Jesus Style Evangelism

Notes: Evangelism, "Jesus Style"

John 4

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

Sunday, February 28, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

Every place has its own style, like Hawaiian Style.

Jesus said we should go into the whole world, but He didn't say the whole world would come to the church.

1. Who is to go into all the world and preach the Gospel? We are!

Matthew 28:19 NLT

[19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:15 NLT

[15] And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

For many, the Great Comission is really the great suggestion or really the great omission.

The sin of omission is not doing what you should be doing. The sin of commission is doing what you shouldn't be doing.

2. Where are we to preach the gospel? Everywhere!

We need to engage in FRANgelism... Friends, Relatives, Associates and Neighbors.

3. Why are we to preach the Gospel? God's primary way to reach people is by using other people.

1 Corinthians 1:21 NLT

[21] Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, God has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

Romans 10:14 NKJV

[14] How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

3. When are we to share the Gospel?

We share the Gospel all the time.

Pastor Greg is telling the story of when he evangelized while in the restroom.

2 Timothy 4:2 NLT

[2] Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

1 Peter 3:15 NLT

[15] Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

5. How do we share the Gospel? That is where it falls apart for many people. The answer is from Jesus Himself. It is showed in John 4 with the woman at the well.

Everyone's favorite subject appears to be themselves. The selfie picture is a testament to that.

Our objective is to build a bridge, not burn one. A stepping stone not a stumbling block.

Christ has not called us to isolate, He calls us to infiltrate and permeate. We are not to win the argument, we are to win a soul!

John 4:3-10 NLT

[3] So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. [4] He had to go through Samaria on the way. [5] Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. [7] Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." [8] He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. [9] The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?" [10] Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

1. Sharing starts with caring.

Evangelism Jesus style, starts with a burden. Jesus needed to go through Samaria. 

Jews didn't go through Samaria, but Jesus still went. 

We are to go to all people, even to people we don't like very much. Just like Jonah.

There is no place for prejudice in the life of a believer. We are to share with all people.

2. We are to use tact. Skill and grace with dealing with others. You do not start telling them they are going to hell.  

Tact is the ability to make a point without making an enemy.

You must speak in a language that the nonbeliever understands.

You should engage people in a dialogue, it's not a monologue.

Many Christians don't seem to know how to use tact.

There is not a one way fits all approach to evangelism. We should all know and be able to convey the Gospel in less than three minutes.

John 4:28-29 NKJV

[28] The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, [29] "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"to 

A great example of tact...

Acts 8:29-38 NLT

[29] The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." [30] Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" [31] The man replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. [32] The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. [33] He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." [34] The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?" [35] So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. [36-37] As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" [38] He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

One of the greatest tools we have in our evangelism tool box is our own personal testimony.

1. Don't glorify or exaggerate you past.

2. Never boast of what you gave up to follow Christ, boast of what Jesus did for you.

3. When you tell your story, always take them to His story.

Nonbelievers are looking for someone to show them the way. People have stated they would go to church if someone invited them.

Billy Graham said that in looking back, he would have preached more on the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ because that is where the power is. 

Look for open doors and opportunity. 

Some people are unnecessarily offensive. That burns bridges.

Chumming is a good way to go about it. Start a conversation don't force it. Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water. It showed a vulnerability.

I'm just one beggar telling another beggar where to find some food.

We can be in secondary subjects and missing the opportunities to lead people to Christ right in front of us.

The result of Jesus' conversation was that the lady believed and she went and told others.

Greg's mother reminds him of the woman at the well. She was raised in the church but seemed to reject the Lord. Greg talked to her about the Lord one month before she passed away. Greg gets to see her in Heaven again. We never know when the opportunity will arise, but we need to listen to the nudges from God.

There is joy in leading people to Christ, but there is also a responsibility to do it. 

None of us need a little religion, we all need a lot of Jesus.

Who are you needing to talk to now?