Evangelism: A 24-Week Devotional from DTS Magazine

THE GOSPEL—THE MESSAGE OF EVANGELISM

1. John 3:16

The presentation of the gospel must include four indispensable elements: the reality of God; human sin which separates us from God; the atoning work of Christ; and the need for faith. This most famous verse presents all four elements. Whom will you share the message of this verse with today?

2. Romans 6:23

In evangelism, we begin with the terrible result of our sinful lives: death and separation from God. The joyful news is the gracious gift of God that replaces death with life. Good news becomes even better when we share it with someone who doesn’t yet know it!

3. Ephesians 2:8–9

Many people believe we must earn our way to God through good works. Christian salvation, however, comes by faith and through grace; it’s never the result of works, merit, or anything we do. Pray for those you know who are trying to earn salvation, that they will finally grasp the gospel of grace and receive it with joy.

4. 1 Peter 1:3–4

The gospel is an invitation to new birth and an eternal inheritance. In our materialist world, people need to know that their real hope comes not from their money, possessions, or accomplishments but from Jesus. Pray for an opportunity to share with someone who is weighed down by the pressures of this world.

5. Acts 2:38–39

The first evangelistic sermon of church ended with the people begging Peter, “What should we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter’s answer gives a beautiful invitation to repent and believe. Pray that God brings you the opportunity to share the gospel with someone this day.

THE COMMAND FOR EVANGELISM

6. Matthew 28:19–20

The Great Commission provides the foundation of evangelism. In our lives here on earth, one of our primary goals is to make disciples—genuine followers of Jesus who live changed lives as a testimony to him. Remember that Jesus left us

a job to do, but he hasn’t left us!

7. 1 Peter 3:15

We’re responsible to be prepared to respond to anyone with the message of hope and the reason for it. And we need to do so with charity and respect for those who don’t believe, even if they don’t treat us the same way. Readiness to defend the faith takes preparation and the hard work of study—are you ready and willing to do that?

8. 2 Timothy 4:2–5

Paul mentored Timothy (and instructs all of us) to preach the Word in every season and to do the work of an evangelist. Evangelism isn’t a gift given only to some; it’s the duty of all Christ-followers. Let us not be intimidated or ashamed or too busy to share the gospel.

9. Ephesians 4:11–13

Evangelism is not always a popular activity for those who share the faith or those who hear it. Paul informs us, however, that evangelists are both a gift of God to build up the church and a gift to those on the path to destruction. May our love for the lost compel us to share the message, even with those who don’t know how much they need to hear it.

10. 2 Corinthians 5:20–21

An ambassador represents the interests of the ruler of one nation to another country. We are God’s ambassadors because God calls us to proclaim his message in the kingdom of this world. We are not in the world to pursue our own agenda. Rather, we operate as God’s representatives to a world dying without his salvation.

THE MANNER OF THE EVANGELISTS

11. Romans 15:19–20

Paul expressed great enthusiasm about evangelism, and he aimed to preach the gospel where it had not been preached before. Every generation needs this same fire to share the most important message of all. May God develop in each of us the same intense enthusiasm for evangelism that Paul modeled.

12. 1 Corinthians 9:16–18

Paul couldn’t contain his eagerness to preach the gospel, but some of us feel so reluctant to do it that we almost have to be compelled to do so. Whatever our motivation, the reward is in making this essential message freely available to all people. Pray that God will use you, whether in boldness or in timidness, to be an effective messenger of the gospel.

13. Romans 10:14–15

God communicates his revelation in the Bible by sending Jesus, and he even speaks through his creation. God makes his truth abundant and clear, and our job is to proclaim it so the nations can hear. We pray that God will raise up workers to carry his message and preach it in every country and region of the world.

14. Luke 12:11–12

If you worry about what you will say or whether you will make a fool of yourself by trying to be a witness, then these verses are for you. The Bible calls us to be prepared (1 Peter 3:15), but we can also rest in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit gives us words, thoughts, and responses, even in stressful situations. When we feel anxious about what to say in evangelism, let’s remember that the God who saved us is also the God who empowers us.

THE EFFECTS OF EVANGELISM ON THOSE WHO ARE SAVED

15. 1 John 5:13

Why do we share the gospel with people? So that others may share the same hope that we have for eternal life! Who among the people you know are so wrapped up in the things of this world that they have neglected their eternal destiny?

16. Ephesians 1:7–8

Born into sin, we live our lives enslaved by guilt and the weight of our iniquities. The message of the gospel is freedom and liberty because we are completely forgiven of our sins. Who among your friends and family need to hear about the remedy for their addictions, failures, and terrible mistakes?

17. Galatians 2:19–20

The powerful message of the gospel declares us one with Christ in his death and one with Christ in being raised to new life. To be a Christian is to have Christ live in me—I experience a paradigm-shifting identification and union with Christ. Who needs to hear that their identity is not in their politics or career, their ethnicity or culture, but rather that they should aspire to be one in Christ through the salvation he offers?

18. Galatians 4:4–5

One of the astonishing promises of the gospel is that we are adopted in God’s family. He is our father, Jesus is our brother, and we are coheirs of all the spiritual blessings God has in store for us. Who in your networks really needs to know that they can have the most intimate relationship with the best and most gracious dad in the universe?

EXAMPLES OF EVANGELISM

19. Jonah 3:3–6

Although a flawed, reluctant evangelist, Jonah ministered in Nineveh and witnessed the conversion of the whole city. We often think God can’t use us because of our mistakes or checkered past, but the truth is that the gospel is a powerful message even in less than pristine vessels. Thank the Lord that he uses imperfect means to communicate a perfect God’s redemption plan.

20. Daniel 3:16–18

Persecution does not defeat us, nor does the martyrdom of God’s people invalidate the message of the gospel. The testimony of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego changed the life of Nebuchadnezzar, and the courage of martyrs has witnessed powerfully to the overcoming truth of gospel from the earliest of times. Thank the Lord for this remarkable truth—for me to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)!

21. Acts 8:30–35

In the providence of God, he places us in the right place at the right time. The best evangelists don’t just preach—they also listen, ask great questions, and then respond appropriately with the message the individual needs to hear. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you empowered Philip to help change the life of the Ethiopian official, and thank you for changing lives in every continent and corner of the world.

22. Acts 16:25–43

Paul and Silas continue to inspire each generation of the church with the example of their courage and unwavering faith, even in the face of persecution. The simple message that put believers in prison two thousand years ago is the same message we preach today. Let us thank God for the privilege of serving God

wholeheartedly, even in times of suffering and persecution.

23. Acts 17:19–23

One of our evangelistic goals is to find the common ground we share with unbelievers. In this story from Acts, Paul began with the people’s acknowledgment that a deity exists. Then he unflinchingly declared the

distinctiveness of our God. Some of his listeners transformed their superficial idea of a god into a saving faith in the triune God. Thank the Lord for the privilege of using our minds to reason with unbelievers and help them see the truth of the gospel.

24. Luke 23:40–43

The greatest evangelist of them all is our Lord himself. Even in his dying moments on the cross, the force of his testimony drew sinners to him. The gospel tells us our sinfulness is a burden we can never shed, but the atoning work of Jesus on the cross lifts our sins and makes us new and whole. Eternal thanks to our great God and Savior, who achieved for us the salvation we could never gain on our own!