The word “evangelism” sends a shiver down the spine of many Christians.
“I won’t know what to say.” “I want to get to know the person better.” “They seem like they wouldn’t be open to the gospel.” “Evangelism is not my spiritual gift.”
There are many common excuses people use for not following the commands of Scripture to share the gospel (
Here are some truths from Scripture that will encourage you to take a step outside your comfort zone and into the exciting world of sharing your faith in Christ:
1. It is by the power of God that people are saved.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… (
Knowing that people are saved only through the power of God, and not by human effort or ability, should provide comfort for those seeking to make a kingdom-difference. This also takes the pressure off when people are not responding the way we want because we know we are not responsible for the salvation of a particular person, but God is.
2. When you share your faith, you gain a deeper understanding of Christ.
When we testify to others how God saved us from sin and wrath, how he has made us a new creation in Christ, and how has filled us with joy and peace by the Holy Spirit, we are reminded of God’s awesome work in our lives. This deepens our love and understanding of Christ.
In
3. Even Jesus was rejected.
Success in evangelism is measured not in the outcome, but in your obedience to the command of Christ. The story of the Jesus and the rich young ruler in
Success in evangelism is not in the outcome, but in your obedience to the command of Christ.
You would think that any encounter with Jesus, the Son of God who has power to grant saving faith, would have been a sure-fire conversion. This was not the case.
After Jesus led him through the law (which shows us our sin and need for the Savior) and told him the cost of discipleship, we are told the young man went away sorrowful.
4. When we are rejected, we are promised heavenly rewards.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (
Evangelist Mark Cahill calls all three potential witnessing outcomes a “win”:
- If the person comes to Christ, that is an obvious win.
- If they seem interested but don’t come to Christ, you plant seeds that God could water and grow in the future, which is another win.
- If they reject you, you get heavenly rewards, which is definitely a win!
Not only is being rejected not bad, but we receive heavenly rewards when we are rejected.
5. The Holy Spirit will give you words.
In
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
If God can speak through donkeys like he did in
6. Our job is to plant seeds or water the soil. God takes care of the growth.
Just like a gardener cannot force seeds to spring forth with life merely by his will, evangelists cannot force people to respond to the message of Christ by their will. God is the one who gives life both physically and spiritually.
We should take the opportunities we are given to plant seeds by sharing the gospel and to water seeds already planted, but ultimately God will help the person grow.
7. God will go with you.
After he gave the Great Commission to go and make disciples in
Christ promises to always be with you.
Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (
This article originally appeared on UnlockingTheBible.com. Used with permission.
Kevin Halloran is a Christian, blogger, and coffee aficionado. He serves with Leadership Resources International, training pastors to preach God’s Word with God’s heart. Follow Kevin on Twitter or visit his blog.
Publication date: August 24, 2016