EVANGELISM
By: Daniel McMillin
HOW DO I GET INTO EVANGELISM?
Plan to Change
Pray to God
Prepare to Evangelize
WHAT IS STOPPING ME FROM EVANGELIZING?
Lack of motivation or care: "I don't see a need."
Unnecessary: "I don't have to."
Laziness/sluggishness: "I don't want to."
Fear: "I don't think I can do this."
Incapability: "I can't do that."
Apathy: "I think other things are more important."
Isolation: "I don't know any non-Christians."
Ignorance: "I don't know enough."
Unsure: "I don't know what to do."
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR EVANGELISM
ONLINE RESOURCES
RECOMMENDED LECTURES
There are plenty of online resources that offer helpful tips on evangelism that will be great instruments to add to the evangelist’s toolbelt in the mission field. Allen Webster has six wonderfully insightful and powerful presentations that he presented at Mt. Pleasant Church of Christ.
“Let Us Rise Up and Build”
How’s Your Vision?
How to Find Your Place
How to Set Your Goals
The Importance of Worship in Church Growth
Increasing Passion in the Body of Christ Part 1
Increasing Passion in the Body of Christ Part 2
links:
https://www.youtube.com/live/OwdVYcl1WdE?si=pa0vH_nt_H2qv99C
https://www.youtube.com/live/lIwY1YgT2N0?si=aPDU3o5EQoATTcHk
https://www.youtube.com/live/_M8AvF5ACu4?si=Uv8gxMjsYpwQAb5T
There are also some six lectures presented by Rob Whitacre from the School of Evangelism at House to House Heart to Heart that may be helpful. Here is the link:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2sFrt4P4Yt6IUmF5Q_XhFk6WJeYlhYmQ&si=FzoRmi0BQGE-QQ2D
RECOMMENDED HANDOUT
RECOMMENDED WEBSITES
HOUSE TO HOUSE HEART TO HEART
HOUSE TO HOUSE HEART TO HEART SCHOOL OF EVANGELISM
WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL
WORLD VIDEO BIBLE SCHOOL
APOLOGETICS PRES
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED METHODOLOGY RESOURCES
As far as books that I would recommend for methodologies, I would have to say one of the best books on evangelism and apologetics that I have read is Greg Koukl’s “Tactics.” One of the main takeaways is that when you have a conversation with someone you are wanting to have a Bible study with, all you need to do is plant the seed and leave a pebble in their shoe. That analogy alone is worth the price of the book and has changed the way I think about evangelism. I also like Joshua Chatraw’s “Telling a Better Story,” where he illustrates how the Christian faith tells a better story than what we are being fed by other religions as well as secularism. People are compelled by stories, and the Bible tells the best story ever so that is how we should do evangelism. He has a book he co-authored with Mark Allen, “Apologetics at the Cross,” which I really like. Basically, the argument is that everything we do should take us back to the cross.
For a more academic approach to evangelism, see Timothy Beougher’s “Invitation to Evangelism.” For texts on mission theology that walk through the biblical theme of taking the good news to the ends of the earth, see Andreas J. Köstenberger and Peter T. O’Brien’s “Salvation to the Ends of the Earth.” For books written by gospel preachers who offer practical advice and an enthusiastic shove into the mission field, I would recommend Ivan Stewart’s “Go Ye Means Go Me” and “From House to House” as well as Bobby Bates’ “Fishing for Men” and Rob Whiticare’s “Personal Evangelism Workbook.”
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES TO USE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE BIBLE STUDY
As far as it goes for resources, I would recommend for one-on-one bible studies, I would have to suggest either Bobby Bates’ “Back to the Bible” pamphlets (this is what I am currently using as I am studying with one of our youth), the “Fisher’s of Men” material, John Moore’s “Searching for Truth,” Owen Olbricht’s “Personal Worker’s Kit,” or Don and Martian Starks’ “God & Man: How to be Saved from Sin.”
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES TO GIVE TO SOMEONE
There are also some wonderful correspondence courses that someone may want to go through with either World Bible School, Mathetis, House to House, Heart to Heart, or Apologetics Press. There are some resources that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to study more on their own to be able to thoughtfully consider becoming a Christian (these books do not replace a one-on-one Bible study but are complimentary tools that may help reinforce those Bible studies).
If they enjoy reading narrative and would be more compelled by a story than just a book filled with facts, I recommend either Lance Mosher’s “Transformed” and “Searching for Brandon Bason” or Michael Shank’s “Mussel and a Shovel.”
If they are unconvinced by the truthfulness of Christian theism, I would recommend either William Lane Craig’s “Reasonable Faith,” Tim Keller’s “The Reason for God,” or Chad Ramsey’s “Reasons to Believe.” If they want a less technical and textbook format, I would suggest C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity,” Augustine’s “Confessions,” or Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ.”
If they want to know about the views of the Church of Christ and why we stand out in a world filled with denominations, I recommend a few:
1. Leroy Brownlow’s “Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ” is a classic and certainly worth the read.
2. One of my personal favorites is “Introducing the Church of Christ.” This includes a large span of gospel preachers, including Grandaddy, who contribute a chapter to a plethora of topics, from the identity of the church to how we worship.
3. Jack P. Lewis’ “Basic Beliefs” is an excellent textbook that concisely addresses the fundamentals of the faith.
4. Dan Chambers’ “Churches in the Shape of Scripture” is the best book to give anyone who wants to know why the Church of Christ is not just another evangelical church.
5. Anything that Everett Ferguson writes is golden (every book is a must-have!), and so I would recommend his small book “The New Testament Church,” but his “The Church of Christ: An Ecclesiology for Today,” while it is long, is certainly worth the read if someone wanted to the premier volume on the subject.
TOP 3 RECOMMENDATIONS
If I had to narrow down this list to just three suggestions, it would be 1. Allen Webster’s writings and lectures, 2. Greg Koukl’s “Tactics,” and Bobby Bates’ “Fishing for Men” along with his “Back to the Bible” pamphlets.
