Every Member, Everywhere, All The Time
EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Wayne Goff | Kansas City, Missouri
“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word,” (Acts 8:4).
The thrust of this article is to encourage congregations to have every member be completely involved in evangelism, as opposed to having one or two do all the work. The first church on earth, the church in Jerusalem, was scattered throughout Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and finally a large part of the Roman empire – but they continued to preach the Word! These people were not trained in special approaches or certain “steps,” but they had been taught by the apostles and were convicted. This, I am convinced, is where we need to start today.
So the first step to getting everyone involved in evangelism is to make sure everyone knows enough of the New Testament to be convicted. If there is no conviction on the part of disciples, then there will be no conversion of others. The believers at Pentecost (A.D. 33) were convicted of their sins, and especially of murdering the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:23, 36, 37). When they were told that there was forgiveness of their sins in the name of Jesus Christ, they gladly accepted the avenue of escape from eternal death and were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38-42). We read then that these convicted disciples constituted the first church on earth (Acts 2:42-47), and “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, in the breaking of bread, and in fellowship” (v. 42). This steady diet of “the apostles’ doctrine” (New Testament) taught them more about their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and about the church for which He died (Matthew 16:18). The convicted disciples learned the five acts of public worship, how to work together as a congregation, how to care for each other as brethren in the household of God, and how to spread the gospel simply by telling others the good news (Acts 2:42-47).
In time, and by the providence of God, the first church was strong enough to endure the persecution that sent these disciples all over the world, Acts 7:58-8:4. It was like trying to put out a fire over dry land by stomping out the fire – only to send the embers throughout the field, setting everything on fire as they went! Within only a couple of decades, the apostle Paul could write that the gospel “…has come to you, as it has also in all the world…” Colossians 1:6). He again affirmed that “the hope of the gospel … was preached to every creature under heaven” (Colossians 1:23). In other words, the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-16) had been accomplished in their lifetime. And that is all that anyone can ask of the church today.
So the first question we must ask ourselves as members of any congregation, is this: “Do I care enough about those whom I know to share the Good News with them?” My observation is that the answer is “Yes, we care about our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers,” but “we’re not really convinced that they are going to die and go to hell.” In other words, we lack conviction. If this is the case, then we need to go back and start over with the teaching process and hopefully convict our hearts. There is no greater evangelistic opportunity than for Christians to use their influence with acquaintances to open doors and ears to the gospel message! When I moved into a new community, I urged the members of the local church to simply make contact with folks and give an endorsement of me as a faithful Bible teacher. Then, the opportunity is available to set up a Bible study in their home, my home or at the office. This is what the business world calls a “warm contact.” You are using your influence to point others to a recommended Bible teacher.
Today we are using all the “cold contact” methods that we can find, and some of them work. MeetUp.com (a service used to organize online groups that host in-person events for people with similar interests), social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), church web pages (www.roanridge.org), and our e-mails (bulletins, sermons – audio & powerpoint, Bible class material, etc). The younger generation seems to do everything via their phones these days, and some of them are “checking out” opportunities to learn more about the Bible. So we can each use our electronic resources to reach out to others. However, once again, this will be most effective if our acquaintances see us advertise the Word online. Your endorsement will go a long way to getting that first in-person Bible study. The “warm contact” is going to be most effective. Look for opportunities. So many of us are “afraid” to talk to others about the gospel, and we allow that fear to paralyze us. However, Paul told Timothy that “…God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). So again, this points to personal conviction. Print out business cards with ideas that might spur on a spiritual incentive, and then place contact information for the preacher, the church, or even yourself, if you don’t mind being contacted to set up a study. Then look for places to give out these cards – grocery store clerk, bank teller, barber or hairdresser, even a stranger on the street, a co-worker, a family member, a school mate. You are not responsible for their response, but you are responsible for giving them the opportunity to say yes or no to the Grace of God!
At the very least, leave one in the doctor’s waiting room, the hospital’s emergency room, or on a grocery store bulletin board – so you don’t have to speak first. This falls into the category of “cold contact” – very cold, but repeated views of these business cards all over town will get the word out. Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about now.
In Michael Shank’s book, Muscle and a Shovel, the co-worker that helped convert him gave him a piece of paper with the question, “Have you obeyed the gospel? 2 Thessalonians 1:8.” Michael took that, and having a little bit of a biblical background, wondered how you “obey” the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? To him, “gospel” meant the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. So when he read 2 Thessalonians 1:8, he was curious to find out how to obey the gospel. Michael’s co-worker, Randall, then had the privilege of answering his questions, and it led to his ultimate conversion. Michael learned that salvation was not by “faith only” (requiring nothing but a verbal acceptance), but salvation “by grace through faith” (faith being active, obedient, James 2). So you could print out some business cards with that question on the front, and your contact information on the back. This is one suggestion. There are a myriad of other verses, questions, etc. which you could use, but this is one example I have been considering.
By the way, I would recommend the entire congregation spend a quarter studying Shank’s book, Muscle and a Shovel because it’s title is suggesting that if we want to convert our friends and neighbors, we’re going to have to get in there and do a little digging! If we are afraid of getting our hands dirty, figuratively speaking, then we are not going to get very far. One of our members here in Kansas City has developed the talent of turning almost any conversation at work into a spiritual discussion. If we are looking for an opportunity to talk to someone about the gospel, it is surprising how small an opening we need. For example, if he is talking to someone and the subject of politics comes up, he can turn it into a discussion of the best political system there is – a Divine monarchy! If he is meeting someone for the first time, he asks them what they think of “Jesus,” or “the Bible,” etc. When using this method, the best idea is to suggest a word, a thought, or an idea, and then let the person come back later with a question or comment. If they do not return with a suggestion, then you move on to another person, or at least look for another opportunity to put another spiritual thought in their minds.
Keep in mind that many Americans today are narcissistic – self-centered, obsessed with themselves, and pretty unconcerned about eternity. This does not make them bad people, but it makes getting the gospel to them a bit harder than it used to be when Americans generally believed that God, the Bible, and “church” were good things. So don’t get discouraged in your efforts and do not expect immediate results. Galatians 6:9, Be patient, longsuffering, kind and tender in your approach, and confident.
Whatever approach we use, keep in mind that the Lord’s Word is sharp, powerful, and better than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) and can pierce the heart of an honest soul. The apostle Paul explained that his “method” did not include “error or uncleanness, nor … deceit” (1 Thessalonians 2:3). Paul was honest in his approach with people, and he refused to use “flattering words” (1 Thessalonians 2:5). He sought to save men because he loved their souls, and he could relate to them, having been a convert from stone cold Judaism himself! “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7). So if you truly love the souls of others – especially your circle of friends, family, etc. – then honesty, sincerity, and a kind approach is the best route to take. If every member of the local church will actively do this, then God will be well-pleased and whatever conversions take place will be what God expects.
Encourage the members of the local church to pray for an “open door.” So many times in Paul’s epistles, he mentions this very thing. “For a great and effective door has opened to me…” (1 Corinthians 16:9). “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord” (2 Corinthians 2:12). “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,” (Colossians 4:3). Yes, Paul even looked for evangelistic opportunities from prison! And he was not disappointed. He helped to convert a runaway slave, Onesimus (Philemon 10), and the “whole palace guard” knew that he was being punished for preaching the gospel (Philippians 1:13). Now if Paul could do that while in prison, cannot each one of us look for someone in the free world? God bless your efforts.
Every member, everywhere, all the time – it’s not as hard as you think!
19.07.02 | GROW magazine
