Evangelism Training
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church www.goodshepherdcollinsville.org
Collinsville, Illinois
Pastor Michael Walther 618.344.3151
618.344.3378 (Fax)
The following notes are used to train students from Concordia Seminary in St.
Louis in the work of evangelism.
1. Israel was created to be a blessing to all the families of
the earth (Genesis 12.3).
2. Israel proclaimed both the holiness as well as the mercy of God. Psalm
51.12-13 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your
generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And
sinners shall be converted to You.
3. Pheideppides announced ( evangelized ) the victory of the
Greek army over the Persian Army at the Battle of Marathon in
490 B.C.
4. Gabriel spoke to Zacharias, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the
presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad
tidings (evangel)" (Luke 1.19).
5. Jesus gave the Apostles and the Church the commission to make
disciples "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo,
I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28.19-20).
6. The early Christians followed the example of their leaders.
"Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching
(evangelizing) the word" (Acts 8.4).
7. As the mediaeval church drifted away from the word of God, so did it’s
interest in true evangelism (telling the good news). Evangelism was largely
replaced by coercive efforts.
8. The Lutheran reformation brought the renewal of God’s word in the church
and with it a renewed interest in Christian education, preaching, and
witnessing.
9. European and American pietism added a new and unwholesome
element to the evangelistic effort.
10. Pietistic evangelism was less concerned with the truth and power of God’s
word and more concerned with the inner feelings of the heart.
11. They viewed conversion as the work of man, a free choice.
Charles Finney, lawyer turned evangelist, believed that this work of man could
be manipulated by what he called "new measures" (anxious bench,
revivals).
Here you hear a verdict condemning all fanatical sects. No matter what other
false doctrines they may teach, they all have this grievous error in common,
that they do not rely solely on Christ and His Word, but chiefly on something
that takes place in themselves. As a rule, they imagine that all is well with
them because they have turned from their former ways. As if that were a
guarantee of reaching heaven! No; we are not to look back to our conversion for
assurance, but we must go to our Savior again and again, every day, as though we
never had been converted. My former conversion will be of no benefit to me if I
become secure. I must return to the mercy-seat every day, otherwise I shall make
my former conversion my savior, by relying on it. That would be awful; for in
the last analysis it would mean that I make myself my savior (C.F.W. Walther, Law
& Gospel, p. 207).
12. Unfortunately Lutherans sometimes over react to this error by turning
conversion into a mechanical, unemotional, cognitive agreement with God.
There are people who regard themselves as good Christians although they are
spiritually dead. They have never felt a real anguish on account of their sins;
they have never been filled with terror on account of them, have never been
appalled by the thought of the hell which they have deserved, have never been on
their knees before God, bewailing with bitter tears their awful, damnable
condition under sin. Much less have they wept sweet tears of joy and glorified
God for His mercy. They read and hear the Word of God without being specially
impressed by it. They go to church and receive absolution without feeling
refreshed; they attend Holy Communion without any inward sensation and remain as
cold as ice. Occasionally, when they become inwardly agitated because of
their indifference in matters concerning their salvation and because of their
lack of appreciation of God’s Word, they try to quiet their heart with the
reflection that the Lutheran Church teaches that the lack of spiritual feeling
is of no moment. They reason that this lack cannot harm them and that they
can be good Christians notwithstanding, because they consider themselves
believers. However, they labor under a grievous self-delusion. People in that
condition have nothing but the dead faith of the intellect, a specious faith,
or, to express it still more drastically, a lip faith. (Law and Gospel,
p. 195)
13. Another casualty of this over reaction might be an inability to talk
about conversion and even to be the instrument of the Holy Spirit that brings
about conversion. We know that it is unbiblical to speak of conversion as a
"decision." But what terms should we use? The Bible clearly tells
shows us that words or phrases such as "believe on the Lord Jesus"
(Acts 16.31), or "receive Him" (John 1.12-13) are good descriptions of
conversion.
All that a person has to do when he hears the Gospel is to accept it (Law
& Gospel, p. 367).
Through this means (namely, the preaching and hearing of His Word) God is
active, breaks our hearts, and draws man, so that through the preaching of the
law man learns to know his sins and the wrath of God and experiences genuine
terror, contrition, and sorrow in his heart, and through the preaching of and
meditation upon the holy Gospel of the gracious forgiveness of sins in Christ
there is kindled in him a spark of faith which accepts the forgiveness of
sins for Christ’s sake and comforts itself with the promise of the
Gospel. And in this way the Holy Spirit, who works all of this, is introduced
into the heart (Formula of Concord, SD, II, paragraph 54).
14. Conversion is a miracle that we do not
understand. When we witness to people we must remember that we are messengers,
and that God works His will through the message of Law and Gospel. We should try
to sense if the miracle of faith is being born in a person (if they have a
longing for mercy). If it seems to us that a person . . .
entertains no doubt whatever that everything depends on the will of God,
utterly despairs of his own effort, does not do any choosing, but expects God to
work in him, such a person is closest to divine grace and
salvation (Law & Gospel p. 370).
We should not be afraid to encourage them to "believe" (John 3.16)
or "receive" Christ (John 1.12-13). We should constantly assure them
that this is a miracle. We should also assure them that the miracle comes
through the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their
continued faith will depend on their continued "hearing" of the word—hence
the importance of associating with a Christian congregation.
All that a person has to do when he hears the Gospel is to accept it. But
this is immediately followed by inward conflict. The error of false teachers
in regard to this matter is that they place this conflict before conversion.
For such a conflict an unconverted person is not qualified. The conflict comes
at a later stage, and it is severe. The narrow way is the cross which
Christians have to bear, namely that they have to mortify their own flesh,
suffer ridicule, scorn, and ignominy heaped upon them by the world, fight
against the devil, and renounce the world with its vanities, treasures, and
pleasures. That is a task which causes many to fall away again soon after
their conversion and to lose their faith. Wherever the Word of God is
proclaimed with the manifestation of the Spirit and power of god, many more
people are converted than we imagine. If we could look into the hearts of
worshipers in a church where the Word is thus forcefully proclaimed and no
works of men are mingled with the teaching of saving grace, we should observe
many framing the resolution by the grace of God to become Christians; for they
are convinced that the preacher is right. But many suppress these sensations
the moment they leave the church and seek to persuade themselves that they
have been listening to a discourse of a fanatic. Such persons harden
themselves Sunday after Sunday and get into a most dangerous condition, past
conversion. The Savior Himself says that many "receive the Word with
joy," Matthew 13.20, but smother the sprouting germ when tribulations
arise. This does not necessarily refer to severe diabolical afflictions, but,
in general, to tedium as regard spiritual affairs, sluggishness in prayer,
negligence in hearing the Word of God, contempt which Christians have to
suffer from worldly men, etc. . . . Beware, then, of the illusion that men may
become secure if they are told how quickly they may be led to repentance and
conversion. On the contrary, consider the greatness of God’s mercy. After a
person has been converted, he must be told that henceforth he will have to be
engaged in daily struggles and must think of making spiritual progress day by
day, exercising himself in love, patience, and meekness and wrestling with sin
(Law and Gospel pp. 367-368).
One of the most important aspects of evangelism is our sincere desire
for people to be saved and to serve God. Pastors should pray regularly for God
to create and sustain this desire in our hearts.
The Basic Witness
The following three points are the basic messages that we need to deliver as
evangelists. While they are very basic, underneath each of these points we
continually develop better and better ways to communicate them.
1. (The Law) The first goal (not counting bridge-building, relationship
building, etc.) is to explain to them that all people are by nature lost
sinners. There is nothing they can do to save themselves. This usually
involves teaching them about the true nature of both God and man. See Luther’s
Small Catechism, question 157.
Do they believe this? If not, take care to show your concern that this is
so important. Your own personal confession of sinfulness and wretchedness
before God might help. As time permits, or, on other occasions, you will
want to stress the holiness of God and His demand for perfect righteousness.
2. (The Gospel) The second goal is to explain to them what God has done to
accomplish our salvation. This is the pure Gospel. See Luther’s Small
Catechism, question 182.
Are they indifferent? If so you must be very careful. Don’t give false
assurances. (Don’t tell them they are saved just because they agree that
the Gospel is right.) Ask them to keep thinking about what you are telling
them. Offer to continue explaining the Gospel.
Do they indicate a desire for this salvation? Is there even a slight
desire? Tell them that this is the spark of faith—the miracle of God’s
gift. Encourage them not to try to figure it out or to be surprised if they
can’t explain what they are believing. Assure them of God’s forgiveness.
3. (The Means of Grace) The third goal is to explain that their faith came
by the word of God (Romans 1.16) and the miracle of the Holy Spirit, and that
their faith will continue to grow as long as they receive the word. The best
way to do this to be baptized and to associate with a Christian congregation.
Eventually they will also share in the Lord’s Supper. Luther’s Small
Catechism Question 161.
Reasons for Door to Door Evangelism
1. If we really care about something, we are going to take it to the street.
Look around at those who take their cause directly to the people . . .
Politicians and advocates of referendums. When you really want to change
something, you take it directly to the public.
2. Though 95% of the people contacted will not respond immediately, we never
know the seeds we are planting. If judgment day is coming at any time, how can
we pass on the opportunity to offer at least a brief invitation hear the message
of the Gospel.
3. Door to door evangelism creates awareness and sends a message that someone
really cares about what they believe.
4. Over 80% of all those are turned by the Holy Spirit to faith in Jesus
experience that turning in a relationship with a friend or relative. For this
reason other forms of congregational evangelism are extremely vital.
Nevertheless I find that individual members are extremely motivated to share
their faith with friends and relatives when they are aware that their church
leaders are doing the same thing. Most church leaders do not have a large circle
of unsaved friends and acquaintances. However, as they go out into the community
they do encounter such people. The 10% of those who are drawn to Christ through
door to door evangelism are an inspiration to the rest of the congregation to do
the same work among their own friends and relatives.
Three Levels of Evangelistic Conversation
|
Grumpy/Distracted |
Polite |
Interested |
|
Encountered Sometimes |
Very, very common |
Once in a hundred calls |
1. Introduce yourself and who you represent – GSLC
2. Share information about the church.
3. Read verbal and non-verbal clues. (Frustrated, irritated,
distracted, kids screaming, not a good time, extremely short –
"I’m not interested!")
4. Thank them for their consideration.
|
1. Introduce yourself and who you represent – GSLC
2. Share information about the church.
3. Read verbal and non-verbal clues. (Interest in the
brochure, the sense that you are not a threat to them.)
4. Pop a question: "Could I give you a three minute
explanation of what we believe?"
5. Present the brief witness to Christ.
6. Read verbal and non-verbal clues. (Polite but now
showing signs of disinterest . . . "Yea, that’s what I believe,
we go to such and such a church." A short "thank you"
indicating they’ve kept their part of the bargain to listen, you can
move on.)
7. Thanks for their consideration. Invite them to find
out more at Good Shepherd – Remind them of the brochure.
|
1. Introduce yourself and who you represent – GSLC
2. Share information about the church.
3. Read verbal and non-verbal clues. (Interest in the brochure, the
sense that you are not a threat to them.)
4. Pop a question: "Could I give you a three minute explanation
of what we believe?"
5. Present the brief witness to Christ.
6. Read verbal and non-verbal clues. (Do they have more questions? Do
they ask you to come in and talk more? Are they interested but perhaps
need to meet another time? Try to get their phone number, and promise
that someone will call back.)
7. If invited in, continue the conversation. Remember to develop all
three parts of the basic witness (Law, Gospel, Means of Grace).
8. Once they start firing their questions to you, you’ll know why
you need a seminary education. Don’t worry if you can’t answer every
question. A true witness testifies to what he or she knows. No one
expects them to have an answer for everything.
|
Discussion Scenarios
1. The Book of Life (Revelation 3.5) (For those who think they are save . .
.’)
2. The Wedding Feast (Matthew 22.2ff) (For those who think they are saved .
. .")
3. The Romans 6.23 Bridge (For those who don’t know whether they are
saved . . .")
4. The Three Crosses of Calvary (The Cross of Rejection; The Cross of
Redemption; The Cross of Reception) (For those who don’t know
whether they are saved . . .")
5. The Two Lost Sons (Luke 15) (For those who think they are saved . .
.")
6. Have you every heard of Advent? Epiphany? Ascension?
Many of these ideas are the kernels of sermons you may have heard. Don’t be
afraid to try different approaches. Christian evangelistic conversation is an
art. It develops with prayer and practice.
Prayer
Remember that evangelism is a miracle. Always think of it in that sense. Pray
with thanksgiving that you can have a part in the miracle of sowing the seed of
God’s word. Pray for wisdom, clarity, and peace as you share your faith in
Christ.