Personal Evangelism

TERM PAPER

PERSONAL EVANGELISM

DEAN SHINAVER

THIS IS A REQUIREMENT OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM, PS6310A OF DR. LEON ESTEP TO COMPLETE A MASTER DEGREE IN DIVINITY, SUMMER 2010, AMRIDGE UNIVERSITY, JULY 15, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction3

My plan of Personal Evangelism4

My purpose of the personal evangelism4

My experience personal evangelism with 3 people 5

INTRODUCTION

This term paper is about personal evangelism. I have conducted three personal evangelism classes for three people in the different time but at the same location. I have use the same lesson for all three of them about the Greatest Need of personal evangelism. We have use a lot of Scripture, books, role-play and we also go out to the community after the class. The students have learned a lot in class and they enjoyed it. I believe that this term paper will help a lot of readers to have more understanding on personal evangelism. I have discussed a lot on the Greatest Need because it’s very important to understand the need of personal evangelism. Every believer should take personal evangelism seriously. It’s a commandment for all of us to reach out to the world and to the lost souls.

1. My plan of Personal Evangelism

This is a practical “how to” approach to evangelism. It is designed to deal with “what to say and how to say it.” I believe that this personal evangelism needs to be offered regularly to the church members, all new convert and new members can receive this training as they come into the congregation. To work, it must become a part of the on-going training program of the congregation. Class discussion is encouraged and desired. Most classes deal with what the truth is; this class deals with how to share the truth the class members probably already know. However, even though this is so, the class is not designed for non-Christians or to be taught in a class with first time visitors. They will most likely find talking about them and how we are going to reach them, with them in the audience as embarrassing and offensive. It is in short, designed to be a series of "fencing lessons" to help Christians wield the "Sword of the Spirit" more effectively.

Format - Most sessions will be lecture-discussion; however, occasional role-playing will be utilized. I will also use the Socratic method of teaching with the students in class.

2. My purpose of the personal evangelism.

1. To help each individual to be more effective in setting up and teaching Bible studies.

2. To equip the student with some methods of teaching the Bible that has proven effective as well as with tools to make finding and using key scriptures easier.

3. To explain the congregation's Personal Evangelism Program so each member of the congregation will be more understanding and supportive of its aims and goals.

4. To give the student confidence in teaching so they personally can become a more effective soul winner.

3. My experience personal evangelism with 3 people (3 different classes).

I have taught my 3 students about the personal evangelism. These are 3 different classes, different time, but the same location at the church. I started with my first student by explaining the Greatest Need of personal evangelism. My student is a good listener. I have started my first class with my first student.

My personal experience with Malissa Mckarney. We have started the class on July 01-05, 2010 from 9:00-12:00. My lesson is about the Greatest Need. I started to explain the Greatest Need to her and so on. She listened very well. She has some question about the class. We spent a lot of time discussing on all the topics. I have used a lot of Scriptures to support my points. She is a very open minded lady. She said she has learned a lot from this class. After the class we both went out around the community and handed out the brochures. We invited people to come to our church.
My second personal evangelist experience with Robert Bryer went very well. We have started the class on July 11-15, 2009 from 9:00-12:00. I used the same lesson to teach him. He discussed a lot on the important and the need of personal evangelist. It’s very challenging for him because he is a very quite kind of person. He said that for him to go out, and talk to people about Jesus is not easy. I encouraged him that when he tells people about Jesus, he should prepare the Scriptures and also prepare what is he going to say to them. We practiced this role-play acting that I am a non-believer and he is a believer. He did not really know what to say. But after the class he practiced again. He did a great job on asking the question to non-believer and answers the question as well. We did the same thing after class we went around the community, handing out brochures, talking to people, and inviting them to our church. He said he has learned a lot. This personal evangelism class gives him more confident.
My last personal evangelism class was with Debbie Lawrence. We had started the class on July 20-25, 2010 from 9:00-12:00. I used the same lesson with her as well. She is very open-minded. She enjoyed the class. We have talked and discussed a lot of the greatest need of personal evangelism. She never really thinks about personal evangelism, because most of people just come to church if they want to come. I told her that people do not come to church. We have to go out and reach out to them first. We talked and discussed more on how to win the lost souls in the right way. She loves the lesson a lot. In the same way we both do a role-play pretending that I am a non-believer and she is a believer. She has done a great job on the role-play. After class we went out and handed out brochures to people. She really enjoyed it.

Here is what I have taught in my personal evangelism class to all my three students. They have learned a lot from this class. I believe that this class gave them more understanding about how important it is for personal evangelism. They have more confident to go out to the world and tell the world about Jesus. It made me happy to be able to help them to have more understanding about personal evangelism.

1. The Greatest Need.

The greatest need today is for the church to get back to its mission and "seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10)
God could have done anything he wanted with His Son but He made Him a soul-winner.
The first twelve men Christ chose were soul winners except Judas -- and he was a traitor to the cause.
The church has many capable workers in the huddle but is in desperate need of personal workers out in the field (Luke 10:1-2).
Christ needs you. He is the head but you are His hands and feet (Ephesians1)
He can't get His work done unless you do.
Let's not betray that coveted trust He gives us to teach the lost (Hebrews 5:12).
We are to be the light and salt of the world (Matthew 5:13-14)
Salt both seasons and preserves.
We need personal contact. How can we preserve anything sitting on a shelf?
What we all need is more genuine concern for the lost.
Paul's heart had "great grief and unceasing sorrow" over those lost (Romans 9:1-3).
Illustration -- If everyone had a terminal illness and you found the cure, would you share it or keep it to yourself?
Walk down the street in your neighborhood and look at the houses. How many are lost (Jude 22; Matthew 7:12)?

The Need is Fulfilled through the Lord's Plan of Evangelism.
The early church carried out the great commission in 29 years.
Jesus spoke Mark 16:16 in A.D. 33
Paul wrote Colossians 1:23 in A.D. 62
The Lord's plan is most effective.
Obviously, the Lord adds people to His church as they are saved (Acts 2:41;47), but in regards to church growth (as those who are converted teach others, who teach others, who teach others, etc.) the Lord's plan is multiplicative.
If just one individual converted five per year, and after a year each of his converts did the same, at the end of the second year there would be 25, the third 125, the fourth 625, the fifth 3,125, the sixth 15,625, and so on until the fourteenth year when six billion people would be reached. Since the whole world has less than 5 Billion people, in just 14 years the whole world would be Christian.
If every member of the church converted just one a year, and he or she in turn converted just one, in just 18 years the whole world could be converted.
Teaching is the second half of Christianity
Evangelism is not complete until the evangelized become the evangelist (II Timothy 2:2)
This is only a theoretical example, (Matthew 5:13-14) shows that since not all have honest hearts, in actuality many will reject the gospel message. However, if more had an opportunity to hear, no doubt countless more would respond.
The Scope of the Need the Field is the World (Matthew 13:38).
Red and yellow black and white, they are all precious in His sight.
We are to teach every creature (Matthew 13:38).
Opportunities are unlimited (John 4:35-38).
The Great Commission did not limit who we were to teach.
When Jesus said "the fields are white unto the harvest," he was not referring to white and middle class.
Eight Reasons Why "I"-You- Need to be a Personal Worker.
It is a direct command (Matthew 28:18-20).
We'd never dream of forsaking the Lord's supper or lying or stealing, yet we think very little of disregarding our Savior's last words to go teach. It is not an optional thing (See Hebrews 5:12).
The Great Commission stipulates all who hear and believe are to be baptized and then tell others.(Though originally given the twelve this is certainly implied.)
Let's not make the great commission, the great omission (Acts 4:19-20)
"Go ye" means "go me".
Christ said "go" not "invite".
Remember, all of us, male and female, are priests. We are part of a "royal priesthood." (I Peter 2:8). What did the priest do? They studied the law and taught (blessed) the people. If we are to be more than priests in name only, we must study God's word, and bless people with the gospel so they can receive the forgiveness of their sins.
The very reason why the Lord does not take us right away once we come to Him is so that once we have been called out, we can go back into the world and call others out as well.
It is necessary for self-preservation (John 15:16).
Like the barren fig tree we must produce or be cut down (Luke 13:6-9)
Ex. Employer-Employee. If employee was not doing his job right "but they're not causing any trouble” how long would you keep him?
Personal evangelism is one of the best means of personal growth.
If we don't teach their blood is on our heads (Acts 18:6, Ezekiel 3:18)
People won't listen? Maybe so, but at least you are no longer responsible.
We are called to faithfulness -- not results (Romans 5:1, ICorinthians3:6)
It should be a natural result of our Love for others.
What greater gift could you give to someone you love than to help him save his soul?
If we really loved our fellow man we wouldn't keep the gospel to ourselves.
We love to share our favorite health remedy with all who have the ailment.
Yet, we too often rarely share the greatest remedy on earth the gospel (James 5:20, Romans 1:16)!
Because of the value of a soul.
We will never really consider the lost until we stop and count the cost.
In this day and age man knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Our soul is our most valuable possession (Matthew 16:26, I Peter 1:18-20).
Because we need to be like the early church.
The church is said to have a two-fold purpose - gather the saved and scatter the seed.
The early church went everywhere preaching (Acts 8:4, 26:20)!
Because of the terror of the Lord (II Corinthians 5:11).
Do we really believe in Hell and that our friends are going there (Mark 16:16)?
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
Because we are a Debtor.
Paul was a debtor to teach (Romans 1:14-17).
With all Christ has done for us, this is the least we can do for Him share the gospel with others (II Corinthians 5:14-15).
Because of the Joy of Being a Personal Worker.
First, there is the joy you give your heavenly Father.
You can cause the angels to rejoice (Luke 15:7).
You can make God smile and have a joyous effect on Deity
Second, there is the personal joy you experience.
Paul referred to his "joy and crown" (Philippians 4:1)
John states he had "no greater joy than to hear of my children walking in the truth" (III John 4).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Beverly Burgess. Personal Evangelism Training.Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City (October 23, 1991)

Jean Krisle Blasi. Prophetic Fishing: Evangelism in the Power of the Spirit. Jean Krisle Blasi (Author)

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Chosen (March 1, 2008)

Jim Henderson. Evangelism Without Additives: What if sharing your faith meant just being yourself?Jim Henderson (Author)

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WaterBrook Press (April 17, 2007)

Larry R. Moyer. Larry Moyer's How-To Book on Personal Evangelism. Kregel Publications (April 20,1998)

Louie Bustel. Stan Toler. Each One Win One: A Complete Strategy for Effective Personal Evangelism.Stan Toler (Author)

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Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City; (June 1, 2006)

Norman Geisler, David Geisler. Conversational Evangelism: How to Listen and Speak So You Can Be Heard. Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2009)

Mark Dever, C.J. Mahaney. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism.Mark Dever (Author)

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Crossway Books (September 7, 2007)

Ray A. Stanford. Handbook of personal evangelism.Wally Morillo; Current ed edition (1991)

Scott Dawson. Complete Evangelism Guidebook, The: Expert Advice on Reaching Others for Christ. Baker Books; 2nd edition (June 1, 2008)

Will McRaney. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture. B&H Academic (May 1, 2003)

R. Larry Moyer (Author)

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