Teaching Evangelism

I have always heard that 'soul-winning is more caught than taught'. My experiences in the USA and on the mission field have proven this to be true.

Would it be possible for you to take a man and your wife another lady with you on visits? That might be a good way to introduce them to the joy of winning someone to Christ. That also might break down some of the resistance you are facing.

I am not a big fan of programs of any kind. They usually bring a brief spark of energy and then die out quickly. Faithful, consistent living by example is the best 'program' of church motivation there is.

 

The Sword of the Lord has many very cheap pamphlets and books on soul winning, anywhere from 60 cents to $9.56. Some of them teach methods of witnessing and others just try to get you fired up. You could order some pamphlets or a book or two and go through them with your folk.

Check it out at: www.swordofthelord.com

God bless!

John

P. S. Yes, I think Sunday evenings would be a great time. Do you have a "training union" time before the evening service?

 

Well said, Mexdeaf! :thumbs:

 

I was once temporarily part of a church where I visited an ex-member who said the same thing. This couple had been through great trials and really needed ministering to, but she would not come back to this church because "those people just cannot get along with each other". After I had been at the church for just a little while I came to agree with her, and I could not blame her for not attending.

I do not know whether the case at your church is similar, but it could be that you need to do some evangelism within the church before you can stir up your church to do evangelism on the outside. I pray that God would grant you wisdom to meet the needs of your people and that they would follow your leadership in accordance with Hebrews 13:17.

 

I love www.wayofthemaster.com

 

One large church I was at had a very effective way of teaching us how to witness. They had a brief teaching time every Saturday morning before we went out visiting/door knocking/tract handing. There were simple lessons on how to approach people - politely, etc. - and specific verses given out which would effectively answer common questions we see on the street. This was not a program that taught a script, but it did give us tools to use so that we could find the answers we needed to give to people. This was also the time when questions we might have would be answered by teachers who were experienced soul-winners.

Since it was done directly before going out, it was fresh on our minds. This also gave us the excitement we needed to get out there immediately before we actually went out there. There's no lag time, like there would be if the lesson is done in Sunday School or a Wednesday evening.

 

That would be my suggestion too.

The basic training evangalism course is $100 and is suitable for group study.
http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=700

 

It's only $74.99 at http://www.justwitness.com You can also get a free copy of The Way of the Master book just for asking for it.

When people are critical of your methods of evangelism, just tell 'em "Well, I like the way I do it better than the way you don't."

 

Right on. This is a great tool.

 

That doesn't seem like bad prices. But you could do it like they do at wayofthemaster, when they go fishing, and it wouldn't cost anything. Law to the proud, grace to the humble.
It's wild isn't it how most people think they are "good". Man. I used to think that way too.

 

Learning to evangelize

About this time last year a man after watching me witness and pray with a person asked me how can I become a soulwinner? I told him to go home get in his prayer closet and ask the Lord for a burden for loss souls. Later I understood that he was winning many people to the Lord when finally I got to meet him again he said to me, I did what you suggested I do and the Lord did exactly the same thing for me that he did for you years ago. The Lord has made me a soulwinner, I have stumbled, mumbled, made outrageous statements, misstated the facts, had to stop witnessing and look at my outline that I had to take out of my pocket and still the Lord blessed me with the thrill of leading others to his kingdom. Words cannot express what the Lord has done for me. I'm not smart, I'm not rich, I'm not young, yet the Lord has used me.
Today I work right beside this man sometimes and the blessings continued unabated. All I can say is if the Lord makes you a soulwinner you will indeed be as soulwinner.

 

Brother,

Anything will cost you time. Any method of evangelism will take time away from your family - you will have to spend time on the study yourself.

First, can you encourage one (or two) of the men of the church to take over responsibility for one or two of the sermons that you are preparing weekly? I must admit that 4 times a week is admirable - but, time consuming.

Can you then enlist the men to partner together with you in fellowship once a week for 3 months . . . saturday morning breakfasts at the church might be a good method of enlisting their participation.

Invite them over for the supper bowl (miss sunday night service if possible) march madness . . . enlist them in 'manly' activities and encourage them to invite their friends -ESPECIALLY the lost and unchurched. This is not to grow the church by proselytizing.

As you prepare for the men's get togethers (team meetings), I suggest you read some stuff by that Rice Character. Forgive me John.

http://www.swordofthelord.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/442

http://www.swordofthelord.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/521

http://www.swordofthelord.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/471

The Evangelist

http://www.swordofthelord.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm/ID/4198

PM me your address and I will send you a copy of The Evangelist - it is the best available book that I have found on the work of the Evangelist.

With Christ after the Lost - Scarborough This is OP (out of print) but get it if you can - sorry John, I think this is a little better than The Evangelist. Personally, I think it is one of the three best books written in the last century. The third book in the Pastor's Library should be Southern Baptist program of evangelism by C. E. Matthews - also OP.

mmm ... gotta wonder if this has been addressed by anyone on the board . . .

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=34471

:saint:

I'll post more later if you want . . . not that evangelism and church growth are things that I consider important . . . (not to be confused with proselytizing).

 

"I offered God every excuse I could. He would take none of them. 'Preach, preach!' he seemed to cry in my heart. I read several Scriptures, but came finally to the sixteenth chapter of Luke, the story of the rich man and Lazarus. I read on to the place where the rich man saw there was no escape from hell for him . . .
I heard that pitiful call of that Christless soul in hell, appealing for someone to go to his five brothers and preach to them the gospel of repentance. The load was too heavy. I cried, ‘I surrender: take me, Lord Jesus . . . Ever since that hour I have been looking for the brothers of that Christless soul in hell [emphasis added]."

Can we do as R. L. Scarborough did?

 

Whenever I get tired, I look up ole Mordecai:

http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=128

 

And remember that you must believe. With all of your heart, you must know that you stand between them and eternity in Hell. For some reason, that little difference allows the Holy Spirit to work through you mightily.

I will be praying for you.

Wayne
PS - If you need a faith booster - pm me.

 

Good post, mima! :thumbs:

 

Rice character indeed! I'm more of a character than Grandpa was!

 

m m m m

I am not so sure about that . . . He put up with J. Frank . . .

Unless you might be saying that you're havin' to put up with me?

:saint:

Wayne