Evangelism means to herald the good news or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The one who says it is called an evangelist or the messenger.
Evangelizing means proclaiming that Jesus has given His life, died for our sins, rose from the dead, overcome all sin and brokenness, and then brought new life to those people who put their trust in Him. This is the “good news” that makes us Christians. This good news should be preached to us every day. It is important that we always remind ourselves of what Jesus did for us, because the Gospel of Christ is central to our Christian life. Also, evangelism involves affection. Sharing the good news with other people can be more effective and more impressive if we are overcome by joy or captivated by the glory of God.
The Joy in Evangelism
Evangelism is our view and love for Jesus and His works. Always remember that evangelism, which is our mission, is an extension of our joy in Almighty God. When doing evangelism, it is critical to have an explosion of joy inside us. Our joy in the knowledge of Christ should be palpable. Our joy should be electrifying for unbelievers, so that they may glimpse what it is to be part of the Christian family. Apart from being joyful, we also need to be courageous when it comes to proclaiming the gospel. This is because we are sharing Jesus with people who do not know God and remain in bondage to sin. Their sinful nature is always hostile to God, but don’t be scared when people persecute or doubt you. Be valiant in proclaiming the Gospel and remember that when the world hates you for evangelizing, remember that it hated Jesus first (John 15:18). God chose us before the foundation of the world to be the bearers of His good news.
It is when we proclaim the message of Jesus Christ that we are doing evangelism. However, in order for us to accurately deliver the message to other people, we need to continuously read the Bible. Don’t forget what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” We need to meditate on it day and night so that we can carefully do everything written in it, including evangelism (Joshua 1:8). Praying and reading the Bible not only makes us prosperous, but also successful in whatever we are doing for the kingdom of God.
Words are Necessary
Faith comes through hearing, specifically hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). When evangelizing, words are necessary. In my experience, many people and pastors say, “Proclaim the gospel wherever you go and make sure that you use words.” Of course, we need words in order to proclaim something. There are also churches that say that, when it comes to evangelizing, “actions speak louder than a voice.” While I understand the meaning of such a statement, it leans toward “salvation through works”.
Many strategies and tactics are employed by churches to attract more unbelievers. However, it is not about how many people we convert; it is simply about sharing Christ! There is no need for you to worry about compelling preaching, grand concerts, or fun church activities. All you need is to put the gospel in your heart and be able to tell anyone who asks why you have such hope (1 Peter 3:15). And what hope do we possess? The Gospel of Christ!
Key to Transformation
You can find countless approaches to evangelism today, but it is important that we stay true to the Bible and do what it requires. There is no need for us to add special strategies or relatable activities when evangelizing. Remind yourself that it is not you who will save people, but the Holy Spirit. Be confident in the word of God. Have confidence in evangelizing, but make sure that your confidence is entrenched in the Word of God. Evangelism transforms people, and is the key for people to be born again. Let us not follow our own personal style and let us stop trying to please everyone when evangelizing. The aim of evangelism is simple—to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. The ultimate goal is to glorify the one who has sent Jesus.
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