PERSONAL EVANGELISM
REFRESHER
Written by Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church
Edited by the Grace Church, White Lake Home Missions Team for use in Grace Church only
October 27, 2013
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Copyright © 1999 Rick Warren
PERSONAL EVANGELISM REFRESHER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE SECTION
3 Preface
4 1. Expanding the Kingdom- The Biblical Mandate for Evangelism
8 2. Preparation for Evangelism
18 3. Sharing My Testimony
25 Sharing the Gospel
29 4. Response to the Gospel Message
PREFACE
This booklet was developed by the Home Mission Team to support Grace Church’s goals of increasing passion, comfort, confidence, and effectiveness our church family as they reach out to those that need the Lord’s salvation. It was written to serve as a refresher resource for those used to sharing their faith as well as a starter resource for new Christians who are eager to share his or her new-found faith.
The terms, good news (same as gospel) and evangelism are used throughout the booklet and so it is important that we have a common understanding of their meeting as used in the context of Christ’s grace.
Simply put:
Evangelism is the act of proclaiming the good news (or gospel) of Jesus Christ to those who need His salvation.
Good News or the gospel is “..… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and He appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve….. “ (1Corinthians 15:3-5 NIV)
SECTION 1
EXPANDING THE KINGDOM--
THE BIBLICAL MANDATE FOR EVANGELISM
I. JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH
We were made to have a relationship with God.
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…"
Gen. 1:26 (NIV)
"Jesus said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.”
Luke 10:10 (NIV)
The Problem: Our sin has broken our relationship with God.
“Your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden his
face from you.” Isa. 59:2 (NIV)
God’s Solution: He took the initiative to bring us back to Himself.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)
"….that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ,"… 2 Cor. 5:19 (NIV)
WHAT WAS JESUS’ LIFE MISSION?
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV)
"…for this reason I was born and for this reason I came into this world, to testify
to the truth. John 18:37 (NIV)
"…I came that they might have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 (NIV)
"I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John12:46 (NIV)
"I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God …., because that is why I was sent." Luke 4:43 (NIV)
2. Why JESUS’ MISSION Must Matter To Me
TEN FACTS THAT MOTIVATE ME
1. WE WERE CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of
his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Rom. 8:29 (NIV)
"And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." 1 Cor. 15:49 (NIV)
"But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.” 1John 3:2b (NIV)
If I want to be like Jesus, MY Life Mission must include HIS Life Mission.
Jesus prayed to the Father: “ As you have sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world." John 17;18 (NIV)
2. JESUS EXPECTS ME TO CONTINUE HIS MISSION.
The Great Commission is Stated, in the Bible, 4 Times
Then Jesus came to them and said, “ All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20 (NIV)
(Jesus) said to them. "Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16 (NIV)
(Jesus) told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses to these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:46-49
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)
3. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY.
"When I say to a wicked man, ' You shall surely die' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood." Ezek. 3:18 (NIV)
"Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach.
Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." 1 Cor. 9:16 (NIV)
If I’m a Christian, my mission is not optional!
4. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS IS A PRIVILEGE.
" Now all of these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through
Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,…" 2 Cor. 5:18 (NAS)
" I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation of
everyone who believes; …" Rom. 1:16 (NIV)
5. I’M GRATEFUL FOR WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR ME.
"….remember that in that time you were separated from Christ,…, without hope
and without God in the world." Eph. 2:12 (NIV)
"I am obligated both to Greeks and to non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish." Rom. 1:14 (NIV)
“For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all…
2 Cor. 5:14 (NIV)
6. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HOPELESSLY LOST WITHOUT CHRIST.
"Salvation is found in no one else (other than Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 (NIV)
"…. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Rom. 10:13-14 (NIV)
7. BECAUSE GOD WANTS EVERYBODY TO BE SAVED!
“God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
1 Tim. 2:4 (NIV)
"… He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
8. I WILL BE REWARDED FOR ETERNITY.
"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done."
Matt. 16:27 (NIV)
"… and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he builds survives, he will receive his reward." 1 Cor. 3:13-14 (NIV)
9. God’s TIMETABLE FOR HISTORY REQUIRES THAT WE completE our mission.
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matt. 24:14 (NIV)
"They asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to
Israel?’ Jesus replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has
set by his own authority. BUT you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 1:6-8 (NIV)
10. I WILL BE GLAD WHEN I SEE PEOPLE IN HEAVEN.
"…. There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7 (NIV)
Knowing this, what should be my response?
"…. If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-
the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24 (NIV)
SECTION 2
PREPARATION FOR EVANGELISM
Jesus tells His followers that we are to "fish" for the souls of men.
"Come with me," Jesus said," and I will make you fishers of men." Matt. 4:19 (NIV)
EVANGELISM AND FISHING ARE A LOT ALIKE. LET US REVIEW WHAT
WE KNOW ABOUT FISHING.
q First, it's based on attracting the fish!
q You have different kinds of bait for different kinds of fish.
q Also, you can use more than one kind of lure for any particular fish.
q You get them to nibble on your bait.
q The fish gets a choice!
q Reeling him in requires some give and take.
q Everyone can put bait in the water!
q And everyone who fishes persistently will catch fish!
3 KEYS TO EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM
1. IDENTIFY YOUR PERSONAL AREA FOR EVANGELISM.
“You will be my witnesses - in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in
every part of the world." Acts 1:8b (NIV)
The New Testament Pattern Our Application
Our Church’s Pattern
“jerusalem” = Your Personal
Circle of Influence.
“Judea” "Judea” = Local region served by Grace Church b Grace Church.
grace
“Samaria” = Other cultural groups ccuccculculturaLanguage/Ethnic within Grace’s local
region of service.
“World” = W “World” = Whoever the Lord puts I puts in our path!
MY CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE
Where do I start first? Those closest to me!
(Jesus said) "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done
for you, and how He has had mercy on you." Mark 5:19 (NIV)
Other Biblical Examples
Family (Jn.1:40-41),
Coworkers (Acts 18:1-4 and Mt 9:9-10)
And people who cross our paths (Jn. 4:4-30)-NOTE; This category is beyond
our defined “Circle of Influence”. BE READY FOR UNPLANNED
OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE LORD WILL PUT IN YOUR PATH.
2. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE.
“To the Jews I became like a Jew to win the Jews…to those not having the law I became like one not having the law… to the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” 1 Cor. 9:20-23 (NIV)
“Every prudent man acts out of knowledge.” Pr. 13:16 (NIV)
The more you know about a person, the easier it is to reach them.
A. WHAT ARE THEIR INTERESTS, NEEDS AND HURTS.
The Bible says repeatedly that:
“Jesus knew what they were thinking...”
Matt. 9:4, 12:25; Mark 2:8; Luke 5:22, 9:47, 11:17
So He was able to understand people’s interests, needs, and hurts.
If we are going to reach people, we need to understand their interests, needs and
hurts and use them to build a relationship and/or share how Jesus can meet
those needs or interests or hurts.
What are some interests, needs, and hurts that somebody on my list
might have and how might they be useful for my evangelism with them?
INTERESTS______________________________________________________
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29
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NEEDS__________________________________________________________
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HURTS__________________________________________________________
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B. WHAT DO I HAVE IN COMMON WITH THEM?
(Paul said) “…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I might share in its blessings. 1 Cor. 9:22b-23 (NIV)
· Before you can share the Good News, you must first find common ground.
· Before you can reach them, you must be able to relate to them.
Make a list of areas where you have common ground with the unbelievers in your life.
q Common experiences
q Common interests
q Common needs or hurts
3. PEOPLE BECOME READY AT DIFFERENT TIMES
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Col. 4:5 (NIV)