Evangelism--Personal and Church
 
Introduction

     I.  Someone taught you what you know about Christ, the church and
         salvation.
         A.  God, the Father, is the source of this teaching.  
         B.  Jesus came to the earth to teach the Father’s will.  John 5:19, 30;
	   6:38; 7:16; 8:28, 29; 12:48-50; 14:10, 11, 23; 17:7, 8.
         C.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles to guide them into
               all truth.  John 14:26; 15:26, 27; 16:7-11; 16:12-14.
         D.  The apostles were to carry the gospel into all the world, make
               disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to observe His
               teaching to them.  Matt. 28:19, 20.
   II.  Someone took the time to teach each one of us.
         A.  You may remember your parent’s teaching you at home.
         B.  You may remember some who taught you in Bible classes in 
               the meeting house.
         C.  You may remember local preachers who taught you the truth,
               and meeting preachers that increased your knowledge.
  III.  Are you thankful that others took the time to teach you?
         A.  It is now time for you to teach others.
         B.  Others may not ever be saved if you and I don’t teach them.
  IV.  Let us consider the work of evangelism from the viewpoint of the 
         individual and the church.
         A.  By evangelism, we mean the work of teaching or preaching the
               gospel so as to convert others to Christ.
         B.  Remember, Jesus taught the disciples, “Lift up your eyes, and 
               look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest.”  
               John 4:35.
         C.  Let us study why, and how, we should do the work of evangelism.
         
Body	

   I.  We must fulfill our individual responsibility to carry the gospel to
        others.
        A.  All who have been Christians for a reasonable period of time, 
              should be able to teach others.  Heb. 5:12-14.
        B.  Every Christian has work to do in the area of evangelism.
              Matt. 5:13-16.
              1.  Our lives should be saving others as salt saves or preserves
                    food.
              2.  Our lives should be as lights to those who are in darkness.
              3.  Remember the examples of the disciples.  John 1:35-47.
                   a.  Think of how many people you know, respect, care for
                        or love.
                   b.  Do you not desire that they have the opportunity to learn
                        of Christ, just as you have learned?

Evangelism--Personal and Church, page 2.

                  c.  Look for ways to teach others.  John 4:35; II Tim. 2:2; 4:1, 2.
                       (1.)  Teach your children.  Eph. 6:4.
	           (2.)  Teach your husband or wife.  I Pet. 3:1-6. 
	           (3.)  Teach your neighbors, fellow-workers, school mates, 
                               boy/girl friends.  Acts 8:4ff.
                               (a.)  Sometimes you may have to go to other places to
                                       teach.
                               (b.)  Regardless of where you teach, you may be
                                       inconvenienced in so doing.  II Tim. 4:1-5; 2:1-7.
        C.  Don’t say that you cannot teach--learn how to do so.  Heb. 5:12-14.
              1.  This is where the “reason of use” comes in so that your
                   “senses” or mind will know what to do.
              2.  Remember that we learn to do by doing.  
        D.  We can all do a better work of teaching others.  
              1.  Let us consider one another and provoke others, by our words
                   and good examples, to teach others more this year.  Heb. 10:24.
              2.  New years always seem to present new opportunities, so let us
                   plan to use this new year effectively.  Eph. 5:15-17.
        
  II.  We must fulfill our church responsibility to carry the gospel to 
        others.        
        A.  Remember that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
              I Tim. 3:15.
              1.  Christ left those in the church to do the work of perfecting the
                   saints in order that they might do the work of ministering and
                   building up the body of Christ.  Eph. 4:11-16.
        B.  The newspaper article, t-v program and preaching and teaching in
              the meeting house is an effort to meet some of our responsibilities.
        C.  The church, as Christ’s spiritual body, is to support the preaching
              of the word.
              1.  The Philippian church is a good example.  
                    Phil. 1:3-7; 2:25-30; 4:10-20.
               2.  Paul declared the right of preachers to be supported.
                    I Cor. 9:1-18.
               3.  He said he had taken wages of other churches to preach to
                    enable him to preach to the Corinthians.  II Cor. 11:8.
        D.  Let us give liberally to support the work of preaching, and let us
              look on the fields that are ready to be harvested.  John 4:35.

 

Evangelism--Personal and Church, page 3.

Conclusion

     I.  From these lessons, may our eyes truly be opened to the need, and
          to the work, of carrying the gospel to the lost.
  II.  Let us work as individuals and encourage the church to do the work
        God desires it to do.
III.  If you have not yet obeyed the gospel, that is the important thing
        for you to do now.
        A.  You then will be saved.
        B.  You will then be a good influence.
        C.  You should then teach others what you have been taught.
 IV.  As a believer in Christ, repent of your sins, confess your faith and
        be baptized for the remission of sins.  Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:37.

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   January 7, 1996