Evangelism: It's a Call for All

Evangelism is a call that every Christian should walk in.

In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus commands His followers to fulfill the Great Commission, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This passage shows that evangelism isn’t just for a few; it’s a skill to be developed and prioritized in every Christian’s life through partnership with the Holy Spirit.

Sharing the Gospel is not as complicated as the enemy would like you to believe. We are all witnesses. The Holy Spirit is the greatest evangelist there is. We are his vessels. First, let’s look into practical ways to start a conversation about the Gospel with someone, whether it be an individual at the grocery store or your neighbor. People are often more interested in having the conversation than you might think! As Proverbs 20:5 says, “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.”

Starting a conversation begins with asking the Lord to give us His heart for them and asking for open doors. It starts with asking God for compassion for the lost! What does God want to me say to this person? It starts with seeing the person, not just looking at them. Ask the Lord for a prophetic word for this person. As it says in 1 Corinthians 14:4, “Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.” Prophecy is edifying for others, so seek the Lord regarding a specific word for that person that would edify and encourage them. As you approach the individual, tell them, "This may be super random but I felt like I was supposed to tell you God loves you. Has anyone ever told you that? God forbid, if today was your last day, on a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that you would go to Heaven? Many people say 10/10 because they are a good person. This opens the opportunity to share a verse in Romans 3 about how none of us are good and that is why God sent his Son Jesus to die for us. 

Unfortunately, in the Western church especially, we have fallen into the trap of the spirit of religion instead of relationship. Many people grow up believing in God but lacking the understanding that God wants a personal and genuine relationship with every one of us. He wants to know us intimately, and He wants to speak to all of us. After the conversation starter, it is a good idea to clarify that Christianity is not just rules and hoping to live and do the right thing; But that God desires a real intimate relationship with them. It’s a life of daily surrender to the Lord and a heart of service to the Lord out of desire and not obligation. It’s liberating for those who feel like they can’t measure up or feel God is always disappointed in them for messing up. God isn’t asking for perfection. He’s asking for a humble and surrendered heart. John 17:3 says, "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Addressing sin is the next step after telling them about a relationship. Romans 3:23 says, "We all fall short of the glory of God." The Bible teaches us that our sins and iniquities have separated us from God. Yet 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Explaining the process of confessing our sins and being forgiven is essential because, yes, Jesus is after a relationship first and foremost, but that doesn’t mean we can live the way we want to, and all is forgiven. Walk the individual through any sins they’d like to confess to draw near to God and repent of their ways in seeking a relationship with Him. As the Word teaches us in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Sharing the Gospel must include the Good News. Jesus Christ took our place on the Cross so that we could be forgiven, saved, and liberated from sin, bondage, and brokenness. As Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We serve a merciful, gracious, and just God. As Exodus 34: 6-7 says, “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” This is good news! We serve the God of the universe, who is merciful, gracious, and slow to anger.

One of the most fruitful elements of evangelizing is prayer. Offering to lift an individual in prayer speaks to the heart of God. Prayer is the extraordinary opportunity to partner with the Lord’s heart and will and to rely on heavenly and divine reserves to influence reality on earth, to call heaven to earth according to God’s perfect will. This is also a fantastic opportunity to pray for something this person might have initially brought up in the conversation, such as financial hardship, depression, anxiety, nightmares, etc. It is key to pray for them to have an encounter with Jesus. When we encounter the real Jesus, our lives get turned upside down. Just like the disciples. They immediately left everything to follow Him. 

During this time of prayer, it’s also a great time to ask if they want to be born again and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Do not force them to say yes. It is important they understand the cost of being a disciple rather than just saying yes and living how they want. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Scripture teaches us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Rejoice with them as all of heaven rejoices in their decision to accept Christ into their heart and surrender their life fully to Him and His will. In Romans 10:13, the Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Lastly, perhaps most importantly, is inviting them to church after they decide to follow Jesus! Salvation is glorious and the most important decision they will make! However, we don’t want anyone following Christ without a godly, life-giving community in a local church to push them toward Christ, teach them, hold them accountable, and sharpen them as iron sharpens iron. Rejoice with them, invite them to church, and offer to be there for them as they enter their new identity as a son or daughter of God! As Galatians 3:26 says, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

Evangelism verses to use

• John 3:3
• John 14:6
• Romans 10:9-10
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Romans 3:23
• Romans 6:23
• Romans 5:8
• Ephesians 2:13
• Jeremiah 29:13
• Mark 8:34
• Romans 3:10-11
• John 3:16
• John 10:10
• Proverbs 14:12
• John 4:14
• 1 John 1:9
• John 1:12
• 1 Peter 2:24
• John 17:3
• Isaiah 59:2
• Hebrews 10:26-27
• Hebrews 9:27
• Revelation 3:20
• 1 Peter 3:15