Evangelism Articles – GROW magazine

17 Apr

The Sustainability and Repeatability of Western Evangelism

EXPOSITORY ARTICLE | Chadwick Brewer | South Chesterfield, Virginia

It was a hot and sunny Tuesday morning when we climbed into the back of the bakkie (pickup truck) to finish our trip to Chikuku. My traveling companion and I had been traveling since Sunday afternoon to get to this rural village in Zimbabwe, and we were excited to meet brethren that we had never met before. We had a day of lectures arranged for Chikuku and four days of lectures planned for Mashindi. While we had been to South Africa several times, and we were traveling with our good friends from South Africa, this was our first time in Zim, and we were looking forward to the work. Read More →

01 Jan

The Furtherance of the Gospel

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Jim Mickells | Lewisburg, Tennessee

When Paul wrote his second epistle to Timothy, he told this young evangelist to commit what he had heard from this great apostle to faithful men who would be able to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2). All who are faithful to the Lord should be concerned with fulfilling the great commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In the next verse of the commission, the ones who had made disciples were told “teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). What had Jesus just told the eleven disciples (Matthew 28:16) which those who were converted were to imitate? Go make disciples. Each member of the body of Christ should be busy trying to teach the gospel of Christ to the lost, which when obeyed will save their souls by the grace of God (Romans 1:16). Read More →

10 Oct

The Great Commission

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Wayne Goff | Kansas City, Missouri

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Contextually speaking, the great commission of Matthew 28 was given to the eleven apostles (v. 16) shortly before Jesus ascended into heaven. It was not given to every Christian, but every Christian should feel the obligation to share the gospel with friends, family, acquaintances, and even foes, if they will listen. We say this because after the apostles began preaching the great commission in Acts 2, those three thousand plus who were converted “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Read More →

28 Jul

Being Salt And Light In The World

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | John Maddocks | Toronto, Ontario

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) Read More →

17 Apr

Practical Tips for Conducting a Bible Study

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Ken McDaniel | Springfield, Illinois

It was May of 2010. I was on my second evangelistic trip to Fiji working to establish a faithful congregation on the main island of Viti Levu. My youngest son, Colton, had just graduated high school and was accompanying me on the trip. We were riding in an old rickety bus to the village of Viseisei where a recent contact had gathered a few people in her home for a Bible study I was to lead. As the warm wind whistled through the old bus and the loose metal rattled over every pothole and crack in the road, Colton leaned over and asked, “What do you plan to teach?” I will never forget the look on his face when I replied, “I don’t know.” His expression of astonishment and disbelief said all he needed to say without speaking a word. “Dad! I can’t believe you’re not prepared. I’ve never known you to do something like this before. How could you not know what you are going to teach?” After a brief moment of savoring his reaction, I assured him that all would be OK. This situation was a little different than most. This time we had to visit the group first, find out where they were in their knowledge and understanding, and determine from there where would be the best place to start and at what level we would need to teach. The study went very well, and after a few more, we converted the lady of the house and her husband. Read More →

28 Jan

25 Ways to Get Busy Doing the Work of Evangelism

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | William Stewart & Sean Cavender

Before ascending to heaven, our Lord instructed the apostles to be busy preaching the gospel. Mark’s account of the great commission begins, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). However, this mission was not exclusive to the apostles. In Matthew’s record of the mandate, Jesus told the apostles to “…make disciples of all the nations … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). In this, Jesus instituted a perpetual continuation of teaching the gospel to lost souls. We see the apostle Paul applying this in 2 Timothy 2:2, “…the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Read More →

08 Oct

Sharing the Gospel of King Jesus

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Sean Cavender | Wichita, Kansas

Introduction
After His resurrection, Jesus told His apostles that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Jesus soon ascended into heaven and was exalted to sit on David’s throne, reigning as king over His kingdom (Acts 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11). Following this claim to kingly authority, Jesus then told His apostles to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I command you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). Throughout the book of Acts, we see the apostles work in fulfilling Jesus’ words. As the church grew and more and more people were converted to Christ, all disciples began to share the word of God with those who were not disciples of KIng Jesus (Acts 8:4). Read More →

05 Jul

“I Was Afraid” – Facing Our Fears of Rejection

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Michael Stephens | Wellandport, Ontario

In Matthew 25, Jesus compared the Kingdom to a man who entrusted his wealth to his three servants. Two of those servants worked for their master. One of the servants made the situation about himself. This “Parable of the Talents” tells us how the master gave varying amounts to each servant and then left for a long time. Upon his return, the man settled accounts with each servant. The first two servants put their funds to work and doubled their master’s money. Even though their starting amounts were different (5 and 2), and their final amounts were much different (10 and 4), the first two men in the Lord’s illustration were equally praised. Matthew 25:21 and 23 read the same. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'” Read More →

03 Jan

Paul the Convert : Challenges and Opportunities Facing New Converts

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Sean Cavender | Wichita, Kansas

Do you remember the joy you felt immediately after your baptism into Christ? Do you remember the excitement that overwhelmed you, and you wanted to enthusiastically share the news about Jesus Christ forgiving you of your sins? You enjoyed the relief of having no more guilt, and God’s grace had removed the burden of sin.

After becoming a Christian, ideally, you will have grown and matured in your faith and service to the Lord Jesus. However, if you have been a Christian for any length of time, then you know that the emotions and joys you initially had have been battle-tested. Perhaps you have lost battles with temptation and sin that have left you cynical and hard of heart. Read More →

26 Oct

Nehemiah 3 – A Template for Success in Church Work

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Joshua Welch | Anderson, Indiana

The book of Nehemiah takes place during the rule of the Persian Empire. By this time, Israel had been allowed to return from captivity, but the situation for the remnant Jews who returned to Jerusalem was dire. The protective walls around the city had been destroyed and burnt years ago during the captivity, and it left the people who were brave enough to return vulnerable. Therefore, the wall needed to be rebuilt. Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer, took it upon himself to examine, plan, and oversee this massive project with the king’s providential blessing. Despite opposition in the work, Nehemiah and the people of Israel accomplished this great work together in less than two months (see Nehemiah 6:15). God blesses His people with success when His people put their minds and talents together to work. Read More →