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
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!
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