Matthew 28:18-20. Personal Evangelism (Theme for March) The tendency when emphasizing personal...

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Matthew 28:18-20 Matthew 28:18-20

Transcript of Matthew 28:18-20. Personal Evangelism (Theme for March) The tendency when emphasizing personal...

Matthew 28:18-20Matthew 28:18-20

Personal EvangelismPersonal Evangelism(Theme for March)(Theme for March)

• The tendency when emphasizing personal evangelism is “when all is said and done…”

• Rather than talk a good talk, let’s ensure…

• It is time for us to overcome our excuses, obstacles & fears!

• It is time for us to A-C-T!

Five+1 Fundamental Facts Five+1 Fundamental Facts About Personal EvangelismAbout Personal Evangelism

1. The world is lost…and so am I if I do nothing about it.

2. Personal evangelism is a natural outgrowth of my deep & abiding concern for lost souls.

3. Personal evangelism is the responsibility of every Christian.

4. Personal evangelism begins and proceeds one person at a time.

5. Personal evangelism requires real effort and oftentimes hard work.

6. Planning for nothing, praying for nothing, hoping for nothing, dreaming of nothing and doing nothingWILL YIELD NOTHING!

• “I just don’t have time. I’m too busy.”• “I’m doing my part.”• “I don’t see anybody else doing it, so I must be

doing fine.”• “I’ll just live a good example of faith; they’ll

figure it out.”• “I don’t know enough Bible to do this right.”• “Religion is not the ‘politically-correct’ thing to

talk about.”• “I’m afraid of what my friends will think of me.”• “People don’t want to listen and are not

interested.”• “I don’t know how. I don’t know what to say.”

““Overcoming Us”Overcoming Us”Our Excuses, Obstacles & Our Excuses, Obstacles & FearsFears

Successful Personal Successful Personal Evangelism Requires That Evangelism Requires That You…You…

TCAwaken to the Prospects All Around

You!

Awaken to Prospects All Awaken to Prospects All AroundAround

• People I know, that I meet, that I live near, that I have contact with, that I talk to, etc.

• My circle of influence is filled with non-Christians (I may be their only link to Christ).

• “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35).

• Lost souls have identities!

Awaken to Prospects All Awaken to Prospects All AroundAround

SeparatedKids of DivorceStressed ParentReconciliationGraduateCollege StudentMilitary Prisoner“Undesirable” Stressed Depressed“Own Church”Moral TrendsAsk Questions Honest, Sincere

Empty NestRetiredRest HomeNew Job Change in JobLost JobFinancial WoesDeath of LovedDeath in FamilyHospital PatientPersonal InjuryTragedy in Life Family in Hosp. Marital Trouble Divorced

Ins. Agent/Acct.See OftenChurch VisitorWayward Mbr.Spouse of Mbr.Child of Mbr.Relative of Mbr.Friend of Mbr.ParentsLife ChangesNew HomeNew ResidentEngagedNewlywedsNew Parents

Close RelativeDistant

RelativeNeighborFriendWorkmateSchoolmateTeammateCasual ContactOnline ContactRel. FriendsClub MembersRestaurantRetail StoreGrocery/RxRepair Man

Successful Personal Successful Personal Evangelism Requires That Evangelism Requires That You…You…

waken to the Prospects All Around You!reate Opportunities to Teach!

TCA

Create Opportunities to Create Opportunities to TeachTeach

• With the Way You Live1. Be a shining light of holy and godly

living!2. Be a real Christian!3. Be loving at all times!4. Be kind and genuine—in word and deed!5. Be enthusiastic about your faith in God!6. Be humble and look out for others’

needs!7. Be genuinely interested in others!8. Be honest!9. Be prayerful!10. Be a student of the Bible yourself!11. Be a “seed-scatterer”! 

Create Opportunities to Create Opportunities to TeachTeach

• With the Way You Live• With Everyone You Know & Meet

1. Hand out printed materials!2. Hand out sermons & Bible studies!3. Email articles, websites, bulletins,

sermons, etc.4. Mail out any of these materials!5. Invite everyone you meet to worship!6. Focus attention on visitors to services!7. Go door-knocking!

Create Opportunities to Create Opportunities to TeachTeach

• With the Way You Live• With Everyone You Know & Meet• With One-on-One Conversations

1. Do not hide or be ashamed of your faith.

2. To keep it focused, talk one-on-one, not in a crowd.

3. Begin by saying something good about the person.

4. Talk about common interests that you have.

5. After breaking the ice, questions are a good lead-in.

Successful Personal Successful Personal Evangelism Requires That Evangelism Requires That You…You…

waken to the Prospects All Around You!reate Opportunities to Teach!

each the Gospel!TCA

Teach the GospelTeach the Gospel

• Christianity is a taught religion.• Personal teaching is the most effective.

– “[You] Go…make disciples…teaching” (Mt. 28).

– “[You] Go…preach the gospel” (Mk. 16).

• TEACH THE GOSPEL!1. What Jesus did for us and why.2. What God expects us to do and why.

• If they say, “Yes.”– When? Where? What/How? Who?

• Many teaching resources available to help.

Teach the GospelTeach the Gospel

• “Visualized Bible Study” by Jule Miller

Teach the GospelTeach the Gospel

• “Searching for Truth” by WVBS

Teach the GospelTeach the Gospel

• “Let’s Go Back to the Bible” by David Sproule

Teach the GospelTeach the Gospel

• Bible Correspondence Courses

GuaranteesGuarantees

1. Personal evangelism is difficult work.

2. Personal evangelism is highly rewarding.

3. The hardest part is getting started; then it only gets easier.

4. Success breeds success like fuel to a fire.

5. Teach someone the gospel and you’ll go hunting for more.

6. You will learn a lot yourself. Teachers always learn the most.

7. Open your eyes to all the lost souls & you’ll never be the same.

8. In the eyes of God, you’ll be counted as wise (read Pro. 11:30).

9. In the eyes of Christ, you’ll be a “faithful servant” (Mt. 25:23).

10.God promises to help you do His work (Josh. 1:5-9; Dt. 31:8).

What is your level of What is your level of commitment?commitment?

• Are you like Jeremiah?– “Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor

speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not” (Jeremiah 20:9).

• Are you like Peter and John?– “For we cannot but speak the things which we have

seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

• Are you like Paul?– “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast

of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

• Are you like Christ?– “He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of

God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent’” (Luke 4:43).

Personal Evangelism at Personal Evangelism at PBLPBL

• GOAL: For every PBL member to offer a Bible study to at least one person by the end of June 2007

• Reach that GOAL together & in steps– In APRIL – Focus on passing out

church-related materials (GOAL: 3,000)

– In MAY – Focus on inviting everyone we meet to worship (GOAL: TBA)

– In JUNE – Focus on offering & teaching Bible studies (GOAL: Each member to offer one study)

Become a Faithful Christian Become a Faithful Christian TonightTonight

• Believe Jesus is God’s Son – Mark 16:16

• Repent of your sins – 2 Peter 3:9

• Confess your faith in Jesus – Acts 8:37

• Be immersed in water – Acts 2:38

– Sins are forgiven – Acts 22:16

– Added to His church – Acts 2:47

– Registered in heaven – Hebrews 12:23

• Be active in His work – Matthew 28:18-20