In the parables of the lost coin, lost sheep, and lost son in Luke 15, we see that God seeks for the lost and heaven rejoices even when one soul repents unto salvation. It says heaven rejoices at the repentance of the lost soul, not when a believer evangelizes the lost soul. Does Jesus tell us this and then not provide any way to experience anything more than faithful evangelism without conversions? Is there any way to increase numbers of conversions through evangelism? God seeks. Do you?
One whole Old Testament book puts the emphasis on going as that relates to increased conversions: Jonah. God loves the Gentiles too. He wants them saved.
If you are somewhere difficult with hard, thorny, or rocky soil, you will see less conversions than where good soil exists (cf. Mt 13). All things being the same, one person might see more conversions than someone else. I can’t remove giftedness from the conception of greater results. God does gift some in a unique way to evangelism. I’m not writing that in this series as something you can do, because the Holy Spirit divides severally as He wills, not as you will. If you could do it, you might allot yourself that gift. I’m writing here about factors within your control. You can see more conversions, and I gave two distinctions in part one of the believer who does see more: (1) A Difference in Love, and (2) A Difference in Spirit-Filled Boldness. Are there more?
3. A Difference in Knowledge
Evangelism requires spiritual combat with the sword of the Lord (Eph 6:17). Scripture is the spiritual weapon, not a carnal one, that pulls down the strongholds in people’s minds that keep them from conversion (2 Cor 10:3-5). Knowledge is also a requirement for salvation, which can be under or over valued. Head knowledge doesn’t save, but knowledge is required. Scripture reveals an intellectual aspect of faith. Jesus is Jesus. Belief is belief. You’ve got to get the points of the gospel right. Wrong thinking gets in the way of salvation.
You will do better at evangelism when you know more Bible and you know more how to use the Bible you know. This doesn’t mean evangelism is winning a debate, but you’ve got to know what to say. When you deal with a particular false religion, it helps that person for you to pinpoint with the sword the falsities of it.
When I got to Utah a year ago, I read four books on LDS. I’m reading another now. I’ve read several good and appropriate articles. I toured the LDS history museum and paid attention. I wrote two tracts on LDS. I didn’t stay with the same approach I used the first time. I changed. I listened. I learned. I’m still learning. I’m growing as an evangelist to LDS. I can tell what the strongholds are and I deal with them using the best verses or passages in the Bible that are appropriate to each stronghold. What I’ve done helps me. I would or will see more LDS converted because of this.
I also know the Bible. I’m trying to improve my Bible knowledge for evangelism. Before I debated a Church of Christ preacher many years ago on eternal security, I read the entire Bible looking for everything in the Bible on eternal security to prepare for that debate, marking up a brand new Bible for that purpose. I understand and am practiced at talking to people about a number of varied false doctrines that are prevalent in the world, which keep them from salvation.
Whenever you struggle with a problem in evangelism, go back and study. I grew more from this than any other reason why I have grown. I put myself in stressful situations that were tough, knowing that trial would strengthen me. Avoiding them won’t help. It’s like avoiding a barbell when you want to gain muscle.
Many professing Christians get into a rut in their evangelism, because they don’t work at it. They learned a few things years ago and they do it again and again with little improvement. Perhaps a majority of professing believers in the United States think this is fine. They know four Romans Road verses. They repeat those and take every single person down the same path. This is wrong. In the long run, you will do more harm than good when you approach the lost this way. I’m not saying don’t know those verses in Romans. Sure, know those. But those are far from enough to do what God wants you to do.
I’ve said that all of these points interrelate to one another. Men don’t grow in their evangelism, because they lack the love for God and others to do so. Some of them will use excuses. They don’t know enough. Others are smarter. Meanwhile they get much better at all of their hobbies. Why? They really love those. This also relates to boldness. You won’t be as bold when you don’t know enough to know what to say to someone. Boldness relates to preaching something you know. When you don’t know it, you can’t be bold. Being filled with the Spirit parallels with letting the Words of Christ dwell in you richly. A Spirit controlled person speaks the Word of God with boldness, which is a person filled with the Word of God.
To Be Continued
You make some very valid points. We ought to always point them to the Gospel and the person and work of Jesus Christ. We ought to find out about the person A little if there’s time so we can share tys gospel inna way that helps them related to their story or struggles..Like you said not always sharing it tud same way with everybody we run into..We should share salvation and the love of God with them in a way that meets their need.. See you can use the story of Noah which is a picture of salvation. Not just that but so many more.. We need to use very important verses even when sharing A story of the Bible and salvation that relates to a difficulty or struggle the person is going through. This is why it’s so important to know as much of the Bible as possible.. Witnessing shouldn’t just be about always taking every people through the same instruction. knowing their story and A little background can help so then we take them to a similar one in the Bible then show them how they can be saved.
How about what about when it comes to people were always around? Will we know how to answer questions and show people from the Bible when it comes to wrong doctrine? This is a big issue and comes into play on why people don’t witness. I know it is.. It’s not about showing people how much we know of wanting to know stuff just to know but we need to know how to be on guard and aware of things so we can be salt and light sharing the gospel but also sharing more truth (with meekness and humility) with answers from the Bible when questions come out way. A lot of the times though we will be around the same people and we have witnessed to lots of times whether family of coworkers but we need to know how to answer other questions they will bring up but always with meekness. (Colossians 4:6, 1 Peter 3:15). We need to avoid vain babblings and conversations which increase unto more ungodliness (1 Timothy 2:16) but still know how to show them from the Bible. I know for a fact because people don’t know enough they don’t even witness because they’re afraid they’ll be asked questions that they don’t have answer to.. Again it needs to always be pointed back to the gospel and the person and work of Christ and a story that relates to them and show them how they can be saved.
A big problem is churches aren’t making all it’s members disciples.. Churches ought to take training all of it’s members while the ones going into the ministry will spend more private and personal time with the pastor.. all of the members ought to be training continually too outside of the regular services. Bible institute ought to be a part of every church. That way disciples are being made and all off the members are disciples and all of them can disciple more people and reproduce disciples to then have those they discipled reproduce themselves and so on. See the thing that’s so prevalent and what a lot of churches will do is when it comes to new converts they will be discipled by certain men or women in the church going over the most basic Bible doctrines.. But once they’ve completed discipleship all that’s expected of them is to be in all of the services and sit under the preaching.. No ongoing discipleship to learn more doctrines very in depth and deeply being grounded. that’s where Institute all to come in. It’s called on going discipleship. also it shouldn’t just be certain members who are doing discipleship every member. When someone gets saved and a new convert is about to start discipleship going over the basic doctrines every member ought to be able to do it . Yes once someone starts discipleship it ought to be with one person through the entire program but everybody ought to be able to do it.. Once the program of discipleship is completed going over the basic Bible doctrines it shouldn’t just be about being in every service under the preaching (yes that ought to happen) but on going discipleship in Bible institute ought to be taking place too. Never stop learning and being grounded. This isn’t happening. If someone is to learn they have to be sent away to Bible college. Yes we are to have our own time with God and he in His Word often and not always depend on others. God has given us His Spirit and will guide us into all truth..
People will they agree with this but then use the excuse and say Sometimes it’s difficult for small churches to accomplish all that. See I understand where they’re coming from about it being difficult for small churches..But the way it can be done is the institutes can be with sister and mother churches without making it into a para church ministry or Bible college.. It will be sister and mother churches only so that way no false doctrine or other beliefs that are within the circles of independent Baptist come into play.. That’s what happens with Bible colleges. So many different beliefs and churches who all have different beliefs are being brought in.. Mixed multitudes of beliefs creep in.. members being sent away, taking away from their church and that particular body part and gift they offer then go and are taught differently from what they were thought by their pastor.. This is why churches ought to have institute even if that means with those pastors and missionaries and evangelists you are close with.. You as well as other pastors, evangelists and missionaries you do the ministry with can make written material together and share it and keep from being put out in public. or you can make your own pre recorded videos as well as other pastors, church planters and missionaries you stand with and do the ministry with also do pre-recorded videos of series of doctrines that have 20-25 lessons that are one hour long or more. Make them into a log in account for your members to go in and do them at their time.. Or you can even use live steam video weekly and the churches are doing the institute together live at the same time (you can record them too) on a week if basis where there can be interactions and discussions as well as questions and more while the members of those home churches aren’t being sent away. they are with eachother. The church won’t be hindered and lose its members where they have to go away and learn.. I believe more witnessing and members of churches would take the gospel and reaching people Lord seriously if this was happening in churches. Laborers would be made because all of the members are being made disciples and they can teach others and reproduce themselves. They will know their Bibles.. Laborers within churches even without being called into full-time ministry but maybe it will happen down the road.
Thanks Ryan. Keep up the good work.