they don’t experience success is because it has become a discipline for the Christian life.

PART 2: EVANGELISM METHODS

How this works in the local church context

“The methods may change but the message never does”

How do we do it?

What is our job?