Tom Nelson famously said: “Evangelism is a bunch of nobodies telling everybody about Somebody who can save anybody."
And Jesus didn’t merely say evangelize the nations, but go and make disciples of the nations, teaching them to observe all that he commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)
Today, a look at ten truths about evangelism that we may need to be reminded of today.
#1- Evangelism isn’t a fish on your car, a gold cross around your neck, your personal testimony, etc…—it’s proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.
Or, as Spurgeon said, “Evangelism is like one beggar telling another beggar where to go to find bread.”
#2 - Evangelism is as simple and scary and freeing as introducing people to Jesus.
The heart of evangelism is to know Jesus, to know non-Christians, and then to connect these dots.
#3 - We can be courageous and confident in missions and evangelism because we know that it depends on God and not on us.
The doctrine of sovereign election guarantees the ultimate success of evangelism, but never negates our personal responsibility to it. Ultimately, our evangelism is a fool’s errand unless God moves upon the hearts of men. Yet, he has promised to do just that through the gospel!
#4 - Evangelism does not start with a force of will, it starts on our knees.
The central prayer that we should think of in missions and evangelism is for awakening. We must pray for blind eyes to be opened. Almost everything we will have to say will be falling on a stony path unless there is a conviction of sin.
#5 - God calls us to be faithful to evangelize, not faithful to manipulate.
Yes, any church will either evangelize or fossilize—will be growing or dying. Yet, does our method of evangelism correspond to what we know about the supernatural nature of conversion: Are we trusting in God's Word and power?
#6 - What are the two things people want in hell? According to Jesus in Luke 16...
1. Mercy - "have mercy on me" (16:24) 2. Evangelism - "I beg you...send [Lazarus] to my father's house—for I have five brothers—so he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment" (16:27)
#7 - Don't make fun of past evangelism strategies when you're not doing evangelism today.
We can all look back on years past and think, “Why did they do that?” Maybe so! Yet, the great missionary Andrew Fuller said wisely: “We pray for the conversion and salvation of the world, and yet neglect the ordinary means by which those ends have been used to be accomplished.” Even if a little off in methodology, their heart to be faithful to evangelize seems to hold more weight than those that don’t do it all. #Convicting
#8 - Most Christians love evangelism, as long as somebody else is doing it.
Getting over the fear of evangelism is sometimes about getting over ourselves—our image, our pride—and our desire to be liked by everyone. Every person on the planet is a good evangelist. If evangelism is sharing good news, I've never met anyone who is bad at sharing good news. Don't over complicate the gospel. If you've experienced it, you're qualified to share it. Tell others what Jesus has done for you.
#9 - Evangelism, as important as it is, is not the only important thing in the church. Churches go off the rails when they think that it is
To say, "Never mind doctrine, let's just evangelize" is like a football team saying "never mind the ball, let's just play." There are many commands of Scripture that we must fulfill individually and corporately! So, then, what is the mission of the mission of the church? In short: evangelism, discipleship and church planting (Acts 14:21-23).
#10 - Your evangelism will sound like a used car salesman spiel when your Jesus is just an idea, not the living One that you actually know.
"I cry to you, O Lord: ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living’" (Psalm 142:5). May God grant us the wisdom and grace to evangelize and teach in such a way that every new convert and every old saint says: Christ is my refuge from hell and my treasure in heaven
