The Christian world is declining in the West. This is the result of following trends and society rather than following the Bible. It is also the result of people not giving to mission and not caring about lost people around the world who are dying without Jesus.
1. Have a steady spiritual life
One reason people do not evangelize is that they themselves need to be evangelized. We live in a world like the USA, where people need to be brought back to Jesus again and again. It is a waste of time when the mission field is ignored, because the real need is not only more believers, but also many more missionaries.
For this to happen, a person needs a steady spiritual life. Spiritual life comes when someone spends time with Jesus. How do we do that? We pray and talk to God, we read the Bible, and God speaks to us. We also help others. Staying active in service strengthens spiritual life.
If your spiritual life is not active, you will not be a strong Christian. You need a loving, friendship-based connection with Jesus through prayer, Bible reading, and helping others. These are the pillars of a healthy relationship with Him.
If you stop communicating with a friend, the friendship weakens. The same is true with Jesus. When we stop communicating with Him, our spiritual life weakens, and evangelism suffers. This is sad because it wastes a lot of effort from God’s servants who are trying to bring weak believers back into the fold.
2. Do not stay in one place
Most Christians in the world are stuck in one place. Many are concentrated in the Americas and do not see the need in other parts of the world. Billions of people are dying without Jesus, and few people care enough to tell them how to escape hell and enter heaven.
Having success in evangelism means going where God needs you. Be sure you are called and ready. Not everyone is called to be a missionary, but many can work where they are, support missionaries with money, and pray for them.
The 10/40 Window is a place where much of the world’s population lives with little access to the Bible, other Christians, or churches. That should concern every Christian. If believers truly love Jesus and love people, they will want to share God’s love.
We must remember that Jesus will not return until everyone has had the opportunity to listen to the truth. If Christians stay comfortable in one place while ignoring the world, then their Christianity becomes only a profession without fruit.
3. Know the Bible and the truth
If you are going to spend much time telling people about the Bible, you need to know the Bible well. If you know only a little, do not worry. You can still tell others what you know, and God will teach you more as you grow.
But one danger is teaching things that are not in the Bible. That is why we must study carefully and only share truth. Many beliefs in Christian churches are actually pagan in nature, so we need to teach the Bible, not human tradition.
The main topics to share with others are righteousness by faith and end-time prophecy. These are important messages that help people understand the love of God and the urgency of the hour.
4. Do not fear rejection
Many people avoid evangelism because they are afraid of rejection. They wonder if people will say no. Yes, some will say no, so expect it. But when they reject the message, they are not rejecting you alone; they are rejecting God.
That changes everything. God did not call us to make sure everyone says yes. Our job is to present the truth and let people decide for or against Jesus.
Noah preached, and the world rejected his message. Yet Noah still fulfilled his work. His task was to bring people to a decision. That is also the work of every Christian. When someone says no, you have still done your job if you faithfully presented the truth.
This makes evangelism much easier to understand. Your role is not to force decisions, but to present truth clearly and leave the result to God.
5. End with a call
This is very important. Many sermons are preached, and the Holy Spirit works through the message, but the preacher never makes a call. That is a mistake. It is like a salesperson giving a presentation and never asking for a decision.
People need to make decisions. Evangelism should lead people to a clear choice. But they should not be asked to decide before they understand enough about Jesus. People cannot truly love Jesus if they do not know Him.
So when you speak to someone, guide them toward a decision only after they have heard enough about the love of Christ. Do not end without a clear invitation. Ask them what they will do with Jesus. People rarely decide on their own unless they are helped to make that choice.
6. A simple purpose
These steps are a good beginning for evangelism:
- keep a strong spiritual life,
- go where the need is,
- know the Bible,
- do not fear rejection,
- and make a clear call.
What would keep you from starting today?
Father God, please forgive our sins and provide for all our needs. Help the Christian world wake up and bring the truth to the world and to all honest people on earth. May they hear and accept Your love, in the name of Jesus. Amen.