1 Evangelism Increasing Opportunities to Share the Gospel

2

3 "What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?" I had a special need - 3% I just walked in - 3% I liked the minister - 6% I visited there - 1%

4 "What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?" I liked the Bible classes - 5% I attended a gospel meeting -.5% I liked the programs - 3% A friend or relative invited me - 79%

5 Matthew 9:36-38 “ Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. … ”

6 Matthew 9:36-38 “ … 37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. ”

7 Romans 9:1-3 “ I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. … ”

8 Romans 9:1-3 “ … 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, ”

9 Romans 10:1 “ Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. ”

10 Make a Caring Congregation It will help to confirm our claim to be true disciples of Jesus Christ –J–John 13:35

11 John 13:35 " By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. "

12 Make a Caring Congregation It will help to confirm our claim to be true disciples of Jesus Christ –C–Correct doctrine, organization, worship, are certainly important But it is our love for one another that the Lord intended to convince the world

13 Make a Caring Congregation Our love makes us useful to the Lord! –R–Revelation 3:7-8

14 Revelation 3:7-8 “ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: … ”

15 Revelation 3:7-8 “ … 8 'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. ”

16 Make a Caring Congregation It is important to practice hospitality towards Christians because –i–it prepares us for the kind of personal work that is the most effective in leading others to Christ.

17 Make a Caring Congregation We must provide the right kind of loving and caring spiritual environment –M–Make it a point to get to know ALL the members and regular visitors by name. –P–Practice "hospitality" towards the members and regular visitors 1 Pet. 4:8-9

18 1 Peter 4:8-9 " Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. "

19 Make a list of souls… Start with those who are close to you: –F–Family –F–Friends –C–Co-workers –N–Neighbors

20 Make a list of souls… Start with those who are close to you: –R–Relatives of fellow church members –R–Regular visitors to the services of the church –C–Casual acquaintances

21

22 Pray for these souls daily Why? –F–First, that God will work together with you Corinthians 3:5-7

23 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 “ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. … ”

24 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 “ … 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. ”

25 Pray for these souls daily Why? –F–First, that God will work together with you... To give you opportunities to do good for them – Colossians 4:3

26 Colossians 4:3 “ praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; ”

27 Pray for these souls daily Why? –F–First, that God will work together with you.... To give you the "wisdom" to make the most of those opportunities – Colossians 4:4-6

28 Colossians 4:4-6 “ that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. … ”

29 Colossians 4:4-6 “ … 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. ”

30 Pray for these souls daily Why? –F–First, that God will work together with you.... To give you "boldness" to say what needs to be said – Ephesians 6:18-20

31 Ephesians 6:18-20 “ With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, … ”

32 Ephesians 6:18-20 “ … 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, … ”

33 Ephesians 6:18-20 “ … 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. ”

34 Pray for these souls daily Why? –A–Also, that those on your list will..... Have the opportunity to hear the truth Have honest hearts to be open and receptive to the truth.

35 Remember, it is GOD who gives the increase when it comes to evangelism.

36 Demonstrate your love for them "People don't care how much we know until they know how much we care!" –A–A demonstration of love will make a person more likely to be receptive to the gospel of love when it is shared 1 Peter 2:12

37 1 Peter 2:12 " Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe {them,} glorify God in the day of visitation. "

38 Demonstrate your love for them Some steps to take might be... –I–Invite them into your home for a dinner or snack –V–Visit them, especially in times of trial or sickness –D–Do things with them on a social level

39 Invite those on list to services They will have an opportunity to see a caring congregation in action. They will more likely have an opportunity to be presented with the gospel of Christ If they are attending regularly before conversion to Christ, they will more likely continue to attend after their conversion.

40 Demonstrate Hospitality Greeting them Inviting them home or out for a dinner or snack. Calling or visiting them after they have attended the services.

41 Hebrews 13:2 " Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. "

42 Rom. 12:13b “… practicing hospitality "

43 1 Peter 2:11-12 “ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, … ”

44 1 Peter 2:11-12 “ …so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. ”

45 See that they have an opportunity to hear the Gospel Suggest some sort of Bible study –A–A Bible study with them in their home –T–That they study on their own with the aid of a Bible correspondence course

46

47 Suggestions: Encourage one another to set goals –S–Share ideas for goals –W–Write the goals down –P–Pray about them

48 Suggestions: At each weekly meeting –S–Share and discuss how the goals are being met –S–Set new Goals for the coming week –W–Write them, pray about them

49