The Need for Personal Evangelism

Steven’s Scribbles
“The Need for Personal Evangelism”
Acts 20:20
    
    Often we romanticize about the large crowds we read about in the Bible. We like to imagine what it was like for Jesus to feed the four thousand and the five thousand. We talk about how the Jerusalem church was thousands of members strong in such a short amount of time (Acts 2:41 & 4:4). Did you know there are more examples of Jesus teaching with a small group than with a large group? Did you know there are more examples of small group bible study in the book of Acts than there are large groups. I have been studying personal evangelism more lately preparing for the Magnolia Bible Institute and have become more passionate for the topic than ever before. We must emulate the first century example if we expect the church to grow. In the choosing of the 12 (Matt. 10:1-15), Jesus chose people across the socio-economic and political spectrum. When teaching the “woman at the well” in John 4, he broke down the racial barrier. He taught people with differing doctrine, like Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus already knew what I am just now starting to understand, that people often lack the ability to look inwardly at their own spiritual condition. More often than not, it needs to be pointed out to them. Obviously, I am not suggesting that we need to stop inviting people to the assembly and worship of the church. However, that is only a starting point for establishing personal bible studies. It has to be done by all the members if we expect the church to grow. In Acts 8, after the persecution of Christians in Jerusalem began, Luke records that “those who had been scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). The early church grew because everyone taught the gospel, not just the Elders and the Preacher. Consider 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (emp. added). We are all to proclaim Jesus. I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley