The Scary Word: Evangelism
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
Salvation thru faith in Jesus is Good News—the GREATEST News! And the church is God’s means to share that news with all the world in this age. It’s an essential mission. It’s a privilege to be on that mission.
Matthew 28:19 is known as the great commission. In a recent sermon series, I recalled that truth and invited our church to break through barriers to living it out. One of the greatest barriers to evangelism is fear.
Fears or phobias—like acrophobia (heights), arachnophobia (spiders), or ophidiophobia (snakes)—may be helpful in avoiding dangers. Some other phobias can feel very real but offer little to help us survive. Have you experienced or heard of these?: claustrophobia (tight spaces), cibophobia (food), or anemophobia (air), or one of the most common fears, glossophobia, a fear of public speaking?
Do you have unfair fears? It’s right to have a respectful fear of heights—it’ll teach you to use caution when you visit the rim of the Grand Canyon. Or a respectful fear of snakes—that’s just obvious!
But what if a fear of public speaking, or fear of rejection, has kept you from sharing the Good News of Jesus? But if God commands that we do something, he promises to equip us to do it.
In his book That’s Good News (1), Rev. Shane Bishop writes:
“For me, the evangelism imperative comes down to three simple questions: 1. Do you trust the testimony of the Bible? 2. Do you love Jesus enough to share him with people? 3. Do you love people enough to share Jesus with them?”
In Matthew 10:28, Jesus gives assurance to his followers not to fear what others might do to you as you share the love and truth of the Gospel of Jesus. All others can do is physical harm. We are called to trust and follow God, who cares for you immensely, and has reign over both your body and soul.
Sometimes evangelism and overcoming the fear barrier to living it out is easy, but other times, it may be very difficult. Here are some key truths about Evangelism I learned from the membership class at the very first Methodist Church I joined, the Orchard Church in Georgia:
Evangelism does not have to be confrontational, manipulative, or cheesy.
Let’s be the church that will talk to people instead of talking about them. Let’s get to know them. It’s not their responsibility to find us or God, but it is our responsibility to find them. Let’s refuse to be a closed group; rather, let’s work diligently to live in this world as light for all people, being present and enjoying friends, even and especially with those who do not yet know Jesus.
Evangelism is to be HIGH love but LOW pressure.
Love is the core of true evangelism. We don’t share Jesus with others so they might like us or help our church but to show them how God loves and can help them. Low pressure evangelism is Jesus’s model.
Too many times evangelism methods put pressure on the person who is evangelizing or put pressure on the person who is being evangelized or the method of evangelism—or all three.
This causes the love factor to shrink. Did you know it can take up to 24 small spiritual decisions before a person makes the big decision to repent, believe, and be saved? Share Jesus, and then keep on sharing Jesus!
The truth that can help you overcome fear of evangelism is to know God loves you. He loved you before you loved him, and no matter what the outcome of your evangelism, if you do it, God will use it!
Evangelism is to be HIGH expectation of God and HARD work for us.
It’s right to have high expectation for God to use YOU to work in others’ lives. Jesus says to follow him in such a way that you expect God to use you to bring other people to faith. Pray with expectation. Pray by name. Pray with deep hope that the person will repent, believe, and be saved.
Realize most people will not come to faith by accident. Get equipped. Read a book like That’s Good News by Pastor Shane Bishop. Be intentional and plan how you will meet, invest, and invite others to faith in Jesus. Make sacrifices with your preferences, schedule, and money. Even risk rejection.
Do the work of loving others, praying for their salvation, and intentionally sharing Jesus. Then have high expectations that God will transform their heart!
Know the simple Good News of Jesus (Gospel) and share it as the opportunity arises.
Gospel: All have sinned, which separates us from God’s best in this life and in hell after death, but Jesus, who lived a perfect life and died a guiltless death, was the sacrifice for everyone who repents of sin and believes him. The resurrection of Jesus defeated death and sin—both its power and consequences—for ALL who repent and believe in him.
Practical Steps for Evangelism:
These are a few steps you can start, or continue, today. Think of one who may not be following Jesus:
1. Pray for the person by name regularly and invite God’s Spirit to guide your steps with them.
2. Regularly illustrate kindness to them
3. Attend church regularly. Share an invitation card with the person to invite them to come to church with you sometime.
(1) 1 Bishop, Shane, L.. That's Good News (p. 23). Invite Press. Kindle Edition.