The Making of a Personal Evangelist: Winning the World for Christ – One By One

By Christopher Shennan

The Making of a Personal Evangelist, as the title suggests, is more about becoming an evangelist than it is about the method employed. Jesus told us that if we follow Him He will make us to become fishers of men – He would transform us into evangelists. The Making of a Personal Evangelist is a course that lays out the life principles, that if followed, will transform men and women into evangelists even before they adopt a method. The method subsequently just becomes the tool to get the job done. This is not a book for the casual student. Both teacher and student need to be serious about reaching the lost, and about submitting to the process of becoming what they may not initially feel qualified to be. It is about allowing Jesus Christ to make them into fishers of men. For those who are willing to accept the challenge, this book will doubtless be of inestimable value.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Apr 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483409313

Book preview

The Making of a Personal Evangelist

WINNING THE WORLD FOR CHRIST – ONE BY ONE

Not Just a Method Learned,

but a Miracle Wrought in the Soul

CHRISTOPHER SHENNAN

Copyright © 2014 Christopher Shennan.

All rights reserved solely by the author. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-0930-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-0931-3 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 03/20/2014

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 -    The Making of a Personal Evangelist

Chapter 2 -    The Condition Before the Creation

Chapter 3 -    The Call and the Commission

Chapter 4 -    Identifying the Gospel Message

Chapter 5 -    Getting Launched

Chapter 6 -    Gaining an Audience

Chapter 7 -    Laying the Foundation

Chapter 8 -    Substitution and the Gospel Sandwich

Chapter 9 -    The Closing

Chapter 10 -    Carrying and Caring

Chapter 11 -    Conversation Before Presentation

Chapter 12 -    Depending upon the Holy Spirit

Chapter 13 & 14    Evangelism Handbook

Acknowledgements

A lot of my success in the field of personal evangelism came from discovering a viable method of sharing the Gospel in Dr. D. James Kennedy’s book, Evangelism Explosion, more than forty years ago. Over the years I have adapted this excellent work to the circumstances and conditions I have had to face in sharing the Gospel. I have added illustrations, and adjusted my approach, but Evangelism Explosion is what got me launched.

Two thirds of this book is about the inward process of becoming a personal evangelist and not the method employed. I eventually, however, had to teach a viable method of sharing the Gospel, and I could do no better than teaching the method that has served me so well over the years – the method I first learned from Dr. Kennedy in Evangelism Explosion.

The author expresses his gratitude to Evangelism Explosion International for permission to use this material.

Note to Anyone Teaching This Course in Personal Evangelism

The Making of a Personal Evangelist is designed to span thirteen once per week sessions of 1-1/2 to 2 hours long each – roughly one chapter per week.

It is critical that you demonstrate and initiate role-playing the Gospel presentation from the outset. Experience has taught me it takes that long for most students to feel comfortable presenting the Gospel in the manner described in this course. Most of the emphasis is on becoming an evangelist, and not just on the method. The method, however needs to be mastered by the time the evangelist is ready to launch forth.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of student and teacher to seek inner transformation before the presentation of the Gospel. The miracle must precede the method, or at least be happening at the same time. If you are studying this course on your own, or in a cell-group setting, divide your time between the lesson for the week, and mastering the material in the Evangelism Handbook in the latter section of this book.

Introduction

The Dream

I had a dream.

Now I am making no claim for this dream, that it was some kind of special revelation from God. It was nothing more nor less than a dream. It does, however provide an apt picture of the state of evangelistic effort in the church today. At least it illustrates the church as she is in North America and other democratic countries at the present time.

This was my dream:

I was in a large building, something like a school, or other centre of learning.

While I was there the entire facility caught on fire. I could see flames leaping out of the classrooms as I leisurely walked by (Note: how I leisurely walked by). I was aware of some twinge of concern for those trapped inside, but it was not enough to propel me into action. I continued to walk down the hallway till I excited the building and went to work at a desk in a house nearby.

After half an hour I seemed to wake up to the danger those in the burning building were in, and sounded the alarm. A number of us then went into the burning building to try and save some of the people in it. In my dream I was aware of something else; I saw how lethargically we went all about the task. We managed to save a few people here and there, but I was left with the impression that the vast majority of those caught in the conflagration perished.

I awoke with a feeling of sadness upon me, both at my own lethargy in the dream I had dreamed, but also with the lack of passion and urgency displayed in those who were with me. For I immediately made the connection between the dream and the lack of evangelistic fervour I detected in myself and in the church at large.

In the early church, and revivals through the ages, passion and excitement in sharing the Good news has always been most evident. I determined from this that evangelism is not a method learned, but the direct result of the work of God in the human heart. I must become an evangelist before I can display the passion and power of the early church, and those who have been divinely touched in the ages following. If I become an evangelist no one will have to urge me to evangelize. It will be as natural as breathing and I will be compelled by the love of Christ to share my faith in any way that I can.

Loaded for Bear

The question has been raised by some of my students why I insist on teaching such a detailed presentation of the Gospel. Some people are won to the Lord simply by a word, or by the quiet testimony of someone who has lived a consistent life before them. A brief testimony has brought one person to the Lord, and another by a text quoted from the Bible.

You are going to an awful lot of trouble teaching us a detailed presentation of the Gospel, when all that may be needed is a simple outline of what Jesus did for them.

If you study the last part of the handbook I have provided for you, you will see there are simpler outlines for you to use should you not have the time or opportunity to present the Gospel in greater detail.

However, I think it is important, even when someone has come to the Lord through simpler means, to explain the Gospel to them in detail, as part of the follow-up process. As I have said elsewhere, there are far too many people in church who have very little or no idea at all as to the main features of the Gospel message. It is the Gospel that is the power of God to salvation, not some watered down version of it.

It is my responsibility in this course to provide you with all the ammunition I can possibly provide for the great battle ahead – assaulting the gates of hell. Jude says: And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 22-23 – KJV)

Evangelism is a serious business, and we must be as prepared as we can be for every eventuality.

Let me illustrate this in the following way.

Suppose you are going into the forest to hunt for and shoot rabbits.

You know there are not only rabbits in the forest; there are also squirrels, foxes, deer, and, of course, that awesome creature, the Grizzly Bear. (In Africa we would say, for lion, or elephant, and in India, for tiger).

If I were you, were I to hunt in the forest, I would not just take a small calibre rifle with me prepared to shoot a rabbit, a squirrel or a fox, I would go prepared for the possibility of meeting a bear. I would go into the forest loaded for bear, even if my main intent was to shoot a rabbit.

The same principle applies to what I am trying to do in this course; I am trying to get you loaded up for bear – to make sure you have a solid foundation for presenting the Gospel in the many and various situations that will confront you in the future.

CHAPTER ONE

The Making of a Personal Evangelist

When I speak of Personal Evangelism I am not referring to the practice of witnessing. In one sense Personal Evangelism is witnessing, since once you have presented the Gospel to someone, you have witnessed to the reality of Christ and His free offer of salvation.

However, what is generally known as witnessing is usually just a brief word of testimony. You may say, I never knew what life was all about until Jesus came into my life. Or, Have you thought about bringing this whole situation to the Lord Jesus. I was in a similar situation to yours, and it was only when I asked for His help that I found relief.

Witnessing can also be just giving your personal testimony of how you came to know the Lord. It can also extend to the many conversational exchanges that bring you closer to the person you are trying to win; you are making connection with them until they begin to trust your judgment and value your insights. That is witnessing.

In some cases the mere act of sharing your testimony will result in bringing someone to Christ. All kinds of hidden factors may have contributed to someone being ready to receive Christ at the mere mention of His Name. Cases like this give rise to the mistaken notion that witnessing is evangelism.

Yet when I speak of Personal Evangelism I mean something much more than sharing your testimony or having a conversation about the benefits of coming to Christ. Personal Evangelism is when you actually get permission to give a clear presentation of the Gospel, without undue interruption, and are able to press its claims. When you engage in Personal Evangelism you actually get the chance to present the Gospel to someone, and ask them at the end if they would like to receive Christ as their Saviour. It is not just referring to Christ and having a brief conversation; it is gaining the opportunity to actually present the Gospel in a way the person you have witnessed to can understand.

Witnessing (or engaging in conversation regarding Christ and His Good News) is a valuable tool; it can open the door of opportunity to sit down with someone and explain the Gospel. The problem is that many Christians witness a great deal, but they never seem to get beyond that stage. In this course, with God’s help, we are going to explain how to get beyond the initial witness to the point where you can give a clear presentation of the Gospel.

When my wife explained to a friend that I frequently spend an hour or more explaining the Gospel in detail, the friend replied, Who has time in this busy world to give an hour of their time just to listen to the Gospel, especially if they have no interest in it to start with?

In response, let me ask this question: How often have you invited friends for dinner and spent several hours afterwards visiting with them? An hour or two doesn’t seem long at all.

You don’t just grab a person cold and demand an hour of their time. You build relationships, pique their interest, and convince them that what you have to share with them is worth the time to at least listen to what you have to say. You would be surprised how willing people are to set aside the time when they think it will be to their personal advantage, and when they know they have the freedom to choose one way or the other at the end. You have to start with conversation to gain their confidence; after that they may grant you the privilege of presentation. At that point, time is not an issue.

Getting Started

And He [Jesus] said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19 – NASB)

First we must address the hindrances that prevent born-again Christians from actively engaging in personal evangelism. Let me point out a few of the most common ones:

•   Uncertainty as to how to go about it?

•   Possessing a caring heart, but are somewhat fearful of rejection.

•   Discouragement due to failed efforts.

•   Former attempts have been met with contempt and derision?

Then there are those who have misconceptions as to what constitutes a call to evangelize, or the feeling that they do not meet the personality requirements. They are too shy, or feel it is just not their thing. Or perhaps they fear they fall short in their Christian living, and therefore people wouldn’t take them seriously.

Let us face these things head-on, and get them out of the way. What has hindered you so far from being the powerful witness you long to be? What other reasons can you think of that hinder Christians in general from winning their friends, neighbours, and family, to Christ?

1. _________________________

2. _________________________

3. _________________________

4. _________________________

5. _________________________

6. _________________________

7. _________________________

Let us first address the one hindrance that may be lurking at the back of your minds: What constitutes a call to evangelize? Are there not some who have a special gift for evangelism, and does that not mean that the rest of us are exempt? OK, let us look at that for a moment:

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13 – NASB)

What is the function of those who have a special gift for evangelism?

The answer is clear: for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…

These specially gifted people are called to equip all those who are not specially gifted so they can do the work of service. These gifted evangelists are given the task, a glorious one, of training the saints (born again Christians) to do the work of evangelism.

So if you are a saint, and you are if you know Christ, you cannot escape your obligation to engage in evangelism. Why then are so few of God’s people actively engaged in this work of service? Part of the reason is that those with the special gift of evangelism are not equipping the saints for this work of service. This is what this evangelism course is designed to do – to equip or instruct the saints (you) in this work of service.

The Miracle Required

And He [Jesus] said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19 – NASB)

It is neglect of this principle that has produced so many ineffective evangelistic programs. Emphasis on the method alone without the miracle has led to discouragement and disillusionment.

We are told here the process whereby we can catch people in the evangelistic net and bring them into a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

First there is the PATH, followed by the PROMISE.

The path is to have a commitment to follow Christ, to adopt His attitudes and live by His principles, as the new life imparted by the Holy Spirit enables us to do.

Once we are committed to the path we have to believe the promise. Everything in the Christian life has to do with faith: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17 – KJV)

And what is the promise? The promise is that Jesus will make us fishers of men. The One through whom the worlds were made will create in us the capacity to become fishers of men, or the ability to win people to faith in Him. Truly believing this will enable you and me to overcome all the hindrances that prevent us from becoming effective evangelists.

This is such a stunning statement that we are in danger of saying, It can’t be that easy, and fall into unbelief. You and I need to let these words of Jesus sink in, until their reality transforms us: I will make you fishers of men.

Oh but… I have a very shy nature. I will make you fishers of men.

Oh but… I don’t know how to go about it. I will make you fishers of men.

Oh but…I am afraid of rejection. I will make you fishers of men.

Oh but…I have tried but failed in the past. I will make you fishers of men.

Think of every objection you can possibly come up with and you still have to deal with the promise Jesus made: Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

There is no avoiding it. Either you have to come to the conclusion that Jesus did not mean what He said, or you have to believe He will do what He said. And if you believe He will do what He said, then you will become a fisher of men; you will become an effective soul-winner.

This is a matter between you and your Lord. I cannot convince you of it. You must talk to your Lord about it until you come through into full faith. There will be a process. You won’t suddenly become the most successful evangelist in the world, but the creative process will have begun within you. You will eventually overcome all hindrances to the work of evangelism, provided you continue to believe Christ’s promise.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3 – NASB)

God, through Christ, has already granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness. We can proceed with the certain knowledge that Jesus will make us into the winsome, loving, effective evangelists He wants us to be. We won’t all look the same. We won’t all adopt the same methods, but the basic issue has been settled: Jesus Christ will make us into fishers of men.

Let us now address the slightly different wording the Gospel of Mark uses to describe this miraculous creative process Jesus promised the disciples if they would follow Him:

And Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17 – NASB)

In Matthew Jesus says He will make them fishers of men; Mark says He would make them to become fishers of men. This is a subtle difference, but it nevertheless casts additional light on the matter. Matthew’s statement merely declares what Jesus will do: He will make them fishers of men. Mark says much the same thing, and yet the way he says it highlights a very important principle that can release us from feelings of inadequacy. Jesus will make us to become fishers of men.

When a child declares, I am going to be a lawyer when I grow up, it is understood that he is not at that point in time a lawyer. If he wants to become a doctor, preacher, movie star, etc., it is because he has a desire to become what he knows he is not. He has the dream of becoming one of those things.

Frequently Christians are paralyzed in their efforts to evangelize; they make no progress because they feel inadequate and erroneously conclude that, It is not my thing.

They are missing the point.

Of course they are inadequate.

Of course they are not up to the task of evangelism at that point in time.

Of course it is not in their natural abilities to evangelize with the heart and compassion of Christ, but that does not mean that they cannot become that kind of person.

If it is not your thing at this moment of time, Jesus’ words are, if you follow Him He will make you to become something you are not. He