" No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." -John 6:44
If this is true -Evangelism is NOT a gift but something we can all learn and rely on GOD to provide.
Stock up on good tracts so you are prepared everyday.
Evangelism Suggestions
(from what we have learned on the streets and from
watching someone who has done it for over 50 years!)
Prayer:
Only God can draw people to a saving knowledge of Him so "Pray that the Lord will open the eyes of the people receiving tracts so that they’ll read them and come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour. Ask Him for courage and boldness to proclaim His glorious gospel." -Ray Comfort
A few seconds:
You only have a few seconds to get someone's attention -& keep it!
Hit & Run approach:
If someone is quickly passing by: Ask, "Did you get one of these?"
(This is especially important if going out as a group -as someone may have already giving them a tract. The question also creates interest as the person will feel they might miss out on something by not taking . . . Don't ask, "Do you want this?" as it sounds like you are peddling something unwanted!).
Direct Approach (talking to people is always best)
Etiquette (before showing a tract)
1. RELATE (Natural world): Greet people with a friendly comment -nice dog, cute kids (did you make them?), how’s the ice cream?
2. CREATE (Spiritual opportunity) you can then ask one of several questions that act as a "hook" that's a conversation starter & keeper:
"What's Life's most important question?"
Answer: "What must I do to have eternal life?"
"Do you believe in the afterlife?"
"Do you think you are good enough to get there . . . ?"
[ Before getting Trapped in Apologetics (defending & explaining) you need to move to the Conscience to convict. In a short time you may have already discovered the person's belief system -sometimes it helps to simply ask, "What is your faith background?" to speed things up and know where the person is coming from. ]
3. CONVICT (Spiritual Insight -the bad news): You then have to inform them about the moral law and how they have broken God’s law -the 10 Commandments (see how Ray does this). "Do you think you are a good person? " (People who say they are "Christian" and considered themselves "good" are counting on their good works for salvation so they don't value what Jesus did on the cross and are NOT born again. The older we are as Christians the more sensitive we become to sin).
People who think they are well (good person) will not take medicine -they have to see they are ill.
Having them confess that they have broken the moral law allows them to see that in God’s eyes, they are not good.
The religious leaders hated Jesus because He raised the moral bar so high, that hate became murder and lust became adultery. We have earned our wages of sin -which is death.
4. REVEAL (the Good news): The Old Testament God promises to destroy death; the New Testament describes how He did this. God's provision was a one-time-blood sacrifice offering of His Son on the cross to pay for our sins. Just before Jesus died, He said, "It is finished!" -no more offering or payment for sin is required.
People must realize that they have to Repent + Trust that Jesus paid the fine (Death) -our wage that we have earned).
Explain that as a member of God's family -we don't lose our salvation anymore than a child stops having a parent. When we sin -we need to tell God we are sorry -so we can restore the relationship as we would with a loved one.
5. CLOSING (A prayer + follow-up material)
Salvation: Don't just leave someone stranded with nowhere to grow: (provide names of good local churches, as well as good online preachers, and card detailing how to grow in the faith). You can pray along the words of the Prayer of Salvation.
No Salvation -don't be discouraged or try to force a decision.
Not everyone is ready to pray this prayer -but we can pray that they will be truly sorrowful for their sins and have true repentance -trusting that God with replace their desires with His Spirit by trusting in Jesus Christ.
(When I counselled -I had an amazing camper who would one day make an excellent counsellor. Staff were pushing me for a decision -yet I maintained -"he was not ready". It was in God's timing as the following year Todd got saved !)
"For one encounter is not the end of the story."
-William Lane Craig
Sometimes we Reap, more often we Sow.
Strength in numbers: "And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two . . . " -Mark 6:7
"Love finds a way -indifference finds an excuse."
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” -Ecclesiastes 4:9
Group Evangelism Suggestions
( Having a Partner is great; having a Group is better! )
Meetup:
If you can, meet in a church near where you will be evangelizing.
Prayer:
You can open in prayer asking God to bless this event with seeds to be planted and souls to be harvested.
Greeting:
Welcome everyone and hear any witnessing testimonies of the week.
Strategize for any problems encountered.
Worship:
Sing a song of worship using a cell phone for music. Consider printing up lyrics for unfamiliar songs.
Pair up in partners:
We are there for each other physically but also spiritually -if we don’t have an answer or our mind goes blank -our partner can step in.
Our partner may have a better rapport with that person just as sometimes we may hit it off better with someone. While one is sharing the other can be praying that heart's will be touched and open to the Gospel.
It is best to go in groups of 2 (man & woman) -or a group of 3 for an odd number attending. Two men in a group will be more intimidating when approaching women which is why a mix is better. Try to team up with someone new so you may grow. Pair up the inexperienced with an experienced person.
Rejection is disappointing but we cannot take it too seriously as God is in control and we do not know what seeds are planted.
Hostility -deescalate the situation simply by asking the person's name. Tell them, "I'm sorry to upset and only wish you well."
Battle plan:
It is a good idea to have each others phone numbers in case some get delayed or need help. Also plan which side of the street, park, or mall and direction for members so that everyone does not end up at the same place.
Malls: When weather is bad and you decide to go to a mall -be careful as shop-keepers will complain to security if they see you bothering their clients. Be Respectful. Use a shopping bag to carry tracts and only pull them out as you are leaving the person.
Prayer:
Offer another prayer before going out.
Decide a time to meet back.
Recap:
Share briefly takeaways, highlights, and outcomes.
The group will be encouraged with thanksgiving and may come up with answers for difficult questions.
Prayer:
Close the meeting with thanks and a quick prayer for those who were saved and those we shared with.
Rides Home:
Make sure everyone has a ride home.
When you team up with someone experienced and they SHOW you how -you can relax and learn!
Why planned Evangelism produces results...
We had to make a chart to see why . . .
Street evangelism was easier than reaching out to family and friends.
If you only reach out to those you know -you are limited to that occasion and limited to those you know. You fear offending them and all your faults are known -therefore you will be less respected! Conversation is uncontrolled and you will be trapped in apologetics! The workplace is more limiting, with more repercussions! Opportunities will be limited with fewer divine appointments yielding a small harvest. Since it is all up to you -you have none or few to inspire so there is no urgency, no accountability, no support. Excuses yield slow results and slow spiritual growth!
Meeting a "Christian"
There is no greater relief when someone tells you they are a Christian.
Trust but verify. Many consider themselves “Christian” because:
• they are not of another religion
• their parents are not of another religion
• they were baptized as a baby
• they attend church Christmas + Easter
The Christian test:
Ask any of the questions below will rightly divide:
1. “How would I become a Christian?”
(Within 30sec they should be able to concisely explain).
2. “Have you been born again?”
3. “Are you morally good?” (moral perfection).
The older we get the more self-aware we become and realize how sinful we are.
Before a Holy God -we are NOT in anyway good.
(There is none righteous, no, not one. -Romans 3:10)
4. “Are you good enough to get to heaven?”
Walking with the Lord test:
1. “Is God happy or angry with you?”
2. “Are you reading your Bible every day?”
Being "Born Again" :
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,
to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
Becoming a child of God is a gift, not a birthright or something earned through human effort. New birth is spiritual and supernatural, not based on natural lineage or human desires.
Our goal is NOT just to get people to heaven -but to get HEAVEN inside of people! The more we die to self -the greater the light of Christ will shine in us - reflecting God's glory and love to the world.
Perfect Practice = Competence = Confidence!
Learn from 50 years of Evangelism . . .