EVANGELISM

TOPIC 1

“God’s commission is to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” (Revelation 14:6). “His work is to go forward in cities and towns and villages.”—Evangelism, p. 46. This includes your city, your town, your village. You have a responsibility to reach every individual in your territory. The Lord has given “to every man his work” (Mark 13:34), and this is to “Carry the Word of God to every man’s door.”- Christian Service p. 144.

“This is not only a duty—it is a glorious privilege! We may become workers together with God, used of Him to help save souls for eternity. Our work has been marked out for us by our heavenly Father. We are to take our Bibles and go forth to warn the world. We are to be God’s helping hands in saving souls — channels through which His love is day by day to flow to the perishing.”— Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 150.

TOPIC 2

What Branch Sabbath School Can Do in Evangelism?

1. Provide an effective approach to reaching homes and hearts in the community.

2. Increase Sabbath School and Church Membership.

3. Open additional doors for personal visits and Bible Studies.

4. Create evangelistic fervor among church members.

5. Offer effective and thrilling soul-saving work.

6. Bring in new members with new life and new zeal.

7. Afford active evangelism without a large outlay of funds.

8. Open the place for the Church Planting Project.

TOPIC 3

This is the time when it is wise to begin planning our Vacation Bible School. The need for Vacation Bible Schools become more evident each year as more and more children are coming into the world. “God’s people have a mighty work before them, a work that must continually rise to greater prominence.

Our efforts in missionary lines must become far more extensive. A more decided work than has been done must be done prior to the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s people are not to cease their labors until they shall encircle the world.”-Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 133.

TOPIC 4

Every Christian is a witness for Christ. “It is the plan of Heaven that those who have received light shall impart it to those in darkness. Humanity, drawing its efficiency from the great Source of wisdom, is made the instrumentality, the working agency, through which the gospel exercises its transforming power on mind and heart.’4—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 134.

“Not upon the ordained minister only, rests the responsibility of going forth to fulfill this commission. Everyone who has received Christ is called to work for the salvation of his fellow men.” The Acts of the Apostles, p. 110.

“God expects personal service from everyone to whom He has entrusted a knowledge of the truth for this time. Not all can go as missionaries to foreign lands, but all can be home missionaries in their families and neighborhoods.”— Testimonies, vol. 9, p, 30,

TOPIC 5

The whole church must be involved in missionary work. “There is a broad field in Sabbath School work, that needs to be diligently cultivated, and that is to inspire our youth to give themselves wholly to the Lord, to be used by Him in His cause. There should be zealous, faithful workers in our Sabbath schools, who will watch and discern upon whom the Spirit of God is moving, and cooperate with the angels of God in winning souls for Christ. There are sacred responsibilities entrusted to Sabbath School Workers, and the Sabbath School should be the place where, through a living connection with God, men and women, youth and children, may be so fitted up that they shall be a strength and blessing to the church. They should help the church upward and onward, as far as it lies in their ability, going from strength to greater strength ”׳״Testimonies on Sabbath School Work, p. 92.

“Let no church think it is too small to exert an influence and do service in the great work for this time.”–R & H, March 13,1888.

“Go to work, brethren… The humblest effort of unselfish love will be crowned with His blessings, and receive its greatest reward. Do what you can, and God will increase your ability.”—Ibid.

TOPIC 6

Christ-like life most powerful argument in favor of Christianity. “It is not only by preaching the truth, not only by distributing literature, that we are to witness for God. Let us remember that a Christ-like life is the most powerful argument that can be advanced in favor of Christianity and that a cheap Christian character works more harm in the world than the character of a worldling.” —Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 21.

A father was one day teaching his little boy what a Christian is. When the lesson was finished, the father got a stab he never forgot. The boy asked, “Daddy, have I ever seen a Christian?”-W.B.K. Reminder: Let us live that people who remember you will also remember Jesus Christ.

TOPIC 7

“A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost, Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seems to be lightened with the heavenly influence.” .621 .9

Thousands visiting! Doors opening! Bibles opening! Hearts responding! The earth being lightened! What a glorious picture! God wants you in that picture! “Go to your neighbors one by one, and come close to them till their hearts are warmed by your unselfish interest and love. Sympathize with them, pray with them, watch for opportunities to do them good, and as you can, gather a few together and open the Word of God to their darkened minds.”־־Welfare Ministry, p. 64.

TOPIC 8

The times in which we live challenge every worker and every church member to become personally involved in reaching out for judgment- bound souls. There are numerous ways of creating an interest in the gospel; Consistent Christian Living, Being a Good Neighbor, Literature Distribution, Gift Bible Evangelism, Neighborhood Bible Clubs, Friendship Teams, Community Services, Health Classes, Temperance Programs, Voice of Prophecy, Cooking Demonstration, Small Group and many *others. All of these methods are effective in awakening the interest of men and women, and children in Jesus Christ and in the special truths for these times.

“To every one work has been allotted, and no one can be a substitute for another. Each one has a mission of wonderful importance, which he cannot neglect or ignore, as the fulfillment of it involves the weal of some soul, and the neglect of it the woe of one for whom Christ died.”—R & H, December 12, 1893.

“Church members, let the light shine forth. Let your voices be heard in humble prayer, in witness against intemperance, the folly and the amusements of this world, and in the proclamation of the truth for this time. Your voice, your influence, your time – all these are gifts from God, and are to be used in winning souls to Christ. — Testimonies, vol. 9 p. 38.

TOPIC 9

When we give attention to our own spiritual needs and our personal relationship to the Savior, there develops a burden and concern for others. Not only does God give the burden, but He equips every convert for service. Upon each believer the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts to be used in witnessing for Christ.

Every Christian is a witness, but because we have different spiritual gifts, we might not at all witness in just the same way. Some are most comfortable beginning with a health approach. Others prefer to work with audio-visual materials which do the talking for them. Then, there are others who want to do their own talking, and some are especially gifted to be lay evangelist.

Christian friends can help you in identifying your spiritual gifts, also there are tests especially designed for this purpose. Keep in mind that spiritual gifts are given for service and for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God.

“All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the master some gift of the Spirit is promised.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 327.

Regardless of what gifts you possess, you will find joy in reaching out through these gifts to those in your family territory. Other members of your family or of your church family will have gifts which will compliment your own and thus the body of Christ will be complete. “In all the Lord’s arrangements, there is nothing more beautiful than His plan of giving to men and women a diversity of gifts,”-‘Evangelism, p. 98.

TOPIC 10

The gift of hospitality is a gift that can be cultivated on the part of many church members. One clue to the phenomenal growth of the early church was the fact that they knew how to use this gift. They invited neighbors and friends to share simple meals in their homes. In turn, they were invited to the homes of their new friends. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42). People cannot eat together without speaking about the joys and problems of life; and it is easy to understand that these Christians, for whom witnessing was a way of life.

Use these contacts to lead people to Jesus after first building confidence and friendship. Whom do we invite to our homes? Members of our immediate families, relatives and friends. We enjoy the company of people we already know, rust, and love. But how will we reach the others, the ones we don’t know, those starving for companionship aid care? “If we could humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.”- Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 189.

Many of us could invite a neighbor, a work associate, a new visitor to our church, a stranger, or a lonely person to our home for a meal. Why not do this once a month, or at least once a quarter?

This association will provide opportunity to praise the Lord by sharing our testimony about how we met Jesus and to cheer the hearts of our guests with a precious Bible promise and a prayer.

TOPIC 11

The Pastor’s Bible class is a special Sabbath School class for inquirers. Names for this class which might have a special appeal to non-Adventists include: inter-faith Bible class and Saturday morning Bible class. If someone other than the Pastor is appointed to teach this class, it should ideally be someone gifted in the areas of teaching and hospitality. This class must have an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness if it is to achieve its purpose.

When a new baby is born, it is kept for a time in a controlled environment under constant surveillance by experts in the field of pediatric nursing. We don’t say to the newborn child, “This is a hard, cold world. There are disease, germs, poisons, and all kinds of dangers. But you’re one of us now, and you’ll just have to take your chances along with the rest of us!”

No, we don’t say that! We do all in our power to cut down on infant mortality. We provide special formulas for feeding, and above all, a lot of tender loving care!

The ideal controlled environment and special- feeding formula for new Christians is found in the Pastor’s Bible class. The subject matter of the lesson is especially designed to meet the needs of new believers. Wherever possible the class is taught in a separate room so that the new believer is not faced with the distraction of many talking at the same time in the same room.

Chairs should be arranged in a circle, if at all possible, so there will be a warm feeling of fellowship and an opportunity to become acquainted with others in the class. Time should be taken every week to introduce each new person by name at the beginning of the class so that all are acquainted by name. The teacher will immediately notice if a member of the class is missing. He will visit the missing person without delay.

TOPIC 12

A new sense of urgency is gripping the Seventh- day Adventists around the world as crisis follows crisis. These crises confront us in government, morals, pollution, population, water, energy, food, finance and religion. The list grows longer by the week!

God has raised up His remnant church to prepare men and women for the final crisis. “Men will soon be forced to great decisions, and they must have opportunity to hear and to understand Bible truth, in order that they may take their stand intelligently on the right side, God is now calling upon His messengers in no uncertain terms, to warn the cities while mercy still lingers, and while multitudes are yet susceptible to the converting influence of Bible truth.” —Evangelism, pp 25, 26.

The conviction is deepening that the return of our Lord is very near. The stage is set for His return. The great time prophecies have all reached their terminal dates. The world has reached that low ebb of morality described in Scripture as preceding the end. Certainly, our Lord is well.

TOPIC 13

Every Saturday evening for over forty years a servant of God stood on a certain street comer handling out gospel papers to the passersby. And then he stopped. Discouraged because he saw so little fruit, he abandoned his post. Some years later he happened on the spot and a young man stood there and gave him a gospel tract. He stopped, and addressing the young man he said, “How is it that you are here tonight?”

“Well, sir, it is like this. An old man occupied this comer for years; I was saved by means of a tract he gave me. Evidently the old man is in heaven now for I’ve missed him here, and so I am seeking to fill his place.”

Tears filled the eyes of the older Christian as the young man thus spoke. “I am the man who gave you the tract,” he said, “and by the grace of God I mean to stand my place until Jesus comes.” –Peter J. Pell

Sabbath School promotions are given from Sabbath to Sabbath not only to add flavor on the Sabbath School Program but to challenge Sabbath School officers and members. Promotional thoughts are not promotions to any Sabbath School when not followed through and implemented.