PERSONAL
EVANGELISM (Part 1)
Memory Verse: “The
fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he that winneth soul is wise”. Prov 11:30.
LESSON OBJECTIVES AND FOCUS
We are commencing a series of studies
on Personal Evangelism. Today we shall be focusing on defining what it is, and
highlighting its importance so we can better appreciate what the Lord expects
of us in this matter.
LESSON
INTRODUCTION
If you have experienced the Lord’s
salvation over your life, you ought to desire that others also come to know
Him. That is where Personal Evangelism comes in.
WE
NEED TO NOTE THAT
i.
The Samaritans were not pure Jews –
they were the product of inter-marriages between Jews and the Canaanites. So to
the Jews, the Samaritans were “unclean”, and it was normal for a pure Jew to
avoid them. Though their “country” lay between Judah (where Jerusalem,
Bethlehem, etc were) and Galilee (where Cana-in-Galilee, Nazareth, etc were),
many devout Jews in the days of our Lord actually preferred to cross the River
Jordan when making the trip between Judah and Galilee, in order to avoid
getting into contact with the Samaritans.
ii.
The woman the Lord talked with was not
exactly a model of godliness. Her sex life must have been very well known in
the city. John 4: 16-18.
iii.
The fact that her encounter with the
Lord, Who offered her the water of life, turned her into an instant witness for
Him, is a proof that our Lord can save the worst person we can think of and
make such a person an instrument to win others to Him. John 4:39; I Cor. 6: 9-11. No one is too bad to be saved.
iv.
Salvation is for all kinds and
conditions of people – the Jews & the Gentiles, the kings & the masses,
the well off & the down and out, etc. Rom
1:16; I Tim.2:1-6.
LESSON
OUTLINE 1: DEFINITION OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM
i.
The Meaning: Personal Evangelism (which is
sometimes called the Sychar Ministry, based on John 4:5) is the divine burden on an individual whose heart has
been touched by God to win souls unto Christ on one-to-one basis.
ii.
Essential elements of personal
Evangelism
a. Show
the person he/she is a sinner in need of a Saviour. Rom 3:23.
b. Let
him/her know that Jesus is the Saviour which sinners need. Acts 4:12.
c. The
person needs to acknowledge and confess his/her sins and receive the Lord Jesus
as his/her own personal
Saviour. Prov. 28:13; Acts 16:30-31.
d. Thereafter
the person needs to confess and acknowledge Christ as his/her Lord and Saviour
in every area of their life & before others. II Cor. 5: 17.
e. The
person will need to begin feeding on the word of God – it will meet his/her
needs and help them to grow. I Pet.
2:1-3; II Tim. 3:16.
LESSON
OUTLINE 2: THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM
Personal Evangelism is important for
the following reasons:
i.
God wants the world to know why He sent
His Son. Rom. 1:16; Gal. 4:4-5.
ii.
The Lord practised it (as in John 4), and He plans we do the same. Mark 3:14.
iii.
The Scriptures see it as our
responsibility to warn the unbeliever of impending judgment, Ezek. 33:1-6; Matth. 13:41-43.
iv.
It is the basis/foundation of Church
growth. Mark 16:20.
v.
God places value on souls and soul
winners. John 1:40-51; Prov. 11:30.
SUMMARY
i.
Personal Evangelism is sweet and full
of rewards, but requires endurance and bravery as a soldier.
ii.
Remember God desires all souls to be
saved, and He wants to use us through Personal Evangelism to accomplish that.