Evangelism – lesson # 1 (introduction)

 

1)      What does it mean to evangelize?  _____________________________________________________.

2)      What did Jesus say in Mt. 4:19? 

3)      Why are many hesitant about doing this?  ____________________________________________.

4)      One thing that can help us is to remember sin is like an aggressive cancer; it is a disease that needs treatment.

5)      Some statistics suggest only _______% of people in a local congregation “share their faith” every year.

6)      This is not a new problem – what points do we find in Mt. 26:59-75:

7)      _________________________________________________________________________________.

8)      Within the next 24 hours more than 100,000 people will die, unprepared to meet God.

9)      We can go and we can succeed.  Mk. 16:15 was written in approximately ________ A.D.

10)  Col. 1:23 (read) was written about ___________ years later.

11)  1 Christian converts 5 a year; these 5 imitate him.  25 Christians end of year 2. 

12)  Year 3 = 125; year 4 = 625; year 5 = 3,125; year 6 = 15,625; year 14 – six billion.

13)  We have many reasons to be evangelistic – it is a command (Mt. 28:18-20).

14)  1 Pet. 2:9 – priests under the Old Testament taught the people; we are also teachers.

15)  It is one way to “produce fruit” (Jn. 15:16).  It also helps build a strong congregation.

16)  There are many ways to evangelize (discuss pros and cons) -______________________________.

17)  Letters to new arrivals in the community; small group Bible studies; DVD’s.

18)  Discuss

19)  Some ways are “push” methods (media uses this with television, newspapers, radio).

20)  There is the “pull” method (Internet).  Why is it called pull?  ___________________________.

21)  There is also the “two-way” method – what is this?  _________________________________.

22)  Rather than talk ___________ the unsaved, we want to talk _________ the unsaved.

23)  Christians can do so many good things for the unsaved:  ___________________________________.

24)  We often stop short of helping people access salvation from sin.

25)  Another reason for failure is a lack of persistence.  We often expect people to accept it “the first time.”

26)  It has been estimated that a person needs to hear the truth 7.6 times before they will respond.

27)  Examples of things in life that need to be repeated before people respond.

28)  Why might people respond at a later time instead of immediately?

29)  Did Jesus ever indicate this type of thing in His teachings?  _________________________________.

30)  There are some “practical tips” we can use when it comes to evangelism.

31)  First, we cannot teach what we do not know.  Be a daily Bible reader.  Really seek to study.

32)  Heb. 4:12; Rom. 10:17.  Another important point is found in Lk. 10:26.

33)  We can build a “prospect list” (people we know, their religion, objections).  Set some goals.

34)  As we teach people there are many things that will help us.  One thing is a small Bible.

35)  We also need to expect some objections (the intent is to discuss these in another lesson)

36)  Common objections we might hear from a non-Christian would include?
________________________________________________________________________________.

37)  We should welcome objections.  2 Tim. 2:24-25

38)  In fact, there are “five questions” that are ideal for almost any situation when it comes to evangelism.

39)  I wish to use ten people and divide them into 5 person teams – start with 60 second conversation.

a)      The first question is, “Do you have any spiritual beliefs”?

b)      Practice some “mock conversations” and work this question into the discussion.

c)      This can also be a “By the way” type of question.

d)      In the rare case a person becomes agitated use the “hmmm” principle.

e)      Doctors sometimes use this as it is difficulty to argue with someone who is Hmmmmmmmming.

 

40)  Question two (practice this) is, “Who do you regard Jesus to be”?

41)  A third question is, “Do you believe there is a heaven and or hell?”

42)  A fourth question with a follow-up is, “When you die, where do you believe you go?  Why?   

43)  A fifth question is, “If what you believe is not true, would you want to know?”

44)  We will review these questions at the start and end of each VBS class.

45)  There are plenty of prospects to seek out – 140-250 million people in the first century.

46)  Now there are literally billions upon billions.

47)  As we go and ask our questions we will find a variety of interesting people and their circumstances.

48)  People will vary, but their needs will be the same:  salvation from sin.

49)  We need to initiate a conversation with people.  Then we need to “learn where they are.”

50)  Sometimes we need to start at the beginning – Bible has 66 books.

51)  Written by about 40 men from six countries over a period of 1600 years.

52)  These men were separated by time, distance, culture, and language.

53)  No proven contradiction in the Scriptures – why?  2 Tim. 3:16.

54)  In the Bible we have information about God’s identity, nature, and His will for man

55)  We may need to discuss how the Bible is God’s final revelation to man (Heb. 1:2).

56)  We may need to discuss man’s origin (Gen. 1:27), or His purpose (Eccl. 12:13).

57)  Many want to know where they go after death (Eccl. 12:7).

58)  Other key passages:  Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Jn. 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:15.

59)  It might be helpful to buy a new Bible and make it an “evangelism Bible.”

60)  A person may need to understand salvation cannot come through human wisdom, morality, keeping the Ten Commandments, education, wealth, good deeds, etc.

 

     When we study the Bible with people there are some general suggestions that are usually very helpful, many of which are these:

 

1.      The one doing the teaching should not dominate the session by taking all the time talking.

2.      Be prepared as fully as possible.

3.      If you do not know the answer to a question, write it down and let the person it will be studied next time.

4.      If a person asks a question that has no relation to the study, write it down to study at the end of the present study, or begin with it the next time you meet.

5.      Do not argue.

6.      Bear in mind that 60 minutes is generally long enough for a Bible study.

7.      Keep it simple.

8.      Do not give people more than they are ready to hear.

9.      Stick with the main issue (Jesus did not let secondary questions sidetrack him).

10.  Try to establish a common interest if you do not know the person well.

11.  Be considerate of another person’s property.

12.  Be conscious of personal appearance. 

13.  Set definite times.

14.  Be prepared to leave a tract if it seems appropriate; a recent bulletin other publication is almost always appropriate.

15.  Use the person’s name.

16.  Have a pen and paper with you.

17.  Be ready to use their Bible.

18.  Place them on “to your right” (if someone is on your left, it is hard for them to read what you write). 

19.  Ask the person to read Bible passages out loud.

20.  If they are not comfortable, ask your partner to help them.

21.  Be ready to help the person find the Scriptures they need.

22.  Carry (and use) breath mints.

23.  If you do not know where the person lives, find the house during the day.

24.  Never park in a place where you might be required to move your car midway through a study. 

25.  Sometimes we may be asked to study the Bible in a place other than a home (perhaps a hospital).   Accept invitations such as this and be flexible enough to carry on a conversation.  In cases such as this, do not sit on the bed.

26.  Do not stand or sit in a place where the patient has a hard time seeing or hearing you.

27.  In the conversation do not ask about the person’s medical condition.  Hospitals are generally one of the worst places to study the Bible, but if it is there or nowhere, take it. 

28.  When in a home, try to conduct the Bible study around the kitchen table.  Salvation is a serious matter, and the kitchen table is where many key decisions are made.

 

“Do you have any spiritual beliefs”?  “Who do you regard Jesus to be”? “Do you believe there is a heaven and or hell?” “When you die, where do you believe you go?  Why? “If what you believe is not true, would you want to know?”  “Do you attend services anywhere?”