Evangelism Part 2

Pastor Jason
 Apologetics and Evangelism
• The word “apologetics” does not appear in the Bible.
• 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks
you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and
fear;
• apologia – greek – answer or reasonable defense.
• It does not mean to apologize, nor does it mean to engage
in intellectual dialogue. It does mean to provide reasonable
answers to honest questions and to do it with humility,
respect and reverence.
• Removing intellectual objections alone will not make
someone a Christian; a change of heart brought about by
the Holy Spirit is also necessary. Intellectual activity is
insufficient to bring someone to Christ, it does not follow
that it is also unnecessary.
• There are many Christians who are convinced
that answering the intellectual questions of
unbelievers is a waste of time.
• But Christianity thrives on intelligence, not
ignorance!
• If a real Reformation is to precede the revival
for which we pray, it must be something of the
mind as well as the heart!
• We are to love God with the mind as well the
heart and soul. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him,
“ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
(also Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27)
• Most Christians today seem to prefer
experiencing Christianity (notice I did not say
God) to thinking about or explaining it.

• Consider these verses:

• Matthew 13:23 But he who received seed on the
good ground is he who hears the word and
understands it, who indeed bears fruit and
produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty.” They all heard it, but only the “good
ground” understood it.
• Acts 8:30-31 So Philip ran to him, and heard him
reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you
understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides

me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with

him.
• Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every
Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
• Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke
boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading
concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
• 2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the
Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God,
and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Vine’s expository explains it like this: “to apply
persuasion, to prevail upon or win over, bringing about
a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral
considerations.”
• Can there be understanding without reasoning? The
Bible would appear to say no. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to
show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
 How to be Effective
• Go to people. The heart of evangelism is Christians
taking the initiative to go out and “fish for men”. How
was Paul effective? Acts 17:17 Therefore he reasoned
in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile
worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those
who happened to be there.
• Communicate with people. Engage them. Sharing the
Gospel involves communication. People must be
focused on and then understand the Gospel to respond
to it. It is our responsibility to make it as clear as
possible for all who will listen. 2 Corinthians 5:11
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade
men;
• Relate to people. Effective witness involves not
only the transmission of biblical information; it
also includes establishing a relationship with the
other person. Hearts as well as heads must meet.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 So, affectionately longing for
you, we were well pleased to impart to you not
only the gospel of God, but also our own lives,
because you had become dear to us.
•
• Remove barriers. Part of our responsibility involves the
skills to eliminate obstacles, real or imagined, which keep
an individual from taking the Christian message seriously.
Sometimes our task is one of “spiritual demolition”, of
removing the false so the seeds of truth can take root.
Apologetics sometimes serves in this capacity.
• Explain the Gospel to others. We need an army of
Christians who can consistently and clearly present the
message to as many people as possible. Luke says of Lydia,
“The Lord opened her heart so that she heeded the things
which were spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14) Four essential
elements in sharing the Gospel:
– Someone talking
– Gospel spoken
– Someone listening
– God opening the heart
• Invite others to receive Christ. We can be clear in
presentation, but ineffective because we fail to give
someone the opportunity and encouragement to take
that first major step of faith. “Therefore we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading
through us: we beg you in Christ’s behalf, be reconciled
to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
• Make every effort by every means to establish them
in the faith. Stay with them, ground them in the
Scripture, help them gain assurance of their salvation,
and get them active in a vital, life giving
fellowship/church.
 The Law and The Gospel
Why do I need to be saved?
• “for through the Law comes the knowledge of
sin.” Romans 3:20
• The Law is a difficult taskmaster because it
requires that we maintain a perfect standard
of moral behavior. And then when we fail, the
Law condemns us to death.
• The only way that someone you are
witnessing to can know that they are a sinner
is by the Law. The Law reveals sin.
• If you told someone that they were sick, how
would they believe you unless they knew they
were sick. And if that person knows they are
sick, they will want to be healed!
• It’s been the same way with the way we’ve
presented the Gospel; we give people the
cure, before they acknowledge their sickness!
 The difference between the Law and
the Gospel
• You are a sinner (Law)
• You need Jesus as your Savior (Gospel)
• Old Testament (Law)
• New Testament (Gospel)
• We must know we are guilty (Law)
• Recognize our need to ask for forgiveness
(Gospel)
• The Law kills. The Gospel makes alive. When
Moses came down form the mount after
receiving the Law and saw that Israel had
fallen into idolatry, he threw the tablets of the
Law down to them and 300 people died
(Exodus 32:28). Later, when Peter preached
the Gospel, 3000 people were saved (Acts
2:41)!
• With a better understanding of the Law, it will be
easier to explain sin. Without the Law, sin cannot
be known. If sin is not known, then the need for
Jesus is never felt.
• We must talk about the Law with those we
witness to…ask them if they have ever sinned.
Tell them lying, cheating, stealing, lusting, not
honoring God, etc. is sin. Everyone is guilty
somewhere (Romans 3:23), so everyone needs to
be delivered.
• “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to
Christ, that we might be justified by faith”
Galatians 3:24
• The Law guides us to HIM. It shows us that any
attempt to keep the Law (our works) is
insufficient to gain eternal life and that the
Gospel of grace is the only way to God.