You Can Share the Gospel: The Gadarene Method of Evangelism || Mark 5:19-20

Text: Mark 5:19-20

In looking at the results of the evangelism survey, two things became very apparent. We feel guilty about how much we do not share the Gospel, and we do not really know what to say. This is in part because we are approaching evangelism from the wrong perspective. We view evangelism as a canned presentation designed for strangers. This approach makes us very nervous, awkward, and unlikely to share the Gospel. However, there is a different approach. There is an approach that is not motivated by guilt, does not require you to speak to strangers, does not require awkward transitions or questions, and does not require you to memorize anything or know the answers to hard questions.

Jesus made a special trip across the Sea of Tiberias where He met a demon possessed man. Jesus cast the demons out of the man and into a nearby herd of pigs. When the pigs ran into the sea and drown, the towns people wanted Jesus to leave. The Gadarene, who was now in his right mind, wanted to go with Jesus. In Mark 5:19, Jesus gave him clear instructions for evangelism.

The Gadarene was not told to go overseas as a missionary. He was not even told to go to seminary. Instead, he was sent back to his hometown.

Jesus made it very clear that the Gadarene was supposed to share the Gospel with his friends. He was not sent to strangers. He was sent to family and friends.

The Gadarene received virtually no evangelism training at all. He was simply to tell other people what God had done in his life.

Yes, there is a time for overseas missions, door to door evangelism, and street preaching. However, the place to start is with people you already know.

 

1.      Who do you know that is not walking with Christ?

2.      Pray for them on a regular basis

     a.      Pray for them to be saved/restored

     b.      Pray for God to send someone to lead them to Him

     c.      Offer yourself to be that person

3.      Get to work!

     a.      Invite them to church

     b.      Invite them to small group

     c.      Tell them what God has done in your life 

     d.      Love them to Christ!

The key to evangelism is a shift of mindset. We must begin to see our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our classrooms, etc. as the mission field that God has sent us to. How can we leverage these existing relationships for the sake of the Gospel?