EVANGELISM

GROUND OF TRUTH BIBLE INSTITUTE

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EVANGELISM ADVANCED CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP 100 LEVEL

& BASIC MINISTERIAL TRAINNING

EVANGELISM

      INTRODUCTION

           Without Yesterday Missionaries, there would not be Today Christians.

The work of soul winning is the only work that the Lord commissioned all believers in the time of His ascension (Mk. 16:15). But it is painful that it is only few people that have compassion that are doing the work, though to go out from one’s house to another man’s house is a big work. It is only those that have compassion for souls alone that can do such work. Only compassion of soul can dis-allow shame. Don’t forget that the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross between two thieves, on the town heap, at cross road, so cosmopolitan that they have to write His title in Hebrew and Latin and Greek.

Therefore, such a place is where Christians can best share their message of love because, that is what real Christianity is all about. Let us remember that the Holy Spirit “Moves” through us. We are His Temple. If we are too busy to witness He has no other channel to minister through. He lives in our bodies.

Sinners in your community will never be visited by our Lord, if you do not go and speak in His Name.

Those who are sick and in prison shall never be visited by the Holy Spirit if we do not go to them in His Name.

Men shall never see God-except as they see Him in you. Christ’s love, can only be manifested through your life. His compassion and concern for lost souls can only be exhibited through you. Some Christians say Oh! Yes, we have compassion for the lost, because we hold special prayer meeting for the lost. My friend, this is not what Christ told us to do. He did not told you to go to church and ring bell, or engage in praying for sinners to come in.

He commanded: “Go out into the high ways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled (Lk. 14:23). When we talk of soul winning, we must remember this basic fact: sinners don’t go to church. So we can’t reach these lost multitudes inside the church. We must go outside the church to win them.

A fisherman doesn’t go fishing in his bathtub, and a farmer doesn’t harvest grain in his dinning room, Christians go out where the sinners are.

To add to your burden and mine as of 1972, there are fifteen million Jews, 315 million Mohammedans; 170 million Buddhists; 350 million of others for whom Christ died and whom are mainly unreached with the blessed Gospel. In America 27 million youth are unreached, 99 people died every minute and 1 million every week.

Beloved, I want you to know that: No Pentecost without plentycost. It must cost you plenteous before you become what God wants. Your having anointing or gift of the Holy Spirit is not enough. You need to evangelise, so that your anointing will be flowing well. (Mk. 16:15).

Brethren, do the work of evangelism as if you have no other time to do it. For if not you, then who? If not now then when? Salvation is a matter of individuality.

THE DEFINITIONS

a.       Evangelism is to bear witness to the gospel with soul a flame, and to teach and preach with express purpose of making disciples of those who hear. Act 7:54

b.       Evangelism is to communicate effectively the good news of Christ and His salvation so that individual will willfully make a decision for or against it.

c.       Evangelism is proclamation of the gospel with the purpose of persuading condemned and lost sinners to put their trust in God.

THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF EVANGELISM

          God is the creator of man, after man has been created, God blessed man and put in the garden of Eden on probation. (Gen. 2:15-17). Man fell and God’s judgment fell upon the serpent, Satan, the woman; man, the earth and all creations. (Gen. 3:14-19; Rom. 1:18-25). It was this sin that caused separation between God and man. Irrespective of the condition or choice of man, all are now sinners before God. (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 5:12). That had given opportunity to Satan to do whatever he wishes to man. The whole world are under condemnation, wrath and curses since then.

          Sin affected man’s physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, moral life from that time. Man only needs someone to bring him back to God, who created him.

EVANGELISM INVOLVEMENT

a.       Walking – God is the first Evangelism who went to Eden

b.       Out where the sinners are.

c.       Calling unto.

d.       Compassion – take caring for them.

          They heard the sound of God, and they hid themselves. They can never see God anymore, but they heard His sound. The question to you is that, are you still seeing God in your life, church Ministry, business or you hear His sound only?

DIFFERENT METHODS OF EVANGELISM

          There are many methods of Evangelism, but one message, one purpose and one goal.

The methods include:

a.     Mass or city Evangelism

b.     Street Evangelism

c.      Village Evangelism

d.     Literature Evangelism

e.      Drama Evangelism

f.       Tracts Evangelism

g.     Film Evangelism

h.     Audio Evangelism, e.g. Radio Cassette and Telephone.

i.       House to House Evangelism

j.       Hospital and Prison Evangelism.

HISTORY OF EVANGELISM

Discussing the history of Evangelism will lead us to some problems affecting Evangelism.

THE DEATH OF EVANGELISM

          Evangelism died in the whole world, by 400AD. In the Centuries which quickly followed The New Testament times, the Church was entangled in theological controversy, which took the place of soul-winning and apostasy resulted, therefore by 4th century the Dark Ages had already begun for the next 1, 000 years, God was almost without a true Evangelical witness.

REBIRTH OF EVANGELISM

          With the protestant reformation in 1, 500’s came a rediscovery of Biblical requirements for salvation. i.e. justification by faith, with that came the necessity to evangelise. After the death and with the rebirth of Evangelism came the revival of mass Evangelism, i.e. since about 1, 730 years ago. Personal Evangelism was neglected, everybody focused on mass Evangelism alone.

PERSONAL EVANGELISM

          Personal Evangelism is a definite effort of a believer to lead a definite person to a definite saviour at a definite time. Acts:20:20; Pro:11:30.

          Preachers and missionaries often get busy with meetings and classes to the extent of forgetting the private touch of personal soul-winning. And no one is too big than personal Evangelism. This is the time when all when all Christians, minister or lay members should be re-awakened to the ministry of personal Evangelism. Few are called to be preachers but are called to be soul-winners.

SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATIONS

          In everything created by God, God put the power to re-produce.

1.     BIOLOGICAL MULTIPLICATION: Tree of any kind and animals etc.

2.     SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION:          As things created by God reproduce physically, so also should we reproduce and multiply spiritually.

a.     Jesus example. Mk. 3:14-15; 16:20; 4:18-22

b.     His command. Jn. 15-16; Matt. 28:19-21

c.      Followed by early church. Acts. 2:42-44; 11:22-26; 20:20.

d.     Paul a good example. Acts. 14:21-22; 2 Tim. 2:2.

3.     BARRENESS:    This is a bad omen. As physical parents will always complain about their children that are barren, and always cast the blame upon the wife, so also God is not happy with any of His children that is barren spiritually.

4.     STAGNANCY:   This is unflowing water; non pouring out and non receiving water, such water will create a lot of problems to the people at that community.

These are things that can be found in stagnant waters:

i.                   Mosquitoes.    

ii.                 Refuse Joint.

iii.              Undrinkable to the people

iv.              Snakes can live in it 

v.                 Stinking.

vi.              Danger to the children that are playing near by.

vii.            It will be a sorrow instead of joy.

Stagnancy appeared two times in the Bible, and God dealt with it, and allowed smooth flowing in these two times.

a.     BABEL CONFUSSION:       God commanded that men should spread out and reach out to the uttermost part of the world but the people decided against God’s command. God had to use this power to confuse them and forced them to spread out. Gen. 11:1-9. A Church which does not preach the gospel is not flowing and it is stagnant and such condition is very dangerous to the Church growth.

b.    THE EARLY CHURCH:      In Acts 6:1, also Acts 8:1-4 there is a record of another stagnancy when the early Church members were multiplying daily, and there was no arrangement for evangelistic programmes, there was a big problem. God also allowed the “Jews” to stoned Stephen the evangelist to death. By then there was a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem, and all members were scattered abroad and the bible said “those that were scattered went and preached the word all about”. Therefore, train the brethren and give them what to do, send them out to go and preach.

THE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION

i.                   From Paul the Apostle to Timothy

ii.                 From Timothy to the faithful men.

iii.              From faithful men to the others.

WHAT IS GOSPEL?

          The Gospel is two Greek words joined together to make one. Gos and Pel. Therefore “Gos” means Good and “Pel” means News.

So Gospel means GOOD NEWS.

          There different kinds of Gospel e.g. House warming, Giving Birth, Weddings, purchase of car e.t.c. But the Gospel we are mandated to preach is of our Lord Jesus Christ, to let the sinners know the Good news of the the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus.

WHY GOSPEL?

          The reason why we must preach the Good News is that, first news after resurrection of Jesus was a bad one (Matt. 28:11-25). In contrast to Mk. 16:15. He now commanded the disciples to go and preach the Gospel. Gospel is the power of God that works in the lives of sinners unto salvation. If not the gospel of Christ, it will not save Rom. 1:16.

SALVATION

          Salvation hung on these important things:

1.     His virging birth & life

2.     His suffering and death

3.     His burial

4.     His resurrection

5.     His ascension.

GOSPEL MESSAGE PRESENTATION

          As we are going out of Evangelism, we need to realize that we will meet three types of people that are bound in the religious sects.

They are as follows:

-         Nominal Christians

-         Muslim and

-         Pagans.

The devil used the devices of religions to close the gate of the heart of the people. Jesus told Peter “Follow me; I will make you fisher of men”. In this verse of the Bible there are two types of fishing e.g. NETTING AND HOOKING systems.

1.     NETTING:          Net will bring many kinds of fishes out of the water, this is otherwise known as mass evangelism.

2.     HOOKING: Hook will bring nothing out of the water but a fish, and this otherwise known as personal/person to person evangelism.

Even though fishes are animate being, they have little knowledge; but they can discern food, death and danger. No wise fisherman will cast ordinary hook into the river. Before this hook, there is a bait (IJE), there is also a sinker that tells the fisherman that fish is at the hook underneath (though it could not be seen) the water.

Likewise a soul winner must “cover” the truth with baits which is the love of God. This basic Gospel message outline, though exhaustive will be of help to soul-winner or discipler.

GOOD NEWS

          We have the Good News to proclaim. It is Good News about what God does for mankind in Christ Jesus. Lk. 2:10-14; I Cor. 15:3.

The soul winner may present the gospel in this way:

STEP 1:     God the creator of all universe and things there in is good. He loves you and wants you to experience abundant life and peace here now and eternally. Gen. 1:26-27; Jn. 10:10; 14:27; 16:33; 3:16; Rom. 5:1.

STEP 2:     Since God planned abundant life and peace for man, why are most people not having this experience?

REASON:  Man is sinful and separated from the holy God. God created us in His own image to have abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him but gave us a will and freedom of choice. We choose to disobey God and go our own sinful way.

We still make this choice today. The result is separation from God.

MAN HAS THESE PROBLEMS OF SEPARATION

PROBLEM 1 -    All have sinned. Rom. 3:23; Isa. 53:6; Lk. 19:10; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3.

PROBLEM 2 -    All are under God’s condemnation and heading towards His judgement. Ezek. 18:4: Heb. 9:27; Rom. 6:23; Jn. 5:22; Heb. 10:31; Rev. 20:1015; 21:8.

PROBLEM 3 -    All are under the power & curse of sin, the devil and his fallen angels. Isa. 48:22; 57:20; Matt. 15:19-20; Rom. 3:10-18; Gal. 5:19-21.

PROBLEM 4 -    Because God is Holy, man sinful and separated from God; there is a deep gulf between the two. Through the ages individuals have tried in many ways to bridge this gap, but without success, therefore man cannot save himself.

Man’s effort includes the followings. Note what the scripture says about them. Pro. 14:12; Isa. 59:2.

a.     Self righteousness or doing good. Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9.

b.     Doing as much as I can, or self justification. Jer. 17:9; 13:23; Rom. 3:10.

c.      Prayers for the dead. Lk. 16:26; 2 Cor. 6:2; Isa. 55:6-7.

d.     Keeping the laws: John 7:19; Matt. 5:27-28; 22:34-40; Gal. 3: 10-13; 2:10.

e.      Putting saints or angels or defined ancestors in place of mediator between man and God. e.g. Raphel, Michael, Mary, Peter, Paul, Ogun or any idol. Acts. 4:12; I Tim. 2:5.

f.       Asceticism. Col. 2:18-23

g.     Religious rights of any kind or being religious. Acts 4:12; Jer. 2:22; Acts 10.

h.     Offerings, tithes or “SAKAT”. Though it is good to do these but they cannot save anybody. Ps. 49: 6-8; I Cor. 3:11, 15; 2 Cor. 5:10; 14:10-12.

i.       Holy pilgrimage of any kind. Acts. 4:12 and many other things can’t save. Since all human efforts to bridge this gap are without success. What then can bring us back to God our Creator?

STEP 3 -    GOD’S REMEDY – CHRIST

          God has bridged the gap which separated us from Him by sending His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place, and rose from the grave to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus Christ is the only answer to man’s problems of separation. I Tim. 2:5; Rom. 5:8; I Pet. 2:24; Gal. 3:13; Rom. 6:23; Jn. 14:6.

          Now that God has bridged the gap of separation the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His son, how then can I be reconciled to Him?

STEP 4 -    OUR RESPONSE:

Man has to respond to God’s call to salvation. The choice is yours.

You choose salvation by these:

a.     Admit that you are a lost sinner and needed God’s salvation. Rom. 6:23; 5:12.

b.     Repent from your sins. Mk. 1:15; Acts. 2:37-38; 17:30

c.      Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. Jn. 3:16.

d.     Through prayer receive Him into your heart and life by inviting Him in personally. Rev. 3:20; Jn. 1:12; Rom. 10. 10:9-13.

e.      When should a sinner repent and invite Christ into His life? It is now. 2 Cor. 6:2; Pro. 27:1; Isa. 55:5-7.

WHAT PRAYER CAN YOU PRAY?

You can pray like this: Rom. 10:12-15

          Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, I need you in my life, I need your forgiveness. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and I thank you for taking my place. I now open my heart and life and receive you as my Saviour. Now take control of my life and make me your son in the fellowship of the Church. Thank you for forgiving my sins and for giving me eternal life as I become your son. (Amen).

NOTE TO THE SOUL-WINNER

          After you have clearly and systematically presented the gospel and the person believes, prayed the prayer of salvation, your responsibility is to start establishing the new believer in the faith. This is what is known as follow-up.

METHODS OF APPROACH

i.        DIRECT APPROACH: Is just to face the person with the gospel without discussing, anything but the gospel.

ii.       INDIRECT APPROACH:     Booking an appointment, or start with another discussion and end it up in Gospel conversation. John 4.

iii.      INTERROGATION:    This is the questioning system till you gain the attention. It can be used anywhere and at any incidence, seek for opportunity and use it.

iv.      ASKING FOR A FAVOUR: When you do something to someone, and he or she comes to thank you, then you share the gospel.

v.       DOING A FAVOUR:   When you do something to someone, and he or she comes to thank you, then you share the gospel.

vi.      HANDING OUT TRACTS:  At many occasions tracts arrest one’s attention; after you might have read it and you might have read it and you preach on the topic you gave out.

vii.     AFTER A GOSPEL MESSAGE:   This happen at Church service after the sermon. Sharing the gospel message with those that gave their life to Christ, or those that are fellowshipping with your for the first time.

LAW OF SELLING (PROVERB 11:30)

          Having examined the divine or supernatural aspect of salvation we shall consider that which concern man. Some people say one cannot sell the Gospel and some people cannot give it our freely.

THIS POINT OUT TWO TRUTHS

1.     There is something beyond sales management. It is the power of the Holy Spirit.

2.     From the human understanding most Christian needs.

Let us see how Jesus used (5) five laws of selling.

There are five great laws of selling or persuading:

i.        Attention

ii.       Interest

iii.      Desire

iv.      Conviction

v.       Close.

          It does not matter whether you sell anything like cloth, yam, or persuading men to accept new idea or philosophy. The same base of persuading is held in selling the truth. This is what Jesus did, for example, to the woman at the well.

1.       ATTENTION:    He gained her from where she was and gave her attention. What Jesus said first is “Give me water”. How is it that you asked me, we have nothing to do with ourselves. You Jew, I Samaritan. Having gained the attention then he proceeded to the interest. Jesus wanted her to have interest in what he is saying; He said “If you know who really asked you give me a drink”. Now she was really interested for she wanted to have a spring of water so that she will not come to the well again, from there the conversation continued. After the woman have interest. She desired it, what brought the desire? Jesus said “he that drinks of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give; him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him in a well of water springing up into everlasting life”. Now she desired and then claim what Jesus offers “Give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw” New conviction.

Next is conviction of sin. Jesus said “Go call your husband”. Jesus wanted her to be convicted of her sin; He put his finger in her sin. Did she need to have husband to be saved? No, that was to point to her sin.

The woman said, “I have no husband”. You are right, you have no husband, “Thou hast well said. I have no husband, for thou hast five husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband, in thou saith thou truly”.  He drove home the evidence of her sin.

DIVERSION:      She tried to divert Jesus from his talk, she said “our father worship on this mountain and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship”. She wanted to divert Jesus away from the way, but Jesus knew where he was going. Jesus used something in her diversion to get back to the main subject, and contront her with the decision, she must take. “I that speak to you, I am He”. She has been brought to the point of decision whether she is to accept or reject. She has known whom Christ is.

THE LIFE OF A SOUL WINNER

i.        A victorious soul winner must experience personal victory over sin. Ps. 119:11.

ii.       He must be ready with something to share. Jer. 20:9.

iii.      He must be able to speak with confidence.

THE PLACE OF THE BIBLE IN WITNESSING

a.     Bible is essential in witnessing.

b.     The word is seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Isaiah 55:10.

c.      No one can be saved without hearing and believing the word. I. Pet. 1:23.

d.     A Christian cannot grow without reading and studying the word.

e.      Only the Bible shows the way of salvation. 2. Tim. 3:15.

EVALUATION OF GOSPEL PRESENTATION

i.   Did I try to get the attention or hold their interest?

ii.  If not so what can I do to change this?

How much desire was created to know Christ, and be a part of this kingdom?. How can this be increased?

iii. Was the person convicted about his sin? He need forgiveness, if not, why

not?

iv.              Did I confront the person clearly with his need to make a decision for Christ and to commit his life to him in repentance and faith? If not, how can I win this battle Next time?

BLESSING OF EVANGELISM

a.     It is through evangelism that our spiritual thermometer reads high.

b.     It is through evangelism that candle of God in us receives light. Rev. 3:15-17

c.      It is when you evangelise that you experience the promise of God and his presence in your life. Matt. 28:19-20.

I want you to remember that the word of God plus obedience is equal to victory.

WORD OF GOD + OBEDIENCE = VICTORY: W+G+O=V.

d.     It is when you evangelise that you develop your Spiritual being. Acts 5:41-42.

e.      Evangelism brings you to the dimension of Spiritual growth Acts. 4:8-10;13.

f.       It is when you evangelise that the gift of God manifest in you. Rom. 12:4-7.

g.     He who goes to evangelise this poor world, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble. Ps. 41:1-2; Pro. 19:17.

h.     He who evangelise will be clothed with the power of God. Isa. 54:15-17; Jer. 1:6-10.

i.       Evangelism is the source of joy, to a repented soul, you cannot have the joy of the Lord, if you don’t share the Gospel with others.

DEALING WITH OBJECTION AND QUESTIONS

i.        Never argue. 2 Tim. 2:23-24; Pro. 15:1.

2.       Never make your prospect feel foolish for asking a question.

POWER FOR EVANGELISM

          Our Lord Jesus instructed his disciples to “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high” Lk. 24:49. He also told them “ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses…..”Act. 1.8.

          The disciples were enthusiastic. They had been thouroughly taught the truth and had caught the vision for world evangelization. They had witnessed him preaching the gospel, performing miracles. They had watched crucified, died and resurrected and believed his ascension. They were fired with great truth and zeal, but Jesus knew that was not enough. He knew that persecution, opposition, bitter criticism and Satan’s attack through human communities awaits them, and that without the Holy Spirit power, the fire of enthusiasm in them will soon die.

          The Holy Spirit plays a very important role in evangelism.

THE WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN EVANGELISM.

i.   He reveals Christ as the redeemer and his role redemptive works to men.

ii.  He applies the redemptive work of Christ into the soul of man about his death, burial, resurrection. etc.

iii. He regenerates the believer. Jhn. 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:17; Jhn.1:11-13

iv. He guides the believer in his own relation to God. He gives the believer the knowledge of his sonship. Rom. 8:16 and heirship Rom. 8:17.

v.                 He guides the believer into all truths. Jh. 16:13; I Cor. 2:10.

vi.              He indwells believers. Cor. 3: 16 to posses him.

vii.            He indwells believers to sanctify him. Rom. 8:5

viii.         He indwells believers to make intercession. Rom. 8:26.

ix.              He indwells believers for service. Acts. 1:8.