Barriers To First Century Evangelism

1
Barriers To First Century Evangelism

• Christians were resisted and rejected by the
  established religious leaders of the day (Acts
  517 1 Th. 214-16)
• Christians were looked upon with suspicion by the
  government (Acts 1620-33 2130-33)
• There were some hypocrites in the church (Acts
  53 1 Cor. 51 1121 66)

2
Barriers To First Century Evangelism

• There was occasional strife among Christians
  (Acts 61 151-2, 37-39 Gal. 211 Phil.
  115-17)
• The apostles had a reputation for being
  uneducated (Acts 413)
• There were vicious rumors spread about them
  (Acts 611, 13 176 2128, 38 245 2822)
• The leaders were often under attack (Acts 518,
  40 760 121-2, 4 1350 1812 2130 2222)

3
Faithfully Bearing Fruit

• A changed life (Mt. 38 Lk. 38)
• Christian character (Gal. 522-23)
• Godly living (Rom. 619-22 Eph. 58-10 Phil.
  19-11 Heb. 1211 Jas. 317-18)
• Spiritual development (2 Pet. 15-11)
• Good works (Col. 19-11)

4
Faithfully Bearing Fruit

• Edifying the brethren (Phil. 121-26)
• Helping needy saints (Rom. 1526-29)
• Praising God (Heb. 1315)
• Giving to the Lord (2 Cor. 910)
• Teaching the lost (Rom. 113 Col. 13-6 Phil.
  414-17)

5
Evangelism In The Early Church

• They were in love with God (2 Cor. 514-21)
• They were involved with people (Acts 246-47
  513-16)
• They possessed a faith that knew no bounds (2
  Cor. 47-18)
• They felt the urgent necessity of each one
  winning one, and they didnt stop there (Acts
  541-42 2018-24)

6
Evangelism In The Early Church

• They were more concerned about souls than about
  earthly possessions (Acts 244-45 432-35 Heb.
  1032-34)
• They believed the world was lost (Rom. 39-18,
  23 1 Jn. 519)
• They were so filled with the message of salvation
  they had to tell it (Rom. 114-17 1 Cor. 916)
• Their dedicated lives attracted the world (1
  Pet. 211-12)

7
Facts That Ought To Concern Us

• Of all the reported church members in America
• 5 Do not exist
• 10 Cannot be found
• 20 Never pray
• 25 Never read the Bible
• 30 Never attend church
• 40 Never give money for religious work
• 50 Never go to Sunday School
• 60 Never attend evening meetings
• 70 Never support foreign work
• 80 Never attend Wednesday night
• 90 Never worship at home
• 95 Never win a soul for Christ

8
Jesus The Model Soul Winner

• Jesus was motivated by his love for the lost
  (Mt. 935-38)
• Jesus practiced lifestyle evangelism (Lk.
  1910)
• Jesus looked for opportunities to talk about
  salvation
• He stayed attuned to the spiritual needs of the
  people in the world around Him
• He went where the sinners were

9
Jesus The Model Soul Winner

• He reached out to lost souls (Lk. 191-10)
• Jesus was interested in all who wanted to know
  the truth
• Jesus was interested in even the worst of people
• Jesus made the evangelized the evangelists (Mt.
  101-16 Mk. 519 Lk. 101-16 Mt. 2818-20)
• Jesus excluded no one
• Jesus established relationships with people

10
The Vine And The Branches

• The secret to life is being in the Vine (Jn.
  156)
• The secret to being in the Vine is bearing fruit
  (Jn. 152, 6)
• The secret to bearing fruit is abiding in Christ
  (Jn. 154-5)
• The secret to abiding in Christ is obeying Christ
  (Jn. 157, 10)
• The secret to obeying Christ is loving God (Jn.
  159)
• The secret to loving God is knowing God (Jn.
  1515)

11
Some Keys To Church Growth

• Pointed Powerful Preaching
• Committed Consecrated Christians
• Personal Persistent Prayer
• Direct Decisive Discipline
• Preaching, Preaching, Preaching
• Intense Individual Involvement
• Loving And United Churches
• Evidence For Faith
• Preaching To All People
• Sending Men To Virgin Fields
• Teaching The Receptive
• Turning From Sin

12
Causes For Church Growth

• The Institute For American Church Growth asked
  10,000 people this question "What was
  responsible for your coming to Christ and this
  church?" They replied
• I attended a revival service .005
• I visited there 1
• I had a special need 2
• I just walked in 3
• I liked the programs 3
• I like the Sunday School 5
• I liked the minister 6
• A friend or a relative invited me 79

13
Why You Need To Be Involved In Evangelism

• To fulfill your commission from the Lord (Mt.
  2818-20 2 Tim. 22)
• To save the lost (Rom. 116-17 Jn. 644-45)
• To be like Jesus (Jn. 1315-16 Lk. 1910)
• To be like early Christians (Acts 528, 42 84)
• To pay your debt (2 Cor. 514-15 Rom. 114-17)
• To demonstrate your love for God and Christ (Jn.
  1415, 21, 23-24)

14
Why You Need To Be Involved In Evangelism

• To demonstrate your love for others (Rom. 91-3
  101-3 Tit. 31-7)
• To be involved in the greatest work on earth
  (Mt. 1626 Jas. 519-20)
• To strengthen this local church
• To mature and grow as a Christian (2 Pet. 318)
• To experience the joy of salvation (Acts 839
  1634 Phil. 41 3 Jn. 3-4)
• To save yourself (Jn. 151-2, 5-6, 8)