Global Evangelism
Global Evangelism - Shake the Fear & Guilt
Evangelism should be a part of every Christian's life. However, many believers are scared to death of this word, because they envision street corner proselytizing, door-to-door "cold calling," or sweltering nights in a jungle somewhere. Also, many Christians feel nervous speaking and unequipped to deal with people's questions. Yes, some believers have a "gift of evangelism" and they're called to reach out to the world in dramatic ways. However, all of us are called to be witnesses for Christ and this should be a soft and natural extension of our everyday lives.
Evangelism should be a part of every Christian's life. However, many believers are scared to death of this word, because they envision street corner proselytizing, door-to-door "cold calling," or sweltering nights in a jungle somewhere. Also, many Christians feel nervous speaking and unequipped to deal with people's questions. Yes, some believers have a "gift of evangelism" and they're called to reach out to the world in dramatic ways. However, all of us are called to be witnesses for Christ and this should be a soft and natural extension of our everyday lives.
- "And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Global Evangelism - Grow Where God's Planted You
When it comes to global evangelism, we don't necessarily need to search out a profound mission field somewhere far from home. You're probably already there! Where has God placed you? Where do you already spend most of your time? Think of your friends. Think of your family. Think of your workplace.
Now what? As a Christian, am I somehow supposed to jump up on a soap box and preach Christ to everyone I know and meet? If I'm not, am I somehow a lesser Christian? Should I feel guilty? No way! Realize that global outreach is a process, and as believers, we're all part of that process-usually, on a local level. Most often, evangelism isn't a one-time event-it's a gradual progression of cultivating trust and growing relationships throughout our neighborhoods and throughout the world. It's relational evangelism.
When it comes to global evangelism, we don't necessarily need to search out a profound mission field somewhere far from home. You're probably already there! Where has God placed you? Where do you already spend most of your time? Think of your friends. Think of your family. Think of your workplace.
Now what? As a Christian, am I somehow supposed to jump up on a soap box and preach Christ to everyone I know and meet? If I'm not, am I somehow a lesser Christian? Should I feel guilty? No way! Realize that global outreach is a process, and as believers, we're all part of that process-usually, on a local level. Most often, evangelism isn't a one-time event-it's a gradual progression of cultivating trust and growing relationships throughout our neighborhoods and throughout the world. It's relational evangelism.
Global Evangelism - One-time Event vs. Organic Process
"Event-centered evangelism defines success as getting a person to pray to receive Jesus as personal Savior. But when evangelism is seen as an organic process, this 'decision' is only the climactic step of a long process that God uses to draw a person to himself. God's process typically enlists a number of people with a variety of gifts-each playing a different but vital role in helping someone take a step closer to Jesus. Accepting God's gift of salvation-obviously the goal of evangelism-is dependent on many steps before it." (Peel & Larimore, Going Public With Your Faith, 2003)
"Event-centered evangelism defines success as getting a person to pray to receive Jesus as personal Savior. But when evangelism is seen as an organic process, this 'decision' is only the climactic step of a long process that God uses to draw a person to himself. God's process typically enlists a number of people with a variety of gifts-each playing a different but vital role in helping someone take a step closer to Jesus. Accepting God's gift of salvation-obviously the goal of evangelism-is dependent on many steps before it." (Peel & Larimore, Going Public With Your Faith, 2003)
- I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field… (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)
- Both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors. (John 4:35-38)
Global Evangelism - Think Like a Farmer & Plant Yourself in the Process
So then, what is global evangelism? Biblically, it's the entire process of cultivating, planting, watering, and harvesting throughout the world. We cultivate the hard soil of the heart and prepare it for the truth of the Gospel. We plant and water that heart with emotional support and intellectual evidence for the Gospel. Finally, someone gets the blessing of bringing in the harvest of that heart, as someone makes the willful decision to receive the gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. As believers, we're not necessarily called to a life of "preaching the Gospel." However, we're all called to do our part in the organic process of global evangelism. We're all called to be Christ's farmers in the field of His Great Commission!
So then, what is global evangelism? Biblically, it's the entire process of cultivating, planting, watering, and harvesting throughout the world. We cultivate the hard soil of the heart and prepare it for the truth of the Gospel. We plant and water that heart with emotional support and intellectual evidence for the Gospel. Finally, someone gets the blessing of bringing in the harvest of that heart, as someone makes the willful decision to receive the gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. As believers, we're not necessarily called to a life of "preaching the Gospel." However, we're all called to do our part in the organic process of global evangelism. We're all called to be Christ's farmers in the field of His Great Commission!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.
What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus
Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus
I still have questions
- We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus
Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus
I still have questions
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