What Does The Bible Say About Evangelism?
The Bible has a lot to say about evangelism. It speaks about preaching the gospel, testifying of salvation, and even talks about different aspects of evangelism such as how to make a good witness. The Bible speaks of many practices related to evangelism, but the primary focus of its message is clear: it is essential to share the message of Jesus Christ.
Jesus himself gave us the Great Commission, in which he told us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15). This is the same message we must carry today when evangelizing. We are called to preach the good news of the gospel – not only informing others of the death and resurrection of our Lord, but also teaching them the meaning of that redemption and its practical implications in our lives.
The Bible also speaks of other aspects of evangelism. For example, it encourages us to be prepared and aware of our surroundings as we start witnessing to others. We are instructed to “always be ready to give a defense” (1 Peter 3:15), meaning we should be prepared to answer questions about our faith with gentleness and respect. Additionally, the Bible speaks about being wise as serpents and gentle as doves as we witness to others (Matthew 10:16). This means that as we preach the gospel, we should avoid being too open or confrontational so that we don’t offend those we are trying to reach.
The Bible also encourages us to share our faith with friends, neighbors and family. We are told that those closest to us are the ones most likely to hear and accept the gospel (Colossians 4:5-6). Additionally, we are called to pray for each person we give a gospel witness to, believing that God will lead them to salvation (Romans 10:14-15).
Finally, we are reminded of the importance of continuing in faith and following through with our evangelism even if we don’t receive immediate results. Jesus commanded us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel,” and the Bible teaches us that we should have faith and understanding that even if the gospel is rejected, it will still bring glory to God in the long run (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
Witnessing to Non-Believers
Evangelism, by definition, is a practice of preaching and testifying of one’s faith, with the primary goal of leading someone to faith in Jesus Christ. However, this often involves interacting with people who may not believe, or may have doubts about Christianity. In these cases, it is important to remember to be patient and understanding towards the person, and show them respect – even when we disagree. We should be willing to listen, consider their point of view, and answer questions with kindness and from a place of love.
Most importantly, we must practice humility, using grace and gentleness when giving our viewpoints and stressing the importance of understanding how even those who don’t accept Jesus can still come to Him in faith. Jesus Himself had much interaction with non-believers, so He is the perfect example for how we can do the same. Ultimately, it is important to remember that witnessing to non-believers requires patience and humility, and should be done with respect and love, rather than an attitude of superiority.
Additionally, it is important to remember that those people have their own set of experiences, beliefs and understanding – and they may not be ready to accept a religious message right away. This is okay, and is something to keep in mind when engaging in evangelism with non-believers. It is often more effective to initiate a conversation and focus on building a relationship of trust and understanding before pressing to preach the gospel.
God is faithful, and He will lead those who seek to grow in faith – even those who are not seeking yet. Therefore, if we remember to practice humility and patience when evangelizing to non-believers, we will be able to better demonstrate God’s love in our conversations with them.
Evangelism Outside of Church
Evangelism does not always happen inside a church. There are many aspects of evangelism that can take place outside of a place of worship. For example, Christians are called to be salt and light among the world (Matthew 5:13-16). This can be done through acts of service such as volunteering in the community, serving neighbors or even speaking to strangers on the street. While these acts are not necessarily “preaching”, they do serve as a means of spreading the love of Christ to others.
Additionally, Christians can use digital technology to share the gospel. Platforms such as Youtube, social media and blogs can be used to share Christian content and testimonies. This is a great way to reach a larger audience and communicate the gospel to people who may not be as exposed to it through traditional evangelism opportunities.
Finally, Christians can use opportunities that arise in everyday life to evangelize. Whether we are at a store, school, work, or any other place – we can take advantage of conversations with those around us and share the gospel within that context, as appropriate. While this may require us to start with just having conversations about our faith, if we are patient and trusting that God will lead us, it can result in a powerful impact and lasting change in the lives of those we encounter.
Evangelism with Non-Christians
Another way to evangelize can be through conversations and interactions with people of other faiths. We can use this opportunity to understand different cultures, beliefs, and even to share our own beliefs. When engaging in such conversations, we should do so with a humble attitude, in respect of the other person’s beliefs. We should also be prepared to answer questions about our faith in a clear and articulate manner.
It is important to remember that God’s love extends to those of other faiths and beliefs and we should aim to demonstrate that love in the way that we converse. We do not need to compromise on the gospel but can still be respectful and understanding of the other person’s faith.
Additionally, engaging with those of other beliefs can serve as a great way to learn, grow and understand the journey of faith which every person takes. We can also use this as an opportunity to share our own faith journey and the hope that we have in Jesus. Finally, we should remember to keep praying for those with whom we have had conversations, believing that God will lead them to Himself in His perfect timing.
The Importance of Evangelism
Effective evangelism is not just about preaching and speaking, but also about actively living a life that reflects Christ, so that those around us can see the difference Jesus makes in our lives. As Christians, every action we take, every word we say and even how we conduct our lives should reflect the gospel message (Colossians 3:17). This includes the way we live our lives, the way that we interact with those around us and the way we behave within our families and communities.
Ultimately, the Bible is clear that if we are to fulfill the Great Commission and lead others to faith in Jesus Christ, we must be faithful in living out the gospel. This means setting an example through our actions and our words, but also not shying away from proclaiming the gospel in love when the opportunity arises. Only by doing this, can we demonstrate the power of Christ and the hope that it brings to this world.
Evangelism with Difficult People
It is important to remember that proclaiming the gospel isn’t just something that applies to those who seem receptive – it also applies to those who are difficult to engage with, or those who seem opposed to the gospel message. We must remember that God calls us to love everyone, even if they reject us. We can still reach out with grace and love, and engage in conversations about our faith, without compromising on the message. Additionally, it is important to remember that our evangelism should always be mindful of the other person’s feelings and beliefs, without minimizing the importance of our faith.
Furthermore, we should remember to demonstrate respect and understanding, no matter the circumstance. We are called to be gentle and patient, and although it may be difficult, this must be reflected in our evangelism. Additionally, we should be aware of the situation and realize that people may need time and sensitivity when communicating spiritual matters – it is essential to remember this when communicating with those who may be difficult to engage with.
Finally, it is important to remember that even if a conversation does not result in conversion, God will always use it for His greater purpose, and our faithfulness in evangelizing to difficult people is still a testament to His glory.
Contextualizing the Gospel
Evangelism is an often misunderstood topic, one which too often results in a prescriptive approach that is not contextualized with the cultures, beliefs and experiences of the person it is aimed at. Jesus did not come with a cookie cutter approach – He met people where they were and met their needs with grace and love, often before He showed them the way to salvation. It is important for us to emulate this approach when evangelizing, striving to meet the needs of those we interact with and learn from their context to better understand how we can show them the love of Jesus.
One way to contextualize the gospel is through the use of stories. Sharing personal testimonies, hearing stories of others and being present to the stories of others are all ways in which we can inject the gospel message and Kingdom work into our conversations. Additionally, we must be willing to learn from what we hear and understand different perspectives, allowing us to have a fuller view of the world and to better empathize with peoples’ needs and journey.
Ultimately, we should remember that we are here to serve those around us, not to expect them to conform to our own beliefs and values. The Bible encourages us to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16), showing understanding without compromising on the message. Effective evangelism can only happen when we are willing to contextualize the gospel to fit the needs of those around us.
