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Category Archives: Personal Evangelism

Spreading Good News

25th May, 2014 · Chapman · Leave a comment

Evangelism should be an enjoyable task that all Christians participate in. It is, after all, the preaching of “the good news”. However, talking to others about our faith can be intimidating for a variety of reasons. Some of the obstacles that prevent us from sharing the gospel might include the fear of being rejected, the fear of not knowing enough, or even the fear of talking to a complete stranger concerning a topic so important. Evangelizing to a lost world that may or may not be receptive to the message can be a bit overwhelming, however let’s consider three keys that have the intention of helping us overcome these fears and some practical ways of spreading the gospel.

We evangelize because it is commanded

Perhaps the most obvious motivator we should have to preach is because as followers of Christ we have pledged to submit our will to the One who possesses all authority (Matthew 28:18). Because He holds all authority, He commands His disciples to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

In Matthew 28 we see a direct command. In 2 Corinthians 5 there is not a direct command, but the language used by the Holy Spirit certainly indicates that preaching the message of God is expected

from us. Verse 18, 19 of 2 Corinthians 5 state that the “ministry of reconciliation” and the “word of reconciliation” has been committed to those who are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). However, is any good accomplished if the message that reconciles man to God is idly laid down? Not only has the message which reconciles man to God been delivered to us, but verse 20 commissions us as ambassadors for Christ and therefore charges us with the responsibility of making it known to mankind. The privilege we have to serve as ambassadors, or representatives, of Christ should propel us to do our part in reconciling this world to God through the preaching of His word.

We evangelize because we believe

We do not only preach because we have been commanded to, but also because it is an expression of our faith in the message that God provides. Consider how this works in your own life: when you have discovered a fantastic weight loss plan, found an incredible cleaning supply for cheap, or are raising money for a fundraiser where you are particularly invested, do you not tend to be more vocal regarding these things because you believe in them and have seen their benefit firsthand? In a similar manner, having tasted that the Lord is gracious in bringing about our salvation, should we not proclaim that which we know can save us? This is the exact point Paul makes in 2 Corinthians 4:13: “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to that what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak”. Since we believe in the hope which awaits us, let us verbalize that hope that others may be partakers.

We evangelize in order to fulfill the Golden Rule

While the “Golden Rule” is not a biblical term, the principle it is commonly associated with is a golden one. “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). As Christ is concluding His sermon from the mount, He asks His followers to treat others as they would want to be treated. I cannot think of a better way to treat someone than to share the good news with them. Call to remembrance your own conversion. How thankful are you than someone took the time and effort to preach to you? Perhaps it was your parents. Thank them and do the same with others. Maybe it was a stranger that preached to your family somewhere down the line. Be grateful and do the same with others. Whatever the case, let’s proclaim the message knowing that we would want someone to do the same for us.

Practical ways of spreading the word

  • Distribute the Chapman Acres business cards. These are great to leave with someone when a long conversation may not be convenient, because of the fact that they carry so much information and have space for a personal note. Leaving one with the waiter at a restaurant works well too.
  • Use the old-fashioned method: door to door.
  • Use social media. Our website is easy to navigate which in turn makes it easy to share various links to sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. With so much of people’s lives being concentrated on technology, this may be most efficient way of reaching the largest audience.
  • Imitate Phillip’s actions in Acts 8. If you see someone already reading a bible, approach them and try to generate a spiritual conversation. Bibles are often placed in locations where long-waiting times occur (medical offices), and this could be a perfect opportunity to start a conversation.
  • There are so many other ways to evangelize, but the key is looking for and acting on those opportunities.

The words spoken in 2 Kings 7 are referencing an earthly treasure, but could the same not be said of a spiritual treasure? “….We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household” (2 Kings 7:9).

Isaac Muñoz

Posted in Bulletin Articles, Personal Evangelism |

Awkward

27th April, 2014 · Chapman · Leave a comment

Life can, at times, be awkward. Most of us have probably been in situations where we have felt uncomfortable or embarrassed by the action of another or even ourselves. Many of those times it may be over something so trivial that everyone laughs it off and someone says, “Well, that was awkward.” In this article I would like to suggest the possibility of Satan using our sense of awkwardness to further his cause. While the word “awkward” is not found in the Bible, Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 2:11 to not be ignorant of Satan’s devices, and as we will see in this article, awkwardness may just be one of Satan’s wiles (Ephesians 6:11). Take note of two examples.

Awkwardness in Relationships

Generally speaking, things are most awkward when a relationship between two parties exists as opposed to when two parties know nothing of each other. For example, would I be embarrassed if I tripped and fell on my face in front of a complete stranger? Certainly, but I would feel even more awkward if I were to trip and fall on my face in front of someone I know because a relationship is present and there is the possibility of having to interact with this person again as opposed to a stranger whom I would likely never see again. In other words, the more you are acquainted with somebody the more probable it is that anungraceful situation could unfold.

Having illustrated that awkwardness grows with a relationship, is it possible we ever shy away from a problem because of the potential for awkwardness and thus a strained relationship? For example, have you ever seen a brother or sister with sin in their life but decide to forego your Christian responsibility (Galatians 6:1) because you are certain that addressing the issue would be awkward and could cause you to lose that friendship?

The scene we read of in Galatians 2:11-14 must have been incredibly awkward for all parties involved. If we think it is awkward to talk with our brethren who are involved in sin, how do you suppose Paul was feeling as he was rebuking one of Jesus’ original and closest disciples? It could not have been easy to reveal Peter’s hypocrisy to his face and to those who were around, but the awkwardness did not prevent Paul from showing love to his erring brother. Had Paul allowed the uneasiness of the situation to stop him from speaking it is possible that Peter and Barnabas could have dragged more away with them. Let’s thank God for men such as Paul, and let’s pray for the courage to overcome awkwardness by boldly yet lovingly speaking to others. Awkwardness in talking to others concerning their sin will pass; eternal death will not.

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death a cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19, 20).

Awkwardness in Evangelism

All of us should want to teach others about the grace God has extended to all mankind. I believe the “golden rule” (Matthew 7:12) is a great principle for why we should reach out to the lost. Personal evangelism is something all of us should be involved in, and there are many different (and useful) ways to evangelize. Knocking on doors, handing out business cards, talking to neighbors and co-workers, sharing thought-provoking material on the World Wide Web, etc., are all wonderful ways to spread the good news.

However, do we every shy away from telling someone about Jesus’ life and death because of the potential for awkwardness? Anytime we reveal or share part of ourselves with someone, there is a potential for people to humiliate, mock, scoff, or ridicule us and our beliefs, and personal evangelism only maximizes those opportunities. Chatting with others regarding spiritual topics is not always easy to do especially when Satan can use our sense of awkwardness against us, but it is something we should want to do and must do.

From time to time we sing the hymn “You Never Mentioned Him To Me.” This hymn gives us an interesting perspective and leaves us with an important question: Are we telling sinners about the mercy and grace of God? It would be very awkward (and incredibly sad) to know we could have helped a sinner enter into a relationship with his Creator, but instead did not speak up because of the awkwardness it may have caused.

How do we overcome awkwardness? The answer is not to avoid relationships where we run the risk of having to confront others with their sin nor is the answer in avoiding spreading the Gospel that saves people from their sin. What is the solution then? We must first realize that it is a clever tactic Satan uses to get us not to act when we should. It can be a big temptation for some more than others but it can be overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). Secondly, a genuine love for the souls of people will aid us in overcoming the awkwardness we feel in relationships and evangelism. For if we care for the souls of those around us we will speak despite the potential of losing a friendship or being ridiculed. May God help us all overcome!

Isaac Muñoz

Posted in Bulletin Articles, Christian Living, Personal Evangelism |

Preparing for Our Meeting

20th April, 2014 · Chapman · Leave a comment

We have been announcing and anticipating our gospel meeting for some time now, with every hope and intention that this will be a successful series where God is glorified and His word is sounded forth in all truth. As we make preparations for our meeting, I want to suggest a few ideas that might help maximize the success of our meeting.

Have the Right Attitude

As with most things, having the right attitude is one of the most important things we can do to guarantee success. Meeting on consecutive nights (especially on the weekend), after working long hours, attending school, and having to rush through dinner is not easy for adults, parents, children, or anyone for that matter, but having the knowledge that we are meeting with the purpose of worshiping the One who so abundantly has provided us with life, jobs, education, food, and family should help us determine to put forth the extra effort (James 1:17).

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).

Pray For the Meeting

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:2, 3).

As the verse above says, let’s pray for open doors and open hearts that might be receptive to the word, but let’s not stop there. Let’s pray for safe travels and good health for all involved in this meeting and the courage that is necessary to boldly proclaim the power of God (Romans 1:16). Let’s also pray that we will have the willingness to listen attentively and make the proper changes that the Scriptures demand from each one of us.

Invite Others

Yet another way we can contribute to the success of this meeting before our meeting gets here is by letting others know what will be going on from the 25-27 of April. Our gospel meeting is where we are literally having a meeting of good news; why not share the good news with someone by inviting them to hear the gospel preached?

Tell your family, friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, and clients that the saving message of God is being announced and they are cordially invited! A great place to start is with the invitations that have all the information regarding our upcoming meeting. Pick some of these up and make a determined effort to pass them out to those with whom you come in contact.

The internet is another tremendous resource for getting the word out and one that is sure to reach a large audience. For example, you can send an e-mail to those you may not see on a day-to-day basis, or pass on the news through Facebook or Twitter. Whether you choose to spread the news by word of mouth or by the click of a mouse, let’s just make sure we are letting others know of the effort being put forth.

Prepare to Participate

The week of the gospel meeting is a busy time, but not just for the one with the responsibility of bringing the lessons. Of course, there will be some members who have the privilege of leading the assembly in singing or directing our minds in prayer, but these are not the only ones who will participate. There is work for everyone to do in the congregation, both in public and privately.

As with every time we assemble, let’s join in the worship of our God through song and praise Him with the fruit of our lips as we are admonished to do in Hebrews 13:15. Let’s make sure we are concentrated and that we pray with understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15). Also, we need to be sure and put to test the words that we hear (1 John 4:1). We fully expect brother Muñoz to preach the truth, but it would be wise for us all to follow the example of those noble Bereans we read of in Acts 11 and to search the Scriptures.

Consider putting into action some of these things. Arrive at the building earlier than usual and take the opportunity to greet the individuals you have invited or make other visitors from the community feel welcome. Stay a bit later than normal and thank visitors and other Christians for encouraging us with their presence. One way to help before the meeting begins is by taking a look around where you typically sit and making sure it looks presentable. There is an abundance of work to be done, let’s make sure we are willing to contribute in whatever small way we can to make this a successful meeting.

As we can see there are many factors that will contribute to the success of this meeting, and many of these factors are ones that are in our control. Our meeting begins in less than a week; what will you do to help make this a successful effort?

Isaac Muñoz

Posted in Bulletin Articles, Christian Living, Personal Evangelism |
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