When we think of evangelism, we oftentimes think about some guy in a suit and tie on a street corner preaching Hell so hot that you can feel it, but in all reality, that is not evangelism. Evangelism is simply sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. It may or may not be in the form of “scheduled outreaches” by a local church body, but from a Biblical perspective, it is preaching the gospel with signs following us (Mark 16:15-20). If we don’t become a sign to this generation that points others to Jesus Christ, the community can correlate the church’s giving back to a welfare program! We need an awakening of evangelism in the church that stems from faithful devotion to christ!

Evangelism can take place through service evangelism, which is doing acts of kindness to show the love of God in a way that everyone can relate to, such as doing a free car wash, baking snack goods for your neighbor, or giving jewelry to people in a nursing home. There are many acts of service evangelism, but it is all about being the example of Christ through demonstrating the true love of God. On the other hand, you can engage in spiritual evangelism, which is declaring the good news of Christ with Him being the center of the message. It brings conviction, which leads to repentance! Signs, wonders, and miracles follow and confirm that very message to prove the greatness of our God. Both forms of evangelism are effective, and it reflects the authentic character of the church, the real bride of Christ!

The early church that was born on the Day of Pentecost operated in such a fashion. After they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they boldly declared the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Peter preached that very same message in Acts 2, at least 3,000 souls came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It was beyond powerful, but it did not stop there. In other words, they had not reached the pinnacle of what God wanted them to do. They were to become the church as the church was added to daily by operating in the spirit of unity, breaking bread from house to house, fellowshiping with one another, and keeping Christ at the center of it all. We seem to complicate a very simple gospel because this is truly what authentic evangelism is really all about it. It is about making disciples of Jesus Christ!

If we would follow the footsteps of the early church, we will become effective evangelists. In order to be an effective evangelist:

(1) You must model your life after Jesus because people will put their confidence in you when you live an authentic Christian lifestyle.

(2) You must be compassionate and have a heart for those who are lost, broken, and rejected.

(3) Whether you are witnessing to a group of people or one-on-one, you must know your audience and clearly speak the message that can relate to their level.

(4) You must pray and seek God to equip you with the anointing, words and skills you need to be an effective witness.

(5) You must start with small goals and work your way up.

It sounds simple, but it is effective. We can no longer hide the gospel within us, but we must spread the gospel with the greatest passion we have ever had. Jesus is coming back again, and we must not go before Him empty-handed! Be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.