How to Evangelize

The Motivation of Jesus

Gratitude and Relationship

Evangelism is sharing the good news about Jesus.  Fundamentally, it is helping other people have the good things that God has given you.

Open Eyes, Spiritual Perspective

Compassion

The Process of Conversion

The Methods of Jesus

Healing and Feeding, Meeting People's Felt Needs

Teaching with Authority

Reverent Obedience, Oneness with God

Confident Expectation, Always Hopeful

Finding, Planting, and Watering the Good Soil

Getting Friends to Visit Church

• Invite people
  • don't try to be cool, smooth, or perfectly timed.  prepare a line and use it when you get the opportunity.
  • expect this from yourself (God does)
  • be considerate and respectful
  • be positive and excited
  • cast the net broadly. give people the opportunity. don't be discouraged by "no".
  • mention the Atlanta Church of Christ and build it up (three more invitations and they may open up!)
  • exchange phone numbers
• Arouse an interest
  • "Are you looking for a church?"
  • "What do you look for in a good church?"
  • "Do you ever visit other churches?"
  • "What would it take for you to want to search for God?"
• Stay organized with a Harvest List
  • name, phone number
  • notes on when/where you met, details on the person
  • notes on each time you call
• Follow up with people
  • once within the next 48 hours, let them know you are thinking of them
  • persevere. stop if they tell you they really are not interested.
  • have people over for dinner on Fri/Sat before
  • do things with them to help them get to know you and trust you.
• Help them get to church the first time
  • call early in the week, call Sunday morning
  • give them a ride, caravan together
  • arrange to meet them at church, but give a cutoff time and a backup plan for them to find you if they run late
  • give them good directions and tell them where to park
• Help them have a great time at church
  • save them a seat, tell them to arrive early, alert them to the communion cutoff
  • meet them at kids' classes if necessary, help them get their kids checked in
  • help them relax and to feel at home
  • have a song book to share with them
  • share your Bible with them
  • introduce them to friends, leaders, other disciples

Setting Up Studies

• Make it simple
  • "Let's get together this week and study the Bible together."
  • Do be positive.  Don't be tentative.
• Set a solid meeting time - when and where (confirmed, not tentative).  Then you can get lots of other brothers involved.
• Never leave a study before you set up the next one.  Propose a fixed night each week that you can count on, and you'll fit other studies in as the pace heats up.
• ... with people who came with you
  • It's best to set it up before you arrive at church.  When you are confirming church, set up a study for the week.
• ... with people who are brought by people in your ministry or by people wanting to hand them off
  • Set it up.  Coupling this with a dinner at your house beforehand is a great way to get to know the person/couple.
• ... with people not in your ministry
  • "Has John talked to you about studying the Bible?  I'm sure he was going to.   Let's go talk to him and set it up.  I'd love to join you both."
  • If a visitor was brought by someone else, never set up a study independent from the person who brought him.  Always work as a team with your brothers in Christ.

Moving the Studies

• Conversion is not a matter of "covering the material" but of helping a person make changes in their life.
• A person's knowledge of the Scriptures, repentance demonstrated in actions, and growing relationships in the body must all grow together in order for a person to be "born" healthy.

Cultivating the Soil God Has Given You

Family Members

Children

Neighbors

Colleagues

Friends