Servant Evangelism

Showing God’s Love In a Practical Way.

WHO are we trying to REACH

The Apostle Paul challenged Christians to relate to all people for the sake of spreading the gospel. The heart of Paul’s message was that Christians learn to understand each individual so that we might share our faith with them effectively.

Paul states, 19Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: 20religious, nonreligious, 21meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, 22the defeated, the demoralized--whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. 23I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! (1 Corinthians 9)

Often, we over complicate our faith to express the relevance of the gospel. Other times, we only try to be understood instead of also trying to understand. Although this video takes a humorous look at when we fail to share our faith effectively, let it serve as a reminder for Christians to strive to share their faith in both a relevant and understandable manner.

Play Real Christians of Genius.

Lets watch a movie about how many in the world view Christians.

I’m not sure we have this thing called evangelism right. You know the tiny little command Jesus gave us. After all what is the greatest commandment? God, what is really important? This…

34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Were no longer just talking about inviting your neighbor to church or to a small group meeting, but were talking about caring for them, watching out for them, meeting their needs if you have the means.

There are four things we must realize and do to have effective evangelism (In order for people to become attracted to God).

The first thing is…

1. People will listen when I treat them like friends.

How many of you have ever switched schools, or know someone who moved to your school during the school year? As children and even as adults there is nothing more sought out then friendship. Has anyone ever just embraced you as their friend and you wondered why? It’s a great feeling. People need friends and if you befriend someone you can influence them for Christ.

The second thing is…

2. I must realize that when I serve, hearts are touched

So often when we are in the middle of doing something nice for someone, we start to doubt what were really accomplishing. You are building credibility. Look past the present…what could this service mean for the kingdom? If you want to see someone’s heart touched and you want an opportunity to share Christ with someone, do something for them. Maybe you have an elderly neighbor you can help out, clean their roof or mow their lawn. Build a relationship with them and when they ask why, simply tell them “I just want to show you God’s love in a practical way.”

The third thing is…

3. Understand that as I serve, I redefine the perception of a Christian.

Believe it or not Christians do not have the best credit with people of this planet. Many people will hate you just for being a Christian. But as we serve them, they’re presumption of what a Christian is will change. It will metamorpherize from a person who they view as condemning and as a none caring person, to someone who reflects Christ’s love.

4. Doing the message precedes telling the message.

We have been talking about the harvest. I hate to tell you this but unless we do the message we will not win the harvest. If we want to reap a harvest for God, if we want lost souls to receive the peace and love that accompany a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, than we must first plant the fields. Doing the message, taking it to the lost in a visible form is planting the seeds. Servant evangelism isn’t simply telling people the message it is showing them it in a practical way.

THIS SEEMS EASY ENOUGH HOWEVER FOR MANY EVANGELISM IS the hardest part of their relationship with Christ.