Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
What is evangelism?
- Evangelism = Proclaim good news
- euangelistes (εὐαγγελιστής), lit., “a messenger of good”
Why call it 919?
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV) For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
- In the Body of Christ, everyone is an evangelist. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
- Everyone has an evangelism style.
- What is your evangelism style?
Confrontational (Acts 2:14-16; Acts 2:37-41)
- Strength – Not held back by fear of the opinions of others
- Weakness – Can offend easily if not done from a heart of compassion
Intellectual (Acts 17:16-21)
- Strength – Not intimidated by hard questions
- Weakness – Can get caught up in debate and argument and miss an opportunity to clearly present the Gospel
Testimonial (John 9:24-29)
- Strength – No one can deny the impact that Christ has had on your life.
- Weakness – Can focus too much on yourself and not on Jesus and what he has done.
Interpersonal (Luke 5:29-32)
- Strength – Builds on relationships that already exist and is conversational in nature
- Weakness – Can value friendship over truth telling
Invitational (John 4:28-30; 39-42)
- Strength – Builds on a hospitality gift and is very persuasive as it leans on the strength of inviting someone to join you
- Weakness – Can avoid sharing the faith directly by leaning too heavily on invitation
Serving (Acts 9:36)
- Strength – Sacrificial acts open doors for others to listen.
- Weakness – Can be a struggle to verbalize the Gospel
What does an evangelism lifestyle look like?
- 919 Lifestyle Formula:
- BR + BN + BC + BF = A Lifestyle of Evangelism
- Be Real. (Be a genuine follower of Jesus.) - Matthew 5:13-16
- Be Near. (Be around people who do not follow Jesus.) – Mark 2:15-17
- Be Clear. (Be able to clearly present the Gospel.) – 1 Peter 3:14-15
- Be Filled. (Be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit.) – Acts 1:8
What is the Gospel?
Good News: God Loves People. – Romans 5:8 (Thumbs up)
Romans 5:8 (ESV)but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Bad News: You’re a sinner, I’m a sinner too. - Romans 3:23 (Pointer)
Romans 3:23 (ESV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Problem Solved: Jesus paid the price. – Romans 6:23 (Center)
Romans 6:23 (ESV) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Put a ring on it: Repent and commit your life to Christ. – Romans 10:9-10 (Ring)
Romans 10:9–10 (ESV) because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Little bit of faith: Saved by faith and not by works – Romans 10:13 (Pinky)
Romans 10:13 (ESV) For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Gospel Response:
It’s as simple as ABC…
- Admit and Repent. (1 John 1:9-10; Acts 3:19)
- Believe in Christ. (Romans 10:9-10)
- Commit your life to Him. (Philippians 2:9-10)
Practice then discuss:
If you are online, click here to download a questionnaire that will help you discover your evangelical style.
Discussion Questions:
Is there one person who influenced you for Christ? What was it about them that caused you to consider following Jesus?
Is there one person you currently feel led to tell about Jesus? If so, what is your plan to share the Gospel with them?
Why do followers of Christ sometimes struggle with sharing their faith?
How does the Holy Spirit help us to be a witness to others?
How do you transition an every-day conversation into a spiritual conversation?
Additional Notes