By Aleena Denison
What do you think of when you hear the word "evangelism?" Do you think of evangelists who travel around the country, or other countries, holding meetings and seeing large numbers of people getting saved? Do you think of missionaries who give their lives to go to a foreign country and share Jesus with the lost? By dictionary definition, evangelism is "the winning of commitments to Christ", so thinking of the great work of missionaries and evangelists isn't off the mark. However, what comes to your mind when you hear the phrase "personal evangelism?" Doesn't that put evangelism in a whole different category?
• What is personal evangelism?
Have you ever spent time chatting with neighbors, co-workers, relatives or friends? This is considered your personal life, and includes everyone that you come into contact with in a day, and when you take those relationships and turn conversation to talk about God, that is evangelism. Looking at it from this perspective doesn't make it sound quite so intimidating, does it? In fact, you may be involved in personal evangelism every day without realizing! But remember, it's not just building relationships with others that makes it personal evangelism, its building relationships for the express purpose of winning souls to Christ.
• How important is personal evangelism?
In Jesus' great commission to the disciples, He tells them that they are to "Go, and make disciples." What is a disciple? A disciple is one who is a follower. How do you make someone a follower? By "teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19,20 In other words, teach them what the Bible says about God, man, sin, eternity, and salvation. If Jesus' came to "seek and save the lost," (Luke 19:10), and then commanded His disciples to evangelize, wouldn't you agree that personal evangelism is one of the most important responsibilities in the world?
• Why should you be involved in personal evangelism?
The heart-- Galatians 2:20 says that I am no longer living, but Christ is living in me. That means our sinful, selfish hearts are being conformed to be like His heart. What is the heart of God? As we saw earlier in Luke 19:10, Jesus' heart was to seek and save the lost, and if we claim to be His followers, we'll have the same desire. Other places in the Bible show us just how much Jesus loved people, and how much He wanted to see them come to know Him, "When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36 "As He approached the city, He wept over it." Luke 19:41
The joy-- The Bible says that joy is proclaimed in heaven over one sinner who comes to repentance (Luke 15:7,10), and that God rejoices and has joy over those who are His (Zephaniah 3:17). We cannot help but experience joy when we see someone understand the Gospel; "delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son" Colossians 1:13
Aleena Denison has a heart for seeing the message of the Bible presented in a clear way,and is dedicated to sharing Jesus with the lost and helping believers see their responsibilities in evangelism, discipleship, and Bible study. For more information and free downloads, see http://www.goodseed.com
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