WHAT IS FAITH EVANGELISM?
1. FAITH Evangelism is an intentional approach of disciple making, evangelism training and ministry conducted by members of the open Bible study classes or small groups.
2. FAITH enables a church to intentionally affect the climate of evangelism within the church family as members take the gospel to the community and beyond.
3. FAITH Evangelism is designed to be a journey, not a destination. It is a journey that develops believers, connects people and multiplies disciples.
4. The primary focus of FAITH Evangelism is to build on-mission Christians who are involved in the Kingdom work as multiplying disciples. A key text for understanding FAITH is found in 2 Timothy
2:1-2: “You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (HCSB).
5. FAITH Evangelism builds and equips believers to grow in their own personal lives, to go into the community with the gospel and with needed ministry, and to develop others as committed followers of Jesus Christ.
These days provide us God size opportunities to prepare ourselves for carrying out the Great Commission. As you spend these days being equipped to go and teach others, I am praying that God will give you a new vision for equipping people in your community, state, nation, and around the world.
Our desire is to provide you with the tools for you to be prepared to go wherever God sends you to teach, tell, and mobilize people to go, tell, and teach all the things of Jesus.
Unfortunately, as Jesus lamented, the workers are few (see Matt. 9:37). Ironically, while people in Australia are more receptive to the gospel than ever before, research shows that Christians are becoming increasingly apathetic in their efforts to evangelize the lost. Jesus requested that we pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest (Matt. 9:38).
Your willingness to recognize the opportunity and step forward in commitment means that you are obeying Christ’s command. You are among thousands who are pressing forward into the spiritual darkness to rescue precious lives from eternal separation with God. You are an answer to Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 9:38.
My favorite verse of Scripture comes from Acts 4. Peter and John have just healed the man at the temple gates who had been crippled from birth. The people were amazed! The temple authorities were enraged. They dragged the disciples into court for an inquisition, then commanding them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, with great boldness, responded, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19- 0). That’s my passion. I never want to stop speaking about what I’ve seen and heard.
Jesus has made too great a difference in my life for me to be silent. Think about the story: God wants to save sinners, but because of our sin and rebellion, we rightly deserve His punishment. For Him to be a just God, He has to punish us (see Prov. 17:15). How does God reconcile His desire to save sinners with His unwavering commitment to His standard of holiness? I’ll let the Bible answer: “God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus” (Eph. :4-6). What a story! What great news! As the old hymn says,
Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.
It is easy to become isolated and to see our churches as a refuge where we get away from the increasing rawness of our culture. Church was never meant to be a retreat centre but a mighty army. A great pastor with a passion can guide church members to look outward. Not only does he turn their eyes to the fields, he also leads them into the harvest. Never underestimate a great pastor’s influence to infuse the congregation with a passion for the lost.
As you work through this invaluable training and move out into a hostile culture, go in confidence. The field is ready for harvest. God wants to save sinners. Jesus paid it all.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ ” (Rom. 10:14-15, NIV).
FAITH is a tremendous strategy to enable pastors to motivate their congregations to reach the lost.
The core of the course focuses on learning an easy gospel presentation, following the acronym F.A.I.T.H.
In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to get to heaven and have eternal life?
F Is for Forgiveness
Everyone has sinned and needs God’s forgiveness.
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
God’s forgiveness is in Jesus only.
Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
A Is for Available
God’s forgiveness is available for all.
John 3:16 “God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
God’s forgiveness is available but not automatic.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I Is for Impossible
According to the Bible, it is impossible to get to heaven on our own.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”
So how can a sinful person have eternal life and enter heaven?
T Is for Turn
If you were going down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would he or she be asking you to do? (Change direction)
Turn means repent.
Turn away from sin and self.
Luke 13:3 “Unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”
Turn to Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord.
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Here is the greatest news of all.
Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.”
What happens if a person is willing to repent of their sins and confess Christ?
H Is for Heaven
Heaven is a place where we will live with God forever.
John 14:3 “If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”
Eternal life begins now with Jesus.
John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.”
H can also stand for how.
How can a person have God’s forgiveness, eternal life, and heaven?
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
By trusting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE FAITH RTAINING COURSE?
If you and I believe there is a heaven and a hell, why do we keep so quiet about the gospel of Jesus?
The FAITH evangelism strategy consists of a 12 week course.
The session titles give you an idea of what is included in each session.
1. Session 1: The Great Adventure
2. Session 2: Moving Toward Spiritual Dialogue
3. Session 3: Finding Connection Points
4. Session 4: F Is for Forgiveness
5. Session 5: A Is for Available
6. Session 6: I Is for Impossible
7. Session 7: T Is for Turn
8. Session 8: H Is for Heaven
9. Session 9: The Invitation
10. Session 10: They Accepted Jesus; Now What?
11. Session 11: Your Role in Kingdom Work
12. Session 12: Your Next Step
Each session includes home studies with a strong emphasis on one’s daily, personal walk with the Lord.
Come and learn how to utilise this tremendous resource for training your small group and congregation in ongoing witness.
