Lifestyle Evangelism

What an absolute privilege.

How can we share the love and life of God? God wants to draw us compassionately. Old ugly wants to drive us compulsively. Let’s talk about real issues of life. Most people will understand when we speak in terms of…

✓ Life and love.
✓ Forgiveness and freedom.
✓ Inner peace and being fulfilled.
✓ Hope and a future.

Some Christians repeat “You need Jesus.” That may be true, but what does it mean to someone who has never read the Bible?

With respect

Sharing the love of God is not something that we do off-the-cuff. Scripture tells us to be prepared. It also tells us to share with respect. “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:8-15 NIV

Our attitude

“With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience.” Ephesians 4:2 TPT

Our example; our lifestyle. “Once your life was full of sin’s darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him. Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light! And the supernatural fruits of his light will be seen in you—goodness, righteousness, and truth.” Ephesians 5:8-9 TPT

Take time

In the past, when most people were aware of Christianity, there was a place for approaching strangers and starting a religious discussion. Possibly there is still a place for this. But most evangelism will take place by developing relationships with people or sharing life and love with people with whom you already have a relationship. Relationships with people take time. For example, a good marriage is built over time.

The wedding lasts but a few hours. The marriage relationship lasts for many years – and we need to take time to develop a good marriage. Also, we need to be intentional about developing a good marriage relationship. Likewise, we need to be intentional about developing relationships for the purpose of the gospel. Some of these relationships may be cross-cultural. This depends on where God has placed you. I live in a city that is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Therefore I have the privilege and opportunity to reach out with love to people of many different cultures and backgrounds. Whatever God calls you to, it will take time to communicate the absolute love of God. It will take words. It will take a demonstration of your life with God that looks different from what a life without God can look like.

One way to develop relationships is to eat meals together. Another is to attend sporting events together. “Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters. 2 And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for he surrendered his life as a sacrifice for us. His great love for us was pleasing to God, like an aroma of doration —a sweet healing fragrance.” Ephesians 5:1-2 TPT

Testimonies

Always be ready to incorporate your own experience into the discussion. Stories are an effective way of communicating with people. Our own story can also be effective – especially if there has been a dramatic change of life and people have observed us. Use other people’s testimonies. These may resonate better with some people. Your own life experience may be quite different from that of the person you are talking with. The life experience of someone else may make far better connections. Others have been along this path.

A common format for testimonials is

Your life before you trusted Jesus
What caused you to become a Christian – why did you do so?
Jack “Actually I would like the lot?”
Mike “In that case, how do you get them?
Jack [pause] “I don’t know.” (this is a common answer, but sometimes people make a good stab at an answer)
Mike “These characteristics are described in the Bible as fruit of the Spirit. That is, they are characteristics of the Spirit of God.” (At this stage you can point to Galatians 5:22-23 if it is appropriate in the conversation and with this person)

Also Jesus said that if we live with Him we will develop much fruit. (Again feel free to open your Bible to John 15:5, depending on the conversation and the person). Then develop the conversation.

How much are you worth?

Let’s do a little role play to demonstrate this idea:

Emily “Sophie, do you mind if I ask you a question?”
Sophie “What have you got in mind?”
Emily “How much are you worth?”
Sophie “I don’t know. I have never really thought about that. Do you mean how much have I got in the bank?”
Emily “Let me rephrase that question: ‘How much are you worth to your husband?”
Sophie “Sometimes I think a lot and sometimes not much.”
Emily “Okay, let me rephrase that again: ‘How much are you worth to your children?”
Sophie “Oh, that is easy. Everything. They could not survive without me. Sometimes I think they value me and sometimes they seem to take me for granted. But in actual fact I am worth everything to them.”
Emily “Wonderful. Let me ask one more question: ‘How much are you worth to God?”