Sharing Your FaithLesson 7:

Review of Evangelizing Your Community (Ch. 5 & 7)

Overview

July 30: North, “Conversational Evangelism”; “Friendship Evangelism”August 6: Personal Evangelism (White)August 13: North, “Ministry Evangelism”August 20: North, “Conversion & Follow-Up”August 27: … Next Quarter …

Evangelizing Your Community

North, Stafford. Evangelizing Your Community. Nashville, TN: 21st Century Christian, 2007.

Original publication: 1973

Thesis

• Acts 2:47 “having favor with all the people.”• Acts 5:13 “the people held them in high

esteem. “

Are there practical things the church can do to more fully accomplish this result?

Creating an Evangelistic Congregation

Conversational Evangelism

• Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

• Conversational Evangelism: Using everyday conversations we are already having to interest people in Christ, to tell them something about the church, to mention a verse of Scripture, or to share something happening in at church.

Conversational Evangelism

Examples• Jesus by a Samaritan well, John 4• Paul– In an Athenian marketplace, Acts 17– Before the Sanhedrin, Acts 21-22– On trial, Acts 24 & 26– To sailors on a boat, Acts 27:21-25– To his guards, Acts 28:17-31

• Contemporary Examples, p. 68-70

Conversational Evangelism

Steps for Promoting Conversational Evangelism1. Study John 42. Have a class focused on learn this skill and

sharing experiences3. Role-play conversations4. Events to which guests may be invited• The Objective: Read p. 71-72

Conversation Starters

How to start the conversations that save souls …

Do Something Out of the OrdinaryThe woman at the well, John 4:7-10• Jesus ignored a social custom that ran

contrary to God’s will.• Jesus treated people with kindness.• Jesus always used these actions as an

opportunity to talk about the Gospel.

Example #1• THEM: “What are you doing?”• YOU: “Reading my Bible. Everyone at my

church is trying to read the Bible in a year.”• THEM: “That’s neat.”• YOU: “Reading the Bible more has really

improved my life from day to day.”

Do Something Out of the Ordinary• There should be many things in your life that

others find extraordinary …• Prayer, 1 Thessalonians 5:17• Lack of profanity, James 3:10• Weekly attendance (at least), Acts 20:7• More attendance? Acts 2:46• Living like we ought will create opportunities,

because true Christianity is so rare.

Help Someone Understand

The Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8:29-35• A man was reading the Bible, but he did not

understand what he read.• Philip explained it and used it to teach the

entire Gospel.• The entire gospel? Read v. 36

Help Someone Understand• People do have spiritual questions.• Listen to what they say, what they ask, and

what topics they seem interested in.• Give a simple reasonable answer that

encourages their interest.• Every question relates to Jesus somehow!

Example #2• THEM: “You ever wonder about all those

things in the Old Testament we don’t do any more?”

• YOU: “Well, the Old Testament was a law for the ancient Jews, but not for us. We learn about what Jesus wants from his followers in the New Testament.”

Help Someone Understand

Words to listen for …• “At church the other day …”• “I don’t think God cares whether or not …”• “How do people believe that stuff …”

Help Someone Understand

Cautions …• If someone else brings up a subject, you are

not being rude to talk about it.• That doesn’t mean that you can’t become

rude! So don’t!• Don’t be a know it all.• Don’t be condescending.• Don’t correct it all at once.

Talk About the Gospel“We have found him”John 1:40-42• Andrew finds Christ• Andrew tells Peter, his brotherJohn 1:45-51• Philip finds Christ• Philip tells Nathanael, a friend• Jesus does all the hard work!

Talk About the Gospel• Sometimes the best opportunities are MADE

not FOUND.• The Christian must be willing to talk about

Bible subjects.• This is not the same as “teaching” or hosting a

Bible study.

Example #3• YOU: “I am really looking forward to going to

worship on Sunday.”• THEM: “Really? I hate going to church. Its

always boring.”• YOU: “You should let me pick you up Sunday

and go with me. I always enjoy being there. Maybe you haven’t been to the right church yet.”

Friendship Evangelism

• Instead of “Creating Contacts,” look to your friends and family. See p. 89-

1. Choose two or three2. Pray3. Daily commitment4. Show your commitment5. Invite and teach6. Share your story7. Encourage your friend to “make a decision”

Friendship Evangelism

My Concerns …• Beware of treating people as a target• Beware of viewing friendship as fake, as a

means to an end• Beware of impatience• Beware of the delicate balance

Sharing Your FaithLesson 7:

Review of Evangelizing Your Community (Ch. 5 & 7)