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Issue 8 - 2008
Seven Rules For Evangelism
by Steve Magill

 

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED.  TRAVEL IS increasing, vacations have started, city celebrations and county fairs are in progress, the parks and beaches are filling up, and people are starting to be everywhere. What an opportunity summer is for reaching a large number of people with the gospel. Here are seven rules for evangelism as you share the gospel:

1. Do Something. Think of this: you may very well be the last Christian that those around you may see before entering eternity. Or look at this same concept in this way: You may be the last person passing a burning house filled with people before it collapses�what would you do? What you would not do is nothing. Since people are actually headed for hell�do something, anything, to bring the message of Christ, sin and salvation to them.

2. Take the Time. Nothing ever gets done unless you give it time. Nothing gets your time unless it has your priority. Let�s look at it in this way: If my time is so sparse that I must choose between writing these words of encouragement and sharing the gospel, it is better not to write these words. Everyone has something that can be laid down for the sake of sharing the gospel�but no one should have a reason for not doing something.

3. Be Courteous. We are not out there to force ourselves on anyone. We are searching for those ready to give us an ear. Be gentle and courteous as you stand firm, striving to tear down intellectual and spiritual strongholds. The harvest is ready to be harvested: go for the harvest, not the dung.

4. Keep the Vision Burning. If I saw that a bridge was out and a car was headed toward it, I would do whatever I could to warn the approaching car. Why? Because I see the danger. If the reality of hell is before our eyes, the boldness to warn others would be as instinctive as breathing.

5. Don't Be A Works Focused Christian. The quickest way to experience burn-out with sharing the gospel is by focusing on the work of evangelism. Instead, be a Christ Experiencing Christian. When we experience the living Christ, then our evangelism is an outgrowth of our relationship with him. When we work for Christ, without experiencing him, then our reward and refreshment must come from the work instead of a person (Christ) and that can be quite a burden. Experiencing Christ makes the yoke of evangelism easy and the burden of evangelism light.

6. Be Like A Little Child. When my ten year old boy goes with me to distribute tracts, he is out for no person to be left behind. He is much more aggressive than I am. When we are in the parking lot, every car must be given a tract and every person within our eyesight must receive a tract. The lesson here is, when you're out there, settle for nothing less than the gusto..

7. Do Not Fear. I don't know what you're finding the temperature on the street to be, but compared to when I started distributing tracts in the mid 70's people are vocalizing their hostility toward Christianity more and more. Let this encourage you to be so much the more about the work of sharing the gospel. The darkness is increasing and you are needed. Remember the words of Jesus to: "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) And Matthew 5:11, 12: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Until next time...

Be so much the more, as ye see the day approaching
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June 2008
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"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Mark 1:15

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