“You are the Light of the World”

Chapter Seven: Active Evangelism

By Pastor Stephen Kurtzahn

In the last chapter we centered our attention on "passive" evangelism—what the congregation can do as a whole in order to make itself visible within the community. We discussed several things, such as advertising and public awareness. Today, we want to consider the other side of the witnessing coin: "active" evangelism. What can we actively do as individuals to share our faith with others?

With us, however, things are different. We are not omniscient like our Redeemer. We need to learn to understand people and be able to recognize their wants and needs and desires if we are to share the Gospel in a relevant way.

So how should we view others? First of all, people need to be loved, recognized and accepted. It's a medical fact that if newborn babies are not touched, held and loved, they will soon die. It is no different with adults and growing children. Even those rugged individuals who give the appearance that they want to be left alone need other people. God, in His divine wisdom, recognized this during Creation Week when He formed Eve, the first woman (Genesis 2:18).

Secondly, people have spiritual, as well as physical needs. Whether they recognize it or not, people have a spiritual side to their nature. This truth is evident among the heathen, who search for God in their idol worship. The triune God has given evidence of Himself in nature, and to man an inner desire to search after Him. But we don't know who He is, or how He has saved us, except in the Bible. (Cf. Acts 17:16-34; Romans 1:18-20; Romans 2:14, 15.)

Thirdly, people are sinful. Above all, they are in need of the Savior's forgiveness. Visit any mental health clinic or hospital, and you will soon discover that a great deal of mental illness is brought about by feelings of severe guilt. By nature people are not in a right relationship with their heavenly Father. They fall far short of God's demands as revealed in the Ten Commandments. They are under the wrath of almighty God, and, unless they have Christ's forgiveness through faith, are headed to an eternity of misery in hell.

In a world of uncertainty, violence, immorality and death, people need to know above all else that JESUS LOVES THEM! He takes us as we are, no matter how cold or bad or wicked we may be. The Son of God shed His blood to forgive us and make us His own. What we want to do is simply share this Good News with those who so desperately need it!

But more and more people are beginning to realize that witnessing is best accomplished in an atmosphere of trust and confidence. What better way is there than to share your faith over a cup of coffee, or a Coke, or lunch, with friends who have come to know you and trust you? There are several things which are necessary to build such relationships.

1.       TAKE AN INTEREST IN PEOPLE. When our Lord lived among us here on earth, going about His work of saving lost mankind, He took a very deep and personal interest in people—the newly married couple who ran out of wine at their wedding, the woman at the well who was rejected by the "respectable" citizens of her community, the tax collector who was hated by his countrymen, the weeping widow of Nain, the beggar, the leper, the man on the cross next to Him. Jesus was very well aware of their feelings and needs, and He was always ready to help them.

If we want to follow our Master's example as we carry out our Gospel witness, we will take a sincere interest in the boys and girls playing ball, the sales lady at the grocery store, the mailman, the barber, the hairdresser, the family next door, the person next to you at work. But one word of warning. Such an interest must be sincere – from the heart. People can spot a fake, and it automatically drives them away.

2.       LEARN TO KNOW THEM. If you really want to help a person in his relationship with the Savior, you will want to get to know him. You should get past the barriers which he has erected and the mask he has put on. You will want to learn things about him—his work, his family life, his standards, goals and ideals, as well as his problems and needs. The more you learn about a person, the better prepared you will be to relate the Good News of Jesus to his own personal life.

3.       ACCEPT THEM. Always be ready to accept a person, even when his ideas, goals and outlooks are different than your own. We must realize that people have a right to their own opinions, even when they are different from our own. To accept a person does not mean that you agree with him.

4.       BE READY TO HELP. When people come to the realization that you care about them and accept them, they will often open up to you and tell you of the things which are troubling them. They may tell you about a son or daughter who is having a problem at school or with some friends. A family member may be sick. Someone is out of work. Another is having emotional difficulties. Feelings of loneliness, despair, or anguish frequently arise.

When people do open up to us, it is because they trust us and are confident that we might be able to help. What a marvelous open door we then have to say a word about our Savior, with His divine, compassionate and forgiving love!

1)       Mary is a gossip. She cannot keep a secret. She always betrays the confidence of her friends, and she tells people at work about the shortcomings of her fellow church members. After gossiping with a neighbor one day, Mary invites her to church.

2)       Sam is a quiet man, who only speaks to grumble and complain. His language is always salted with profanity, and he loves to make his acquaintances feel bad by always telling them what they do wrong. After listening to a sermon on witnessing during a mission festival, he gets up the courage to tell a co-worker about the Savior.

3)       Joe is an average sort of guy, but well liked by all who know him. He has his faults, but he readily admits them. He speaks well of everyone he knows, and works hard at his job. Talking to a co-worker at lunch, Joe hears the sad story of a man burdened with guilt because he cheated on his wife and is now suffering through a divorce. Joe proceeds to tell him of how Jesus forgives the worst of sinners.

Note: This study was prepared by Pastor Steven Kurtzahn and was used at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, Georgia by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.

If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew