THE GOSPEL AND PERSONAL
EVANGELISM
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?
Fundamentally, we evangelize by preaching the
Word and spreading the message (Rom 10:17).
 But how we specifically evangelize should be in
striving for a certain balance of honesty,
urgency, and joy.

HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Honesty
 We
must tell people honestly that if they repent and
believe they will be saved. But it will be costly.
 We must be accurate in what we say, not holding
any important parts back that seem to us awkward
or offensive.
 Some people believe that to talk about anything
negative like sin and guilt and repentance and
sacrifice is to derail evangelism.
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

“I don’t think that anything has been done in
the name of Christ and under the banner of
Christianity that has proven more destructive to
human personality, and hence
counterproductive to the evangelistic
enterprise, than the unchristian, uncouth
strategy of attempting to make people aware of
their lost and sinful condition.” ~Robert
Schuller
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?
But according to the Bible, although freedom is a
wonderful aspect of our message (e.g. John 8:3236), sin and guilt are at the very heart and core of
the gospel.
 Let’s not believe that we are simply all engaged in
some search for truth. The fall did not leave people
neutral toward God but at enmity with him.
Therefore we must not pretend that non-Christians
are neutral seekers, but realize that they are by
nature estranged from God, and we must be
honest about that.

HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Urgency
We must also emphasize the urgency with which people
ought to repent and believe if they will be saved. They
must decide now.
 According to the New Testament (John 14:6, Acts 4:12,
Romans 10, the book of Hebrews), Christ is the only
way to salvation.
 We don’t know that tomorrow is ours, and we shouldn’t
act as if it is (James 4:13).
 “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts”
(Ps. 95:7-8; Heb. 4:7).

HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?
It’s not manipulative or insensitive to bring up the
urgent nature of salvation. It’s simply the truth—
the time of opportunity will one day end.
 Since the world is passing away (1 Cor. 7:29, 31)
and the days are evil (Eph. 5:16), we should say
with Paul that, in view of a certain judgment,
Christ’s love compels us to tell the good news to
others (2 Cor. 5:10-15).
 We must be honest not only about the cost of
repentance, but also about the expiration date of
the offer. Such honesty compels us to urgency.

HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Joy
 The
truth of the Gospel is a restored relationship
with God that brings great joy.
 So we should joyfully tell people that if they repent
and believe they will be saved. It is all worth it,
despite the cost (Hebrews 11).
 In Christ we gain a relationship with God himself,
which includes forgiveness, meaning, purpose,
freedom, community, certainty, and hope.
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

We should strive for this balance in our
evangelism.
 Honesty
and urgency with no joy gives us a grim
determination.
 Honesty and joy with no urgency gives us a
carelessness about time.
 Urgency and joy with no honesty leads us into
distorted claims about immediate benefits of the
gospel.
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Specific Suggestions for Evangelism:
 Pray
 Since
salvation is a work of God in hearts, then we need
to pray for him to work.
 We can work and witness, but only God can save
someone, so we must pray.
 We pray about much less significant matters every day.
Why wouldn’t we pray about this?
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Use the Bible
 God’s
message can go out not just through yours
words and mine, but through his own inspired
words.
 When Philip led the Ethiopian official to Christ, he
used Scripture (Acts 8:35).
 When we use Scripture in evangelism, we are
showing our friends that we are not simply giving
them our own private ideas; rather we are
presenting Jesus Christ in his own life and teaching.
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Be clear
 We
must be clear about the fact of sin (Isa. 59:1-2,
Hab. 1:13, Rom. 3:22-23), the meaning of the cross
(Matt. 26:28, Gal. 3:10-13, 1 Tim. 1:15), and our
need to repent of ours sins and to trust in Christ
(Matt. 11:28-30, Mark 1:15, John 1:12).
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Be clear
 When
you share the gospel, think carefully about
the language you use.
 We often cannot take for granted using words like
“God,” “prayer,” “heaven,” “moral,” “justification,”
“Atonement,” “sin,” “wrath,” etc.
 Paul said to the Corinthians, “To the Jews I became
like a Jew, to win the Jews…to those not having the
law I became like one not having the law…so as to
win those not having the law.” (1 Cor. 9:20-21)
HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Use the church
Invite the person to whom you’re witnessing to church.
 Our lives as Christians give the Gospel credibility—they
commend the Gospel message.
 Paul said that in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation, a community of believers—a church—should
“shine like stars” (Phil. 2:14-16).
 Invite people not just to hear a Gospel sermon but to
involve them in the network of relationships that is your
congregation.

HOW SHOULD WE EVANGELIZE?

Ask Questions
 Ask
about the origin of life, how they understand
bad things in the world, what they’re struggling with
in their lives, and what they think the answer might
be.
 We can even ask them what they think about Jesus,
God, judgment, the Bible, and Christianity.
 Ask good questions and listen to their answers.