We’ve looked at both the “yes” and the “no” of evangelism, removing misconceptions but also having Scripture point us anew when it comes to confessing Christ to others. In this lesson, we will finish with the “yes” of evangelism, of bringing the evangel, the Word of Jesus to another.
You Can’t Fail
Pr. Heath Curtis wrote this about evangelism:
Once I know that I can’t screw it up, that God has His elect and I can’t snatch them from His hand, that He works by and through His means of grace when and where He pleases, that God Has his elect in this city who will be gathered to Him—well then, now I am set free. Now it’s an Easter Egg hunt. God will take care of it. And, glory of glories, He might even use me! For Lutherans, therefore, evangelism is high reward and zero risk. God may use me, but I’ll never be able to screw it up.
Ephesians 2:4-5: Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. You are saved by grace!
Even in the Old Testament, Prophet Ezekiel wrote: “I [God] will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 26:26).
The entire Trinity is at work in our salvation:
- Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” (John 6:43).
- “No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27).
- “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3).
So, it makes sense God’s chosen way to give spiritual birth out of our spiritual death is through baptism into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20, John 3:5, 1 Peter 3:21, Titus 3:5). But let us remember: God is continuing to save us all our lives and even in eternity until He completes His salvation for us on the Last Day (Roman 10:9-10: “you will be saved”).
You are freed from the fear of failure! If you can only succeed, then the joy of the Gospel animates you, not the Law-driven quest for results.
Joy
Luke 10:20: [Jesus speaking to the 72 He had sent out:] “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
- What does our names being written in heaven have to do with our ability to rejoice?
Read Philippians 4:4-7
- Amid the joy of the Gospel, which animates the Christian’s life, where do we find evangelism hidden in the text? (vs. 5)
“reasonableness”: Greek, epieikes, meaning gentle, kind, or yielding. You can be gentle and kind because another believing is not up to you—even though in joy you confess Christ to others.
- When Paul wrote “the Lord is near,” what did He mean?
- Because we know how the story ends, how is that freeing for us?
Christian joy fills our lives. We don’t deserve salvation, not a lick of it. But God give is to us anyway—hooray! In Christ, we can’t fail, for we know the end—and it is good. Our names are written in heaven. And if we do have a problem, we give it to “Dad” (Abba), knowing He will take care of it in His way and time, if not now, surely in eternity.
So far the new self in us. The old self is a different story. It curves inward, back in itself—and when our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, room for others disappears, including God and others.
That is why none of us ever outgrows the need for Jesus to come to us with life and salvation—every week. “The Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The Divine Service is Jesus “pressing the reset button” in our lives with God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
What is the result? All who know the freedom of Christ become more sensitive to the needs of others. “For Christ’s love compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Repenting and having Jesus in the center of our lives (Revelation 3:19-20), the Jesus in you spills out toward others, seeking their good. You can’t fail, for the results aren’t up to you. You don’t have to “sell” Jesus—you can even be gentle, kind, and yielding!
Some Final, Practical Thoughts
- Start conversations. Talk to the people you meet as you go through your everyday life. These could be neighbors, co-workers, or even strangers you come across during your daily activities. Just do this in a natural way and go from there. Do this as it fits your personality. If you are introverted, don’t pretend to be an extrovert. If you are an extrovert, don’t act like an introvert.
- Hang out with people who enjoy what you enjoy. Find non-believers who enjoy the same activities you do, or who can teach you something you would like to learn to do. Find ways to hang out with them and enjoy their company while exposing them to the “Christ for you” while living out the “Christ in you.”
- Volunteer somewhere. Be of service to your community and show them you want to help and be a part of them.
- Tell stories. Everyone likes to hear a good story. Tell people about your life, or stories that illustrate important truths, even Bible stories.
- Get to know others. Ask questions. People are pleased when you express an interest in them and their history and values. Don’t be fake; care for them because Jesus does. Besides giving you a reason to talk with others, you will find that you will learn a lot and gain valuable insights into understanding and relating to them.
- Invite others to join you. Don’t go alone. Ask someone to join you in your activity.
- Pray with others. When you become aware of challenges non-Christian friends or associates are facing, ask if you can pray for them. Pray with them on the spot, if possible. In your prayer, confess who God is and what that means.
- Address physical and spiritual needs around you. Be aware of the needs around you and begin to make a difference. If you don’t know of any needs, go back to point #1. Ask those around you. What you hear may surprise you. Stay focused and work on one need at a time.
Incorporate these practices as part of your daily habits as it fits your life and personality. You will find many opportunities to engage others around you. Just remember, you can’t lose: You are freed from evangelism failure.
Evangelism is a Christian confessing Christ’s forgiveness to someone else. If that wasn’t evangelism, then Christianity would be no different from any other religion. Christian evangelism is shaped by Christ’s salvation for another, which you speak to others in Christian joy and freedom.
