Encouragement for Evangelism

We concluded our evangelism study on Sunday night with a brief look at 2 Corinthians 4. Here are 4 truths that should give us massive encouragement for evangelism:

1. Unbelievers have been blinded to Jesus (v. 4).
2. God opens eyes and makes people see Jesus (v. 6).
3. God uses the means of human proclamation to open eyes (v. 5).
4. God uses us because we are weak, not because we are strong (v. 7).

Then, I gave 10 suggestions for making evangelism part of our lifestyle.

1. Be hospitable to unbelievers.
2. Serve unbelievers in practical and unexpected ways.
3. Keep the importance of evangelism fresh in your heart.
4. Ask people how you can pray for them.
5. Plan to suffer with joy.
6. Invest in people (get to know them).
7. Invest in resources to give to unbelievers.
8. Invite unbelievers to church.
9. Frequent the same places in order to build relationships with the workers.
10. Be a student of the gospel.

How to Start a Gospel Conversation

In order to do evangelism, we have to move conversations to the gospel. In every evangelistic encounter (whether with a total stranger or with our closest family member), there has to be a point of beginning to discuss the gospel.

Every journey has a starting point. And the reason many of us don’t tell people about Jesus is because we never start. We don’t take the initiative in bringing Christ into a conversation.

Here are 6 ways I encouraged my church to start gospel conversations. You don't have to use these. However you do it, initiate gospel conversations. How will those who don't know they need Christ hear unless someone starts a gospel conversation with them?

1. Look for natural transitions. Look for ways you can bring up Christ that flow from ordinary circumstances and conversations.

2. Use "basic" starter questions. For example, "Do you go to church in this area?" Or, "Do you have any religious beliefs?" These require a measure of boldness but will usually be answered by others and can lead to deeper conversations.

3. Use "deeper" questions that get to the heart of the gospel. For example, "If you were to die today, where do you think you would go?" Or, "Who is Jesus to you?"

4. Schedule it. Ask someone if you can meet for lunch and talk about spiritual things. This helps to take the edge off of an unexpected conversation.

5. Surveys. Surveys are a good way to find out what people believe so that you can know where to begin addressing their need for Christ.

6. Tracts. Tracts are a great way to get a gospel conversation started. And, they can be left with a person so that they can read it when they have more time. My favorite tract is this one by John Piper.

Spurgeon said, “When preaching and private talk are not available, you need to have a tract ready, and this is often an effectual method.  Some tracts would not convert a beetle; there is not enough in them to interest a fly. Get good striking tracts, or none at all.  But a telling, touching gospel tract may often be the seed of eternal life; therefore, do not go out without your tracts.”

10 Questions for Evangelism

Christ Baptist has started a study on Evangelism for Sunday nights through the summer. Last night, I led a discussion with 10 questions to try and lay a foundation for the rest of the study.  Here are the 10 questions:


What comes to mind when you think about evangelism? What do you think are some of the misconceptions about evangelism?
What is evangelism? Evangelism is telling others about Jesus Christ and how they can have an eternal relationship with Him.
Who should evangelize? Every follower of Jesus.
Why should we evangelize? Biblical motivations.
What is the goal of evangelism? Faithfulness not results ultimately.
What is our confidence in evangelism? The power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16).
What temptations do we face in evangelism? Things like altering the message to make it less offensive.
What are the most common obstacles to evangelism? My most common: Fear of man.
How can we grow as evangelists? Things like studying the gospel and thinking more about eternity.
How do we go about doing evangelism? That's what the rest of the study is going to be about.

The Best Graduation Gift

My neighbor graduated from High School a few weeks ago. I gave him a copy of John Piper's God is the Gospel as a graduation gift. Here is what I wrote to him:

Neighbor John,
Congratulations! High School is over! I know you are excited about what lies ahead. I'm confident God has good plans for you.

I know it doesn't seem like it now, but this book is the best graduation present you have received. It's not the best because your neighbor gave it to you. It's not the best because it is the most expensive. It's not the best because it's what you've always wanted. This book is the best present because the message it contains is the most important message in the world. This book is about a glorious God who has given us Himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ. No gift is more valuable than the gift of God Himself. I hope you will take time to read this book sometime soon. And I hope its message impacts your life as much as it has mine.

Thanks for being a great neighbor. Never hesitate to let us know if we can do anything for you.

Love,
Your Neighbors
Justin, Jeanna, Karis, Noah, and Calvin

Going Outside the Camp

Hebrews 13:13 calls us to go to Jesus outside the camp and bear the disgrace He endured. "Going outside the camp" is a metaphor for doing the hard thing and taking risks in identifying with Christ. We are called to follow a disgraced Savior. Here are just a few suggestions for practical ways we can obey this command in today's world:

• Don’t settle for a small, minimalistic devotional life. Be radical in your devotion to the bible and to the gospel.


• Give up your pursuit of the American Dream and embrace an all-encompassing purpose to make your life count for the gospel of Christ.


• Adopt a child.


• Get off the couch and go help someone. Get into someone's life. Spend your evenings serving others.


• Get involved in the mess of relationships.


• Get involved in a dispute and seek to be a peacemaker.


• Confront someone you see doing wrong (it is your business).


• Be the first one at church to help set up for Sunday morning and the last one to leave after its over (especially if you are part of a church plant!).


• Fund the adoption of a young family.


• Make every effort to be the most hospitable person in your church. Invite visitors out to lunch or to your house.


• Invite someone to dinner who you have nothing in common with. You may be annoyed by this person. You may feel like if you invite them, they’ll never leave and you’ll have to kick them out. They may have several young kids. They may break something in your house. They may smell bad. They might steal something.


• Chose to live in a “not as safe” neighborhood.


• Do foreign missions.


• Do evangelism. Don't worry about getting egg on your face.


• Stand up at a public event and humbly invite people to trust in Jesus.


• Cut your cable bill and use that money to fund a Bible Translation project.


• Start a work-place Bible Study.


• Organize a tutoring program for kids struggling in school.


• Give gospel tracts to cashiers and drive-through attendants.


• Visit a nursing home.

Feel free to offer more suggestions...

Good Book on Evangelism

Imagine this: A book on evangelism that focuses on the gospel. Marks of the Messenger is an inspiring and refreshing read. It is a passionate call to be faithful to the message. We don't need tricks and manipulative strategies for evangelism. We need a committment to the truth of the message. J. Mack Stiles helps us guard the gospel so that we can proclaim the gospel.

Gospel Implications for Evangelism

J. Mack Stiles gives us some implications of the gospel for personal evangelism. How does the message of the gospel inform our witness?

• The gospel shapes our view of people.
• We share our faith with joy, since our hearts are filled with gratitude about Christ's work in us.
• We can be generous with our faith since we know God's generous love.
• We do not fear the rejections of others since we know that we are accepted by God.
• We witness with humility since salvation is by grace through faith.
• We share without manipulation because true faith is from God alone and cannot be manipulated.
• We share freely with all because we know he redeemed us; as a result, there can't be difficult cases beyond the grace of God.
• Our proclamation of the gospel is filled with truth and grace because our message is filled with truth and grace.

Marks of the Messenger, pp. 57-58.

Autumn Resolutions

John Piper has a new article encouraging us to make some autumn resolutions by faith in Jesus.

Here is one I'm making today:

By God's grace and for His glory, I am going to attempt to personally give out 50 gospel tracts and 50 Christ Baptist Church invitations by the end of the year.

Here's what I'm going to do (pray for me):
I'm going to count out 50 of each and put them in a special stack. I'm going to put several in my pocket every day and give them out as I encounter people in my daily life. I trust God will open some doors for conversations about the gospel. For ideas and encouragement in evangelism (and good humor), read some of Rob's posts.

Tell Someone Today

My friend, Rob, has started a blog called, "Tell Someone Today: Attempts at doing the only thing you do with good news." He is posting the details of his daily attempts to share the gospel with people he meets.

I love this idea. I'm challenged by Rob's first couple of posts. I don't try to talk to strangers enough. Rob has been challenging me to share the gospel with people for over 10 years now.

Save his blog in your reader. I don't know of any others like it.

Tell someone today...

Outreach Idea

Desiring God is offering the new 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die Audio Book at a discounted price. You can get a case of 48 unabridged audio books for $95 (less than $2 each and free shipping). These retail for $16 each, so do the math to figure out what a deal this is.

I just ordered a case. Maybe some people who won't read a printed book will pop in an audio book and listen while they drive or exercise.

The Last Chapter is the Best

I must say that the last chapter of Finally Alive is the most helpful to me. After explaining the nature of the new birth for 14 chapters, Piper asks, "How can we help others be born again?" It is basically a chapter on personal evangelism.

His short answer is: "Tell them the good news of Christ from a heart of love and life of service."

After making clear that only God can open blind eyes, Piper writes (pp. 180-181):

"Don't stop because you can't do this. Of course you can't. Only God can open the eyes of the blind (2 Cor. 4:6). But the fact that you can't make electricity or create light never stops you from flipping light switches. The fact that you can't create fire in cylinders never stops you from turning the car key. The fact that you can't create cell tissue never stops you from eating your meals. So don't let the fact that you can't cause the new bith stop you from telling the gospel. That is how people are born again--through the living and abiding word, the good news of Jesus Christ."

He then gives 10 encouragements for speaking the gospel:

1. Know this: God uses clay pots.
2. Get resources to share.
3. Know that God may use many influences.
4. Be a lavish giver.
5. Find people interesting.
6. Invite people to church.
7. Fill the city with gospel teaching.
8. Use your giftings.
9. Read books on evangelism (see the particular books he recommends here).
10. Pray for boldness.

"If you feel average or below average in your fitness to share the gospel treasure, you are closer to the truth than someone who feels powerful and wise and self-sufficient."

Piper's Recommended Books on Evangelism

In chapter 15 of Finally Alive, Piper gives these 3 recommendations for books on evangelism:

1. Will Metzger's Tell the Truth
2. JI Packers Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
3. Mark Dever's The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Blood on Every Page, part 2

In the last post, I shared one of the ways God is teaching me to preach the gospel to myself every day. I write on the top of each page of Scripture I read how I see Christ revealed on that page. For those who care, here are some of the practical ways I am seeing fruit from this practice:

• This practice creates an excitement to get up and read God's Word. I am anticipating seeing the glory of Christ each morning. I can't wait to turn the page and see...
• This practice reminds me of my need. Most often, the aspect of Christ that I see is His willingness to bear my sin. Whenever a particular sin is present on that page of Scripture, Christ is there as the sin-bearer.
• This practice forces me to understand what I'm reading. It is easy just to continue reading in order to get done instead of reading to comprehend and apply. Looking for Christ makes me stop on ponder the actual meaning of the text.
• This practice forces me to think. It is not easy to see Christ on many of the pages of the Old Testament. He is there. I must simply think and pray.
• This practice is training me to make Christ my singular focus.
• This practice is filling my mind and heart with material for evangelism. Everyone I meet today has the same greatest need: Christ. If God gives me an opportunity today, I am ready to tell someone how God clothes us with Christ's righteousness if we place our faith in Him.
• This practice is expanding my "redemptive vocabulary." The more I see Christ revealed in different ways, the more ways I have to speak of His person and work.

Sharing Christ With the Window Guy

Friends, pray for me today. I am hoping for an opportunity to share Christ with a guy coming to install a new window in my office. Yesterday, he came by to measure the window and said he would be back today to install a new one. The office building I am in is replacing all the windows in the building.

To be honest: When he first told me that, my thought was: "Man, he is probably going to bother me and interupt my studying." That is my sinful selfishness. God reminded me that there are no such things as interuptions in His economy. This morning I have an unusual burden for this guy.

So, pray for me. Pray that I indeed would be here when he comes. Pray that God would begin to soften his heart. Pray that I would have the courage to bring Christ into the conversation.

Any "interuptions" in your life today?

Outreach Idea: The Gospel of John

Looking for an outreach idea?

Buy some copies of The Gospel of John, put a bookmark (business card/church card) at your favorite chapter, and give them away.

You can buy individual copies for $1.64 at WTS Books.

Or you can buy packs of 10 for $1 each at Crossway's site.

Other "outreach" Bibles can be seen and purchased here.

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Mark Dever has a new book on Evangelism. If I had to use one word to describe it, it would be: Motivating.

At the risk of looking ignorant:
Can someone please explain to me what the cover is supposed to mean? Who is that pointing and what is he pointing at?

Jesus, The Evangelist

I've been waiting for Jesus, The Evangelist to arrive since the day I heard about it. It looks like a fantastic meditation on Jesus' evangelistic encounters in the gospel of John.

"Believe in Jesus" - Encouragement to Speak of Christ

John Piper always encourages me. This short audio clip really encourages me.

I Love Jesus Christ!

Great post by Piper today. One to ponder. I'm going now to look for some people to tell how much I love Jesus Christ.

Share Jesus WITH Fear

"There are no easy steps to witnessing! No painless, unembarrassing methods! You must bring men to see that they are filthy sinners under the wrath of God who must flee to Christ for mercy. That is offensive. And there is no way to coat it with honey."

Chantry, Shadow of the Cross, p. 28.