EVANGELISM FOR EVERYONE

What comes to your mind when you hear the word evangelism ?

Mostly there are three responses:

indifference

excitement

fear

Most of those who thought of fear often think“I can’t do that!!!”

You might not consider yourself an evangelist. While you may not have the special gift of evangelism, all Christians are called to reach out to others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As a result we need to rethink about our approaches to evangelism

Because God cares just as much as our method as he does to our message

six evangelism styles You may fall into more than one category

Even if you don’t fall perfectly into one or several of these approaches see the variety of opportunities that are all around you for sharing the gospel.

1-DIRECT APPROACH

This is the Apostle Peter’s approach in Acts 2, boldly proclaiming the Gospel to whoever would hear

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(Acts 2:37-38)

Main Characteristics

CONFIDENT

BOLD

DIRECT

SKIPS SMALL TALK, LIKES TO GET RIGHT TO THE POINT

HAS STRONG OPINIONS AND CONVICTIONS

Cautions

Be sure to seek God’s wisdom so you will be appropriately sensitive and tactful

Allow the Holy Spirit to restrain your desire to come on strong in every situation

Avoid judging or laying guilt on others who approach evangelism with different styles

2-INTELLECTUAL APPROACH

The intellectual approach to evangelism is what Paul modeled in Acts 17 when he reasoned with philosophers and the deep thinkers of Athens and is today practiced by apologists and other logical thinkers

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (Acts 17:22-25)

Main Characteristics

Patient

Analytical and logical

Love to debate

Shows love through action more than words

More concerned about how people think than how they feel

Cautions

Avoid getting stuck on academic points, arguments, and evidence. They are mainly to clear the way back to the central Gospel message.

Remember that attitude is as important as information. 1 Peter 3:15 says to have “gentleness and respect.”

(win the person not the argument )

Avoid becoming argumentative

3- TESTIMONIAL APPROACH

Personal stories of transformation carry a unique weight and often do things that facts alone cannot do.

This is clearly seen in the blind man of John 9 who was healed by Jesus and then testified about Christ, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see!”

In John 9:3, Jesus explains that the entire reason this man was born blind was “that the works of God might be displayed in him.” That means that God custom-made this man specifically for this evangelistic approach!

Main Characteristics

Clear communicator

Good listener

Overwhelmed by the account of how God reached them

Sees links between their own experience and that of other people’s

Cautions

Be sure to relate your experience to the life of your listener. This requires first hearing enough about your friend’s life to know how to relate your story to their situation.

Do not stop with merely telling your story. Challenge them to consider how what you learned might apply to their life.

Avoid downplaying the value of your story because it seems too ordinary. The ordinary story is the kind that relates best to ordinary people!

4- Interpersonal Approach

Matthew in Luke 5:27-29 serves as the perfect example

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

This style of evangelism is often labeled “Friendship evangelism.”

Main characteristics

Conversational

Compassionate

Sensitive

Friendship oriented

Focuses on people and their needs

Cautions

Beware of valuing friendship over truth Telling them they are sinners in need of a savior will test the relationship.

Do not get so involved in the process of building friendships that you forget the ultimate goal: bringing people to know Christ as forgiver and leader.

Do not get overwhelmed with the amount of needs your friends might have – do what you can and leave the rest to God.

5. INVITATIONAL APPROACH

The invitational approach is similar to the interpersonal approach. This is one of the most natural ways believers are able to reach out to others even if they may not have the right words to say.

The Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well in John 4. After Jesus struck a conversation with her and revealed he was the Messiah, this woman ran back to her town and said to the people

“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29).

Main Characteristics

Hospitable

Persuasive

Enjoys meeting new people

Committed (believes in the things in which he or she is involved)

Enthusiastic

Spiritually opportunistic

Cautions

Do not get discouraged if people refuse your invitations. Their refusal could be an opportunity for a spiritual conversation.

Also, their “no” today may be a “yes” tomorrow.

6. SERVICE APPROACH

People who prefer this approach often enjoy sharing the love of Christ through deed over word. People with the gift of hospitality often fall into this approach.

The biblical example of this approach is Tabitha in Acts 9:36-42. She is described as “full of good works and acts of charity,” who used her gift of making clothing for God’s glory. In this biblical episode, Tabitha died, causing much grief among the widows who knew her. Her ministry touched many widows as we can see in verse 39, “All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that she made while she was with them.” They called the apostle Peter to help, and help he did—Peter raised Tabitha to life.

Mother Theresa

Main characteristics

Patient

Others-centered

Sees needs and finds joy in meeting them

Shows love through action more than words

Attaches value to even menial tasks

Cautions

Remember that although “words are no substitute for actions,” “actions are not substitute for words.” In Romans 10:14 Paul says that we must verbally tell people about Christ. You can do this in many ways as you point to Him as the central motivation for your acts of service.

Do not underestimate the value of your service. It is your style that will reach people who are the most negative and hardened toward God. Acts of loving service are hard to resist and difficult to argue with.

Be discerning as to how much you can do realistically, without depriving yourself or your family of needed care and attention.

Sharing these six approaches should not force you into one approach that seems to fit you the best, but should help us realize the great diversity of ways God can use our strengths and personalities to reach others with the

message of the Gospel.