Evangelism (Lifebuilder Study Guides): A Way of Life

This study guide encourages Christians to overcome their fears and insecurities about sharing the gospel by focusing on the example of Jesus and the early evangelists and encouraging them to communicate their faith creatively and clearly.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 84 pages
\n Publication date: 31 August 2018
\n Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press
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Here is the rephrased text:

"Conversion is an incredible miracle, and being involved in it is an exhilarating privilege. However, many of us find evangelism intimidating. How do we reach the point of discussing Jesus Christ with our friends? With strangers? How can we overcome our fears and insecurities about sharing the gospel? This study guide, centered on the example of Jesus and the early evangelists, will inspire us to communicate our faith creatively and clearly.

The early Christian church faced numerous challenges in its early days. One of the most significant was the need to spread the gospel message to a diverse range of people, including those who were skeptical or hostile to the Christian faith. The early evangelists, such as Paul and Peter, faced these challenges head-on and developed innovative strategies for sharing the gospel.

One of the most effective strategies that the early evangelists used was storytelling. They used stories to illustrate the teachings of Jesus and to connect with their audience on a personal level. For example, Paul used the story of the conversion of Saul, the former Pharisee, to illustrate the power of God's grace and the importance of repentance. Peter used the story of the healing of the lame man at the gate of the temple to demonstrate the healing power of Jesus and the love of God.

Another strategy that the early evangelists used was personal witness. They shared their own experiences with Jesus and the impact that their faith had on their lives. This helped to build credibility and trust with their audience, and it also made it easier for them to share their message. For example, Paul shared his own struggles with sin and his experience of being saved by Jesus.

The early evangelists also used social and cultural contexts to share the gospel message. They recognized that the gospel message was relevant to the lives of people in all walks of life, and they tailored their message to meet the needs of their audience. For example, Paul used the example of the Roman Empire to illustrate the power of God's kingdom and the importance of submitting to the authority of God.

In addition to these strategies, the early evangelists also used prayer and fasting to strengthen their faith and their ability to share the gospel. They believed that prayer and fasting were essential tools for spiritual growth and for building relationships with God. For example, Paul encouraged his followers to pray for him and to fast for him as he traveled to different cities to share the gospel.

The early evangelists also recognized the importance of building relationships with their audience. They took the time to get to know their listeners and to build trust with them. They listened to their concerns and questions and responded to them with compassion and understanding. This helped to create a sense of community and to build a foundation of support for the gospel message.

Finally, the early evangelists recognized the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower them in their work. They believed that the Holy Spirit was the source of their strength and their ability to share the gospel message. They relied on the Holy Spirit to guide them in their preaching and in their interactions with their audience.

In conclusion, the early evangelists developed innovative strategies for sharing the gospel message. They used storytelling, personal witness, social and cultural contexts, prayer and fasting, and building relationships with their audience to spread the gospel message. These strategies were effective in reaching a diverse range of people and in building a strong foundation for the Christian church.

Today, we face similar challenges in our work as evangelists. However, we can learn from the example of the early evangelists and apply their strategies to our own work. We can use storytelling to illustrate the teachings of Jesus and to connect with our audience on a personal level. We can use personal witness to build credibility and trust with our audience. We can use social and cultural contexts to share the gospel message. We can use prayer and fasting to strengthen our faith and our ability to share the gospel. And we can rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us in our work.

As we continue to share the gospel message with our friends, our families, and our communities, we can be confident that the Holy Spirit will work through us to bring about change and transformation. We can be confident that the gospel message is powerful and that it has the ability to change lives and to bring hope and joy to those who hear it.

In conclusion, evangelism is an incredible privilege and an incredible responsibility. We can overcome our fears and insecurities about sharing the gospel by relying on the example of Jesus and the early evangelists and by applying their strategies to our own work. We can be confident that the Holy Spirit will guide and empower us as we share the gospel message with our friends, our families, and our communities."

\n Weight: 118g\n
Dimension: 140 x 211 x 4 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781783597994\n \n