When we become followers of Jesus Christ, we start to see everything in a new light. We’ve got a desire for everyone we all know to share the same belief and hope, so we start to inform folks about the truths of The Lord God, His Word the Bible, and Jesus Christ. Many times, so as to be better prepared to share with folk, we look for help from people who have been involved in evangelism for years and “know what they’re doing.” But what will happen if one person who has been very active in evangelism for years strongly disagrees with someone else who’s got the same heart for evangelism? Who do we think?
Are we just intended to select one to follow and stick with that approach the remainder of our lives?
I think folks infrequently have an inclination to become too wrapped up in following the thoughts of someone else, either because he sounds like he knows a lot or because they are able to really relate to his approach. The Bible is usually misinterpreted and used to support individual ideas rather than being the direct standard for how evangelism should be executed. God shows us though His Word how He relates to us, and how we, in turn, are to relate to others. We should ask about evangelism, and then look to God’s Word to find out how He answers them either directly, or by example through the lives of individuals.
The Israelites are a picture of evangelism in their set-apartness. God selected them to represent how He relates to all mankind, and what He requires of folks. Other nations watched Israel, knowing that Israel had a God unlike any they’d ever worshipped, and they knew the Israelites were different because of it. God provided for them, and showed His might to them and through them.
Delving into the life of Jesus is maybe the first thing one does when desiring to study evangelism. How did the Master reach multitudes? As we study, we should notice how repeatedly he drew apart to offer prayers. His relationship with The Lord God the Father was the most significant part of His life.
Also, He selected 12 whom He could teach in a meticulous way, from the start, that He was the accomplishment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah. He also taught them by speech and example what the life of a disciple should be like. These significant relationships with the 12 were meant to prepare them to go out and reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel ( Acts 18 ).
We cannot see what evangelism looks like without discovering that it goes hand-in-hand with discipleship. When God had Moses lead the children of Israel out of slavery, it is not long before Joshua appears as Moses ‘ neophyte. The relationship that God had with Moses was viewed by ( and likely explained to ) Joshua. What neater way for the young man to discover how God works, and learn how to cultivate his own relationship with Him, than to be part of the life of a godly man?
While looking at the males and females in the Bible employed by God to reach folks, we won’t ignore their sacrifices. What looks to be important to everyone today was allegedly least necessary to them. Jesus declared that if any person would follow after Him, he should reject himself, and take up his cross ( Mark 8:34 ). He also said that those who came to Him must hate pa, mother, wife, youngsters, brother, sisters and self ( Luke 14:26 ). This doesn’t suggest to literally hate them, but shows the extremity of how much more God should be loved than our most valued possessions on this earth.
So we will see that it’s important for us to look to God’s Word for the solutions to all of our questions, rather than looking solely to folks. Once we see through the pages of Scripture how God works, we can look to see who is following in His way, and learn from them as they follow Him. Click here : Christian evangelism and Christian news around the world for more info.
