Christians must earnestly invite people to believe the Gospel. Christians must also be unashamed to share the Gospel. This includes personal and team evangelism. Many books and blogs have been written about personal evangelism. Yet, I’ve found it difficult to find many about team evangelism. In our church, we’ve had a regular team evangelism ministry for about six years. We go to different public locations, and together, we share the Gospel through: tracts, conversation, sign, and open-air preaching. There are a lot of benefits to team evangelism. Here are five reasons to participate in team evangelism.
1. It’s Biblical
Jesus sent out his disciples two by two (Luke 10:1, Mark 6:6-7). This gives accountability, a valid witness, and encouragement to one another. In Luke 8:1, Jesus was going through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him. Team evangelism is biblical.
2. Strengthens Personal Evangelism
Team evangelism strengthens personal evangelism. Each week our church gathers and hears the Word of God preached. This encourages personal devotion to God’s Word throughout the week. Each week our church gathers and sings praises to God. This encourages personal singing and praise to God throughout the week. Frequently we gather for prayer meetings. This encourages personal prayer throughout the week. Each time we practice a spiritual discipline together it encourages the personal discipline throughout the week. On the other side of the same coin, as someone grows in personal study, singing, and prayer, there will be a desire to gather together to practice these disciplines corporately. The personal directs us to the corporate, while the corporate strengthens the personal. If we neglect the corporate practice our personal practice will suffer too. The same is true with evangelism. Evangelism needs to be practiced together. Otherwise, we will not grow as we could in our personal evangelism. Team evangelism strengthens personal evangelism.
3. Strangers Need the Gospel
Jesus, in the Great Commission did not limit His words to friends, family, and ongoing relationships. The Great Commission is bigger than that. Strangers need the Gospel too. As God’s Word says in Romans 10:14, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” I’ve met way too many people within this region who’ve never heard of Jesus Christ or have a limited or false view of who God is. Team evangelism gets the Gospel to these strangers.
4. Now is the Time
Sharing the Gospel through ongoing relationships is good. It’s biblical to leverage all opportunities to share Christ (Col.4:5-6). This includes ongoing relationships. While at the same time there must be an urgency to get the Gospel to people today. This is because today is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Our lives are short, and we’re not promised tomorrow (Jas. 4:13-14). My heart has been grieved when I’ve learned about people who’ve died seemingly unrepentant, and I knew that I had opportunities to invite them to believe in Christ. Making nice sounding excuses is what made me feel justified in pushing these opportunities off. Team evangelism intentionally engages the world around us with the Gospel and participating in it frequently reminds us that now is the time for people to be invited to turn to Jesus Christ.
5. Your Sanctification
God wants to sanctify His people. This is His will (1 Thess. 4:3). Here are six ways God has sanctified me and continues to sanctify me through team evangelism. First, personal sacrifice. It is a personal sacrifice to give up comfortable time with family to make an intentional effort to go share Christ. Second, it’s forced me to grow in God’s Word. As people have asked questions and made objections, it’s forced me to have to go to the Scriptures, and then also learn simpler and more precise ways to engage people. Third, it’s made me feel rejected as Christ was. I’ve had people throw things, swear, and charge at me. It isn’t fun, but it’s sanctifying. Fourth, it’s grown me in compassion. It’s a lot easier to intellectually make fun of someone’s views and think they’re crazy. However, when you speak to a real person, you see them more as the image bearer of God that they are, and you recognize that without God’s grace you’d be no different than they are. Fifth, it’s a flesh killer. I naturally love myself more than others. Team evangelism smashes idols that I knew I had and idols that I didn’t realize I had. Finally, team evangelism is sanctifying because of the joy of growing with other Christians. Developing friendships with other Christians, encouraging each other in love, rebuking each other in love, and appreciating our diversity within Gospel unity is sanctifying. Team evangelism is a strong tool for sanctifying Christians.
Conclusion
I gave five reasons why you should participate in team evangelism. Some may still say, “that’s not for me.” I get it. For some people it may not be for them because they’ve never been truly born-again. A false convert will have little desire to share Christ. Some may have family responsibilities, health concerns, or a disability in which they’re unable to participate. That’s reasonable. However, if by, “not being for you”, you know deep down that means you just don’t want to, then I’d ask you to consider, why not? Given the reasons above, why wouldn’t you want to participate in sharing the Gospel with other Christians? Christ died so that we may live. Together, lets invite the world to believe His Gospel.
