Evangelism
During the Leaders Conference, Mark Prater called us to live like those who are willing to risk their lives for the sake of the gospel. One of the areas where we most need this challenge is in evangelism. Evangelism is not easy. It requires risk…
It’s odd the things that stick in your mind from childhood. One such thing for me is seeing big billboards as a kid – JESUS SAVES. Growing up as a little Catholic kid, I wondered why in the world anyone would put up such a billboard. It was only when I was 28 years old, and Jesus actually saved me that I began to comprehend the full weight of that simple message.
I love Top 10 lists, especially the ones on Sports Center, which rank the greatest successes (and sometimes failures) in sports. There’s even a website dedicated to the Top 10 of everything. There’s something that pulls us in when it comes to rankings and lists like this.
Like sports, evangelism requires action and dedication, so let’s consider the Top 10 myths that keep us from sharing the gospel--something infinitely more important than a list of best college basketball teams. Here’s my shot at it. I’d love to hear your additions to the list.
At a recent leadership team retreat, we talked about the possibility that some SG churches might face persecution in the not-too-distant future. I shared some thoughts in that context that Mark asked me to share in an article for this website. So here you go…
Jim and I thought it would be good to start the year with some evangelism book recommendations. I’d encourage every pastor to read at least one book on evangelism each year as a way to keep your mind and soul refreshed and challenged in this important area…
I look forward to you reading this testimony that Cale Benefield recently sent me. It represents two things that I believe are to be central to our evangelistic efforts: building relationally with unbelievers so we might be able to eventually share the gospel with them and covering all our efforts with prayer. . .
In his book Prayer, John Bunyan said “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” I think that is great counsel when it comes to our evangelism…
I’ve been trying to reach out to people ever since I became a Christian many years ago. I have a pretty easy time getting to know people, drawing them out, looking for opportunities to serve, and trying to invite them to come to church or the Bridge Course. I’ve noticed that many people seem receptive or at least polite during these interactions, but I rarely see people actually come to something I’ve invited them to. Until recently…
What do you do when you encounter people who are self-righteous and arrogant? Roll your eyes? Make an excuse to walk away from them? Give them some self-righteousness of your own? When Jesus encountered the rich young ruler in Mark 10, he had that opportunity. The man wanted to be sure that he had eternal life, which was good. He also believed that he had kept the law and deserved a place in heaven; in short, he was self-righteous and arrogant. So how did Jesus respond to the young man’s blatant boasting and self-assurance? Verse 21 says, “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” Without getting into what Jesus said in order to expose the man’s idolatry and call him to repentance, let’s consider what Jesus did…
I have always had, a Love/Hate relationship with evangelism – I love the concept, I would love to be successful, I would love for it to be easy and natural, mostly I would love to see people saved and added to local churches. I don’t think any Christian or local church will ever be completely joyful and fulfilled unless passionately involved in evangelism and seeing people saved. I believe God created us to be that way because we are created after His image and He is that way. I believe the joy and fulfillment we will experience is the very joy and fulfillment God experiences…