Evangelism Training – Personal Barriers to Effective Evangelism
I am convinced that most people within churches do actually want to see other people come to experience life with Jesus. But let’s be honest and address the elephant in the room. Very few people can actually say they have seen family, friends, neighbours, work mates come to know Jesus. In fact, for many denominations if a church grows in number equally the percentage growth of the community within it is located, it is deemed a successful church. Think about that for a moment, that isn’t even growth that is faster than the community within it finds itself, and in most cases that growth isn’t even due to evangelism, but rather church shoppers!
Please don’t go thinking it is all doom and gloom! It is not! Afterall, the bible says that not even the gates of hell shall prevail. It is not the walls of the church which are strong enough, it is the gates of hell don’t stand a chance!
Despite this seemly terrible situation many denominations in some countries find themselves. We must remember Jesus has given all of us, the church the task of world evangelism! I also need to point out here at the very start. You and I have been tasked with evangelism, but it is always to be part of the wider body of Christ. You are not meant to go it alone!
If you were to really think about the reasons why you and I may find evangelism so difficult. You could easily come up with the following reasons:
The Time Bind —”tyranny of the urgent”
The Holy Huddle — “sit-soak & sour syndrome”
Fear… of rejection … of failure… of contamination
Wrong Motive —”a scalp hunter’s mentality’
Wrong Method — “lack of skill”
Spend some time asking God is there any other reason why you find it so difficult and write them down. Then pray about them, not just once off, but repeatedly until you have addressed these hindrances in your life! It may take a lifetime but that why evangelism is a lifestyle!
I am certain you can find other reasons why you personally struggle with evangelism. So please take the time to give them to God and trust Him to take them away or better still ask Him to push you through it. I had a neighbour who does not know Jesus who used to always say ‘suck it up buttercup!’ In this situation I think it is applicable.
As you go through this course, pray each day for all the reasons you find it hard to live a life of evangelism, and let’s collectively ‘suck it up buttercup’.
