Is it possible to evangelise without love?
Sadly yes. There are self righteous Christians who try to
convert people in an aggressive and religious way. They
misrepresent the JESUS they preach. He always loved. His
miracles of healing were not to prove HE was right but motivated
by compassion. We should be like that too. He has given us the
power of the Spirit of God for this purpose. GOD IS LOVE.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV).
You go to a charismatic meeting and you enjoy the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit. You experience wonderful healing in your body and God blesses you. The deep wounds and hurts in your heart are relieved and you stand up a better and a happier person.
But why stop there? What about other people, the people you live with or work with who don’t know Jesus? If you enjoy the love of God, it is good. But if you don’t share that love with other people, your sweet experiences will fade away and in time you will lose your blessing.
There are pastors who work hard for their church members and build up their church but they are not effective in reaching outsiders. They don’t release and empower people to go out and reach unbelieving people for Jesus. Some might say: “I am a pastor, not an evangelist.” But a pastor is a shepherd. What does Jesus say?
Luke 15:4-7 (ESV)
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Another will say: “My gift is prophecy, not evangelism. God gives me revelations to build up the church.” But how did Jesus use His gifts? Did Jesus only share divine revelations with His disciples?
Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well and began a friendly conversation with her. He set out to win her trust and lead her to faith and eternal life. He did not preach a memorised formula but used His gift of prophetic revelation.
John 4:17-19 (ESV)
17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”
Another will say: “I am not an evangelist but a Bible teacher.” Why not teach Bible studies on evangelism? Why not invite unchurched people to study the Bible in your home? It works. I have done it. Why not teach the Bible by writing emails and sending them to Christians but also people who might not be committed or fully converted?
I know people who have been led from religion to personal faith in this way.
If your gift is pastoring (shepherding), that does not necessarily mean you are called to lead and manage a church. You might be a mother or father to workmates or neighbours, using your gift to build a caring community and to meet needs. This too can lead people into a personal knowledge of Jesus.
What if your gift is healing the sick? Do you only pray for fellow Christians? Why not pray for people outside the church? Healing the sick was one of the most effective ways of winning people to Jesus in the New Testament.
What if your gift is music or worshipping God in songs? Many people are attracted to music, not only in the church. Why not sing for people in hospitals or in the streets? What if you are shy but you really love and pray? Pray for people and tell them you are praying. Watch out for the answers!!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV).
You go to a charismatic meeting and you enjoy the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit. You experience wonderful healing in your body and God blesses you. The deep wounds and hurts in your heart are relieved and you stand up a better and a happier person.
But why stop there? What about other people, the people you live with or work with who don’t know Jesus? If you enjoy the love of God, it is good. But if you don’t share that love with other people, your sweet experiences will fade away and in time you will lose your blessing.
There are pastors who work hard for their church members and build up their church but they are not effective in reaching outsiders. They don’t release and empower people to go out and reach unbelieving people for Jesus. Some might say: “I am a pastor, not an evangelist.” But a pastor is a shepherd. What does Jesus say?
Luke 15:4-7 (ESV)
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Another will say: “My gift is prophecy, not evangelism. God gives me revelations to build up the church.” But how did Jesus use His gifts? Did Jesus only share divine revelations with His disciples?
Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well and began a friendly conversation with her. He set out to win her trust and lead her to faith and eternal life. He did not preach a memorised formula but used His gift of prophetic revelation.
John 4:17-19 (ESV)
17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”
Another will say: “I am not an evangelist but a Bible teacher.” Why not teach Bible studies on evangelism? Why not invite unchurched people to study the Bible in your home? It works. I have done it. Why not teach the Bible by writing emails and sending them to Christians but also people who might not be committed or fully converted?
I know people who have been led from religion to personal faith in this way.
If your gift is pastoring (shepherding), that does not necessarily mean you are called to lead and manage a church. You might be a mother or father to workmates or neighbours, using your gift to build a caring community and to meet needs. This too can lead people into a personal knowledge of Jesus.
What if your gift is healing the sick? Do you only pray for fellow Christians? Why not pray for people outside the church? Healing the sick was one of the most effective ways of winning people to Jesus in the New Testament.
What if your gift is music or worshipping God in songs? Many people are attracted to music, not only in the church. Why not sing for people in hospitals or in the streets? What if you are shy but you really love and pray? Pray for people and tell them you are praying. Watch out for the answers!!
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