Faith Evangelism

 

    If you are a Christians, then you have been commanded by God to go out and make disciples.  That means that evangelism is to be a part of your life.  That does not mean you have to be a minister, pastor, or anyone like that.  This evangelism is the fact that you love God so much that you are compelled to live your life with Him in it and to tell people about Him.  If you lead someone to Jesus, then you stay with them to make sure they are trained Biblically and not worldly in what the Bible says.

    You need strong faith to deal with opposition.  The more you stand in your faith the more opposition you will face from the world.  Do not let it stop you from teaching the people who want to know about Jesus who He is.  Disciple them so well that you know when they go out into the world that they are prepared.

    Church is where believers come together for this purpose.  That way no one is working alone.  Iron sharpens iron.  Make sure you are a member of a church that focuses on Jesus and the command to make disciples.  The goal should to reach spiritually lost people in your community.  

    Be open to look at things differently and develop a new perspective.  When you read the Great Commission what do you envision?  Has God already given you an inspiration for how to reach people: coffee shop, visitation, small groups, book club, sports, hiking, singles ministry for older adults?  There is so many ways to incorporate evangelism in your life.

    Your Christian lifestyle needs you to be around other Christians.  You really need to have a couple of people of the same sex that are stronger in their faith than you to help you become stronger.  You need to do Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.  

    Here is where most of us have to change.  It needs to be seven days a week.  That does not mean we need to meet everyday.  A short call, email, or text would suffice.  It is about staying connected and making sure the world does not influence you more than God's people.

    When you have Biblical friendships like this, then you are prepared to talk to anyone who is not a believer.  You have support, help, and prayer warriors backing you.  How can people know how to pray for you if they don't know what is going on in your life?  

    These evangelical friendships will also help you draw people into the church.  These are the relationships that people are craving for.  They may not know or understand how to have them, but everyone needs friendships that are loyal, honest, and hold each other accountable.      

Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 19:1-10, John 20:19-23, Acts 1:6-8, 2 Timothy 2:1-2, & 1 Peter 3:13-17

Reaching Out in Faith

 

    There are a lot of people out in the world.  When you come together as a church to go share your testimony or connect with people to invite them to join you at church who do you go visit.  The leaders should have a clear plan, but if you have been praying and a name keeps coming to you then you need to share that with your team.  There needs to be structure with visitation, but also flexibility to give the Holy Spirit room to work.

    Reaching out to people about your faith have many avenues.  You can go visit people in the hospital, nursing homes, schools, houses, or other locations.  You can set up weekly coffee and devotional times, sporting events, hiking groups, or other activities where you can connect with people and talk about God.  You can reach out to the people on your Sunday School roster that have not been there or put yourself somewhere to meet strangers and try to talk to them about God.  There is not set way on how you have to reach out to people in faith.

    When you plan on going out as a group for visitation there are several ways you can do it.  I recommend coming together to read some scripture and pray before going out.  The Holy Spirit directs, but people need to get out of their own way sometimes.  You can go out with only your Bible (including being on your phone) or you can take other tools too like presentation guides, leaflets, assignment or participation cards, or polls.  Tools serve a purpose, but all you need is God's Word, prayer, open heart, and an attitude to go.

    If you follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, then you will not do it wrong.  Not every time you go out will people accept Jesus.  That is okay.  You planted a seed.  Celebrate the wins with a humble heart and be prepared to walk with the people that do come to Jesus.  They are starting a new life and will need help and guidance as they discover their new identity in Jesus.  

    As you help the newbie in growing their faith you get a friend.  Hopefully it will become a lifelong relationship based on holy love, trust, and submission to Jesus.  Salvation is meant to bring glory to God not you.  Your job is to teach them how to become a disciple and how to make new disciples.  However a true friendship is always a great perk.  It will help you lead them to their place in the church, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and worship.  At the same time it will strengthen your faith and position in following Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 17:14-20, Ephesians 2:8-10, & Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith Schedule

 

    Faith takes time to grow.  It needs to become a part of your daily schedule: bible study, prayer, meditation, fasting, and going out into your community to witness. You have to be intentional about your faith.  A journal will help you stay focused especially if God is working on one are in your life for a period of time.  A journal will help you see your growth over time.

    When you go out into the community as a team it is important to pray together and take the time seriously.  Do not show up late or go off topic.  You came together for a purpose.  There is time for the fellowship, communion, and witnessing.  You need to make time to just hang out and have a cup of coffee, tea, or do some activity but not when you are intentionally trying to reach unsaved people.

    Each person in the group is responsible for expressing their expectations to set boundaries.  Let each other know where your gifts, talents, and passions are.  You also need to let them know of known weaknesses or insecurities.  You can't help each other out if you don't know where people need help.  

    When going out into the community or mission field a single man and woman should never be sent out alone.  Each group should have at least two women and two men so they can talk with any one.  This does not mean that anyone would do anything inappropriately.  It is protection from gossip, temptation, bad perception, or misconceived ideas.  It also can set people up to be more comfortable.  

    The leader of the group is responsible for keeping everyone on schedule to respect everyone's time that they are giving to the group and God's work.  They are in charge of training if the group wants formal training.  They lead by example not just instruction.

    The team members need to respect everyone's time and stay focused and prayerful.  Share what you are learning and highlights of the time spent together to encourage each other.  Work on your personal testimony.  It can be your salvation story, but if you have been a Christian for a long time it would be better talk about what God is currently doing in your life.  The point of the testimony is to build a bridge between unbelievers and God.  

    Another reason to go out is to get people in the community to come to church.  It is not about the numbers or the money.  It is about them finding God, building a relationship, fellowship, and learning.  For some people in the community they may not have any support system.  The church should be their support, family, and sense of belonging. 

    Church is where you should be able to find life long friends that will push you to grow, motivate you, and hold you accountable.  Real friends are not nice.  They are kind.  They will call you out in a loving way.  If you only have people telling you what you want to hear, then you need new friends because no one is perfect. 

Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 40:26-31, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, & Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith Together

 

    You are not supposed to walk through life alone.  God designed people to need each other.  Christians need a church family.  You need a Christian community.  You need people to inspire, push, and challenge you to grow.  Your church needs to teach all of the Bible not just the happy or inspirational parts.  You should be able to find your ministry and evangelism voice at church or create one in your community.

    Sunday School or Life Groups are special because that is where the relationships are developed.  You should be studying God's Word, praying together, and having fellowship.  It is where nonbelievers can see what Christianity is all about and feel safe to ask questions.  You need to feel like you belong.  If you do not, then keep looking until you find your small group.  Investigation does not stop once you find salvation.  Salvation is the starting point.

    You live in the world more than you do in your quiet place, church, or ministry.  It is important to Christians to connect with to stay grounded.  You need your Christian family as much as you need your actual blood family.  You need people praying for you, checking in on you, and even visiting you.  Faith is your foundation, but you need the people God places in your life to be able to develop it.  

    Developing your faith with other believers helps you grow in grace and strengthen your gifts, abilities, and strategy to minister to other people.  Having a mentor and being a mentor will help you ne equipped while you help others be equipped too.

    You can find some of your worst hurts in life at church.  You have to remember a lot of people go to church because it is their hospital.  Hurt people hurt others.  Pharisaical people always think their right.  You need to find forgiveness in your heart and do not allow them to hinder your relationship with Jesus.  You need church like it or not.  After finding forgiveness, you have to make yourself available.  Nothing is impossible for God, so do not put him in a box.  Work on turning from your own sins and allow God to work on everyone else.  After all Heaven is the goal that you want for everyone.

    When you are evangelizing be sure to inquire of people's lives, perspectives, and culture.  It will affect how you can relate to them.  Invite them to your church.  If they are not at a place where they would visit a church yet, then invite them into your life in some way: outdoor activity, coffee, book club, anything.  This will allow them to see God working in your personal life, not just your public Christian appearance.  Insure the people that you lead to Christ that they are loved and safe.  Help them build their faith from scratch.  

Matthew 18:19-20, Acts 2:42-47, Romans 1:10-12, 2 Timothy 2:1-2, & Hebrews 10:23-25

Meaning of Faith

 

    Faith is having complete trust or confidence in someone or something.  In Christianity it is believing in something that you have never seen.  Reality tells you that it is impossible, but you believe that it is real making it possible.  Your faith believes in Jesus as your evidence.

    Faith is believing that salvation comes through Jesus alone.  There is no other way.  If you choose to follow Jesus, then it will change every aspect of your life: how you view the world, react to the world, and wisdom.  Jesus gives you a different kind of control over your life.  His control leads to freedom that the world does not understand.  You choose to obey God even when you do not understand because you believe that it is for a bigger purpose than yourself.

    You have the opportunity to be made right with God because Jesus can to this world to be the human sacrifice for everyone's sins.  All you have to do is believe.  When you do you start following Him to experience a little of heaven on earth even in suffering.  You do this because you know when you die you will join him for an eternity of peace that is unknown in the world today.

    You cannot earn salvation.  You can only find it in faith.  Faith becomes a part of who you are in the core because the Holy Spirit lives in you now.  It is only the beginning to your new life's journey.  It will be full of ups and downs, but you are no longer alone in any of it.  

    You become Jesus' modern day witness to tell the world how he changed your life.  Faith is personal and lived out publicly.  The stronger your character becomes like Jesus the more impact you will have in the world.  You choose a life of obedience over comfort.  You choose to walk in faith over feelings.  It is not easy, but it does lead to internal and eternal peace.

    Faith is taking God at His Word.  The Bible proves that God never lies, so you have support there.  You believe in God's promises.  You can look at your own life there and see how He has come through and trust that He will again.  

    Faith is more than one sided thought.  You have to make yourself available to God.  You will never grow and mature if you do not invest in the relationship.  You are open to living a new and extraordinary life or a simple one that impacts the people around you.  The size of your journey doesn't mean anything.  God puts you where He wants you.  He just wants you to follow Him faithfully and keep Him your primary heart focus.

Isaiah 6:8-10, Matthew 5:13-16, Acts 1:7-8, & Hebrews 11

Faith in Action

 

    Faith is the key that gets you into Heaven, but it is so much more than that.  Faith is a word that transforms your life as you develop your relationship with the Trinity.  It is also an action word.  You were never meant to stop growing or sit at church enjoying learning.  Faith is meant to be shared with the world.  The world may not appreciate it, but if you never share then they never have the chance to have what you have.  Sharing your faith is the ultimate act of love.

    Evangelism is a ministry that a lot of people make more complicated than it needs to be.  Make it personal.  Don't worry about all the programs unless they give you more confidence.  Trust God to give you what you need in the moment.  

    A great way to start putting your faith in action is to journal.  Enter in your prayers, so you can see them being answered.  Use the journal to reflect what God is teaching you each day and watch as you mature.  Without a journal you may miss it, but other people will not.  A journal can give you confidence to commit yourself to talk to other people.  You only need to start with one person.

    Faith changes every aspect of your life.  Your focus shifts from your selfish desires to wanting to be more like Jesus.  You start identifying ways to be a living testimony among nonbelievers.  You will see that evangelism is a reflection of your heartbeat of faith.

    When you go into the world faith can replace your fear with zeal.  Training can be a confidence booster, but all you need is your testimony.  It is you seeking to have a sincere conversation with another person while being vulnerable to rejection for your beliefs.  At the same time you are trying to understand where they are coming from and make a real connection.  The truth is if they reject you, then you know you did your part and you can walk away without any regret or guilt.

    Baptism is a part of faith.  If you are going to do evangelism the goal is to have people believe in Jesus and all He did.  Baptism is a part of that.  Baptism is the first act of obedience in faith.  If you can't be obedient there, then God can't trust you with more responsibility.  Make sure you do baptism before you go out in ministry.  Once you are in the world declaring your faith, you need to be prepared to stay with new believers until they are mature enough to be in their own ministry.  Even then, you should never abandon them.

    Faith empowers you to do what you never thought you could do before.  It makes being obedient easier.  It bring you joy in all aspects of life.  Why would you not want to share that.  It changes your life, it will change theirs too.  Use this wisdom to make yourself bold enough to face change and uncertainty with people.  

Proverbs 21:15-16, Matthew 28:16-20, John 14:15-21, Hebrews 11:7-10, James 2:14-26, & 1 John 3:18-20

Boundary Success

 

    If you want your boundaries to work for your life and make your version of successful, then you have to mature in developing your boundaries.  It is hard work that will not allow you to stay in your comfort zone, but will be worth it.

    You have to work on resentment to be able to set good boundaries.  You have to be able to identify what is making you angry or frustrated to use it as an indicator that your boundaries have been crossed instead of being led by feelings.  If you never feel angry, then you need to figure out why.  Anger is normal and okay as long as it does not lead you to sin.  Face the truth and discover where your boundaries are weak so you can strengthen them.  Ultimately it strengthens real relationships.  

    As you mature your taste in things and people change.  As you heal you are drawn to other people that know and use boundaries.  You find people that will love you for who you are and will help you set better boundaries.  You need these people to set success boundaries over your life.  In time you will start attracting people learning to love boundaries too and you can help them.

    You need a family to help you in boundaries.  If it is not your family, then allow another family to adopt you into their family.  To be successful you need to be around people with the same Biblical values to help with setting limits and encourage you.  They will practice with you and share one spirit with you.  You are able to set firm boundaries because you have an emotional and spiritual support system.

    When you feel emotionally safe you are able to treasure what you have in life.  You are successful in boundaries because you have the truth and good people in your life.  You take personal responsibility for your mental health and emotional state so that you are not destructive.  This allows you to love others like God loves them.  It also allows you to receive love the way you need to be loved.  

    To be successful with boundaries you have to learn how to say no.  It allows you to grow emotionally and spiritually.  It will help you heal from past injuries.  You need limits to you.  It starts with baby steps to stick and not fall back to old patterns.  Start with safe people, so that when you work with resistant people you do not feel defeated or will crumble under the pressure.

    Boundary success requires being able to condemn your own bad actions, thoughts, and attitudes.  It keeps your conscience from going silent or being guilt ridden.  It drives you to be better and enforce your boundaries.  

    You need strong boundaries when it comes to communication.  You need self-control in conflict, scary situations, and relationships.  Make sure your life goals line up with your boundaries, so that there is no confusion.  This is where you set limits on yourself, not other people.  

    It will mature you in work, personal practices, and in your prayer life.  It makes it where you are honest with yourself, set well defined goals, and refine your character.  When you set internal boundaries you are able to deal with anything in life.  You do things that are good for you because you see the value, not because you are told to do it.  You discover value in love, responsibility, forgiveness, and accepting the truth.  

    Boundary success requires you being able to respect other people's boundaries in return.  This will confront your selfish nature, but enable you to love and have empathy.  People have set limits to themselves just like you.  Everyone's back ground is different, but everyone has the need for personal boundaries.  Respecting each other's boundaries will allow you to find common ground in life.    

    You will have boundary success in your life when you are free to protect yourself, nurture your relationships, and develop your life with God.  Boundaries is a form of stewardship over the person God created.  You need boundaries to mature, be proactive, and have productive conversations.  Ultimately they give you control over your life.  You no longer feel frantic, rushed, or out of control.  They give you direction and rewards.  

    You know you will face resistance, but that does not mean that other people can take anything away from who you are unless you allow it.  Steady your heart and be prepared.  Boundaries are not punishment, but a form of relationship building.  If a person decides that they don't want a part of it, then they are choosing to exit the relationship.  You never asked or wanted that.  It is not your fault.  It is their faulty character at that stage in life.  

Psalm 90:10-12, Proverbs 4:23-24, 10:17-20, 23:6-8, 30:21-23, Matthew 13:44-46, 18:15-20, Luke 14:28-30, John 1:16-18, 1 Corinthians 8:9-13, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Colossians 3:12-15, & 2 Timothy 4:6-8