1. Intentional (Acts 20:20). An element that is common amongst churches in Tennessee that tend to baptize 20 or more people a year is intentionality. The highly evangelistic churches do not share similarities in worship style, dress code, ecclesiological structure, etc. The similarities they share are that they all love Jesus, the community around them and are intentional when considering how to engage their community with Jesus’ love. PRACTICAL: Be intentional to tell someone of the hope, love, peace and forgiveness of Jesus.
2. Identify (Luke 14:23-4). An evangelistic culture is always keeping an eye on the harvest and where “new” fields are developing. They know where unbelievers hang out and what they like to do. Why? Evangelistic cultures have a burning desire to reach people around them and are always seeking more opportunities to share faith. PRACTICAL: Go hang out somewhere (like Walmart) and make a new friend. Keep making new friends until you find someone that is not a believer. When you identify unbelievers, then pray for them and then decide the best way to engage them with the Gospel.
3. Equipping (Matthew 28:18-20). Teach the saints how to start Gospel-centered conversations. Public speaking is considered one of the number one fears, and sharing faith is seen as public speaking. Church leaders must help the saints be comfortable. How can you help the saints be comfortable? 1. Practice, practice and practice. 2. Teach different methods to share Jesus. 3. Do it yourself and tell them what happened. PRACTICAL: Teach the saints (via small group, Sunday School, etc.) how to start Gospel centered conversations with family, friends and acquaintances.
4. Exemplify (Acts 1:8). One of the best ways to create an evangelistic culture is by doing it. Do not wait on anyone else. Do it yourself and then share your experience with believers. You may say that you have too many problems, are not educated, or that you do not have enough experience. Let me encourage you that we all fit in those categories. That is why God promised to go before us and with us (Matthew 28: 18-20). Exemplifying evangelism is contagious. Evangelism is not just what you do … it is who you are. PRACTICAL: Share Jesus today with someone and then report back this week to your small group, Sunday School class or in a sermon.
5. Excitement (Luke 12:34). A church that is excited to share their faith is unstoppable. Excitement may sound trite, but read it through. Evangelism (telling others about Jesus) can be fun. Feared and resisted methods of evangelism are usually only executed through guilt. We tend to guilt people to do things that they do not want to do. Fun and embraced methods of evangelism usually take little to no persuasion to execute. “Fun” is not a sin. “Fun” can be a great initiator. What gets your church excited (hobbies, events, etc.)? Utilize that excitement to share faith. Another element of excitement is to excite your community to embrace evangelism. For most of us that will be changing the stigma of our church identity within the community. PRACTICAL: For ideas on how to charge up your church and community for evangelism, check out www.TheReachingApp.com.
for more information:
Matthew 22:37-40; 28:18-20; Luke 14:23; Acts 1:7-8; 2:37-42; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
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