Evangelism: Opportunities
Notes
Transcript
What works?
What works?
As you know this series and this year is about equipping and evangelizing to help grow the Church that Jesus built.
Previously: We looked at having the right heart, right motivation.
Having the right heart (compassion; heart of Christ and for Christ) helps us to have the right motivation to share the joy of the Lord with others.
Then we looked at having the right perspective.
To have the right perspective we need to have the right attitude. To do this, to know God, His love and compassion for the souls of man; That God provides the ways, the open doors for us when we are willing, have the right perspective to reach the souls of man. We also looked at the power of prayer and planting seeds.
We need to strive together as a family to do what Jesus desires for all to hear the good news.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (ref: Rom1:16-17)
Today we are looking at opportunities. The institute for American Church Growth did a survey of 10,000 people with one question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?” I have mentioned this survey before and may have used it, but as a refresher here is what it showed: (no need to read it; just put it on the screen and keep talking)
3% - I had a special need
3% - I just walked in
6% - I liked the minister
1% - I just visited there
5% - I liked the bible classes
0.5% - I attended a gospel meeting
3% - I liked the programs
79% - A friend or relative invited me
I think you can notice that it is not gospel meetings that do it, or even a charismatic preacher. I think it is overwhelmingly apparent that churches grow by the effort of the body, the efforts of individual members. Yes, of course bible classes are important, but if the people are not here to participate in them then they are not effective.
Our greatest potential lies with those people who have some contact with members of the local congregation.
Circle of influence
Maybe you were part of this congregation when John Orr did a class on circle of influence, if not, we have people we are in contact with often who need the gospel of Christ. There are people we have relationships with that we can help make an impact for the kingdom with.
Evangelism is best through the individual members of the congregation who:
Have concern for the lost
36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Paul had great sorrow and unceasing grief for the lost (Rom9:1-3); for their very salvation (Rom10:1)
We want to gain knowledge of how we can increase opportunities to share the gospel with those whom we frequently come into contact with.
(Transition) - This series is about information, but it is also about actions. So may we take some time today and look at some things we can do when it comes to opportunities.
Do things which make a caring congregation
Do things which make a caring congregation
To be fruitful we need to be disciples. (turn to Jn13:35)
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Disciples love God, and one another.
It is our love for one another that is visible for others to see, care, concern, compassion for one another.
Our love makes us useful to the Lord (ref: Rev3:7-8) - He opens doors and closes doors, may we not loose our first love which can close the door.
If we love one another, we are apt to reach others with the gospel, assimilate others into the family of God and nurture spiritual growth (discipleship).
This is vital that we create a place where people are welcomed and embraced into the body, and a place where spiritual nourishment is found.
Next, practice hospitality. Within the body which makes us more apt to practice it with others we are trying to lead into the body. This sets us up for what I read is called “friendship evangelism” or “Relationship evangelism.” Which requires a willingness to be hospitable to those we are trying to reach. So, practice hospitality with one another, get engaged and involved with one another’s lives.
May we work at being a church where we provide the right kind of loving and caring spiritual environment.
Now it is easy, we all know each others names, but as we grow make a point of knowing everyone, getting to know something about each other.
Hospitality is to be practiced internally within the church and externally with the guests that come to church. Consider (turn to 1Pt4:8-9)
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Make it a point to meet someone for lunch, supper, coffee or invite them into your home once a month, someone different. Visit with one another, reach out to the sick, the shut-ins, the new members, the absent members.
Evangelism to the common man had a quote I really liked: “When a congregation is filled with loving members who care for its own, then I believe it is ready to be used by the Lord to reach out and care for others.”
(Transition) from loving God, to loving one another, to then where do we go to start reaching the lost?
Circle of influence
Circle of influence
We all have a circle of influence as mentioned before, as did John when he taught a class on it. Now this maybe a reminder to you, but an effective one to put into action.
Make a list of souls you would like to see taught the gospel so as to respond to the gospel.
Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, relatives of other church members, guests who have come several times.
You can widen the circle, but start small.
Put 5-8 names on the list, not more or you can loose focus on the souls you want to be praying for.
Put the list where you will see it daily. For you want to be praying for them daily. Do give priority to the “unchurched.” - defined as someone who is not an active member of any particular denomination or religion.
The reality is those who are active in their denominations are often satisfied with their traditions and are less apt to receive the pure and simple gospel. Ask me on this I know for many of my studies are with men who are servants in denominations and not all have obeyed the gospel properly.
Pray for those on your list daily.
Pray for given opportunities to do good for them (turn to Col4:3)
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
Pray for wisdom to make the most of those opportunities (turn to (Col4:4-6)
4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
And pray for boldness as Paul asked for prayers to be bold in (ref: Eph6:18-20)
Pray that there may be open ears, hearts to be receptive to the truth.
We know it is the Lord who gives the increase, we are but servants, but servants work, they pray, they act, and leave the results to God.
Next, do things which demonstrate your love for them.
You may know the saying “people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Love, care, have concern for others, that they may see our good works and they may glorify God by obeying the gospel. The principles of living the gospel truth out, love God, love others, makes the verbalization of the gospel truth more receptive to people.
(Transition) - After loving, showing hospitality, being neighborly to others next is the invitation to attend worship.
Inviting people to come to attend worship is inviting them to see
A loving caring body of believers.
To hear the gospel message
To open the door to build new relationships with church members and future times of coming because of the love shown there by the congregation.
Invitation starts with invitation to the Lord in prayer for wisdom to invite in the best manner, and boldness to offer the invitation to attend.
Be willing to pick person up. Be willing to take out to lunch with other members so they can ask any questions they may have from the service.
Take the hospitality that you use with your brethren and do it with the guests who come and attend. Greet them, welcome them, invite them, call or visit them afterwards.
By demonstrating the love as a congregation of Christians they will be more apt to believe in the love of God demonstrated in the life of Christ. (turn to (1Pt2:11-12)
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
(Transition) - One more vital step, the most important step. see to it they have the opportunity to heard the gospel.
After the gospel being demonstrated in love, by you personally, the congregation collectively, then they need to hear the word, hear the gospel message.
Be it in the congregation or in a one on one, or small group bible study, the truth, the gospel needs to be shared.
If you are not comfortable doing a bible study, bring it to someone’s attention who may be able to do it, and be willing to sit in with them.
Conclusion/Invitation (Evangelism opportunities start with you!
Taking your faith, your love for God and others to open the doors of opportunities to your circle of influence.
To through prayer, and application by being loving and hospitable to others that you can invite them to experience the love of the body in the church to hear the gospel message and to respond to it.
The opportunities start with you. Are you convicted and converted by the gospel message? Have you been born again?
Are you wanting to make changes to be more evangelistic in your walk with Christ because you have love, care, and concern for the souls of others?
If you need to respond now is the time!
(Prayer) (Exit)
