To View the Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ICMU0m5GhPE
SHOW NOTES
Welcome to a new week of the Hope Rescue Podcast. This week, Kimberly is back and she and Tim are discussing the question, “Should every Christian be an evangelist?” They discuss what evangelism is, the different forms of evangelism, and the most effective ways to spread the gospel to unbelievers. Keep reading or listening for the full discussion.
Evangelism is not simply the task of church leaders, pastors, and missionaries. Every believer is called to be ready to give the reason for the hope that he or she has. First Peter 3:15 says, "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
There are different styles of evangelism, some effective and some, not as much. For instance, the moralist style will try to tell an unbeliever how sinful he or she is and how they will burn in hell if they don't turn from their wicked ways. The truth though, is that we can never clean up our lives entirely before we come to Christ. Tim says, “We do not clean up our lives and then come to Christ. We come to Christ broken and dirty, and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness.”
Another style of evangelism is passive evangelism, where one evangelizes by simply letting others see Jesus in his or her life. This is difficult to do because if a person makes one mistake, which we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, it is less convincing to non-believers. We must speak and proclaim the good news, as well as live it out in our lives.
Another style of evangelism, which we often utilize in our outreach ministry, is the giver style of evangelism. Through this style, we reach people’s physical needs, letting them know that we care, and then are able to share the gospel with them.
A less common style of evangelism is the apologist style, which is someone who has studied the scriptures and is confident answering tough biblical questions. This style is less common simply because of how much studying, knowledge, and confidence it requires to debate and discuss difficult topics surrounding scripture.
Tim and Kimberly’s favorite style of evangelism is the witness style. By using the witness style of evangelism, one uses his or her own story to spread the gospel. We can share where we came from, how we came to Christ, and how He has changed our lives since.
We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17-21 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Through Christ, we receive God’s full righteousness. We are His ambassadors.
Being an ambassador is much more than simply being a messenger. A messenger relays a word or report, but an ambassador takes the message and adapts it into his or her culture. An ambassador is like a diplomat representing his or her country. As ambassadors for Christ, we represent Christ and His message. Our message as ambassadors for Christ is one of reconciliation. In Christ Jesus, we have been reconciled to God, and this is the most important message we can share with others.
QUOTES
“We do not clean up our lives and then come to Christ. We come to Christ broken and dirty, and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” -Tim
REFERENCED SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 3:15 says, "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
