Fundamentals For Effective Evangelism

I. Preparation is needed. EPH 6:15; 1PE 3:15-16; 2TI 2:20-21. A. The minister who thus purges himself is an example to those who hear him to purge themselves. 1TI 4:12; 2CO 6:14 – 7:1. B. The Christian profession at large is like a great house with vessels unto honour and vessels unto dishonour in it. C. The vessels of gold and silver are vessels unto honour whereas the vessels of wood and earth are vessels unto dishonour. c/w LAM 4:2; 1CO 3:11-15. D. A minister must purge himself from the vessels of wood and earth. 1. He must rid himself of all false doctrine and practice. 2TI 2:16-19; TIT 1:14; 3:9. 2. He must separate from those who teach and practice error. 1TI 6:3-5; 2TI 3:5. 3. The purged minister is thus a vessel unto honour. E. The man who thus purges himself is sanctified. 1. sanctify: To set apart as holy; to make holy, to purify or free from sin. 2. There is a legal sanctification produced by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for His people to make them holy in Himself. HEB 10:9-10 c/w EPH 1:3-4; 1CO 1:30. 3. But this is practical sanctification in which the regenerated believer purifies his life from the practice of sin by obeying the truth. 1TH 3:3-7; 1PE 1:22. F. The purged minister is meet (suitable, fit) for the master’s use. JER 15:19. G. Being a vessel unto honour is being a man that is fit for God’s use. 1. There is no greater honour than to be an instrument of God for the advancement of His cause. ACT 9:6, 15; ISA 6:1-8. 2. Christianity is not me using God for my purpose; it is God using me for His. H. The purged minister is also prepared unto EVERY good work. 1. A single minister can do everything that Scripture teaches is a work of the ministry. 2. He can teach all doctrine necessary, defend that doctrine, evangelize, baptize, build churches, and train and ordain other men to the ministry. 2TI 4:5; TIT 1:4-9.

II. There is a good method to employ. ACT 17:1-3 c/w MAR 12:28. A. reason: To think in a connected, sensible, or logical manner; to employ the faculty of reason in forming conclusions. B. The reasoning is to be out of the scriptures (c/w 1CO 2:13), as opposed to reasoning from nature, philosophy, feelings, self-promotion or self-justification. ROM 8:21-22; 1CO 2:4; PRO 28:26; GEN 3:6; MAT 21:25. C. From the scriptures, Paul opened and alleged that Jesus was Christ. 1. open: To unfold the sense of; to expound, explain, interpret. (c/w LUK 24:27, 32). 2. expound: To set forth, declare, state in detail (doctrines, ideas, principles...). 3. allege: To declare upon oath before a tribunal, to give testimony for or against; hence, to bring forward as a legal ground or plea, to plead. a. The Greek word underlying alleging is “paratithemi” (SRN G3908) which is also translated “set forth,” “commend,” and “commit.” b. We are lawyers pleading a case before the courts of men’s consciences. 2CO 4:2; 5:11.

III. Opportunity outweighs obstacles, opposition or outcomes. ECC 11:4-6; 2TI 4:1-5; EZE 3:10-11; ACT 17:32-34; 1CO 3:6-7.

IV. Boldness has power. EPH 6:19-20; ACT 13:46-48; PHIL 1:14.