Sharing the Gospel

Some Observations on Evangelism

A Fishing Story

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.” Mt 4:19

We are Commanded to Fish

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Mark 16:15

GO

SPEL

We are Told What to Fish With

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for

the hope that you have. 1Peter 3:15

Everyone Should be Able to Fish

So, why aren’t we fishing?

What are we afraid of?

What is the first thing you say to someone?Number 1 Question:

Looking for a mechanistic approach

In your heart set apart Christ as Lord.1

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who

asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

1Peter 3:15

Where Our Hearts are…

“for where your treasure is, there your

heart will be also.” Mt 6:21

PASSION

We Already Know How to Talk with Strangers

PASSION

PASSION

PASSION

PASSION

PASSION

PASSION

Landon Caroline

Common sense is needed when speaking to “outsiders”

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech

always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to

each person.” Colossians 4:5-6

“If the fire is there the methods will take care of themselves.”

PASSION

Some Wise Person

Where is our passion?Why don’t we have more passion

for the gospel?

PASSION

JUSTICE MERCY

We will never appreciate God’s mercyif don’t understand His justice

Perhaps we are missing a sense of what God has done for us.

Just not Motivated

ALIVE

These People are DEAD but

need to be made ALIVE$1,000

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” Luke 15:4-5

Perhaps we don’t have a love for the lost.

We are “the one”

We must develop a sympathy for people and a realization they are “dead” forever without the gospel.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the

course of this world…” Eph. 2:1-2

Perhaps we don’t have a love for the lost.

“I see dead people. They are walking around like regular people. They don’t know they are dead…and they need my help.”

Do you see dead people? Do you care?

“Sixth sense” approach.

“So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin

these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, if You will, forgive

their sin--and if not, please blot me out from Your book

which You have written!”Ex. 32:32

Whaaaaat!?

“I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart, for

I could wish that I myself were accursed,

separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen

according to the flesh,”Romans 9:3

Whaaaaat!?

Perhaps we think we don’t know enough.

Realize that the gospel is empowering

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1Co 2:1

Perhaps we are afraid of rejection.Christianity, in all of its forms is now openly mocked in all arenas of our culture (news, movies, etc.)

(Matthew 10:32-33) "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before

men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. "But

whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who

is in heaven.

We must be courageous!

Always be prepared to give an answer

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the

hope that you have. 1Peter 3:15

2

• Do your homework.• Study the materials, backgrounds,

arguments, scriptures, etc.• Develop the “will to win” • (which is really the “will to prepare to

win”)

PREPARATION

Develop interest

PREPARATION

Study together

Role play

Builds confidence

PRACTICE

To everyone who asks you3

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope

that you have. 1Peter 3:15

Matthew Mark Luke John YOU!

The Fifth Gospel

Give the reason for your hope4

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give

an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the

hope that you have. 1Peter 3:15

if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the

gospel that you have heard, Colossians 1:23

What is the Hope Within Us?

The Hope of the Gospel

“I am not ashamed of the gospel for it

is the power of God for

salvation...”Roman 1:16

How do we convert people?

The “Bible Study”

PentecostActs 2:14-41 Believed, Confessed Believed,

Confessed

SamaritansActs 8:5-13 Believed Believed

Ethiopian EunuchActs 8:35-39 Believed, Confessed Believed,

Confessed

CorneliusActs 10:34-48 Believed Believed

LydiaActs 16:13-15 Believed Believed

The JailorActs 16:25-34 Believed Believed

First Gospel Sermon

Preached Christ

Preached Jesus

Preached gospel

Preached gospel

Word of the Lord

BaptizedV38-41

BaptizedV12-13

BaptizedV38

BaptizedV48

BaptizedV15

BaptizedV33

One Session

One Session

One Session

One Session

One Session

One Session

The Gospel Can Be Shared In One Session!

Jews

Non-Jews

Proselyte

Gentile

Worshipper

Pagan

Where do I Start?

Parable of the Sower

Beside the Road

Rocky Ground

Among the Thorns

Good Soil

Mark 4:3-14

Sow the seed!

What is our objective?

Soil InspectorsWhen we focus on results we become

Not too rocky, Not too thorny – it’s just right!

Yep – that’s good soil!

Soil Preparers

When we focus on results we become

The soil is ready, time to pop in the gospel!

Every time you sow the seed

You are Successful!(regardless of the results!)

What Approach Should I Take?

Turn our buildings,

classes, and worship into an evangelistic tool

What Approach Should I Take?

Modeled after the marketing methods employed by evangelicals to create

“mega churches”

“Churches adoption of marketing fads will actually hurt in the long run.

Megachurches are the triumph of the generic. By copying their approach mainline Protestant churches are

speeding their own numerical decline. Megachurches have found an innovation

in marketing but these can go up in smoke in a minute.”

“Branding Faith: Why Some Churches Impact Culture and Others Don’t”, Phil Cooke

“What we attract people with is what they are converted to.”Some Wise Person

Are we Painting the Pig?

What do we “attract” people with?

• Our buildings?• Our singing?• Our classes?• Our study materials?• Our friendliness?• Our worship services?• Our doctrinal correctness?• Our marketing?• Our money?• Our middle-classness?

We “attract” people with the gospel

“I am not ashamed of the gospel for it

is the power of God for

salvation...”Roman 1:16

The Magic Bullet

THE GOSPEL

The Power is in The Message

• Not in our ability

• Not in our cleverness

• Not in our “attractiveness”

WE WANT RESULTS!

Gospel HelperJust Add Good Intentions!

Appeals to Everyone

NOW WITH WATER OPTIONAL!

Get Those Church Numbers up in No Time!

• Make it more “attractive”

• Institutionalize it

• Change it

• Abandon it

Gospel HelperJust Add Good Intentions!

Appeals to Everyone

NOW WITH WATER OPTIONAL!

Get Those Church Numbers up in No Time!

Turn Inward Part 1:

Heresy DetectorsGospel Helper

Just Add Good Intentions!

Appeals to Everyone

NOW WITH WATER OPTIONAL!

Get Those Church Numbers up in No Time!

Turn Inward Part 2:

Perfect WorshippersGospel HelperJust Add Good Intentions!

Appeals to Everyone

NOW WITH WATER OPTIONAL!

Get Those Church Numbers up in No Time!

We need a faith-based approach (faith in the gospel) rather than a results or methods focused approach!

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Mark 16:15

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel wherever it produces the

best results!”Mark 16:15

May Need to Kill Some Sacred Cows

With gentleness and reverence

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give

an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope

that you have.

But do this with gentleness and reverence.

1Peter 3:15ATTITUDE!

Passion

Attitude

Know the Gospel

Becoming an Effective Sower

EVANGELISM

Evangelism

Passion

AttitudeKnow

the Gospel

If we are missing Passion we are not going to sow.

Evangelism

Passion

AttitudeKnow

the Gospel

If we are missing Attitude

then when we sow we will beat people

up.

Evangelism

Passion

AttitudeKnow

the Gospel

If we don’t know

The Gospel we will either

burn out, teach

a different gospel, or focus on

growth tactics.

5 Stages of Evangelistic “Maturity”

AVOIDANCE

Never share the

gospel with

anyone

RELUCTANCE

• Let others do it• If the subject

comes up, retreat• Unprepared and

unwilling to share the gospel

• That is what my money is for!

STAGE

Occasionally will

discuss religion

with someone

• But they have to bring it up

• Usually only when backed into a corner

• Not very prepared• That is what my

preacher is for!

EQUIPPED

Occasionally will

share the gospel with

someone

• Need a push from someone else

• Have spent some time in preparation

• Prefer to assist someone else

• Still quite afraid of rejection

• That what our church should do!

CONFIDENT

Ready, willing,

and able to share

the gospel with

anyone• Will go for it when

the opportunity presents itself

• Have spent significant time in preparation

• Comfortable with message but lacking in zeal

• Often motivated by guilt

COMMITTEDActively pursue sharing

the gospel with

anyone, anytime, anywhere

• Passionate and consumed with the mission to sow the seed

• Actively seeks opportunities to share the gospel

• Encourages and tries to help others

• Motivated by joy

1 2 3 4 5

EVERYONE deserves the opportunity to either accept or reject

the gospel!

You Can Do It!Every Christian should be able to share the gospel with anyone. We need:

PASSION - In your heart, generate some passion and zeal TO KNOW THE GOSPEL and practice sharing with othersA LOVE FOR THE LOST -Teach the gospel message to others with gentleness and reverenceEXAMPLE - Let others see your service, joy and passion for what God has done for you!

Get it!

Learn it!

Share it!

Live it!