How do we reach the lost all around us? Recently I was asked by a group of church leaders: “What are some ways you have helped to mobilize a church toward greater involvement in evangelism?” Here’s my answer to them, perhaps it will be helpful to you.
- Evangelism is about relationship 95% of the time. Therefore, we have taught people to follow the:
1) Love them unconditionally
2) Pay for them passionately
3) Accept them totally
4) Treat them as the equals they are
5) Befriend them by inviting them into our world
6) Live in their world (culture)
7) Love their world (culture) – easy to do when you start eating with them!
8) Become a part of their lives – their daily / weekly routine
9) Become a part of their families – their lives, events and loves
- Evangelism is about the favor and power of God. Jesus was very clear in Luke 24.48-49; Acts 1:8 that without the power of God, there will be no effective evangelism. Therefore, we teach people to follow the repeated model of Acts and gather the believers together for united prayer for power. When God provides that power, witnessing is natural to the Christ-follower. The Spirit enables us to witness effectively.
- Evangelism is about being equipped to “give an answer for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15) We need to understand the Gospel so that we can share it. One of the most powerful tools for witnessing is our own story. In our “Sharing Your Faith” seminar, we teach people how to share their faith and how to prepare their testimony so they are “always prepared” to witness of their walk with Christ.
- Evangelism is about going where the fish are. (Matthew 4.19; Mark 1.17) “And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ” (Mark 1:17, ESV) Since I have been an avid stream fisher, I know that you can’t expect the fish to come to you. You have to go to them. The average fisher doesn’t go more than 50’ from a paved road, thus most seldom catch much. Therefore, we train our people to do mission and ministry OUT THERE in the community. Coupling this principle with the previous one, we train our people to become “fishers of men.”
- Evangelism is about restoring the adventure to witnessing. Most men and women today have lost the sacrificial adventure of the Gospel. They simply do not think about the Great Commission and the enormous significance of a life lived and sacrificed on purpose for the eternal cause of Christ. Therefore, we restore the centrality of the Gospel (Luke 9.23-26; John 14.6; Romans 1:16-17, counting of the cost (Luke 14.25-33) and the eternal gratitude and reward of the Master for such a commitment (Matthew 19.25-30; Luke 19.11-27).
We would love to hear from you and discover how you reach the lost all around you. Please feel free to comment on this blog below.
