Monday, November 06, 2006
Lesson I Personal Evangelism, Community Evangelism, Church Growth
When we use the term, "personal evangelism", we are in fact speaking of several ideas, evangelizing the community, helping the church growth spiritually, helping the church grow numerically, as well as other terms. All of these names involve our out-reach ( reaching out) with the teaching of people to become and live as Christians. The apostle Peter would say in one of his very last statements he made to us, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ"
Now while the scriptures obviously teach us to reach out to others with the gospel, it is amazing at some of the attitudes that are prevalent about actually doing personal evangelism. Here are just a few: 1. "They know we are here" A christian offered to help a church pass out flyers about an upcoming meeting. He was told,"we don't do that, they know we're here" . What do you think the numerical growth of that church has been? 2."If a church is growing that fast, they have got to be doing something wrong." We never want to encourgage gimmicks. We need and want to follow the scripture, and I can tell you that as you apply yourself to reaching out to others with the gospel, you will be very busy. 3. People are not interested in the bible or church anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just watch just about any religious program on TV. When the camera shows the people, the building is always full. Now really my brethren, how many of those people do you think got up this morning and said, "I believe I'll go down to the church building and get a little false doctrine?" Sadly, that's what a lot of people get. 4. The Lord's way. Christian, the devil wants us to believe in impossibility thinking. "Nobody ís interested in the bible or church. The devil wants us to believe "it can't be done" people aren't interested anymore." It is true there are people that are not interested in the least in spiritual things, but it has always been that way. "From that time many went back and walked with Him no more. Jesus said will you also go away? Peter said Lord to whom shall we go for Thou hast the words of eternal life and we do believe and sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Today ,as always, there are teaming numbers of people who desire spiritual relationship with God and we, children of God, have "this treasure in earthen vessels." Satan teaches us to "see"the impossibilities. Jesus teaches us to "see the possibilities" . He said, "say not there are four months and then comes the harvest? I say unto lift up your eyes and look unto the fields, they are white unto harvest." Jesus said and I if I be lifted up from earth will draw all men unto me." What aprivilegee we have to have the treasuree in earthen vessels, to be the carrier of the "good news"hallelujahh, praise His name, Salvation has been brought down." Child of God we can do it. Jesus said so. Don
When we use the term, "personal evangelism", we are in fact speaking of several ideas, evangelizing the community, helping the church growth spiritually, helping the church grow numerically, as well as other terms. All of these names involve our out-reach ( reaching out) with the teaching of people to become and live as Christians. The apostle Peter would say in one of his very last statements he made to us, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ"
Now while the scriptures obviously teach us to reach out to others with the gospel, it is amazing at some of the attitudes that are prevalent about actually doing personal evangelism. Here are just a few: 1. "They know we are here" A christian offered to help a church pass out flyers about an upcoming meeting. He was told,"we don't do that, they know we're here" . What do you think the numerical growth of that church has been? 2."If a church is growing that fast, they have got to be doing something wrong." We never want to encourgage gimmicks. We need and want to follow the scripture, and I can tell you that as you apply yourself to reaching out to others with the gospel, you will be very busy. 3. People are not interested in the bible or church anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just watch just about any religious program on TV. When the camera shows the people, the building is always full. Now really my brethren, how many of those people do you think got up this morning and said, "I believe I'll go down to the church building and get a little false doctrine?" Sadly, that's what a lot of people get. 4. The Lord's way. Christian, the devil wants us to believe in impossibility thinking. "Nobody ís interested in the bible or church. The devil wants us to believe "it can't be done" people aren't interested anymore." It is true there are people that are not interested in the least in spiritual things, but it has always been that way. "From that time many went back and walked with Him no more. Jesus said will you also go away? Peter said Lord to whom shall we go for Thou hast the words of eternal life and we do believe and sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Today ,as always, there are teaming numbers of people who desire spiritual relationship with God and we, children of God, have "this treasure in earthen vessels." Satan teaches us to "see"the impossibilities. Jesus teaches us to "see the possibilities" . He said, "say not there are four months and then comes the harvest? I say unto lift up your eyes and look unto the fields, they are white unto harvest." Jesus said and I if I be lifted up from earth will draw all men unto me." What aprivilegee we have to have the treasuree in earthen vessels, to be the carrier of the "good news"hallelujahh, praise His name, Salvation has been brought down." Child of God we can do it. Jesus said so. Don
# posted by Missions with Don&Rosemary @ 5:25 PM 
