[Much of the material in this sermon was taken from the book Becoming a Contagious Christian.]
When I say the word “evangelism” what pops into your mind? Many people immediately conjure up memories of infamous televangelists, known primarily for extracting large amounts of money from their well-meaning followers. Or they think of the stereotypical street preacher, megaphone in hand, blaring out indictments about the end of the world and the impending judgment of God.
In the book The Day America Told the Truth by James Patterson and Peter Kim, it’s reported that when a national survey asked people to rank various professions for their honesty and integrity, TV evangelists came almost at the very bottom, below lawyers, politicians, car salesmen, and prostitutes. Out of the 73 occupations compared in this integrity rating, only two ended up lower on the scale: organized crime bosses and drug dealers! Fair or unfair, it’s easy to understand why so many of us struggle with our perceptions of evangelism. We want to honor God by directing those around us toward His love and truth, but we wonder what we’ll have to become in the process.
Evangelism is a part of our purpose! “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”—Matthew 28:19-20a
Does the dreaded “E word” fill you with fear and guilt?
Common Excuse: “Evangelism is not my spiritual gift.” Another spiritual gift is encouragement (Rom. 12:8), but every Christian should encourage others. “Let us encourage one another” (Heb. 10:25).
Common Misconception: “I have to be someone I’m not in order to effectively share my faith.” (For example, “I have to be like Billy Graham.”)
“The Big Idea”: You can share your faith without changing who you are.
God uses all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people.
SIX STYLES OF EVANGELISM
[Note: The material below has been borrowed from a book called Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg.]
1. The Confrontational Style
Example: Peter (Acts 2)
It’s no secret that Peter was a “Ready-Fire-Aim” kind of guy. Whatever he did, he did it without hesitation and with full force. When Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 16:15 who they thought He was, Peter immediately declared flat-out that Jesus was the Messiah. Then a few verses later he challenged Jesus’ stated mission head on. Can you imagine trying to correct the Son of God? You might, if you have a confrontational style yourself!
When Peter was in the fishing boat and wanted to be with Jesus, he didn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to get close to Him, even if it meant trying to walk on water. And when their enemies came to take Jesus away, Peter was ready to cut off their heads.
All Peter needed was to be convinced he was right, and there was almost no stopping him. He was direct, he was bold, and he was right to the point. Is it any wonder God chose him as His spokesman on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2? It was a perfect fit! Verse 14 says, Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.” God needed someone unafraid to take a stand, right there in Jerusalem, the city where Jesus had been crucified a few weeks earlier. He wanted to let the thousands of people who were there know in no uncertain terms that they had crucified the Messiah, and that they needed to call on Him for His mercy and forgiveness.
Peter’s personality was custom-designed to fill the bill. With the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, he stood quite naturally and confronted the people with the facts. And God miraculously used his efforts; 3,000 people trusted Christ and were baptized that same day.
As exciting as that historical event was, we need to turn our focus to today. Do you realize that there are a lot of people in your world who won’t come to Christ until someone like Peter holds their feet to the fire? Some people are just waiting for a Christian who won’t beat around the bush, but who’ll clarify the truth of Christ and challenge them to do something about it? Do you resonate with Peter’s approach, or are you ready to move on to the other five options?
If this approach is for you, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to know how, when, and where to direct your words and challenges.
Caution: Mix grace with truth.
2. The Intellectual Style
Example: Paul (Acts 17)
Though Paul certainly could confront people with truth when necessary, his trademark approach was his logical and reasoned presentation of the gospel message. Read any of the letters he wrote—Romans is the best example—and you’ll see that he was a master at laying out a sound explanation of the central truths about God’s nature, our sin, and Christ’s solution. We read in Acts 17, As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said (vv. 2-3).
When you look at his background, Paul’s organized mind doesn’t come as a surprise. He was highly educated, tutored under a man who was considered to be one of the finest teachers in the land. In his writings, you can see his natural tendency to argue point-counterpoint with imaginary foes who might challenge his positions. Paul was an intellect to be reckoned with.
Can you think of a better person for God to send to the philosophers of Athens? The account is given in Acts 17, where you’ll find Paul presenting an ingenious argument, starting from the Athenian idol to an unknown god and moving all the way to the only true God and His resurrected Messiah. His approach was so effective that some of his listeners became believers.
It’s interesting to note the wisdom God displays in His choice of spokesmen. These philosophers would not have related to Peter’s direct, “turn-or-burn!” approach. They needed logic that conclusively proved its point.
And I’ll bet there are people in your circle who are just like them. They don’t want easy answers or platitudes like, “You’ll just have to accept it on faith.” To their ears that sounds like, “Leap before you look. Who knows, you might get lucky.” They want to know why they should leap at all.
Perhaps you’re a Paul. Is the intellectual approach one that fits you? Are you an inquisitive type who enjoys working with ideas and evidence? This style has become more and more important as our society has become increasingly secular. So many people need to hear the gospel not only declared but also defined and defended.
Caution: Do not substitute giving answers for giving the gospel, and be careful not to become argumentative.
3. The Testimonial Style
Example: The Blind Man (John 9)
Though we know less about him than we do about Peter or Paul, we can be sure about this: the blind man healed by Jesus in John 9 had seen something happen in his life worth talking about. He had been blind since birth, and regularly sat begging from people passing by. But his routine quickly changed when Jesus came along and gave him the gift of sight. No sooner was he able to see that he was thrust in front of a hostile audience and asked to explain what had happened.
It’s interesting that the man refused to enter into theological debate with them, though Paul probably would have been happy to oblige them with a few compelling arguments. And he steered away from confrontation, whereas Peter might have given them a shot of truth. Those responses didn’t fit who he was. Instead he spoke from his experience and confidently said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (v. 25b). That’s a difficult declaration to argue with, isn’t it? It’s pretty hard to escape the implications of such a testimony, even from a new believer.
Notice that in verse 3 Jesus said this man had been born blind “so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” That’s an example of what I’ve been saying: that we are custom-built for a particular approach. God had been preparing this man all of his life for this moment. His story pointed people toward Christ.
And there are a lot of people who live and work around you who need to hear a similar testimony about how God is working in a believer’s life. They might not respond very well to a challenge or an argument, but a personal account of someone’s coming to faith would influence them powerfully.
Could that story be yours? Do you, like the man who had been blind, feel comfortable telling others how God led you to Himself? Even if you haven’t done that yet, does this idea spark your interest? Stories like yours can be powerful tools.
It’s important to point out that effective testimonies don’t have to be dramatic. Don’t exclude yourself from this approach because you have a garden-variety testimony. Maybe you went to church and were religious all your life before you realized that those things didn’t make you a Christian. But the story of how you moved from religion into a relationship with Christ will be more relevant to most of your acquaintances than a sensational story of someone coming to Christ out of a life of witchcraft or drugs.
As a matter of fact, the difficulty of personally relating to the dramatic testimony may give your friends an excuse. “People like that need religion!” they might say. But your everyday story will relate to their everyday life and show them that they, too, need the love of God that you’ve found.
And if you do have a more dramatic story, ask God to lead you concerning how much detail to give and to whom to tell it, so that they’ll hear the aspects of your experience they can connect with, and be drawn to seek what you’ve found in Christ.
Caution: Beware of talking about yourself but not relating your experience to the other person’s life. You need to listen to them first and connect your story to their situation.
4. The Interpersonal Style
Example: Matthew (Luke 5:29)
By any standard, Matthew was an unlikely candidate. Tax collectors just weren’t known for becoming evangelists. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Matthew. After accepting Jesus’ call to become one of His followers, he decided to do whatever he could to bring along as many of his friends as possible.
So he put on a big banquet for all his tax-collecting buddies in an effort to expose them to Jesus and the new life He offered. Luke 5:29 says, Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. Unlike those who utilize the other approaches we’ve examined, Matthew didn’t confront or intellectually challenge them, nor is there any mention of his telling them the story of what had happened to him.
Rather, he relied on the relationships he had built with these men over the years and sought to further develop their friendships. He invited them into his home. He spent time with them and ate with them. He did all of this because he genuinely cared about them, and he wanted to influence them toward considering the claims of Christ.
The vantage point of friendship gives us the highest possibility of influence in the lives of others (survey).
Those who have the interpersonal style of evangelism tend to be warm, people-centered individuals who enjoy deep levels of communication and trust with those they’re reaching out to. And many people will never be reached until someone takes the time to build that kind of intimacy with them. Maybe you’re an interpersonal evangelist. Do you enjoy having long talks over a cup of coffee with a friend you’re trying to reach? Can you patiently listen to other people’s concerns without rushing in to tell them what they need to do? Do you enjoy having people into your home, sharing a meal, and spending time in conversation?
Caution: Avoid valuing friendship over truth-telling. Presenting the gospel may mean causing friction in the relationship, but it must be done.
5. The Invitational Style
Example: The Samaritan Woman (John 4)
The Samaritan woman had three things going against her: (1) she was a Samaritan, (2) she was a woman, and (3) she was living an immoral lifestyle. Back then, anyone of these would be enough to disqualify her from being taken seriously by society. But do you think that stopped Jesus? You can read in John 4 how He ignored all the conventional wisdom and political correctness of the day by striking up a conversation with her.
It didn’t take long for the woman to realize that the man she was talking to was no ordinary Jewish teacher. His prophetic insights and authoritative answers convinced her of His claim to be the Messiah.
So what did she do? She immediately went to her town and brought a bunch of people to the well to hear Jesus for themselves. Verses 28-30 says, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they came out of the town and made their way toward him. This simple invitation resulted in Jesus staying in their town for two days. Many of the woman’s friends declared, in verse 42, “Now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
A recent poll by researcher George Barna showed that about 25 percent of non-Christian adults would go to church if a friend would just invite them. Think about that: one in four of your friends would be willing to join you! The primary question you’ll need to answer is what kinds of events—church services, concerts, movies, plays, or other programs in your church or community—would be appropriate to bring them to. Consider their perspective and interests in order to make the best choice. Although invitations are a great way for all of us to reach out to others, some people, like the woman at the well, have a knack for getting people to go places with them.
Caution: Do not always let others do the talking for you. “If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15).
6. The Serving Style
Example: Dorcas (Acts 9)
Acts 9:36 says, In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. She was well-known for her loving acts of service, which she performed in the name of Christ. Specifically, she made robes and articles of clothing for widows and other needy people in her town.
It would have been very hard for people to observe her activity and not get a glimpse of the love of Christ that inspired her. In fact, her work was so important that when she died a premature death, God sent Peter to raise her from the dead and put her back into service.
People who take this approach find it relatively easy to serve others. It’s how God made them. They naturally notice needs others don’t see, and they find joy in meeting them, even if they don’t get a lot of credit for it. Often more quiet types, these people enjoy expressing compassion through tangible forms of action.
Though this style tends to get less attention, and it often takes a much longer period of time before producing spiritual results, it’s one of the most important approaches. Service-style evangelists touch people nobody else can reach.
You may not have the knowledge of Paul or the courage of Peter and the Samaritan woman. But you’re a whiz at making meals or fixing cars. I hope you can see how things can be done in a way that points people to Christ.
Caution: Actions are not substitutes for words. Romans 10:14 makes it clear that we must verbally tell people about Jesus. “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” It is important to develop no-strings-attached friendships with the people on your list. Let them know by word and deed that they matter to you, whether or not they agree with you about religion.
Whatever evangelism style(s) you use, at some point you need to share a verbal witness.
STARTING SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS
• The Direct Method
Examples: (1) “Do you ever think about spiritual things?” (2) “Where do you think you are on your spiritual journey?” (2) “If you would ever like to know the difference between Christianity and religion, just let me know?”
• The Indirect Method
This approach uses the topic being discussed as a bridge to a related spiritual topic. (Example: Your friend says he/she is worried about a terrorist attack. You might say, “Whatever happens, I know where I’m going when I die.”)
• The Invitational Method
This approach uses a conversation topic as an opportunity to invite a friend to a Christian event. (Example: Your friend asks you questions about The DaVinci Code. You might answer, “Well, honestly don’t know much about it, but my pastor is preaching a series on that subject next month.”) Tips: Offer to pick them up; do something before/after the event.
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
Even if your unsaved friend won’t listen when you share your faith, you can always pray.
The apostle Paul wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone…. This is good, and pleased God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1, 3).
The diary of George Mueller, Christian social reformer from the Victorian era, chronicles his devotion in prayer:
In November 1844, I began to pray for the conversation of five individuals. I prayed every day without a single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land, on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be. Eighteen months elapsed before the first of the five was converted. I thanked God and prayed on for the others. Five years elapsed, and then the second was converted. I thanked God for the second, and prayed on for the other three. Day by day, I continued to pray for them, and six years passed before the third was converted. I thanked God for the three, and went on praying for the other two. These two remained unconverted.
Thirty-six years later he wrote that the other two, sons of one of Mueller’s friends, were still not converted. He wrote: “But I hope in God, I pray on, and look for the answer. They are not converted yet, but they will be.”
In 1897, fifty-two years after he began to pray, these two men were finally converted, after he died. Mueller understood what Jesus meant when He told His disciples “that they should always pray and not give up” (Perfect Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion, p. 208).
