Diane Avenue Church of Christ

•Evangelism 101

Mark 16:15-20

Matthew 28:18-20

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... • It's a process where you take the advantage of

opportunities to share what you know about Jesus and his Gospel with others.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... This leads us to another pertinent question...

What is the purpose of Evangelism?

•What is Evangelism? Simply put...

What is the purpose of Evangelism?

Sharing what we know about Jesus is for the purpose of leading people into a personal relationship with God.

It is my hope that by working our way systematically through these lessons, you will gain an understanding of

several techniques and methods for doing this effectively.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... What it is? and What isn't it?

Please do not be confused. Evangelism is not a method or a program.

Often, When the word is mentioned, people get mental pictures of putting up a tent, going door to door, waving

a Bible on a street corner and so on. Some of these methods are valid ways to reach those who need to

hear, but at the heart of the matter is the idea of building relationships between people and God.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put...

It is God's greatest desire to spend the rest of eternity with you and me. That is an awesome

truth that people need to know!!

Why?

Today people have many questions about life especially our young folks. Just look a the social media i.e. Facebook, Twitter, My Space . But there are very few equipped to give answers.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put...

The awesome truth is this:

Genesis 1:27

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put...

The awesome truth is he loves us

1 John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.

The awesome truth is

John 3:16

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.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The awesome truth is the world does not love us

1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the

flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God

lives forever.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... But who is going to tell them? Who is going to share this

" good news "

I don't want to get into in-depth word studies at this point, but we do need to know where the word came

from in order to understand it's importance to us today.

The word 'Evangelism' does not actually appear in the Scriptures. The word 'Evangelist' does.

•What if someone ask me a question?Questions from a lay person #1

Why do we need to understand God's word?

How do we know that the answers to our questions are real, How do I know I am taking the right road

and not being deceived?

There are so many religions out there what is the truth. Some think its better not to do nothing at all.

•What if I don’t like them?

Have you ever met or know someone who is just

Unlovable? You just don’t want to be around??

Well Jesus teaches us to love even when the people around us seem to be contrary to our faith. Jesus lived out what he taught. Christ loved us enough to die for us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Can you love others as Christ loved us?

1 John 3:1414 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

•What is an Evangelist?So what is an evangelist?

Strong's 2999- 1) a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist

2) the name given to the NT heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles

By definition, an evangelist is "a preacher of the Gospel."

(We will discuss this in more detail lesson 103)

•What did Jesus really tell us?

In the Bible, Jesus gives a command to His disciples that

carries down to our generation.

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."Mark 16:15

Preach the Gospel!What Does That Mean?

•What if I don’t really understand the Gospel? Someone might ask me to explain it?

The Gospel, the good news, at it's core is simply the fact that Jesus Christ died on a cross for the sins of all mankind, buried and rose again on the third day.

Because of this single act of love and mercy on the part of God, we have the opportunity and privilege of coming

into a personal relationship with Him.

•I knew there was a catch!

There are some conditions however…

•Well Maybe…

If we will...

* accept the sacrifice that was made for us

* confess our sins to God (this might be hard)

* turn away (repent) of those sins and•go forward, obeying His Word, the Bible, (harder yet!)

So the "good news" has conditions.. Why? Let's ask ourselves what has the Gospel done for you!

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... then...

* we are promised an eternal home in Heaven with Him.

Whew!!

That's quite a lot to absorb in such a short time.

Don't worry, our next step is taking our time to learn more about what the Gospel message really is. 

Take Your Time to learn this. This is the basis for any other topic that you will ever encounter in evangelism or Christian life. Build on a good foundation and let the Holy Spirit expand your understanding..

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Let's read

Romans 1:1-7

Romans 1:15-18

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... In his letter to the churches in Rome,

1 – 7. Paul formally introduces himself to the churches at Rome, for this is the first direct contact he has had with them. He gives his credentials and shows the centrality of Jesus Christ in God’s gospel for the world. He works not in his own right but as a servant at the disposal of his King and Lord. Servant (literally ‘slave’) and of devotion to the worship and service of God (e. g. Ps. 113:1). Paul’s apostolic task is not a career of his own choosing but his response to the summons of God, who has singled him out like Jeremiah to be His herald (cf. Gal. 1:15; Jer. 1:5). 2 – 4. That the gospel which is of God is proof that it was no new- fangled human idea but His own OT promises come true. God’s ‘mighty act’ in raising Jesus from the dead also authenticated the gospel.

WWhat is Evangelism? Simply put... lis Simply put...

Gal. 1:15

15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his

grace, was pleased

Jer. 1:5

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I set you apart;

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The Gospel Anyone Can Understand ;

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."Mark 16:15

So what is it that Jesus was talking about and what was the understanding of the first century church apostles about the message?

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Let’s read Acts 10:34-48

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The Gospel Is Good News

The word Gospel, as used in the New Testament, means "a good message" or "to announce good news".

For our task of Evangelism, leading others into relationship with Jesus, we must determine what this good news could be.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Gospel vs. Gospels

Just so we are not confused, there is a difference between the above mentioned terms. The "Gospel" is the message

that we are going to learn about here and present to people who need a relationship with Jesus.

The "Gospels" are what we call the first four books of the New Testament; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These four

books chronicle Jesus' birth, life on earth, death and resurrection.

"Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." Matthew 28:20

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... 16:15 Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world, telling everyone that he had paid the penalty for sin and that those who believe in him can be forgiven and live eternally with God. Christians today in all parts of the world are telling this Good News to people who haven’t heard about Christ. The driving power that carries missionaries around the world and sets Christ’s church in motion is the faith that comes from the Resurrection.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Do you ever feel as though you don’t have the skill or determination to be a witness for Christ? You must personally realize that Jesus rose from the dead and lives for you today. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, he will give you both the opportunities and the inner strength to tell his message. (remember Peter)

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Take a mental break ... That's a lot to absorb

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The Gospel - A SummaryPart 1 - God loves us and wants an eternal relationship with usPart 2 - Man disobeyed and fell away from intimate relationship with GodPart 3 - God has a plan to get us back into right relationship that involves sacrificePart 4 - Jesus makes the sacrifice for usPart 5 - We only need to accept Jesus' sacrifice and repent (turn away) from our disobedience (sin) in order to come back into right relationship with God

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Part 1 - God Loves Us

Part of the Good News that Jesus preached was that God is a loving God who wants an eternal relationship with every human being.

I've included a few references for us to begin with. Remember, Bible study is a life long endeavor. You don't have to "know everything" before you are able to share what you already know..

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Use these verses as a starting point to understanding God's love toward us.

*Luke 15:11-32 - The Prodigal Son

*John 3: 16 - 17 - God Loves the World

*Luke 13: 34-35 - Jesus Weeps Over The People Of Jerusalem

*Romans 5:8 - While we were still sinners, God loved us enough to offer a sacrifice for us.

*1 Timothy 2:1-6 - Paul teaches Timothy that God desires all of mankind to be saved, through Jesus Christ..

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... • Read through these verses and prayerfully consider

what is being said.It is crucial that you understand this point in order to better comprehend the rest of the Gospel message. If God is not a loving God who cares about you and desires a relationship with you, then the rest of the message would make no sense at all. 

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The Good News Continues

Once we gain an understanding of God's incredible love for us, the rest of the good news story really begins to make sense.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Witnessing Tips

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Witnessing Tip #1

As you begin to share the good news with people, you will soon realize that each person has a different level of current understanding and will need a different starting point in the

message of the Gospel.

In these lessons, I am trying to give you a overview of: God's Love, Why we need Salvation, How Jesus offers us that Salvation and what we need to do in order to receive His Salvation. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in where you need to begin this message with each individual. Each part of the message builds on the other

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Part 2 - The Gospel Explains Why We Need Salvation

The good news story of the Bible starts from the very

beginning.

In Genesis, Chapters One and Two, we learn about God's perfect creation. I will not go in depth about the creation at this time, except to mention that in this account, we see that man is the only thing created in God's image. It makes us special and set apart from the rest of creation.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Adam and Eve were the first two humans and they were only given one rule to follow, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it..." Genesis 2:17

In Genesis Chapter Three, we find the story about how Adam and Eve disobeyed God, ate from the tree and caused the disobedience (sin) to enter into the world . This sin or disobedience to God creates a separation in the intimate relationship that Adam had with God.“ They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day..." Genesis 3:8

.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... So far, not such good news!

God puts them out of the Garden of Eden to protect them from eating from the Tree of Life, because He does not want them to live for eternity separated in relationship from Him. Even in the process of sending them out of the garden, we see an expression of God's love for them. Adam and Eve had created clothes from fig leaves Gen. 3:7. God replaces their ill-advised clothing choice with new clothes made from animal skins. Thereby beginning this relationship with a sacrifice. Genesis 3:21 (note to self two stories)

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Part 3 - Sacrifice Is Necessary For Forgiveness Of Sin

All through the Old Testament, we see the pattern of animal sacrifice necessary for the atonement (forgiveness) of sin. Specifically, sheep are mentioned as the animal that God required for the atonement sacrifice.

Here is a simplified explanation of the process. The animal was placed on an altar. The one seeking forgiveness placed their hands on the animal and confessed their sin, in effect, transferring their sin to the animal and sacrificed it as an offering to God

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... A few points to consider: The animal was of great value to the owner who was performing the sacrifice. The sheep had to be the most valuable in the flock because it had to be perfect, no blemishes.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Part 4 - Jesus Makes The Sacrifice For Us

In the Scriptures, Jesus is referred to as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:29

He lived a sinless life, making Him a lamb "without blemish." Even the Roman officials could not find fault with Him. "I find in Him no fault at all." (Pilate) John 18:38

The others who were crucified with Him also acknowledged His lifestyle. "...this man has done nothing amiss." Luke 23:41

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The birth, life, death and resurrection of the Messiah, the Savior, the Christ, was declared by the prophets centuries before. Jesus fulfilled all of their prophecies.

The Scriptures also tell us that Jesus willingly took upon Himself all of the sin of the world, thereby offering Himself as a sacrifice for us. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Also read all of Romans Chapter 5

The Apostle Paul states the good news best in Romans 5:8,

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

•Another Question

Lay person’s Question 2- since Jesus died for our sins, everyone.. Correct, He fulfilled the prophecies, correct,

He made the ultimate sacrifice .. Correct

If I believe this to be true why then do I need to do anything else.

Am I not saved by the sacrifice that Jesus made.???

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Part 5 - The Really Good News

Because Jesus made the sacrifice for us, there is a way for us to come into right relationship with God!

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me." John 14:6

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross opens a door for our access into the Kingdom of God. So, what do we need to do in order to go through that door.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... "Repent (turn away from your sin), and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38

This was the Apostle Peter's reply to the people when they asked, "What shall we do?"

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Witnessing Tip #2

Many people try to begin witnessing to others with the part of the message that includes repentance. Many people do not understand the idea of repentance or turning away from sin because they have no concept of what sin is. At times, you will need a way to take non-believers through all five parts of the process in order for them to understand their need for a relationship with God. Become familiar with the reason "why" we need salvation. Build on a solid foundation.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Many people have come to know the Lord through a series of Scriptures in the book of Romans. Commonly called, "The Roman Road to Salvation" these Scriptures give a quick reference outline to the Gospel message.

Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God...“

Establishes the fact that we are ALL sinners who are separated from God.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ or Lord."

Separated from God means the penalty of death (Hell) Reference Revelation 20:10-15. God gives us a gift that we do not deserve through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Let’s read Rev. 20:10-15

•What is Evangelism? Simply put...

Romans 5:8 - "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Again, we are shown the sacrifice made on our behalf, illustrating God's great love for us and His desire to be with us for the rest of eternity.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Romans 10:13 - "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Repentance, submitting, following the teaching of Jesus Christ is required for salvation. Saved from what? Saved from an eternity separated from God. Saved to what? Saved to an eternal home in heaven, described in Revelation 21:1-7 , Let’s read

For this is what it is all about!

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Don't Forget The Resurrection

Before we move on to different tools and methods that you can use to share the good news message of Jesus, let's consider the rest of the story.

The fact that Jesus came and died for our sins is truly good news. But, if the story about Jesus coming and dying on the cross as a sacrifice for us ended with His burial in a tomb, where would we be?

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... We would not be any better off than the people of Old Testament times because we would need to continue offering sacrifices!

In John 2:19, Jesus makes a bold statement,

"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

Jesus often spoke in parables (stories that had a hidden spiritual meaning). In this case, the people listening to Him thought He was talking about a building, but Jesus was really referring to Himself.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... He was telling them that He would rise again after being crucified.

The Apostle John describes his encounter with Jesus in Revelation 1:8

"I am He that lives and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Because Jesus rose again on the third day, we no longer are required to offer animal sacrifices on altars. Jesus was the final sacrifice! It is an awesome message of love, sacrifice, grace and power. Study it. Memorize it. Share it with others and they will be transformed by the power of a loving and merciful God!!

Remember that this is just a starting point for your study on The Good News. There is much more to learn and apply to our lives. As a matter of fact, it is a life-long, never-ending learning process.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Once again, I would like to remind you that you do not need to "know everything" before you begin to share the good news with others. Your most powerful witnessing tool is your own testimony. The story of how God changed your life, how you came to an understanding of God's love and provision for you, is one of the most effective and natural ways of sharing the Gospel with others. It's good news to you and it will be good news to others.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The Great Commission!!

What is it and what does it have to do with me?

The command given to the first century disciples by Jesus

and passed on to us as believers, can be found in two parts.

The first part is found in Mark 16:15-20

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel."

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Jesus' instruction to us is to go and share the Good News about Him with everyone that we meet. The first step in being successful at carrying out God's instructions to us is to engage ourselves in the exercise of Evangelism.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The second part of Jesus' command to us can be found in

Matthew 28:18-20

"Go and teach or make disciples of all nations..."

Jesus tells them that in addition to sharing the Gospel and leading people into an understanding of who He is, it is also their responsibility to "make disciples."

This process is a little more time intensive. It means investing yourself in the life of another human being in order to help them understand how to follow after Jesus and obey His teachings.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... The marriage of the two parts of Jesus' instructions to His followers has been passed down to us through the Scriptures and the writings of the first century church.

It is important to understand that it is the responsibility of each and every Christian to help carry out this wonderful plan for saving souls and making disciples.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Discipleship

The Great Commission - Part Two

Making Converts vs. True Discipleship

True Discipleship takes more effort than just a surface knowledge of who Jesus is.

Converts are people who have just received or accepted the fact that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior.

Disciples are those who not only believe it, but are pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus, seeking to follow in His footsteps and apply His teachings to their everyday lives.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... One of the key ingredients to producing the intended result is time. You must invest time in those whom you lead to the Lord, in order to help them understand and apply the teachings of Jesus.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... What Is My Role?

Let's take a more in depth look at what Jesus actually said to His followers in Matthew 28:18-20

"All power is given to me in heaven and in earth." verse 18

Jesus declares that He has the authority to give the command that is to follow.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... "Go therefore, and teach all nations (make disciples of all nations), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;" verse 19

Some translations use the phrase "teach all nations" others use "make disciples of all nations". Either way the idea is the same. Once someone comes to understand who Jesus is, it is necessary to teach them how to follow His teachings and obey His commands, for their own benefit.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you," verse 20

Jesus gives a clear instruction on what to teach them. We are to teach the things that Jesus taught, about Himself, heaven, daily living, relationships, money, etc.

It is therefore vital for us to study Jesus' teachings in the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in order to gain an understanding for our own lives and in order to effectively and correctly teach others to be followers of Jesus Christ.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Special Note - It is also worthy to note here that we are not trying to make members for "our church", but our focus is on helping people to follow Jesus. The result of that endeavor may be that more people attend church with us, but our primary goal needs to be leading them to Jesus and His teachings.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... More Good News

In the final part of verse 20, Jesus declares,

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jesus gives us The Great Commission and authority to carry it out, but gives us the assurance that we do not have to do it alone. He is with us!!

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Pray about how God would use you to carry out The Great Commission. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to the people that need to hear the message from you. If God leads you to a task, He will also equip you to carry it out.

God wants you to be equipped to reach others for Him. The fact that He led you here is a signal that He wants to use you in His service!

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... How To Develop Your Personal Testimony Into An Effective Witnessing Tool

The Word "testimony", simply means "a witness." A witness tells about what he/she has personally seen and heard.

Your testimony, your story, is simply what you have heard and seen God do in your own life.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... This is the most powerful tool that you have at your disposal for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Too often, though, people only think about their salvation experience when sharing their story. Would you agree that since that miraculous event, God has done some wonderful things in your life. We must consider these things if we are going to be successful at reaching others with our own story.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Here's 3 steps that will help you to organize your thoughts:

1)Write everything down.

2)This exercise helps us to remember the details about the things that God has done for us.

3) Start with writing down everything that you can remember about how you came to know Jesus as your personal Savior.

a) Who was involved in the process?

b) What did God save you from?

c) What did it feel like to make that decision?

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Take your time. Think through the process. You'll be surprised at the things you remember.

2) Make a list of major events in your life, then identify how God was involved.

a) What did you learn from these situations?

b) What principles from God's Word did you apply to help you through these events?

You will probably learn new things while you are going through this process!

3) Think about how God helps you in day to day life. Begin to keep a journal.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... How Will Doing All Of This Turn Your Story Into A Witnessing Tool?

You will begin to recognize opportunities to minister to others. God will bring people across your path that need to hear your stories. You will have something in common. God's answers to your life issues will become a starting point for conversation, sometimes leading to a direct opportunity to lead them to the Lord.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Writing down your testimony is not about memorizing a speech, but reminding yourself about how God has interacted with you through times of joy and times of trial. He will do the same for others.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put... Your story should lead the hearer to God's Word. Show them the Biblical principle behind how God interacted with you. Let them know that God wants a relationship with them, too. Tell them how to start that relationship by accepting Jesus' sacrifice and surrendering their lives to Him. Then, help them to follow through on their decision by beginning to disciple them, sharing what you know about Jesus and inviting them to get involved in Bible studies and participating in a local church.

•What is Evangelism? Simply put...

Conclusion