Lesson 11: Evangelism

Welcome to lesson 11! I am glad you made it this far. Good job to you! I hope you are growing steadily. Yes, I know it’s a process and it takes a journey. Chat or contact us with questions at any time. Let’s head right into this lesson on Evangelism.

What do you think evangelism is? It simply means professing Christ to others. I will define it this way: evangelism is sharing with others out of the fullness of God’s goodness to you. You know how you hear great news and you cannot wait to share it with others? From the fullness of your experience with God, you will want to tell someone else about it so they can also enjoy the same experience. You’ll want to share it with your family, friends, neighbors, and your community at large. It doesn’t stop there; God wants to you and me to proclaim His salvation to the nations of the world. Evangelism is God’s heartbeat. How do I know this?

Jesus came to this world with one mission: to save the lost. When He was leaving, He left the mandate with us in Matthew 28:28-30. Read it here or in your Bible: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

You can’t be a Christian and not want to tell others about God. Your love for God will push you to look on those who are lost with empathy. Your desire would be for everyone to know God. We have been called to make our light shine in this world (Matthew 5:16). So, shine your light.

There is a part of evangelizing that we Christians neglect greatly. We are to witness to others through our lifestyle. Non-Christians are watching us. Vow never to be a reason why anyone would not want to give their life to Christ.

Not long ago, I tried to minister Christ to a lady, but I could hardly get my words out. She interrupted me and made me defenseless. She has never been to church but expressed her dislike for Christians who attend church faithfully and still do terrible things. She talked about pastors who squander money and do other bad things. Her experience with believers had left a bad taste in her mouth. We need to do a better job representing Christ. We are role models. You are a role model.

There is something I like about evangelism: it reminds us not to do the same things we warned others against. It serves as a check to help us live a life that matches what we preach.

Your desire to share the gospel can be a pointer to your faith level. It tells how much you love God. Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Is your closest friend aware of your faith?

How to evangelize:

• Through word of mouth
• Social media and use of technology
• Through distributing tracts or other customized handouts: I made customized business-sized cards with a short message and a prayer to lead people to Christ. You can too. We here at Masterpiece Discipleship have already customized words you can use. Just ask us.
• By your lifestyle

Conversation starters:

Important tips– pray before you evangelize or give out any tracts. It is the power of God through the Holy Spirit that convicts an unbeliever, not your words or intelligence. Also pray for God to guide you and connect you with those that are ready for salvation.

• For strangers or those you don’t know, start with (a) a warm greeting or conversation, talk about subjects of common interest. (b) Let them know that you also want to share someone important with them. (c) With the person’s permission, get into the heart of the message.Plot point 1 – All have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Plot point 2 – There is a way of escape provided and that way is Jesus. He died on the cross to pay for our sin and reconcile us back to the lost glory (Romans 5:8). Plot point 3– Life has no meaning without Jesus. He is the only way to God (John 14:6). Would you consider giving your life to Christ and avoid the punishment coming to all? Plot point 4 – Lead them in prayer of repentance.
• For others, you might start a warm friendship, invite them over to a cool party or even church, and then tell them about Jesus and all He can do for them.
• If someone is going through a situation, take a bold step and pray with them. Testimonies are a good way to make an unbeliever come to God.
• Use your life as a testimony. Share what God has done for you and let them know God can do the same for them.

Video:

Lesson application:Practice evangelism this week. Share the gospel with your neighbor, classmate, co-worker, even your unsaved friends. Use the evangelism guide. As we step out this week, mirror Christ.