Developing a Mindset of Evangelism

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Jesse Flowers | Cookeville, Tennessee

I think that most, if not all members of the Lord’s Church would agree, that the greatest work that New Testament Christians can actively participate in is sharing the good news of salvation with the lost all around us.

But how many local churches of Christ (and its individual members) are focused regularly on this great and noble task? For too many, I fear, the evangelistic mindset is 2-3 times a year when the local church hosts a gospel meeting, and even then, the focus may be more on the saved rather than on the unsaved.

How can we improve and grow in this vitally important area of spreading the gospel both near and far? How can we be more consistent? In other words, how can we go about developing a mindset for DAILY evangelism, instead of making it an occasional emphasis and priority?

Let us first consider some New Testament examples of those who possessed such a mindset and then be motivated and inspired to imitate their evangelistic example.

New Testament Examples to Imitate:

  1. Of course, Jesus is the absolute, perfect example for us to emulate when it comes to saving the lost. Why? Well, because that’s the reason that He left Heaven and came to this Earth. Bringing salvation to a lost humanity was THE focus of His earthly ministry. Jesus declared in Luke 19:10… “for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.” For instance, he sought Philip (John 1:43), the Samaritan woman (John 4), tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:27-32; 19:1-10), a great multitude of Jews (Matt. 9:35; Mark 6:34), the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), and countless others in order to save them. As followers and imitators of our Lord, we too, must seek and save that which is lost today!
  1. Twelve Apostles. Jesus specifically chose these men for the purpose of evangelism. He said to them: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). And so, He trained them for three years to catch lost souls for Him. He sent them out first on the limited commission to preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 9:36-10:42). And then, shortly before His ascension He delivered to them the great commission. “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” (Matthew 28:19). “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). And this is exactly what they did, beginning “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8; cf. Luke 24:47). Disciples of Christ today must be the ones who “go” teaching the gospel to the world!
  1. The Apostle Paul. After his conversion in Acts 9, this man of God imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) in that he taught the gospel to those he encountered 24/7. For example, immediately after his conversion he preached Christ in the synagogues of Damascus (Acts 9:20) and continued teaching small and great (Acts 26:22) until he took his last breath. Because of his steadfast efforts, countless souls were brought to salvation, and numerous local churches were established. This apostle of the Lord declared: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more…I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22). Let us too, make ourselves a servant to all, so that we might win the more to Christ and thus to salvation!
  1. Persecuted Christians. Following the death of Stephen we read, “At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:1, 4). Luke, the author of Acts, picks up this same narrative later in chapter 11. “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only” (Acts 11:19). If persecuted Christians “went everywhere preaching the word” then surely un-persecuted Christians could so today!
  1. The Church in Thessalonica. The apostle Paul gave this church a wonderful commendation when he wrote: “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). How many churches and Christians today could it be said that they are sounding forth the word of the Lord in every place? How many congregations are actively focused on spreading the gospel? Every 21st century local church of Christ today should strive to imitate this 1st century church when it comes to the work of evangelism!

Attitudes and Conduct Necessary to Successful Evangelism:

  1. Obedience to the Lord’s command. Teaching the lost the gospel is commanded of all Christians (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). If we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15), including this one.
  2. Love for lost souls. If we truly love our neighbor as ourselves (James 2:8), we will not then share with them the words of eternal life (John 6:68)?
  3. Diligence to study and know the Bible. We cannot effectively teach others the truth that will set them free from their sins (John 8:32), if we do not possess knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15).
  4. Compassion for the lost that moves us to action. Jesus’ compassion for the lost moved Him to teach them many things (Mark 6:34). If we are truly compassionate for their lost condition, then we will do the same.
  5. Courage to engage non-Christians with the gospel. We must remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7; Acts 18:9-10; 19:8).
  6. Zeal to energetically spread the gospel. We must not be slothful in zeal, but fervent in spirit (Romans 12:11) in teaching and preaching the gospel.
  7. Humility in correcting those in sin and error (2 Timothy 2:24-26). We must approach the lost with humility, not arrogance, for them to be receptive and responsive to the gospel.
  8. Speech that is with grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:5-6). We must speak the truth boldly and plainly, but also in love (Ephesians 4:15). It matters greatly HOW we teach the truth.
  9. Pray for open doors and open hearts (Colossians 4:3-4). Pray for God’s wisdom (James 1:5). Pray for strength and courage (Ephesians 6:19-20).

The “Daily” Mindset

  1. We are to pray daily (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
  2. We are to read and study the Bible daily (Psalm 1:2; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15).
  3. We are to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23).
  4. We are to exhort our brethren daily (Hebrews 3:13).
  5. We are to be joyful daily (Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16).
  6. So, why wouldn’t we also strive to share the saving gospel message DAILY (Acts 5:42)? After all, we are to “always” abound in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). What greater activity regarding the Lord’s work could we possibly be engaged in than sowing the seed of the kingdom?

Practical Ways to Evangelize Daily:

  1. Look for opportunities in ordinary situations. We encounter ordinary situations every day, whether at the doctor’s office, hair stylist, neighbors, other parents at a ballgame, a trip to the grocery store, the mechanic, the server at a restaurant, etc. We just need to lift up our eyes because the fields are white unto harvest (John 4:35).
  2. Start our conversations with others with a spiritual goal in mind (John 4:6-15). We may talk to others about their physical health, but our primary concern is their spiritual well-being. We may talk to others about the weather, but our primary objective is to discuss the God who rules all nature. Ask them where they attend church, if they believe the Bible is inspired, what they believe about baptism, etc.
  3. Keep the message plain and simple. Jesus did so (Mark 12:37), as did Paul in Athens (Acts 17). Ask people how much they know about the Bible in order to start where they are to be most effective in instructing them in the word of God.
  4. Possess the every creature concept of evangelism. Jesus did. His disciples did. And so must His disciples today. No matter how religious or irreligious a person may be, they are still a prospect for the gospel. No matter how moral or immoral a person may be, they are still a prospect for the gospel. Everyone is a prospect for the gospel until proven otherwise.
  5. We must go to the lost. We must leave the safe sheep in search of the one which is lost (Luke 15:4). Setting a good example is crucial (Matthew 5:13-16), but we must also “go and teach” (Mark 16:15). We can’t expect the lost to come to us. We must “go” to the lost just as our Savior did.

(*Main points in this section come from a Dempsey Collins lesson, “At Jacob’s Well”.)

Conclusion:

As Jesus declared, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). The shortage is not lost souls to teach, but disciples of Christ to go do this great work of soul-saving. Remember, “he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30), and “those who turn many to righteousness” shall shine “like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Knowing the terror of the Lord (the Day of Judgement) that is coming, let us do our best to persuade men with the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). Paul taught “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20). May every Christian today also have that Acts 20:20 vision, throughout the day, every day!

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October 2025 | GROW magazine
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