Becoming Fishers of Men: Simple Steps to Evangelism
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, friends. Today, we continue our "Change Our World" series, focusing on how we can impact the world one person at a time. We began by revisiting our theme verse from Matthew 5:14, which calls us to be the light of the world. Over the past weeks, we've discussed the seven mountains of influence in society and how we can impact them for God's kingdom. We've also talked about influencing our own spheres and the importance of relationships in changing lives. Today, we delve into the concept of evangelism, which can often seem intimidating but is essential for bringing people to Christ.
Jesus called His disciples to be "fishers of men," a term that might seem daunting but essentially means using our lives to impact others. Evangelism is not about being loud or obnoxious; it's about being kind, patient, and caring. Acts 1:8 tells us that we are to be witnesses, sharing our personal stories of how God has changed our lives. This is our destiny as followers of Jesus.
We explored four keys to making evangelism simple: becoming aware, committing to prayer, showing you care, and being ready to share. Becoming aware means recognizing that evangelism is our ministry and understanding the process of coming to faith. Committing to prayer involves praying specific scriptures over people's lives. Showing you care is about building genuine relationships and adding value to people's lives. Finally, being ready to share means being prepared to tell others about the hope we have in Jesus.
We also discussed the Engel Scale, which outlines the steps people take towards faith, from being resistant to becoming a new believer. Our role is to help people take their next step, not to close the deal. We emphasized the importance of prayer, using specific scriptures to pray for those who don't yet know Christ. We also highlighted the significance of showing genuine care and love, as people are more likely to listen when they know we care.
In conclusion, we are called to be fishers of men, to share the good news, and to complete our mission. Whether you're ready to take your first step towards Christ or to share Him with others, today is a great day to commit to this calling. Let's pray for boldness and strength to be a light in the lives of those around us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Evangelism is Our Ministry: Recognize that evangelism is not just for pastors or missionaries; it is the calling of every believer. We are Christ's ambassadors, and there is no Plan B. Our role is to help people take their next step towards Jesus, understanding that everyone is on a spiritual journey. [12:21]
2. Commit to Prayer: Prayer is the foundation of effective evangelism. Use specific scriptures to pray for those who don't know Christ, asking God to break through their resistance and reveal Himself to them. Prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere and prepares hearts to receive the gospel. [22:50]
3. Show Genuine Care: People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Build genuine relationships and add value to people's lives. Show the love of Christ through your actions, just as Jesus did with Zacchaeus. [27:53]
4. Be Ready to Share: Always be prepared to share the reason for the hope you have in Jesus. You don't need a seminary degree; just share your personal story of how God has changed your life. Your testimony is powerful and can lead others to Christ. [29:47]
5. Understand the Process of Faith: Evangelism is a process, not a one-time event. Use the Engel Scale to understand where people are in their spiritual journey and help them take their next step. This takes the pressure off, knowing that it's not all up to us; we are just part of the process. [16:08]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:28] - Seven Mountains of Influence
[04:22] - Fishers of Men
[06:12] - Evangelism: Not Just for the Disciples
[07:53] - Misconceptions About Evangelism
[10:28] - The Role of a Witness
[12:21] - Four Keys to Evangelism
[14:19] - Becoming Aware
[16:08] - The Engel Scale
[19:53] - New Life in Christ
[22:50] - Committing to Prayer
[24:22] - Spiritual Warfare and Prayer
[26:06] - Positive Relationships
[27:53] - Showing You Care
[29:47] - Being Ready to Share
[31:33] - Inviting Others to Church
[33:44] - Call to Commitment
[35:49] - Prayer for Boldness
[37:44] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 5:14 - "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."
2. Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
3. 2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 5:14, what are we called to be in the world? How does this relate to the sermon’s theme of being a light? [02:28]
2. In Acts 1:8, what does Jesus promise His followers will receive, and what are they to do with it? [07:53]
3. What does 2 Timothy 4:2 instruct believers to do, and how does this align with the concept of evangelism discussed in the sermon? [10:28]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that we are the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) change the way we approach our daily interactions and relationships? [02:28]
2. What does it mean to be a witness for Christ as described in Acts 1:8? How can sharing personal stories of faith impact others? [07:53]
3. How can the instruction in 2 Timothy 4:2 to "preach the word" and "be prepared" be applied in practical ways in our lives? What does it mean to be prepared "in season and out of season"? [10:28]
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Matthew 5:14, how can you be a light in your specific sphere of influence this week? Identify one practical action you can take. [02:28]
2. Acts 1:8 emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit in witnessing. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit when sharing your faith? Can you recall a time when you felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak about Jesus? [07:53]
3. 2 Timothy 4:2 talks about being prepared to share the gospel. What steps can you take to be more prepared to share your faith, even when it’s inconvenient? [10:28]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of showing genuine care. Think of someone in your life who doesn’t know Christ. What is one way you can show them genuine care this week? [27:53]
5. The Engel Scale was discussed as a way to understand where people are in their spiritual journey. Identify someone you know who might be at a different stage on this scale. How can you help them take their next step towards faith? [16:08]
6. Prayer is a key component of evangelism. Commit to praying for one person in your life who doesn’t know Christ. What specific scripture will you pray over their life? [22:50]
7. Sharing your personal story of faith can be powerful. Think about your own testimony. How can you share it in a way that is natural and relatable to someone who might be seeking? [29:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Evangelism is Our Ministry
Evangelism is not just the responsibility of pastors or missionaries; it is the calling of every believer. As followers of Christ, we are called to be His ambassadors, sharing the good news and helping others take their next step towards Jesus. This means recognizing that everyone is on a spiritual journey and that our role is to guide them along the way. Understanding that evangelism is our ministry helps us see the importance of our daily interactions and the impact we can have on those around us. [12:21]
2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
Reflection: Who in your life is on a spiritual journey that you can help guide towards Jesus? How can you be an ambassador for Christ in your daily interactions with them?
Day 2: Commit to Prayer
Prayer is the foundation of effective evangelism. It is through prayer that we invite God to work in the hearts of those who do not yet know Him. By praying specific scriptures over people's lives, we ask God to break through their resistance and reveal Himself to them. Prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere and prepares hearts to receive the gospel. Committing to prayer means making it a priority to intercede for others and trust that God will move in their lives. [22:50]
Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak."
Reflection: Who is one person you can commit to praying for daily? What specific scriptures can you pray over their life to ask God to reveal Himself to them?
Day 3: Show Genuine Care
People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Building genuine relationships and adding value to people's lives is essential in evangelism. When we show the love of Christ through our actions, we reflect His character and open the door for meaningful conversations about faith. Just as Jesus showed care and compassion to those He encountered, we are called to do the same. Genuine care creates a foundation of trust and respect, making others more receptive to the message of the gospel. [27:53]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV): "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
Reflection: How can you show genuine care and add value to someone's life today? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate the love of Christ to them?
Day 4: Be Ready to Share
Always be prepared to share the reason for the hope you have in Jesus. You don't need a seminary degree to share your faith; your personal story of how God has changed your life is powerful and can lead others to Christ. Being ready to share means being attentive to opportunities to talk about your faith and having the courage to speak up when the moment arises. Your testimony is a unique and compelling witness to the transformative power of the gospel. [29:47]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: What is your personal story of how God has changed your life? How can you be more attentive to opportunities to share this story with others?
Day 5: Understand the Process of Faith
Evangelism is a process, not a one-time event. The Engel Scale helps us understand where people are in their spiritual journey and how we can help them take their next step towards faith. This perspective takes the pressure off, knowing that it's not all up to us; we are just part of the process. By recognizing the different stages of faith, we can tailor our approach to meet people where they are and guide them forward. [16:08]
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV): "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
Reflection: Where do you think someone in your life is on their spiritual journey? How can you help them take their next step towards faith in Jesus?
Quotes
1. "So, when Jesus invited the disciples to follow him, he said he was going to change them to make them into something. And you might think that we're supposed to follow Jesus so that he'll make us better, or he'll make us smarter, or he'll make us more spiritual, or he'll maybe make us richer, or maybe he'll make us kinder. Maybe we'll be a better husband or a better wife. Maybe we'll be more religious. But that's not what he says to them. He says he's going to turn them into something that's much different than that." [04:22] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God is in the business of bringing people to himself, and he does it through us. And Mark not only begins his gospel with this, but he also ends it with a similar idea. This is what Jesus says to his followers, right before he goes to heaven. Now that I'm going to be gone, he says, go do what I've been training you to do. And we see this in Mark 16, verse 15. Jesus said to his followers, go everywhere in the world and tell the good news to everyone." [06:12] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Your role isn't to fight them or to judge them. It's not your role to have answers for every question that you have. They could ask, just go be a witness. And what a witness does is they simply share their side of the story. This is the difference God made in my life. You're a witness. People need your story. God is already at work in their lives. We just need to cooperate with them. This is your destiny. This... if you're a follower of Jesus, followers fish." [09:53] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Do you ever wonder what God wants you to do with your life? Like, God, what's your plan for my life? There it is. Boom. Tell people about him. God has given, has gone out of his way to put certain people around you. And he wants you to share your life. And he wouldn't ask you to do something that he's not going to empower you to do. His Holy Spirit will come on you and give you power to share the good news." [10:28] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I tell you what, you have not lived until you are sitting next to your friend that you have loved on and cared for for years. And they finally agreed to come to church with you. And then at the end of the service, we say, everyone close your eyes and bow your head. But you don't. You're peeking. You're like, are they doing over there? Because you, when that person raises their hand and gives their life, they're not going to come to church. They're not going to come to church. That is the best service you've ever been in, in your entire life." [14:19] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "People don't care what you know until they know that you care. Right? It's about relationship. It's about adding value to people. And when we love, let's love them into the kingdom. Right? People aren't projects. They are beautiful creations, immeasurably precious, that bear the image of God. And one of the best examples of Jesus showing how much he cared is in the story of Zacchaeus. Remember Zacchaeus? He was this this short little guy that wanted to see Jesus when he was passing through a town, so he climbed up a tree. But he was not a nice man. He stole. He embezzled. He was not the best. But Jesus didn't say, Zacchaeus, you've got problems, and I'm going to fix you. He didn't say that. Jesus took him to lunch, and his life was changed." [27:53] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You don't need all the theological answers. You just tell them what Jesus did for you. A seminary degree is great. I got one of those. And I want us all to keep, constantly keep learning and deepening our understanding of God and the Bible. Like, God wants that for us. But we don't have to have it all figured out before we share Jesus with somebody. First Peter 3.15, always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." [29:47] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Why do you share the reason for the hope that you have with someone who doesn't know Jesus? Because it's available to them too. God did this for me, and he loves you just as much. It worked for me. You should know that. And I was like, I should try it. It's that easy. If you don't know how to share Jesus, share your church. Have them sit next to you. And let's change the world one person at a time. Just come to church. You can experience God there with me." [31:33] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The most important thing is that I complete my mission. The work that the Lord Jesus gave me to tell people the good news about God's grace. There it is again. Be fishers of men. Go everywhere and tell the good news. Complete your mission. Tell people about God's grace." [32:50] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Giving your life to Christ is simple. It's not easy, but it's simple. He gave. God gave his son for you. Not just as a good teacher. Not just as an example of a good human. God provided a way that through Jesus' death, we would have forgiveness from our sin. And through his resurrection, we would be restored to perfect relationship with our heavenly father in Christ." [33:44] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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