Evangelism: Prayerful, Relational, Compassionate, Bold
Evangelism is an intimidating task. If you have been in the church for any length of time, you have probably heard plenty of conversation on the topic. We freeze up when the opportunity to share the gospel comes. We feel weird, unsettled, anxious thinking that somehow we will come across as bizarre if we tell a non-Christian about the faith. Or, maybe nothing is said at all; maybe we deal with the pressure by ignoring it, not looking for an opportunity to share Jesus with someone. If we are all honest with ourselves, we have probably succumbed to some if not all of these things at some point in the past with regard to evangelism; I know I have. Let’s work through those things Mike Mazzye told us we need more of as we evangelize.
First, we need to be more prayerful. Evangelism proper is “teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade” (Stiles). Evangelism is going to a family or friend to give them the good news that people can be restored to a relationship with God and be saved from their sins. But, we must never start that process with the going. That would be like wearing dress shoes without socks. There is something missing in that equation. We, before going anywhere, ought to pray. Pray that the Lord would work as He sends you. Pray that the Lord would change the mind and the hearts of those to whom you go. Pray to the Lord that your listeners would be receptive. Pray, out of genuine faith in Christ and sincere love for others, that your friends and family would know the same amazing grace that God has given you in Jesus Christ. Friends, pray, and then go.
Second, we need to be more relational. We can think that evangelism is what happens out there in the streets or far away. The reality is, there is an entire mission field surrounding you; your mission field is the same friends that you have known since high school or college; it is your co-workers; it might be your mom and dad; it is also your next-door neighbors. You know these folks. If you are a Christian, you’re called to bring the good news about Jesus to them. We want to love our neighbors by sitting with and listening to them. We want to care when they are hurt, happy, sad, joyful. In all of the ups and downs of life we want to be with them, and in being with them we want to give them the truth that matters most.
Third, and appropriately, we want to do that out of genuine love for them. No one wants to be made a project. Evangelism should never make a project out of people. We don’t want to just get our words in and then bail. Let’s not just get the gospel out in order to check the task off a list. Let’s sincerely care and show compassion to those around us. We ought to be compassionate to those we like and those we don’t. We should be kind under every circumstance. Compassion should flow with ease from relationships. Think of Christ’s compassion toward you, how He loved you when you were His enemy. As Christ genuinely loved us and came for us, let us love others and go to them with the love of Christ.
Fourth, we should go with boldness. We ought not to be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is nothing to be ashamed of. There is no greater hope for your neighbors — that’s anyone in your life — outside of the saving work of Jesus. Friends, be bold. Bolder than when we talk about how great the new Netflix show is. Bolder than when we post on Facebook about whatever! Bolder than we could be about anything else! There is nothing greater than knowing the Lord and being known by the Lord. We will talk and connect on a lot of different things in life. This is and can be a very good thing. Let’s just never allow the gospel to take a backseat to everything else! Have boldness, and go in courage as you bring the gospel to those in your life.
Evangelism is an intimidating task. But, we ought to prayerfully go to those relationships we have that we might compassionately and boldly declare the gospel to those who are in desperate need to hear it.