Dear Brethren,
“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” John 1:41
The most effective method of evangelism is Personal Evangelism. In John 1:41, when Andrew was saved, the first thing he did was to look for his own brother Simon Peter to share to him his salvation and invite him to know the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a divine purpose why we are born into our family, the classmates we have in school, the colleagues in our workplace and friends in our neighbourhood. The purpose is that we can shine for Jesus and share to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can also invite them to our Church especially this coming Gospel worship service on 24 March. Fulfill God’s purpose in our lives to witness for Jesus to our loved ones and friends!
While personal evangelism is most important, we will still continue to reach out to the public in door to door evangelism and also to do tracting in open spaces to strangers as salvation is of the Lord. He can save through a tract, a word spoken for Him, or even through our example in tracting and evangelism work. The exhortation from God’s Word is “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b).
Prerequisites in Personal Evangelism
1. He ought to be a Saved Man
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
2. He ought to be a Scriptural Man
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
3. He ought to be a Sanctified Man
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21
4. He ought to be a Subservient Man
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
5. He ought to be a Spirit-filled Man
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31
6. He ought to be a Surrendered Man
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
7. He ought to be a Single-minded Man
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20: 24
Propriety in Personal Evangelism
- Don’t be guilty of inappropriate dressing or having body odour.
- Don’t be self-righteous by talking down to the sinner.
- Don’t get side-tracked.
- Don’t put him on the defensive by condemning his religion or opinion.
- Don’t argue. You can disagree without being disagreeable.
- Don’t wear out your welcome by staying too long.
Elder John Leong