Matthew 28 18 20 Personal Evangelism Theme for

Matthew 28: 18 -20

Personal Evangelism (Theme for March) • The tendency when emphasizing personal evangelism is “when all is said and done…” • Rather than talk a good talk, let’s ensure… • It is time for us to overcome our excuses, obstacles & fears! • It is time for us to A-C-T!

Five+1 Fundamental Facts About Personal Evangelism 1. The world is lost…and so am I if I do nothing about it. 2. Personal evangelism is a natural outgrowth of my deep & abiding concern for lost souls. 3. Personal evangelism is the responsibility of every Christian. 4. Personal evangelism begins and proceeds one person at a time. 5. Personal evangelism requires real effort and oftentimes hard work. 6. Planning for nothing, praying for nothing, hoping for nothing, dreaming of nothing and doing WILL YIELD NOTHING! nothing

“Overcoming Us” Our Excuses, Obstacles & Fears • “I just don’t have time. I’m too busy. ” • “I’m doing my part. ” • “I don’t see anybody else doing it, so I must be doing fine. ” • “I’ll just live a good example of faith; they’ll figure it out. ” • “I don’t know enough Bible to do this right. ” • “Religion is not the ‘politically-correct’ thing to talk about. ” • “I’m afraid of what my friends will think of me. ” • “People don’t want to listen and are not interested. ” • “I don’t know how. I don’t know what to say. ”

Successful Personal Evangelism Requires That You… Awaken to the Prospects All Around You! C T

Awaken to Prospects All Around • People I know, that I meet, that I live near, that I have contact with, that I talk to, etc. • My circle of influence is filled with non. Christians (I may be their only link to Christ). • “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4: 35). • Lost souls have identities!

Awaken to Prospects All Around Close Relative Distant Relative Neighbor Friend Workmate Schoolmate Teammate Casual Contact Online Contact Rel. Friends Club Members Restaurant Retail Store Grocery/Rx Repair Man Ins. Agent/Acct. See Often Church Visitor Wayward Mbr. Spouse of Mbr. Child of Mbr. Relative of Mbr. Friend of Mbr. Parents Life Changes New Home New Resident Engaged Newlyweds New Parents Empty Nest Retired Rest Home New Job Change in Job Lost Job Financial Woes Death of Loved Death in Family Hospital Patient Personal Injury Tragedy in Life Family in Hosp. Marital Trouble Divorced Separated Kids of Divorce Stressed Parent Reconciliation Graduate College Student Military Prisoner “Undesirable” Stressed Depressed “Own Church” Moral Trends Ask Questions Honest, Sincere

Successful Personal Evangelism Requires That You… A waken to the Prospects All Around You! C reate Opportunities to Teach! T

Create Opportunities to Teach • With the Way You Live 1. Be a shining light of holy and godly living! 2. Be a real Christian! 3. Be loving at all times! 4. Be kind and genuine—in word and deed! 5. Be enthusiastic about your faith in God! 6. Be humble and look out for others’ needs! 7. Be genuinely interested in others! 8. Be honest! 9. Be prayerful! 10. Be a student of the Bible yourself! 11. Be a “seed-scatterer”!

Create Opportunities to Teach • With the Way You Live • With Everyone You Know & Meet 1. Hand out printed materials! 2. Hand out sermons & Bible studies! 3. Email articles, websites, bulletins, sermons, etc. 4. Mail out any of these materials! 5. Invite everyone you meet to worship! 6. Focus attention on visitors to services! 7. Go door-knocking!

Create Opportunities to Teach • With the Way You Live • With Everyone You Know & Meet • With One-on-One Conversations 1. Do not hide or be ashamed of your faith. 2. To keep it focused, talk one-on-one, not in a crowd. 3. Begin by saying something good about the person. 4. Talk about common interests that you have. 5. After breaking the ice, questions are a good lead-in.

Successful Personal Evangelism Requires That You… A waken to the Prospects All Around You! C reate Opportunities to Teach! T each the Gospel!

Teach the Gospel • Christianity is a taught religion. • Personal teaching is the most effective. – “[You] Go…make disciples…teaching” (Mt. 28). – “[You] Go…preach the gospel” (Mk. 16). • TEACH THE GOSPEL! 1. What Jesus did for us and why. 2. What God expects us to do and why. • If they say, “Yes. ” – When? Where? What/How? Who? • Many teaching resources available to help.

Teach the Gospel • “Visualized Bible Study” by Jule Miller

Teach the Gospel • “Searching for Truth” by WVBS

Teach the Gospel • “Let’s Go Back to the Bible” by David Sproule

Teach the Gospel • Bible Correspondence Courses

Guarantees 1. Personal evangelism is difficult work. 2. Personal evangelism is highly rewarding. 3. The hardest part is getting started; then it only gets easier. 4. Success breeds success like fuel to a fire. 5. Teach someone the gospel and you’ll go hunting for more. 6. You will learn a lot yourself. Teachers always learn the most. 7. Open your eyes to all the lost souls & you’ll never be the same. 8. In the eyes of God, you’ll be counted as wise (read Pro. 11: 30). 9. In the eyes of Christ, you’ll be a “faithful servant” (Mt. 25: 23). 10. God promises to help you do His work (Josh. 1: 5 -9; Dt. 31: 8).

What is your level of commitment? • Are you like Jeremiah? – “Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name. ’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not” (Jeremiah 20: 9). • Are you like Peter and John? – “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4: 20). • Are you like Paul? – “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9: 16). • Are you like Christ? – “He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent’” (Luke 4: 43).

Personal Evangelism at PBL • GOAL: For every PBL member to offer a Bible study to at least one person by the end of June 2007 • Reach that GOAL together & in steps – In APRIL – Focus on passing out church -related materials (GOAL: 3, 000) – In MAY – Focus on inviting everyone we meet to worship (GOAL: TBA) – In JUNE – Focus on offering & teaching Bible studies (GOAL: Each member to offer one study)

Become a Faithful Christian Tonight • Believe Jesus is God’s Son – Mark 16: 16 • Repent of your sins – 2 Peter 3: 9 • Confess your faith in Jesus – Acts 8: 37 • Be immersed in water – Acts 2: 38 – Sins are forgiven – Acts 22: 16 – Added to His church – Acts 2: 47 – Registered in heaven – Hebrews 12: 23 • Be active in His work – Matthew 28: 18 -20