1. Challenges in Evangelism
Acts 13:44-51

2. Challenges in Evangelism
We all face very stiff challenges in trying to evangelize
Those challenges can be a very real discouragement to us
Be reminded…
Jesus and the apostles often encountered people who rejected the truth as well.
Our goal is not to make excuses for the challenges we face…
But to acknowledge them
And offer suggestions on how to overcome them!

3. The Challenge of Prejudice
We do not encounter many people like Apollos, Acts 18:24-28
Many people have preconceived notions about the church…
But Jesus warned that many would be lost, Lk13:23-28

4. The Challenge of Prejudice
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
2Thessalonians 2:9-12
Can we overcome others’ prejudice in trying to evangelize?
It may require time…
It will require the right amount of salt and light, Matthew 5:13-16

5. Lack of an Attentive Audience
Synagogues provided a captive audience for gospel preachers
Amongst the Jews – Acts 13:5, 14-15; 14:1; 17:1, 10
And Gentile proselytes – Acts 13:42-43; 14:1; 17:2-4, 17a
There were also the Gentiles in public places who were ready listeners
There were those in the marketplace in Athens – 17:17b
The Areopagus – 17:18-19
And then there is the example of Cornelius, Acts 10:1-6

6. A Lack of Knowledge On the part of those who hear us…
The Ethiopian needed answers -Acts 8:30, 31, 34
The disciples in Ephesus had never heard of the Holy Spirit – Acts 19:2

7. A Lack of Knowledge
There may be a lack of knowledge among those trying to teach
2Timothy 3:7 “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Paul had a genuine concern for all people
He became all things to all men – 1Cor 9:19-22
He grieved deeply over the Jews in particular – Rom 9:1-3
Paul had a deep concern for all the churches -2Cor 11:28
Some showed signs of weakness – 1Cor 3:1-3, 16-17; Gal 1:6-8

8. Rejection People are going to reject the gospel, Mt 10:13-22
Don’t take it personally – 1Sam 8:4-8
It hurts when people reject us for telling the truth
So let us seek to ease the pain by finding soft hearts just as Paul and Barnabus did Acts 13:45-48; 14:1

9. Rejection
Romans 1:8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”
1Corinthians 1:4 “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus”
Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now”

10. Conclusion
We’ve looked at the challenges we face in striving to evangelize to a world lost in sin…
Prejudicial Attitudes
Lack of an Attentive Audience
A Lack of Knowledge
Rejection
The object of this lesson is to provide thoughts on how to deal with them.
Evangelism is not be easy… So let us pray to God for guidance and skill in this work!

11. Challenges in Evangelism
Acts 13:44-51