Boldness & Clarity:
How We Should do Evangelism
A Study from Jesus and Paul
Mark, Ephesians, & Colossians
Not Methodology
The heart of what the Lord wants us to
know about sharing His Message
Not dependent on . . .
Culture
Language
Religion
Geography
Generation
Principle Number 1
Evangelism is
a Necessity and is not an Option.
even from the very first day.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 All is new, given a reconciliation
ministry, ambassadors.
Lacking the gift does not give an excuse.
Philippians 1:5 – “participation from the very first day”
QUESTION: How to avoid legalism?
Jesus’ Teaching on Evangelism
A Quick Look at Mark 4 –
The Parable of the Sower
Let’s focus . . .
Not on the soils but on the sower,
The Sower is Jesus’ Evangelist
Principle Nr. 2 “The Sower went out to sow . . .” v. 3
Evangelism must be Purposeful and Planned.
The very first verb Jesus uses in this parable is
that the sower “WENT OUT.”
Principle Nr. 3 “road . . rocks . . thorns” v. 4-7
Evangelism must be Pervasive . . . Everywhere.
What seems stupid in a human sense becomes a necessity
in a spiritual sense.
Principle Nr. 4 “ate it . . scorched it . . choked it” v. 4-7
Evangelism is Discouraging . . . Not always joyous.
After the emotion of fear, comes the emotion of frustration.
Psalm 126:5a “those who sow with tears . . .”
Principle Nr. 5 “fell in good soil and yielded a crop . .” v. 8
Evangelism is Fruitful, It is not a waste!
the final emotion of evangelism is joy.
-- Psalm 126:5b “ . . . will reap with great joy!”
Principle Nr. 6 “seed fell . . seed fell . . seed fell” v. 4-8
Evangelism must contain the Gospel . . . All of it . . .
because the Gospel is not puny . . . it is POWERFUL
v. 32 The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Principle Nr. 7 “seed fell . . seed fell . . seed fell” v. 4-8
Evangelism must contain the Gospel . . . All of it . . .
because it is the only thing
that will have an eternal impact
in the heart of the non-believer.
The Seed is Made for the Soil.
The Soil is Made for the Seed.
Just as surely as . . .
The Gospel is Made for the Human Heart.
The Human Heart is Made for the Gospel.
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Now let’s check out what Paul says . . . . . .
Principle Number 8
Evangelism must be
BOLD
BECAUSE . . .
We are told in the Bible that this is
how it should be done.
Ephesians 6:18-20
19 and pray on my behalf,
that utterance may be given to me
in the opening of my mouth,
to make known ... with BOLDNESS
the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains;
that in proclaiming it,
I may speak BOLDLY,
. . . AS I SHOULD SPEAK.
Principle Number 9
Evangelism must be
CLEAR
BECAUSE . . .
We are told by the Bible that this is
how it should be done.
Colossians 4:3-4
3 praying at the same time for us as well,
that God will open up to us a door
for the word,
so that we may speak forth
the mystery of Christ,
for which I have also been imprisoned;
4 that I may make it CLEAR
in the way I SHOULD SPEAK.
Paul is basically saying here:
“I . . . AN APOSTLE . . .
NEED PRAYER
Relating to evangelism
And the thing I need to concern myself
with. The thing for which I need prayer. Is . . .
That I would speak the Gospel
CLEARLY
Because that is how it should be done.”
What Boldness is Not:
-- Brashness
-- Blasting people
-- Belligerence (arguing)
-- Brain-washing
What Boldness IS: Speaking and:
-- Getting to the point ASAP.
-- Not allowing fear to prevent us
from seeking to push forward.
(example of New Testament believers)
-- Making friendships from:
- the reality of who you are
in Christ . . . and . . .
- from the message you carry.
Differences between
Boldness & Clarity
Boldness is a choice.
Clarity is a process.
Differences between
Boldness & Clarity
Boldness relates to the Gospel content,
getting to the germinating message.
Clarity relates to the Gospel packaging,
being more effective with the content.
Principle Number 10
Evangelism contains
Two Parts
1. The Contents of the Gospel
2. The Packaging of the Gospel
Which can change? Which cannot change?
Principle Number 11
Evangelism is most effective when
When we make sure we share . . .
ALL of the Gospel message
Acts 5:20 (The Lord’s angel commands the apostles . . . )
“Go your way, stand and speak to the people . . .
the whole message of this Life.”
Along with a challenge for a person to make choice
Example of Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2
but especially v. 37-38
Principle Number 12
Evangelism is most effective when
we go to find His sheep.
- Thus, we stick with people who are
“hearers.”
We don’t shed hearers.
John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice
and they follow me . . .”
BOLD as Possible Never make it to clarity –
“the hard filter”
OUR OVERALL GOAL:
To be as:
The Offensiveness Line
BOLD & CLEAR
as possible.
brash bold
“Street
Bold = Getting to Content
Preacher”
Model -
Insensitive Which of these two is
The Need: To turn
the Corner to harder to do?
CLARITY
The New
Testament Model
of the Apostles
bold
Never make
The “Fearfulness” Line
too fearful it to the
Gospel–
“overcome
The Need: Turn the by fear”
Corner to
BOLDNESS
“Relationship Evangelism” Model
CLEAR as Possible
Clarity = Packaging & Time = Relationship
The Imperatives of Evangelism From Ephesians and Colossians
APPLICATION – How to Make This Real
What we have us consider adopting as an evangelism mentality:
1. A “100% TRY” ATTITUDE - We want to TRY to get
to the whole Gospel even on the first meeting with an individual.
This is the BOLDNESS in our “Boldness-Clarity Model” that
starts the critical path of trying to get to the Gospel in our
outreach from the start . . . in every situation. 1 Peter 3:15
2. A “100% NO SHED” ATTITUDE - We are not willing to
leave a relationship with anyone. They must initiate “leaving.”
This is the TIME & RELATIONSHIP aspect that allows us to move
to CLARITY. It “turns the corner” in our Boldness Model to make
sure the non-believer hears and understands.
John 10:27
APPLICATION – How to Make This Real
Decide to avoid the NEEDLESS DICHOTOMY
that has plagued believers in recent years.
It is NOT “either / or” . . .
relational evangelism or boldness evangelism
Rather it is . . .
“BOTH / AND” . . . at the same time!
We chose to live out 1 Peter 3:15
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always
being ready to make a defense
to everyone
who asks you (or even those who don’t ask!)
to give an account
for the hope that is in you,
yet with gentleness and reverence”
We Refuse to Live with a
“Multiple - Personality Complex”
We act the same way . . .
. . . with non-believers . . .
. . . as we do . . .
. . . with believers . . .
Application - Practical Points
Study “the Gospel” – know “the stuff”
Make sure your testimony has “the stuff”
Learn & memorize something like the 4SL
It is a simple outline of John 3:16
It is what it takes to communicate “the stuff.”
It is very “raw.” But with some . . . That’s all it takes!
Use it as a skeletal outline to move towards clarity.
Become ready to move beyond the 4SL with a person.
Learn many ways to share the Gospel
Believe in “divine appointments,” life NOT BY CHANCE
Ephesians 2:10
QUESTIONS ???