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Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's
son; but I was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit:
And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go,
prophesy unto my people Israel (Amos 7:14-15).
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (Jn 1:6)
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the
womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall
send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. (Jer1:5:7)
* It is God the Father-the only living and true God that has called and chosen you to
be a minister. You have been given the highest privilege in the entire world: you have
been called and chosen to be a minister by the Lord God himself.
The Holy Ghost wants to use your body and your life to preach the Word.
He is making you an example to the world, and as an example you must
walk at all times in godliness and righteousness.
The Holy Ghost wants to conform His image through your preach word,
conviction therefore the cross and completion must take place.
You have been given the most important job in the kingdom. You have been called
and chosen by the Holy Ghost: You have been called to proclaim the gospel of Christ to
a world lost and reeling under the weight of enormous need.
No matter what may confront you or how far down you may fall, Christ
counts you faithful and Christ will give you power to be faithful. Christ
knows that you will arise and begin to serve with renewed favor.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should
preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph3:7-8)
* You have been call to be a minister of Christ based on four significant facts.
a) The word minister means an under-rower. It refers to the slaves who sat in the
belly of the large slave ships and pulled at the oars to carry the ship through the
seas. Christ is the Master of the ship and the minister one of the slaves Christ.
The slaves in the ship was bound and only allowed to serve the master. You are
a bound slave of Christ; you exist only to row for JESUS. You cannot serve
another master.
b) God has poured His grace upon you and made you a minister. He has been
merciful and forgiven. So, you owe God your life, to preach the unsearchable
riches of Christ. No greater call and privilege could ever be given to a person.
c) The glory is Gods call and Gods work. As a minister you must see the glorious
privilege you have in serving Christ.
d) Your call to be a minister and a preacher is a special gift, a free gift of Gods
grace. The less of the least is always called by God to minister and preach.
***Remember: The salvation in Christ caused Paul to become a minister. The
salvation in Christ caused Paul to become a preacher. As a minister of God, you
will reel under the weight of suffering and dying.
You are commissioned to be sent out. You exist only for the purpose for
which your were sent.
You possess all the authority and power of the one who sent you.
You are sent fort with the message of the sender. It is not your message.
As a minister, you must do the work of an Evangelist. This does not mean that you are to
become a traveling or professional hotel guest. It means that your works are to be
evangelistic- you are to seek to win souls in your walk. Your preaching and teaching
must reflect soul winning to the kingdom. The very thrust of your evangelistic ministry
must total the number of souls reconcile to Christ. You must identify where God is
placing you in the Evangelistic Field; so that you can demonstrated passion to actively
see people come to a personal faith and vibrant relationship in Jesus Christ, as a natural
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extension of their own walk with God. Narrowing your area of expertise cultivates a
positive perception of your called works within and to the church, surrounding
communities and eventually to the world.
they would otherwise disregard. The impersonal character of literature is of value in these
eases. In addition. It is of value where there is a lack of trained witnesses or in
conjunction with other efforts. The possibility of a full explanation of the message
through literature opens up another avenue for those who will read it.
5. Evangelistic Church Crusades: A series of evangelistic meetings within a short period
of time, the impact and content of Gospel preaching can be concentrated and have its
effect. Crusades in which this is done have become tradition. An evangelist from outside
the church and great amounts of preparation and publicity are involved.
This type of evangelism is effective when there has been considerable preparation
through the instruction of the church, but where the people have become hardened to the
preaching or else the Gospel has not been preached clearly.
6. Evangelistic Counseling. For those who have come under conviction during
evangelistic preaching in a mass meeting, or during an evangelistic crusade, further
encouragement by a Christian through a personal witness and counseling has often
brought individuals to the place of response. This is not to be confused with personal
evangelism. Its limitation is that it is always an adjunct to other types of evangelism. Yet
the personal character of evangelistic counseling complements in a helpful way the less
direct nature of preaching.
7. Radio and Television Evangelist: Radio and television potentially reaches a large
number of people where there has been a barrier or defect in other methods. Generally,
however, there must be considerable background for the listener to understand the
message or be sympathetic enough to listen.
8. Entertainment Evangelist: Motion pictures and dramatic presentations reach some
who need to see the difference that Christianity might make in a persons life. It may
succeed in this when people are prepared and also receive the message adequately
through one of the other types of evangelism. Means for getting a hearing for a personal
testimony include novelty shows, dinner meetings, and musicals. These often seriously
limit the opportunity to communicate the content of the message but may provide some
kind of challenge to those who are resistant to other approaches. It is frequently a very
costly way of doing what might be done effectively through other means.
9. Youth and Young Adult Evangelism: By enlisting youth in Sunday Schools and Bible
Schools and teaching them the Word of God it is found that many of them turn to Christ.
It is reported that from 1 out of 3 to 1 out of 5 respond out of those who have been
enlisted. The success has led to this being extended to adults. Sunday School evangelism
potentially provides for an extended presentation of the truth and the possibility of
answering individual questions in relation to it. The difficulties include finding enough
qualified teachers to reach lost people in a teaching situation in which a considerable
amount of the time ought to be spent training Christians in things that are of no interest to
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non-Christians. Furthermore, over 90% of those contacted cannot be enlisted, and 6080% of those enlisted do not respond.
10. Evangelistic Bible Study: Many who have had little church background can be
approached in such a way that they become curious concerning the Bible and
Christianity. Through personal contact and friendship, they can become engaged in an
inductive study of the Bible, especially if in a home or out-of-church situation. The
advantage is that they can be brought to see the message from the Bible itself, if the study
is directed properly toward that end. This directing of the study is probably the most
difficult part of this type of effort.
11. Inquirers Study Groups Evangelism: By designing specific programs of study for
correction facilities, detention programs, nursing facilities, mental care facilities or group
homes and other inquirers, material can be made available to a group of people having
the same specific needs. The advantage is that a number of people can be reached with
the possibility of answering their particular questions through the use of one teacher. The
disadvantage is that such groups must be set up with those who look upon themselves as
inquirers, which limits the number of people who will become involved.
12. Visitation Evangelist: A type of personal contact to reach Non-Christian people is
the home visitation. This has become a very popular way to get people to go to a church
service or Discipline School. By socializing with people in their homes, by being godly,
and telling them what their church offers, they can get considerable numbers. Yet it must
be clear that the visitation of every person in every residence and a continual program of
calling on every new resident who moves in is the only way that every person in an area
can be reached. Visitation is the only procedure that can systematically take forth the
message so that the church can be sure that it has reached "every creature." But rather
than presenting to people friendship or the church, the Evangelist must present to them
the message of Christ. In other words, there must be a systematic program of visitation
personal-evangelism.
Homework Assignment:
1. Identify in writing to the church the area of evangelistic works call that God has
called you to minister too.
It may seem that some of the types of evangelism have serious limitations. Entertainment
evangelism is especially limited in giving enough of the truth for individuals to be able to
respond. Mass evangelism, radio evangelism, and some other types depend on a certain
amount of background and preparation for their effectiveness. This is also true of most
forms of street evangelism. On the other hand, evangelistic literature and those types of
efforts involving a series of meetings offer an opportunity for a clearer understanding of
the message. Of course, it is possible to combine some of the different types, in order to
gain the advantages of each. Evangelistic counseling and entertainment are clearly
adjuncts, depending on other efforts to communicate the message. Literature nicely
complements those efforts in which there is the opportunity for personal contact.
The personal contact in street evangelism is also supplemented well with study in small
groups. However, it is very important to examine the types of evangelism in relation to
the Great Commission of Christ. Though the types of effort have various strengths and
weaknesses, both separately and in combination, their potential in carrying out the Great
Commission is the most important factor of all in evaluating them. After all, the Great
Commission is the main task of the church, and the main reason for the churchs other
functions. In any case, the church has the responsibility of evangelism and so must be
concerned for the proper execution of it, which is the goal of heralding the Gospel to
"every creature" (Mark 16:15).
By identifying the type of evangelistic effort that God has called you to do can fulfill the
Great Commission, it must be understood that this does not mean that all of the other
methods are invalid. Scripture demonstrates that other types have been used by God
besides preaching to witness to bring people to Himself. People must have the message
presented to them and on the basis of conviction because of that message, be led to
consider the truth further through the use of other means.
2. Once you have identified the area of your calling, TBND Ministry will developed an
equipping package to train, support and resource you within the ministry to successfully
meet desired goals of your calling.