Baptists for Africa

Soul-Winning Lesson 7 – Evangelism in Daily Life

Evangelism in Daily Life
Soul-Winning Lesson 7

Psalm 142:4: I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

Being Soul-Conscious

Someone who is soul-conscious is someone who thinks about the souls of others at all times in all places. They don’t do soul-winning; they are a soul-winner—24/7. They see the world as a field (Matthew 13:1-23), and people as fruit ripe for harvest (John 4:35). Because the majority of the world is lost (Matthew 7:13-14), lost people are everywhere: in transportation (e.g., cars, buses, taxis, airplanes), in business (e.g., markets, shops, hospitals), in recreation (e.g., restaurants, special events), and in gatherings (e.g., holidays, weddings, funerals).

(1) Thinking about other people. Being soul-conscious requires one to think about others, and of the spiritual value of others. The second greatest commandment in the Bible is “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18; cf. Matthew 22:9). Loving one’s neighbor as themselves is the royal law (James 2:8), the summarization of the law (Romans 13:9), and the fulfillment of the law (Galatians 5:14). The greatest way to obey this commandment is to look on the things of others (Philippians 2:4) and to please others for their profit (I Corinthians 10:24, 33), like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). We must use whatever situation we have in life for the gospel’s sake (I Corinthians 7:29-31; see also 9:23).

Philippians 2:19-22: But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

(2) Thinking about eternal things. Being soul-conscious requires one to think about eternity, and of the eternal destiny of others. Christians should be heavenly and eternally minded (Romans 8:6; II Corinthians 4:18; Colossians 3:1-2). A carnal Christian views people according to the flesh: just as other humans. A spiritual Christian views people according to the spirit: as lost/found souls. Many people misunderstood Jesus because they tried to understand him according to the flesh (John 8:15; see John 2:18-22; 3:1-12; 4:6-26; 6:32-63; 7:32-43). After we receive salvation, we should view both Christ and others in a different way (see II Corinthians 5:13-16).

Different Daily-Life Mission Fields

Family Evangelism: the mission field of your immediate and extended relatives. We can preach the gospel to the members of our family, including parents, siblings, children, cousins, etc. Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-42). Peter brought Jesus to his mother in law for healing (Luke 4:38-39). Cornelius gathered his family together to hear the gospel with him (Acts 11:24; see Acts 10-11). Timothy’s grandmother Lois saved his mother Eunice, and his mother Eunice saved him (II Timothy 1:5; 3:15; see Acts 16:1).

If a person is a serious follower of Jesus, they may experience a spiritual division between them and their family (Matthew 10:34-37). Even though there may be more success in preaching to strangers than to those who know you (Mark 6:4), Jesus still did some good works in his own town (Mark 6:5-6), and in spite of the fact that Jesus’ physical brothers at first did not believe in him (John 7:5), some, like James, later got saved (see Galatians 1:19; I Corinthians 15:7).

Friend Evangelism: the mission field of your companions and acquaintances. All of our friends, close and far, may be ready to receive the gospel. A persons’ true friend will share Christ with them, because “A friend loveth at all times” (Proverbs 17:17; see also Proverbs 18:24; 27:6, 9, 17). Jesus fellowshipped with people to win them to himself (Matthew 11:19; Mark 2:15-17), and commanded people that he saved to preach to their friends (Mark 5:19). There are many opportunities to witness to people who we already know (e.g., I Corinthians 10:27-30).

Life Evangelism: the mission field of the countless individuals you interact with every day of your life. Jesus saved the woman of Samaria by Jacob’s well in Sychar (John 4). Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian Eunuch in his chariot (Acts 8:26-40). Paul witnessed for the Lord in places like a river side (Acts 16:13-14), a courtroom (Acts 26), and prison (Philemon 10).

Lifestyle Evangelism

Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), and God expects us to behave as his saints (Ephesians 5:1-4), his children (Philippians 2:15-16; I Peter 1:13-17), and his representatives (II Corinthians 5:18-20). The world watches the behavior of God’s people (e.g., Daniel: Daniel 6:1-14, Jesus: Luke 6:7; 11:53-54), and while our faith justifies us before God (Romans 3-4), our works are what justify us before men (James 2:14-26). Nicodemus came to Jesus by night because he heard of his miraculous works (John 3:1-9). The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas how to be saved because he knew they were Christians (Acts 16:23-34). The lifestyle we live is a testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:19; see also Revelation 12:11).

II Corinthians 3:2-3: Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Our manner of life is not a replacement for preaching Christ (Ephesians 6:19-20). The Jews of Rome (Paul’s “brethren”) were interested to hear Paul’s gospel because he was already so active in preaching it (Acts 28:17-22). However, by living a godly life, we can win more people to the Lord (I Peter 3:1-6; I Corinthians 7:10-16). A righteous, Biblical lifestyle supports the gospel message we preach (I Peter 3:15-16; 4:15-16), whereas a sinful, hypocritical lifestyle undermines it (I Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:5, 10; II Samuel 12:24; see also Romans 2:24; II Peter 2:2).

7 Practical Tips for Evangelism in Daily Life

  1. Whenever you can, ask people the most important question.

Getting the gospel to someone that you aren’t sure is saved or not should be your top priority (see John 4:31-34). When you interact with any person in a meaningful way, you should try to preach to them, especially if you are alone (one-on-one) with them. You can do this by…

  1. Asking straightforwardly: “Let me ask you an interesting question that’s on my mind. Are you a Christian?/Are you sure that you will go to heaven when you die?”
  2. Transitioning conversations: Moving the conversation from the natural to the spiritual. Change the discussion with someone from whatever topic is at hand to asking spiritual questions of them (“Oh, do you work on Sundays?” or “Which church do you go to?”) or explaining things about yourself (e.g., what you do in your free time (read the Bible, etc.), which church you attend, etc.) (see John 4:7-10).
  3. Bring your Bible with you everywhere you go (see II Chronicles 17:7-9; see also Deuteronomy 17:18-19).
  4. Carry gospel tracts with you everywhere you go (see Mark 4:14).
  5. Be early to all scheduled appointments to give spare time to possibly witness to others.
  6. Pray for opportunities to preach the gospel (see Colossians 4:3-4).
  7. Accommodate your lifestyle to morally-neutral customs and practices of the culture you are in (see I Corinthians 9:19-23).
  8. Do not be ashamed of Jesus Christ (see Romans 1:16; II Timothy 1:8). If we don’t want Jesus to be ashamed of us in heaven, then we must not be ashamed of him in this world (Mark 8:38).