PERSONAL EVANGELISM

PERSONAL EVANGELISM A Role for Christians in the Providence of God

Introduction It seems as if the members of most churches of Christ feel that the preaching which takes place in the pulpit totally fulfills their responsibility in the area of evangelism. This is not the case, however. Christians, as well as local churches, have a responsibility in evangelism.

INDIVIDUALS ARE TO EVANGELIZE • The Great Commission

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

INDIVIDUALS ARE TO EVANGELIZE • The Great Commission • Paul's instructions to Timothy

2 Timothy 2:1-2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

INDIVIDUALS ARE TO EVANGELIZE • The Great Commission • Paul's instructions to Timothy • The example of first century Christians

Acts 8:1-2 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Acts 8:3-4 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

INDIVIDUALS ARE TO EVANGELIZE • The Great Commission • Paul's instructions to Timothy • The example of first century Christians • Proportional responsibility

Matthew 25:14-30 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

Matthew 25:14-30 "And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'

Matthew 25:14-30 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'

Matthew 25:14-30 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

Matthew 25:14-30 "'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

Matthew 25:14-30 "'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

INDIVIDUALS ARE TO EVANGELIZE • The Great Commission • Paul's instructions to Timothy • The example of first century Christians • Proportional responsibility • Ability

1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

INDIVIDUALS ARE TO EVANGELIZE • The Great Commission • Paul's instructions to Timothy • The example of first century Christians • Proportional responsibility • Ability • Opportunity

1 Corinthians 16:5-6 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go.

1 Corinthians 16:7-9 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

2 Corinthians 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

John 9:1-4 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

Acts 13:14-15 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."

Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:"

SUPERIORITY OVER PULPIT EVANGELISM • The greater number of opportunities • The multiplicity of teachers • The power of personal contact • The fact that a home Bible study lesson can be fitted to the needs of the prospect more readily than a pulpit sermon.

WHY SOME DO NOT EVANGELIZE • Do not have the word of God in their hearts.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

Jeremiah 20:8-9 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, "Violence and plunder!" Because the word of the Lord was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.

WHY SOME DO NOT EVANGELIZE • Do not have the word of God in their hearts. • Do not love the lost.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 9:19-20 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

1 Corinthians 9:21-22 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

WHY SOME DO NOT EVANGELIZE • Do not have the word of God in their hearts. • Do not love the lost. • Do not “know enough” to teach.

Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:12-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

WHY SOME DO NOT EVANGELIZE • Do not have the word of God in their hearts. • Do not love the lost. • Do not “know enough” to teach. • Are over-cautious.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

WHY SOME DO NOT EVANGELIZE • Do not have the word of God in their hearts. • Do not love the lost. • Do not “know enough” to teach. • Are over-cautious. • Do not have the same spirit of faith as David and Paul.

2 Corinthians 4:13-14 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. Psalm 116:10

Psalm 116:10 I believed, therefore I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted."

JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE • He personally called enthusiastic workers. • Peter and Andrew

Matthew 4:18-20 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE • He personally called enthusiastic workers. • Peter and Andrew • James and John

Matthew 4:21-22 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE • He personally called enthusiastic workers. • Peter and Andrew • James and John • Matthew

Matthew 9:9-10 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE • He personally called enthusiastic workers. • Peter and Andrew • James and John • Matthew • Two of His greatest sermons were in one-on-one confrontations. • The new birth

John 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

PERSONAL EVANGELISM