CE 1 YEAR: 39 Evangelism II: Your Part

Week 39

Evangelism II: Your Part

Being Jesus to those around us

The love and character of the first Christians attracted the unbelievers around them (Acts 2:47; 5:13-14). This favor gave them the opportunity to communicate the Gospel to them, so that God was daily adding to them the number of those being saved. But a short time later these same Christians were being persecuted and had to flee Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). As they did, they shared the Gospel wherever they went (v. 4).

What changed? Initially they had the people’s favor. Then they were persecuted. This illustrates the reality that people are attracted to the love of Jesus but offended by the holiness and truth of Jesus. Our part in evangelism is to let Jesus live through us in all of these ways. Attracting some, offending others.

The Apostle Paul taught the same in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. Notice several things. First, God wants to use us to spread the knowledge of Jesus like a sweet perfume. But our fragrance will be experienced differently by those whom God is pulling to Himself to be saved, and those who are not. To those the Spirit is not working in, the truth and holiness of Jesus smells like condemnation. But to those God is saving, Jesus through us is like a life-giving perfume.

People’s response to Jesus in us depends on what God is doing in their life. If they are chosen children of God that He is pulling to Himself, then they will be attracted to Jesus in us. If they are children of the Devil (1 John 3:10) doomed to perish, they will hate the Jesus in us.

Unfortunately, Christians often blame themselves for not being effective with someone to reach them. They think if they had a better personality or were a better communicator, they could be more effective. Probably not. People’s response to the Jesus in you depends primarily on what God is doing in their life.

The only way to tell if a person is chosen or doomed is to be Jesus to them and see how they react. We must be willing to “smell” and look like Jesus in order to attract our lost brothers and sisters to Him. But in the process, we must be willing to offend those who are perishing.

Attract them with love

Everyone is attracted to the kindness and grace in love (Prov 19:22). Letting Jesus love people through you is the most powerful thing you can do. Even those who hate God and Christians will usually be attracted to love. This is because God created all humans to need love. But there is very little of it available in the world. If they find kindness and acceptance in you, they will be attracted to the Jesus in you. Pray and watch for opportunities to be kind to unbelievers around you!

Some believe people must see miracles and healings to attract them to Jesus. God may grant such things. But never forget something. Love is the most powerful and attractive miracle of all. This was made clear in Week 25 of the Essentials.

Paul told the Philippians to live their lives in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27). Make it your goal to be the kindest person that unbelievers know. Pray for opportunities to demonstrate Christ’s love to others. Seek for needs in their life that you can help with. Offer to pray for them. Be especially kind to those who unbelievers are rejecting.

Shining the light and love of Jesus was what He was talking about when He said to let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone (including unbelievers) will praise your heavenly Father (Matt 5:16).

Likewise, the Apostle Paul sought to prove to people He was a servant of God. How did he do this? With purity, understanding, patience and kindness, sincere love, truthful speech, and “weapons of righteousness” (2 Cor 6:3-7). This kind of “virtue apologetics” is much more biblical and powerful than any of the “intellectual” arguments that many think is so important for effective evangelism.

Try especially to partner with other Christians in loving unbelievers. Jesus said people will know we represent Him because of our love for one another (John 13:35). When unbelievers see the kind of friendships you have with other Christians, it will be a powerful magnet of love.

The following testimony is about a Chinese Christian woman jailed for her faith. It illustrates how our character can attract people to Christ:

When jailer Kane next came on duty, she did not seem as stern as before. She stood in front of my cell. “It’s really strange,” she said. For the first time I had the impression she was speaking to me. I opened my eyes hesitantly. “What is strange, Mrs. Kane?” I asked.

“The faces of people these days. It isn’t only in the prisons. It’s on the outside as well. Everybody is nervous and tense and angry. Even the children look wicked. I must confess that the faces of people irritate me. That’s why I find your jail cell so different.” I was surprised and asked her what she meant.

She had difficulty expressing herself. “What shall I say?” she began. “I–I guess it’s because I find the faces of those in this cell peaceful.”

“Peaceful?” I echoed. “In here?”

“That’s right. Your face and that of the prisoner in cell three and the one in cell five are all peaceful.” The ones she mentioned were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jailer Kane went on, “It almost seems as though you have the faces of angels. And I can’t understand it. Nowhere else have I found peaceful faces in this world.”

That night a change occurred in our relationship, and I said to her. “You said that our faces look peaceful and you said it was strange. Would you like to know why we can look peaceful in such a place as this?” “Yes,” she said, “I want to know about it.”

Sift them with holiness

Loving people is the most powerful thing you can do in evangelism. Like the first Christians, your kindness and acceptance will gain you the favor of unbelievers (Acts 2:47). But to be effective in evangelism, you must be willing to sift and test the people around you with the holiness of Jesus. This may be the hardest thing God asks you to do in evangelism. Your holiness will offend children of the Devil and they may persecute you as they did the first Christians (Acts 8:1).

The Bible warns us that those who are perishing love darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-20). Sinful people hate holy people and will reject them because they do not want to feel guilty about their sin. You must be willing to shine in places where your light will not be appreciated. You must be willing to offend the children of the Devil in order to attract the chosen, but lost children of God.

God wants unbelievers to know that you are not only radically different in your love, but also your lifestyle. The Bible says we should live in the world as aliens by denying sin (1 Pet 2:11-12). We should live such good lives among the pagans that, even though they accuse us of doing wrong, they will see our good deeds (1 Pet 2:15).

Make sure you do not commit, talk about, or even joke about the same sins the pagans do. Unfortunately, many Christians want to only be accepted by unbelievers. Therefore, they try to fit in and do not live differently. But remember, if you live to please God, you will please the people you are supposed to please, and you will displease the people you are supposed to displease. Christian, in a wicked world, there are people you are supposed to displease because of your holiness. If you compromise your character to please the children of the Devil, you will not be shining bright enough to attract your lost brothers and sisters to Jesus.

Let unbelievers in your life know you are a Christian. Talk to them about the message you heard at church on Sunday. Tell them about your Christian friends. Be holy instead of worldly. Unbelievers may reject you for this. But it will accomplish something important. It will help you recognize who God is pulling to Him. Those God is working in to save will be attracted to your holiness and happiness. They will be attracted to the Jesus in you.

Share the Gospel with those interested

The Bible says the Gospel is the power of salvation for those who believe it (Rom 1:16). Your love will attract unbelievers. Your holiness will sift unbelievers and continue to attract those God is pulling to Himself. And those people will begin to ask you questions. This is the pattern we see in Scripture.

A young man was evidently following Jesus as He was teaching. He saw how kind Jesus was to little children (Mark 10:13-16). Perhaps he had never experienced such kindness even from his own father. As Jesus was leaving that place, this young man ran up to Him and fell on his knees. He asked Jesus, “What must I do to have eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). The Spirit was working in this man’s life, pulling Him to Jesus.

When Peter reminded the people of their sin, they responded, “Brothers, what must we do?” (Acts 2:37). The Spirit was working in them.

Likewise, Paul and Silas were beaten, chained, and placed in prison (Acts 16:22-30). That night they sang songs to God as the prisoners listened. God created an earthquake that set the prisoners free. As a result, the jailer asked the Apostles, “What must I do to be saved?” (v. 30).

The Apostle Peter anticipated the same thing happening. He said pagans would ask the Christians “What is the reason that you have so much hope?” (1 Pet 3:15). Why would unbelievers ask them this? Because Peter was writing to persecuted Christians (3:9, 13, 16; 4:1, 4), who were responding with love and holiness (3:8-9, 14). Because these Christians had so much character in such difficult circumstances, the pagans would ask why. And the answer would be, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ.”

You might say, “Well, if people were asking me why I’m so loving, holy, and strong, then I’d love evangelism. This is the way I’d like to do evangelism.” Christian, this is the primary way you should do evangelism. You only want to be working where God is working. You only want to be sharing the Gospel with those willing and ready to hear it.

God is not asking you to “throw your pearls before swine” and invite the unnecessary scorn of those who will not appreciate the truth (Matt 7:6; Prov 23:9). Jesus told His disciples that if their ministry was welcomed, to stay and continue. But if they were not welcomed, they were to leave (Luke 10:5-12). Jesus did not want them working where God was not working.

Share the Gospel personally and clearly

A very good way to share the truth about Jesus is to tell someone your story. Prepare to be able to do this in a few minutes. Simply answer these three questions: 1) What was my life like before I trusted Jesus?; 2) How did I come to trust in Jesus?; and 3) What is my life like now after trusting Jesus?

Finally, practice a clear explanation of the Gospel. Remember, the words of the Gospel are the power that saves people (Rom 1:16). The truth people need to be saved can be shared by answering these three questions: 1) What must you believe about God?; 2) What must you believe about yourself?; and 3) What must you believe about Jesus Christ?

The answer to the first question is that we must believe that God is holy and will punish all sin. The answer to the second question is that we are sinners deserving punishment and that our good deeds do not pay for our sin. The answer to the third question is that Jesus Christ was sinless, and died on the cross to pay the penalty for sins. He then rose from the dead to prove He had paid for sins. If we will trust in what Christ did, instead of what we do, then His sacrifice will pay for our sins and God will forgive us.

That is the truth of the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ that has the power to save people from the eternal wrath of Almighty God.

Practical application: Ask your Pastor for further training in how to share the Gospel effectively. On the following pages, see the “Cross Diagram” which illustrates the Gospel and a helpful checklist for effective evangelism.

In your small group meeting this week, share praises and prayer requests and then discuss these questions:

1) Why is being loving and holy like Jesus so important to effective evangelism?

2) What can we expect unbelievers to do when we are kind to them? Do you have examples?

3) What can we expect unbelievers to do when we are holy? Do you have some examples?

4) When we represent the love and holiness of Jesus to people, what will determine their response to us?

5) Why is being holy perhaps the hardest thing about evangelism?

6) Why does God want us primarily sharing the Gospel with those who are interested? How does this make evangelism easier?

7) What was especially meaningful to you in this chapter? Why?

Helps for Effective Evangelism

Goal of evangelism: Find the chosen but lost children of God that He is working in to pull them to Christ (John 6:44, 63, 65).

People I need to pray for:

Make a list of unbelievers in your life that you will consistently pray for. Praying for God to use you in evangelism is one of the most important things you can do.

Pray that God will do His part as described below. As you pray, watch for God to do these things in the lives of unbelievers around you.

God’s Part: Things I need to pray for and watch for God to do in unbelievers around me.

• They want to be my friend.
• They are becoming interested in spiritual things.
• Something painful has happened in their life and they are seeking comfort and encouragement.
• They are attracted to my Christian life and beliefs.
• They feel unhappy and know there is something missing in their life.
• They are asking me about my Christian faith and hope.

Your Part: Things I need to seek the opportunity to do for unbelievers around me. Which of these have you done for the people you are praying for?

• I am happy around them.
• I have been kind to them, serving them in some way that blesses them.
• They would consider me a friend.
• They know I hate sin and love God.
• They know I am a committed and sincere Christian.
• They know how important my Christian friends are to me.
• They know some of my Christian friends.
• I’ve shared my story with them.
• I’ve shared the Gospel with them.