The Essentials of Effective Evangelism

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord (Acts 9:32-35).

The Spirit turns our attention from Saul to Peter, who was relentless in spending time with people… “Peter went here and there among them all”. He had the heart of an evangelist and he wanted to tell everyone the good news about Jesus Christ. But he did not simply walk up to people and start preaching to them. He did not stand on the street corner and preach to passersby. Peter had learned to rely on the Holy Spirit and the Spirit led him to encounters with very needy people. The Spirit empowered Peter to touch them, to meet their deepest need, and to produce a visible change in their lives. Watching the Holy Spirit lead and empower Peter, we discover an important Biblical truth. We learn that serving others opens doors to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and we discover the essentials of effective evangelism.

Eager witnesses are led by the Holy Spirit. Humble disciples know we have no words of our own that can change the heart of a person toward God. We often encounter overwhelming needs in the lives of those we want to lead to Christ. But like Peter, we have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit’s transformational work in our own lives, so we learn how essential it is to depend on Him to empower our witnessing efforts… “Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:47-49). As we submit to and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, like Peter, we see His power at work in the lives of the lost, preparing them to receive the gospel from our lips… “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18). Jesus promised that we will see His power at work as we are led by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with the lost.

Earnest witnesses invoke the name of Jesus Christ. Humble disciples know we do not have powerful, persuasive speech or arguments that can change the mind of a person about God. We often encounter questions we cannot answer from skeptics and doubters. But like Peter, we have a personal testimony that is centered on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who has changed our lives… “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:17). Whatever need we encounter in a lost person’s life, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we know how essential Christ crucified is because His atoning death is a declaration of His love and power to meet their deepest need… “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). Paul reminds us that we will see the power of God at work when we invoke the name of Jesus Christ, our crucified Savior as we witness to the lost.

Engaged witnesses anticipate the testimony of transformed lives. Humble disciples know the results of our evangelizing efforts are the work of God. We expect and anticipate the evidence of His transforming power in the testimony of changed lives as we tell others about Jesus… “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Just as… “all the residents of Lydda and Sharon” witnessed the changed life of the formerly bedridden Aeneas, it is essential that we share the witness of our new born-again life because we anticipate the testimony of transformed lives among the hurting, needy, and lost around us who are touched by our vivid testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we grow up into Christ, we will become more effective witnesses as we practice…

The Essentials of Effective Evangelism. 

The Marks of True Discipleship

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. (Acts 9:26-31).

After Saul fled the persecution that arose against him in Damascus, he sought out the comfort and encouragement of the disciples that remained in Jerusalem, but his former reputation caused them to fear him. They did not recognize that Saul was not only a true disciple, but he was God’s choice to replace Judas as an apostle… “One of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection” (Acts 1:22). Saul had witnessed the resurrected Christ, and his encounter with Jesus had left evidence that he was now a true disciple. As Barnabas courageously obeyed the Holy Spirit’s leading and brought Saul before the disciples, along with them we are able to discern some more of the marks of true discipleship.

True disciples see Jesus often. The first thing Barnabas reported about Saul was that he had a personal and life transforming encounter with Jesus Christ. Barnabas knew the true disciples would understand the power of such an encounter, as they had the same experience during their years of living and walking with Jesus. Saul had seen and conversed with Jesus, just as they had. Something wonderful and supernatural occurs when we spend time gazing upon the Lord and listening to His voice through regular Bible study and prayer. We are changed and we become more like Him… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The more we become like Jesus, the more we will become different than the world around us. Others will know that we are becoming true disciples of Christ if they sense that we see and hear from Him daily.

True disciples share Jesus often. Barnabas also reported that Saul… “had preached boldly in the name of Jesus”. Saul always had a heart to love and obey God. His encounter with Christ had redirected his zeal toward knowing and sharing God’s Son with others. Jesus gave him a new purpose and it was evident in his new gospel message… “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12). As true disciples meet daily with Jesus, our hearts are infected with His love for the lost and we are compelled to share His gospel with our needy world.

True disciples suffer for Jesus often. As Saul became more like Christ and as he boldly preached Christ, enemies of Christ were exposed and incited to put an end to his witness. Saul was so committed to Christ that the only way to silence his testimony was to end his life. Jesus promised that the same will be true for maturing disciples in every age. As we grow up into Christ, becoming like Him and sharing His gospel, His enemies will be compelled to attack us… “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20). But Jesus also promised blessings to those who suffer for imitating and sharing Him in a hostile world… “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). We are reminded that we are true disciples of Christ whenever our witness incites persecution and we suffer because of Him.

As we grow up into Christ, our true identity is exposed to the world around us through…

The Marks of True discipleship.