PERSONAL EVANGELISM

JOHN 4

Does This Describe You?• You want to talk to others about their

spiritual condition, but you aren't sure how to approach them. If spiritual subjects come up, you are afraid that you don't know what to say or forget useful Bible passages. So you want to be able to teach others, but you feel like it is too hard. Would you like to learn how Jesus can help you with this difficulty?

Principles of Personal EvangelismJohn 4

• Jesus is the Master Teacher• Jesus is our example for everything• Jesus converted a worldly woman of another

nationality in one conversation• Let us discover and apply His techniques and

principles for personal evangelism

1. Make Contact• Jesus came to seek and save the lost Lk 19:10• We are told to GO Mk 16:15-16, Matt. 28:18-20• Disregard physical distinctions 2 Cor. 5:16• Regard spiritual distinction 2 Cor. 5:14-17• Three physical distinctions (potential barriers):• Nationality v.9• Gender v.9• Morality Lk 7:39• Open your eyes v.35• Talk to strangers Matt. 5:47

2. Start with Immediate Need or Interest• Must have common ground• Why was the woman at the well?• Jesus asked for water v.7• This provoked her curiosity• Jesus made her more curious If you knew…• The gift of God• And who it is that asked you “Give me a drink”• You would have you and He would have given

you living water• What is she thinking now?

3. Create Awareness of Spiritual Need• Transitioned from her first interest into spiritual

application (sports, farming, fishing, etc.)• Relational concerns are symptoms of spiritual

needs • Emotional, spiritual needs cannot be filled by

physical things Eccl. 1• Transitioning from physical needs to awareness

of spiritual needs is an important step Jn 16:8• The need must be felt in order to be sought Luke

5:32 Prepared her heart to seek spiritual fulfillment

4. Reveal True Spiritual Need• Go call your husband v.16• Jesus made her see her need for a Savior v.17-19• Recognized she wasn’t living as the law said• True spiritual need was forgiveness• Another spiritual need is guidance v.20-24• This could have been a deflection from

conviction, but Jesus stayed on course• He had an objective—faith in Him as the

Messiah and Savior• She had faith that Messiah would come v.25

5. Fulfill the True Spiritual Need• I who speak to you am He v.26• Can be filled only when ready to receive them

John 16:12• Teach facts of the gospel to produce faith Rom.

10:17 and repentance Rom. 2:4• Teach commands of the gospel to receive God’s

grace (not earn salvation)• Faith must confess Rom. 10:9-10• Faith must obey Rom. 10:16; 6:17-18,3-7

Be Adaptive• The woman quickly changed the subject after the

conversation touched on her personal life. • Asked a general religious question• Jesus answered it with vital truth• Jesus emphasized what God is seeking from us• Be flexible by making an application of truth go in

that direction (God’s will)• The woman did as much talking as Jesus did• Do not dominate the discussion• Show willingness to listen not just speak Jm. 1:19• Win souls, not arguments

Do Not Be Judgmental• Not, do not judge Matt. 7:1• Jesus acknowledged the woman’s confession of

her unlawful marital status• He did not rebuke her• We are not to judge those outside the church 1

Cor. 5:12-13• They must be convicted of sin only after we have

demonstrated love, patience, and gentleness as servants of the Lord 2 Tim. 2:24-26

• Let us follow in Jesus’ footsteps

Fulfill the True Spiritual Need• Jesus is the Christ• Are you ready to receive Him? • facts of the gospel produce faith Rom. 10:17 and

repentance Rom. 2:4• Obey commands of the gospel to receive God’s

grace (not earn salvation)• Faith must confess Rom. 10:9-10• Faith must obey Rom. 10:16; 6:17-18,3-7 • Be baptized into Christ• Be raised to walk in newness of life