Evangelism: The Christian's Mission
Welcome to episode #9 of our Basic Believer Training series! This is the final installment of this particular topic. Here’s a review of what we’ve gone over:
The glossary of Christian terminology.
The basics of prayer.
How to read your Bible.
Attending church.
Baptism.
Communion.
Tithing and giving offering
Spiritual warfare: the fight ahead.
So here we are at the capstone topic of what it means to be a Christian. We’re going to get you started in the exciting world of evangelism!
Imagine this: Your house is on fire, you and your whole family are trapped inside. You manage to escape, but as you observe the firefighters outside working you notice most of them are sitting there talking about how much they love their captain, polishing their fire engine, arguing over how fires are extinguished and thinking about whether or not your family would appreciate being rescued. What punishment would you expect for those fireman?
Most severe of punishment. The firemen are guilty of dereliction of duty. They are letting people fry in the house fire. It is their duty to go and save them.
Listen to this podcast to be uplifted and encouraged to share your faith.
What is evangelism?
First, What is it not?
For the self righteous
Not promotion of a denomination, church, or Pastor.
Not a call to earn God's favor.
Not a call to a more pleasant life
Never a call to a fat wallet
Never a call to a christian idol who is only all loving all the time, and never judges. Who “lovingly” tolerates and excuses all manner of sin and social corruption.
Never a call to a God who is tolerant of a lifestyle of lying, thieving, fornicating, same sex attraction, partying, use of drugs for recreational purposes, and idolatry. 1 Cor 6:9-10
Not A call to politics or a political party or a social responsibility
What or who the Gospel is for:
Sinner, or the unrighteous
Liar
Thief
Worrier
One who has a Chaotic life
The wealthy and poor
Poor in spirit
Fornicator, user of porn
One who has attraction to the same sex
A partyer
Drug addicts or alcoholic
Idolators
Unrepentant
Someone who is ready to repent, or for God to give them a new way of thinking, or a different lifestyle
People with boogers
People who poop
Note: the last two humorous bullet points indicate that the Gospel is for ALL people for ALL time. As long as a person is breathing, they can be saved. The Gospel is for them.
Isaiah 53:3
Come, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as wool.
The Gospel is for those who are humble, who admit their wrong against God, who know they belong in hell, those who call out to the God of the Bible for mercy.
Jesus's Sermon on the Mount is a description of a sinner ready to repent and have new life It also describes a Christian's heart who perseveres in their testimony and lifestyle.
Matthew 5:1-9
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Why should we do it?
God said so:
I say the same thing to my children. They don't obey me either.
This is actually a valid point or argument. The issue is one of authority. Parents have authority over children, the government has authority over its people, and God has authority over everything. The Roman Centurion understood this when he asked Jesus to heal his beloved servant. Jesus marveled at his faith. (Mat 8:8)
(Matt. 28:18-20) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We have a responsibility to evangelize the lost. After all, you were once lost too. Remember? (Ezekiel 33:7-9) 7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
Here's an article Willie wrote explaining it further. www.scfministry.com/single-post/Watchmen-Fail
The fate of the lost is bleak and horrible. What kind of person does it take to neglect sharing the Good News that people can be saved from the Great White Throne Judgement in light of Revelation 20:11-15? Ravi Zacharias says it’s like walking down the halls of a cancer ward having the cure to their cancer in your pocket the whole time, yet never saying a word and keeping it all to yourself. Can this be described as dereliction of duty.
Rev 20:11-15 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
It reveals the spiritual condition of your heart. A person who has a healthy relationship with God will have a desire to evangelize and the will to act on it and do it. Yes, it’s scary. But if we do it anyway regardless of the fear factor, that is an indicator of a healthy relationship with God. (Matthew 25:14-30) 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The parable of the ten talents show the relationship of the servants to their master. Each servant was given according to their ability. Each had the opportunity to enter into the joy of the master. The last, did not know the master, and accused him of moral failure (sounds like an atheist). The last servant was cast into hell.
Why would a Christian not want to?
We, ourselves are not saved from the justice of God
We do not know what to say.
We have not been taught incorrectly by our Pastors and teachers
We are more concerned how we “feel” or appear to a sinner than their eternal destination, afraid to offend.
We tried to evangelize family and friends with disastrous results
We were made fun of in school for our faith
We temporarily fall into sin, and think God won't use us.
How do I begin?
Pray
Attend a church which will support Biblical evangelism
Subscribe to SCFministry.com newsletter and podcast.
Listen to past 9 programs
Listen to HELL’S BEST KEPT SECRET https://www.livingwaters.com/hells-best-kept-secret/
Listen to TRUE AND FALSE CONVERSION https://youtu.be/RIb3YcwUbG4
Find a Bible based evangelistic message. Don't use a message which promises happiness, peace with God, or wealth.
Study it
Practice it
Purchase Bible tracts
Get used to passing tracts to strangers
Be friendly, look people in the eye and say “Hi”
Begin using tracts to start spiritual conversations.
You can start having SHORT conversations with service staff. They are busy working. If you give waitstaff a tract, leave a big tip. Be a good witnesses for Christ.
Realize repentance and faith do not come by you, or your apologetic
Get together with a like-minded Christian, and spur one another on to good works and Godliness. (If you go evangelising with John, be aware, he gets the angry people who curse and make rude gestures.)
Finally, here's an inspirational story of the man we were talking about from Sydney Australia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtjrtHZbHNc
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