Reaching the Lost

1. Reaching the Lost

2. How is it Possible to Reach the Lost Today? • Many compromise The Truth in order to “reach the lost” yet as a result are not true soul winners for Jesus (e.g. social gospel, cater to worldly desires, gimmicks).

3. How is it Possible to Reach the Lost Today? • Others hope has been dashed to pieces due to one disappointment after another, believing church growth to be almost as a phenomenon from the first century.

4. How is it Possible to Reach the Lost Today? • Reaching the lost today requires a strong belief in the Lord and His gospel and an undying vision of what could be with God’s help (Mat. 28:18-20).

5. Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB) 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. "

6. Indirect Methods of Evangelism • Bible correspondence courses • Newspaper ad (e.g. “Religious Notice”) • Public access on TV / Radio program • Internet Web Site • “New Movers Evangelism”: Mail program targeting new residents • Large distribution of gospel meeting ads, church bulletins, Bible tracts, and audio CDs of lessons.

7. Indirect Methods of Evangelism • These require time, effort, and money to maintain. • Designated members and time allotted for the task is essential. • Have you “counted the costs”? (cf. Luke 14:25-33).

8. Luke 14:28-30 (NASB) 28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying,' This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

9. Many churches rely solely on these “indirect methods” and grow very little. • It is unrealistic to believe that by putting such methods in place our duty is done: The real work has yet to take place!

10. Direct Methods of Evangelism. • Examples of more direct methods. • “Door knocking” (Difficult without prior personal contact). • New Movers Program • “Sign Evangelism” - Stand next to sign (e.g., “Discover the Bible”) at a busy section (downtown mall, campus) and wait for interest.

11. Best direct methods: Getting “personal” in evangelism! • Invite those in your “circle of influence” (e.g., relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc.): It might be bigger than you think!

12. John 4:35 (NASB) "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.

13. Best direct methods: Getting “personal” in evangelism! • Don’t always begin by inviting them to a worship assembly (often foreign to them); instead discuss spiritual matters and ask for a Bible study (“Biblical pattern”)

14. Best direct methods: Getting “personal” in evangelism! • Giving a Bible tract or audio CD of a lesson to someone you know may serve as a “stepping stone” to studying the Scriptures with them in person.

15. Best direct methods: Getting “personal” in evangelism! • “Personal work” cards (“business” cards) that serve as a way of inviting people to study the Scriptures with you, containing contact information and times of services, should be carried at all times for those brief and unexpected opportunities to gain a prospect!

16. Best direct methods: Getting “personal” in evangelism! • Your ability to talk to others will flow from your own personal beliefs and convictions in the truth of God’s word (2 Cor. 3:12; 4:13).

17. 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NASB) Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech.

18. 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NASB) But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, " I believed, therefore I spoke, "we also believe, therefore also we speak;

19. Best direct methods: Getting “personal” in evangelism! • Home Bible classes: The apostles taught not only publicly, but also “from house to house” (Acts 5:42; 20:20).

20. Acts 5:42 (NASB) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

21. Acts 20:20 (NASB) How I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house.

22. Home Bible Classes • Provides opportunity for more close and personal discussions & private instruction. • Especially important in an age when people are quick to dismiss the worship assembly “organized religion.” • Many comfortable in the home and willing to talk about issues that concern them. • Alternate the meeting place for study to different members’ homes to reach different neighborhoods in town.

23. Best direct methods: Getting “personal” in evangelism! • Teamwork in the church can bring about greater opportunities and help to “sound forth the word of the Lord” in every place (1 Thes. 1:8).

24. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (NASB) For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.

25. Teamwork in reaching the lost • Communication and cooperation is essential between members to help reach their neighbors for Christ. • Members work in pairs to support one another (Luke 10:1; Acts 13:2). • The elders and others who offer leadership (e.g., evangelists) can help mobilize a congregation to work as a team (Eph. 4:11-12).

26. Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

27. Generating Opportunities. • Pray for “open doors of opportunity.” • When we appreciate “the joy of Thy salvation,” then we will have a strong desire to convert people to the Lord!

28. Psalms 51:10-13 (NASB) 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners will be converted to Thee.

29. A desire to reach the lost will cause us to pray to God to provide opportunities to share the gospel with others.

30. Colossians 4:3 (NASB) Praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned.

31. Generating Opportunities. • Pray for “open doors of opportunity.” • Build “personal bridges” and prove yourself trustworthy. • Most people feel uneasy about discussing spiritual matters or accepting an invitation to study with someone that they do not know.

32. Establish a “Personal Bridge” • Some kind of personal connection with each person. • Examples: You are his/her coworker, client, customer, associate, classmate, or friend. Member of the same gym, organization, club, volunteer center. • To establish this “personal bridge,” spend time with the lost, just as Jesus did (Mat. 9:10-13).

33. Making such a “personal bridge” includes proving to be good and trustworthy persons to those we are trying to reach (Phil. 2:14-16a).

34. Philippians 2:14-16a (NASB) 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life…

35. Generating Opportunities. • Pray for “open doors of opportunity.” • Build “personal bridges” and prove yourself trustworthy. • Let your light shine!

36. Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB) 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

37. Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

38. Galatians 6:10 (NASB) So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

39. James 1:27 (NASB) This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. – cf. Mark 1:40-42

40. The power of salvation does not reside in us (Rom. 1:16), we must in due time teach people the gospel as opportunities come about.

41. Romans 1:16 (NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

42. Let Us Be Committed to Reaching the Lost and Be Just Like Our Lord Who Came to “Seek and to Save that which was Lost” (Luke 19:10).