May 24th-Session 5 | Practical Evangelism
Evangelism-the promotion, proclamation, or preaching of the Gospel.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has 19 been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of 20 the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
● Be compelled by God’s love-Last week message. ● Be practical- Sometimes the most spiritual things we do can be practical. ● (Apologetics) Be a student of the Word- Some see apologetics as only getting into long debates and arguments with non-believers and not true evangelism. Apologetics done well is working to help prepare a person’s heart to receive the gospel. It's not about winning a debate of knowledge, science, or reason but rather serving up the gospel in an intellectual way for them to be moved upon not in the intellect but the heart. Good apologetics is evangelism. ● Be obedient-Your lifestyle should be a loud voice of God’s love to the world. ● Be self-sacrificing-Evangelism isn’t always convenient or fun. The harvest is not about us, but bringing glory to God. We all get to be a part of the harvest as a fruit of abiding in Christ. ● Be intentional-There are so many missed opportunities because we are not intentional with the gift of evangelism. ● Be available-Am I a vessel that God calls upon because of my availability? ● Be listening for the spirits leading-The Holy Spirit will lead us into and through evangelism in our daily lives. (this may be the most important part of this) ● Be in prayer about this aspect of our life-Who am I actively seeking out in prayer before I ever say anything? Do I talk about how horrible sinners are or do I cry out to God in prayer for their salvation? ● Take the time with people to disciple them- (evangelism is not a one-time event) God is drawing and orchestrating people’s journey to him and we sometimes get to play a part in that.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through 6 whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, 7 Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who 8 gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his 9 own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
John 4:34-38
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent 35 Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already 36 white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he 37 who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 38 ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
Acts 3:1-10 (Peter and John, on their way to church they actually stopped and ministered to someone. They did not allow their church attendance to get in the way of making Christ known.)
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the 2 hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from 3 those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John 4 about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his 5 eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up 7 and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received 8 strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the 9 temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all 10 the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 13:1-4 (Paul & Barnabas left and traveled intentionally to share Jesus with the world)
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with 2 Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas 3 and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent 4 them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Acts 8:26-31 (Philip was listening and obedient)
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from 27 Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her 28 treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the 29 prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 9:10-19 (Ananias was listening and obedient even though it put his life in danger)
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”And he 11 said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas 12 for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in 14 Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to 15 bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before 16 Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him 17 how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Give clear practical day to day ways
● Frisbee Golf give away ● Food distribution to neighbors ● Relational-intentionally develop conversations with people to cultivate the gospel into them. ● Catalyst Gear or other outward signals (seriously this works. Be prepared to share with people who ask) (having your bible or bible-based books on your desk at work or in living room at home) ● Funnel conversations with people to Christ. ● Social Media-Do you display Christ’s love online? ● Invite people to church. ● Get prayerfully creative.