"Real Evangelism"

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction: Those Who Incorrectly Define Evangelism.

"Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."  ~ 1 Corinthians 3:7 

Sometimes God may ask us to share Christ in ways "outside our comfort zone," but usually he uses our skills, gifts, and personalities in ways that seem more natural. So don't let anyone scare you by claiming you have to evangelize a particular way. And don't excuse yourself from developing and using your own gifts to share Christ.

Let's look at some aspects of evangelism that are often overlooked.

1. Being a loving example.

John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

How we treat both Christians and non-Christians is a witness to non-believers. If unsaved people know that we aren't treating our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers with grace, forgiveness, and consideration, why should they want to know our Lord?

2. Using our gifts.

Acts 9: 36-42: In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

See Don't Be Jealous of Other People's Gifts.

3. Speaking truth graciously.

Colossians 4:5-6: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Do you understand this combination of salt and grace? To learn more, read the 1-minute devotion: Salt & Grace

copyright, 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated and edited in 2022

Biblical Self-Esteem Bible Study

Before doing this Bible study, please read the 1-minute introduction Why Secular Businesses are Hiring Praise Teams.

It explains that we live in the age of self-esteem, not God-esteem. Sadly, this worldly emphasis has spawned false teachings in the church. Instead of seeking to please God, many Christians are seeking to please themselves.

What do the passages below tell us about our purpose and priorities as Christians?

Luke 9:23-25: Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 

This passage sums up discipleship in a nutshell. It is what our Savior did and what we are called to do as well. I encourage you to take time to read some or all of the devotions in the Biblical Self-Esteem collection, especially Research Shows the Harm of Self-esteem.

Galatians 5:16, 24: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh....Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Some people might read this passage and think it is only talking about immoral sexual desires. Not so. Wanting to esteem ourselves is also a desire of the flesh. 

1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The pride of life certainly includes pride in ourselves a thing promoted by self-esteem teachings. See The Glory is God's, Not Ours.

Matthew 6:31-33: So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

While this passage doesn't directly address self-esteem, it tells us that first and foremost we should be seeking to do those things which please God, making God's desires and God's glory our first priority. We shouldn't be seeking "our kingdom." 

And a promise follows this command, the promise that God will care for us when we seek Him first. We may not have everything we want. In fact, God doesn't promise we will always be well fed and warm (see Paul's words in Philippians 4:12). But we will always have Him (see Hebrews 13:5) and that is our greatest need.

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I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. 

It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. 

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated 2023

Don't Give Me What I Deserve!

Before doing this Bible study, please read the 1-minute devotion Don't Give Me What I Deserve.

It encourages us to realize that knowing Christ should help us view life with gratitude. Forgiveness and salvation are the greatest gifts we can receive, and they are gifts we don't deserve. 

These passages can help us gain perspective:

Luke 12:15: Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

In the verses following this passage (Luke 12:16-31), Christ shares a parable found only in Luke. It talks about a man who stores up all his riches only to die before he can enjoy them. The parable ends with this important warning: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 

How can we be "rich toward God"?

Philippians 2:3-8: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 

When we focus on ourselves, it's natural to struggle with self-pity, pride, or entitlement. Thinking of others helps us overcome these sinful attitudes. And Jesus is the most wonderful example of humility and sacrifice.

Philippians 4:12-13: I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

True contentment comes through Christ.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated in 2023