Developing a Bold Witness for Christ as a Church Planter

“The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and of nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear the full responsibility for the next one; but we do have our present generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities.” - Billy Graham

Planting your Church from the Harvest

Proven Methods of Proven Methods of Personal EvangelismPersonal Evangelism

How NOT to Evangelize

Scream the gospel on the busiest Scream the gospel on the busiest corner in your focus communitycorner in your focus community

Wear a 3-piece suit and carry a Wear a 3-piece suit and carry a huge black Bible when you go huge black Bible when you go out to witness.out to witness.

Begin witnessing with… Begin witnessing with… TURN or BURN!TURN or BURN!

How NOT to Evangelize - cont’d

Talk about your church but not Talk about your church but not Christ.Christ.

Send out direct mail, work on Send out direct mail, work on your computer, plan the services, your computer, plan the services, organize your teams, BUT don’t organize your teams, BUT don’t share the gospel with individual share the gospel with individual people.people.

Evangelism is a

PASSION PASSION not a not a

PROGRAM!PROGRAM!

PASSIONHow can a person develop a passion for How can a person develop a passion for

evangelism? evangelism? 3 ways:3 ways: Powerful Experience Powerful Experience

Mark 5:19Mark 5:19 Pointed Scriptures Pointed Scriptures

Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20 Personal InvolvementPersonal Involvement

POTENTIALHow do you reach your potential in How do you reach your potential in

evangelizing your focus community? evangelizing your focus community? You must be…You must be…

STUDIOUS STUDIOUS --Become the EXPERT on your --Become the EXPERT on your

FOCUS AUDIENCE. FOCUS AUDIENCE. --Develop a PROFILE.--Develop a PROFILE.

SENSITIVE SENSITIVE --Project your love for people.--Project your love for people.

POSSIBILITIESWhat are possible approaches to personal witnessing?What are possible approaches to personal witnessing? Printed tractsPrinted tracts Testimony/story/Net Evangelism TrainingTestimony/story/Net Evangelism Training Roman RoadRoman Road Marked New TestamentMarked New Testament Ministry evangelismMinistry evangelism Evangelism Explosion or Continued Witnessing Evangelism Explosion or Continued Witnessing

TrainingTraining ““Draw the Gospel”Draw the Gospel”

I. A Christian Witness Must include telling others about Christ.

A. It’s at the A. It’s at the corecore of the of the definitiondefinition of the of the word Christian. word Christian.

B . It is B . It is amplifiedamplified by the by the definitiondefinition of a of a leader.leader.

BoldBoldInfluenceInfluence

II. Five Hindrances to Sharing your Faith A. Lack of KnowledgeA. Lack of Knowledge Cure for the lack of knowledge:Cure for the lack of knowledge:

1. Tell your testimony in 3 minutes or less1. Tell your testimony in 3 minutes or less2. A Tract (four spiritual laws, How to have 2. A Tract (four spiritual laws, How to have

peace)peace)3. Text (Biblical Text)3. Text (Biblical Text)Romans Road, Etc.Romans Road, Etc.

The Romans Road

Romans 3:23Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8Romans 5:8 Romans 10:9Romans 10:9 Romans 10:13Romans 10:13

II. Hindrances to sharing your faith – cont. B. FearB. Fear Learn to recognize the object of your FearLearn to recognize the object of your Fear

1. Physical (Dog, Threatened Physical)1. Physical (Dog, Threatened Physical) 2. Emotional (Rejected, Turned away)2. Emotional (Rejected, Turned away) 3. Intellectual (Don’t know what to do)3. Intellectual (Don’t know what to do)

II. Hindrances to sharing your faith – cont. C. Apathy (indifference, not motivated)C. Apathy (indifference, not motivated) D. A D. A badbad experience. experience. E. Drifting into the E. Drifting into the comfortcomfort zone. zone.

• Revelation 2:1-5Revelation 2:1-5

III. God supplies the Power if you will supply the obedience. A. You don’t A. You don’t savesave anyone. anyone. B. Your responsibility is to B. Your responsibility is to telltell people about Jesus people about Jesus

and and inviteinvite them to trust Jesus as Savior. them to trust Jesus as Savior. C. God’s C. God’s Holy Spirit Holy Spirit supplies the supplies the PowerPower you need you need

to be used for the change.to be used for the change.– Acts 1:8Acts 1:8

D. Your primary expression of God’s power in D. Your primary expression of God’s power in evangelism is through evangelism is through prayerprayer..

IV. Five Principles to Help you share your faith in Christ. A. A. Cultivate your Cultivate your sensitivitysensitivity. Acts 8:25. Acts 8:25 B. Be B. Be quickquick and and eagereager to talk about your faith. to talk about your faith. C. Take the C. Take the initiativeinitiative..

Opening Question.Opening Question. Do you attend church?Do you attend church? Do you believe in reincarnation?Do you believe in reincarnation? Do hurricanes make you nervous?Do hurricanes make you nervous? Does life make sense to you?Does life make sense to you? In your opinion, who was the greatest person who In your opinion, who was the greatest person who

ever lived?ever lived? D. Practice tactfulnessD. Practice tactfulness E. Be direct and when the time is right, don’t back down.E. Be direct and when the time is right, don’t back down.

Lifestyle Evangelism is the most effective and the only style that lasts. A. You must make a heartfelt commitment.A. You must make a heartfelt commitment. B. Be practical in your approach.B. Be practical in your approach. C. Keep a list of unsaved friends to focus C. Keep a list of unsaved friends to focus

your efforts.your efforts. D. Remember your lifestyle is an D. Remember your lifestyle is an

evangelistic tool whether you like it or not.evangelistic tool whether you like it or not. D. Never lose sight of the fact that you D. Never lose sight of the fact that you

make a difference.make a difference.

Developing a Bold Witness for Christ as a Church Planter