Methods of Evangelism Essay Example

them. It then continues with the fact that we are all sinners and that alone separates us from God. It presents the claims of Christ clearly, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Finally, in using this method you explain that all of these things are waiting for you when you receive Jesus as your Lord. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved”. After presenting the Four Spiritual Laws method there is ample room for questions and feedback. A disadvantage to the Four Spiritual Laws is that by first telling someone that they are loved they need to know why being loved by God should even matter. A person needs to know they have a need for God before being told how that need can be filled.

Part TWO - Evangelistic Method #2 - The “Relational” method I chose to research is Lifestyle Evangelism.

In summary this method is an approach portrayed by someone demonstrating their faith by their actions, so that those they come in contact with will notice how their beliefs affect that person’s life, and they too want to become a Christian. Some supporters of this method will say that it is more effective than having a direct conversation because it is harder to live ‘righteously’ than to share the Gospel message. “This method of evangelism usually reaches people

who have already heard the basic truths of Christianity a few times, and God has been working on their hearts. ”

The advantage of using this method is that you do not have to start from scratch. As stated, in most cases the person or persons you are evangelizing to with your lifestyle already have a basic knowledge of Christianity and a relationship with you. Your lifestyle is merely showing them that you can live a life that represents the Gospel. If anyone was ever able to lead a soul to salvation by His lifestyle, it would have certainly been the Lord Jesus Christ. He was righteousness personified. He was perfection in a human body. He never sinned. But that is not all He did or what the Scripture calls us to do.

One disadvantage in using this method is that it is discredited by the Scriptures. The Great Commission states that the Lord commanded us to, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15 NLT). Jesus’ command for us is to go and preach the gospel. He does not say, “Go into all the world and live a good Christian life before everyone and I will save those who believe. ” Another example can be found in Luke 16: 19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man asked father Abraham to send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue.

But Abraham reminded the rich man that a great chasm was fixed and no one could pass over it. The rich man did not ask Abraham to send Lazarus

back to his five brothers so that he could live a good Christian life before them, but rather that he could verbalize the Gospel so that they too do not end up in the place of torment. Most people need to have the Gospel message explained to them so they see why they need Christ in their lives. The way we live out our everyday lives is a testimony to that.

Part THREE- Evangelistic Method #3

The “Confrontational” evangelistic method I chose to research is Evangelism Explosion. This method was started in the early 1960’s by James Kennedy, pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “Evangelism Explosion is a ministry that trains people how to share their faith in Christ and how to bring people from unbelief to belief. ” Groups of three, after initial training seminars, go out into the community, knock on doors and during their presentation ask two “diagnostic questions:” “Do you know for sure that you are going to be with God in Heaven? If God were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into My Heaven? ’ what would you say? ” One advantage of using this method is that you never feel alone as you are always with a more experienced mentor.

By actually going out with experienced trainers in real life witnessing situations, people learn how to share their faith. This method takes advantage of a variety of components including prayer, on-the-job training and the principle of spiritual multiplication. As Early and Wheeler state “When we lead people to Christ, we must stay with them to help them get established in their faith. This style of evangelism

can be seen as a disadvantage when using the Evangelism Explosion method. Although this method has seen great results, times and people have changed. Rarely do we see neighbors visiting with each other, enjoying one another’s company after a long day at work. Usually we see our neighbors driving into their garages and that is all. Showing up unannounced and uninvited on a stranger’s doorstep is can be seen as a serious invasion of privacy. Some people may be rude but others just feign interest in order to politely close the door.

Fairly or unfairly any Christian door to door evangelism, which is essentially what Evangelism Explosion is, is going to be lumped into the same group with the work of the Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons. This method of evangelism can also backfire. “The point of evangelism is to not just get out and tell the story of Jesus; it is to create more disciples. The person who is annoyed that their Saturday morning is being interrupted, more than likely has no interest in being like the person who is interrupting it. ”

Part FOUR - Application of These Methods to Your Own Life

The method that most suites me would be “Relational” evangelism. This, for me, is the best method because I use my relationships with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors when the subject and opportunity for evangelism comes my way. I believe that even when you are not actively evangelizing you really are with your life choices and/or lifestyle. This method seems to work the best for approaching those in my life who are non-Christians. My job in the church’s before and after school program, which

includes many families of no faith, gives me numerous opportunities to share and invite them to church.

I then become the familiar face when they do visit and build upon that relationship. This method does take time and sometimes I personally do not see the results of the harvest. “Different people can play different roles in the harvest. Some can plant; others can water. ” I do know that using the Relational Evangelistic method is the most comfortable of all the methods for me.

References

1. Earley, D. , and Wheeler, D. (2010). Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence, Nashville, TN: B ; H Academic Publishing Group. Hutson, C. (2000). Lifestyle Evangelism Refuted: Sword of the Lord Publishing.
2. The Effectiveness of Door to Door Evangelism, Christian Evangelism, http://www. christianevangelism. net. The Four Spiritual Laws, http://www. godlovestheworld. com. The 4 Spiritual Laws, http://www. 4laws. com/laws. What is EE, Evangelism Explosion International, http://www. evangelismexplosion. org
3.  The Four Spiritual Laws, http://www. godlovestheworld. com.
4.  The 4 Spiritual Laws, http://www. 4laws. com/laws.
5.  Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville: B ; H Academic Publishing Group, 2010), 184-185. [4 ]. Hutson, C. (2000). Lifestyle Evangelism Refuted. Sword of the Lord Publishing.
6.  What is EE, Evangelism Explosion International, http://www. evangelismexplosion. org.
7.  Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence, 134.
8.  The Effectiveness of Door to Door Evangelism, Christian Evangelism, http://www. christianevangelism. net
9.  Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence, 86.