Effective Evangelism 3

1Cor 9:16
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!


Continuing on with the topic of Effective Evangelism.  How effective are some types of evangelism?   Here are a few more to look at.


Evangelistic Meetings/Services
How about large evangelistic meetings?  I have never really been involved in anything like that, but I do know people whose lives have been changed from these types of meetings.   Effective?

RevivalsWhat about revivals?  Churches used to have revivals in the spring and fall.  I guess some still do, but now they seem just like regular meetings. I assume they are still somewhat effective. Or in the words of Dallas Willard,  "No one can have an unsuccessful “revival,” which once you stop to think about it, makes as little sense as the unsuccessful raising of a dead person… that is no raising at all.”

Home Groups
Home meetings or cell group seem to be the norm these days.  One of the churches I was a part of had their mid week service in home based groups. The attendance at these cell group meetings was larger than our Sunday night services. There were several people saved in these meetings that later became active members of the church. These meetings were non threatening and easy to invite people to.  Maybe that is why churches still use them today.   Effective?

Witnessing: One on One
And then we have the one on one witnessing style.  I believe this is still effective as well, possibly the most effective.   But how many of us still do it?  I have done it in the past but not so much lately.  Is it because we are in a hurry, afraid of what people might say or think?  Or is it because I just don’t care?  How about you, are you interested in telling someone about Christ?    Effective?

When it gets right down to it, everyone has a calling and we have to be obedient to that calling.  Jesus said in Mark 16:15, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."  Regardless of what evangelism style you think is most effective, we still need to lead a lifestyle of evangelism as Christians, churches, leaders, each and every day. 

In the comments, discuss these types of evangelism. Which do you think is most effective?  What ones do you use personally or in your church?  What are some other evangelism ideas we may not have mentioned? 

Effective Evangelism 2

1Cor 9:16
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!


Continuing on with the topic "How effective are some types of evangelism?".  Here are just a few types of evangelism  for us to think about.

Door To Door Evangelism-
 I remember as a young Christian our church doing this in the neighborhood. I remember being paired up with the associate pastor and after knocking on several doors we actually had one person interested in praying a salvation prayer with us.  I don’t think the person ever came to church and do not know if there was ever any follow up.   Effective?


Another time I went to a Sunday School/Church Growth conference.  The last night of the conference we canvased the neighborhood in that area.. The group I was with prayed with a teenage girl for salvation.  Again, I am unsure if there was any follow up by the local church.   Effective?

Outreach Functions-
Special church functions such as:
Bring a Friend Day
Neighborhood Parties (where a service and food is provided)
Special Services
 I have been involved in all of these as a church member or as a pastor.  All of these brought people in to the church.  Some had real difficult needs; other came out of curiosity or obligation.  I really can’t say for sure if anybody was “saved”.   Effective?


All of these have their place.  I also feel that each of these can be effective if done well.   I will have some other ideas in the next blog.  Until then, share your ideas, criticisms, likes, etc. in the comments.

Effective Evangelism?

1Cor 9:16  For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

How effective are some types of evangelism?  I ask that because the other day I was scheduled for jury duty.  While I was standing in line with a large number of "citizens" waiting for the courthouse to open and go through security, a well-dressed man began to preach to all of us standing in line.  All the while another man passed out tracts to everyone standing in line.  It was obvious that they had done this many times before. 

So here we were a captive audience (there was nowhere to go, but wait).   I began to watch people in line.  Most didn’t pay this guy any attention; others carried on conversations with others in line, some laughed or talked on their cell phones.  After the preached was finished I didn’t see anyone respond to his follow up.  It made me think about how effective is this guy in evangelism?

I am not against street preachers at all and I realize everyone has a calling from God and they have to be obedient to that calling.  I am just wondering is this really effective?  And if the street preacher is obeying God, then he has done his job and he did it well.

What do you think is effective evangelism?  Do you think the scenario that played out at the courthouse was effective?  The verse above states, "Woe to me of I do not preach the Gospel".  Do you think we can miss God's call to preach by not taking advantage of scenarios like this?  Do we miss an opportunity to evangelize because it may seem "inappropriate"?

Closing Credits

Col 4:10-15
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)  11  Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.  12  Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.  13  I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.  14  Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.  15  Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

The other day I heard Chuck Swindoll mention the closing credits at the movies.  How many of us stick around to read the closing credits?  We know who all the main characters are played by, but the people who we didn’t see in the movie are the ones really responsible for making the movie come together.  It made me think who is really responsible for making me who I am. Who would be in the closing credits?

I am obviously thankful for good parents who raised me, taught me good morals and values, and to be responsible.  I am thankful for my wife, my best friend, who has been there through thick and thin (for better or worse, richer or poorer, and all that!) and has always stood with me.  I am thankful for the three different pastors I have had in my life.  Each one has contributed to my life and still does.  Even though I have several friends, I am especially thankful for two who have been true friends that I could lean on in hard times.

I am sure there are others I could mention, but those are just a few who would be in the closing credits for my life. What about you?  Who is listed in the closing credits of your life?