One on One Evangelism
This type of evangelism is called confrontational, but that is really not. The idea of a confrontation is extremely negative, and connotes argumentation, strife, and debate. It also ushers in images of the typical “street preacher”, standing on a soap box, waving a big Bible around, and shouting at the passers by at the top of his lungs. This is not really what confrontational evangelism is about. All this type of witnessing does is turn people away from the gospel, and does more harm than good.
We confront the unbeliever with the gospel, and bring them to the point of decision. It is a decision. We all have choices to make, every day. God gives us a choice between life, and death, and then He tells us to “choose life”. The Bible tells us to go out into the “highways and by-ways” and to seek and to save those who are lost. This type of evangelism takes the message out of the four walls of the church, and right where people live, or work, or shop. This form of evangelism is vital and effective if done in love.
We do not condemn anyone, because the Word of God says that if they have not received Jesus, they are condemned already. They know what they are doing, and know that they are doing wrong. They don’t need us to tell them that. We love them, and share with them something that has impacted our lives and changed us like nothing else ever could… Jesus. In Romans 2:4 that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. So we show them God’s goodness, and love and mercy and compassion. As we do, then God draws them to Himself, and creates a hunger inside of them to have what we have, and to know Him in all of His fullness.
This type of evangelism is most often done on a one-on-one basis. There are several scriptures that are essentials for this type of witnessing, many of which are found on the “Romans Road.”
Romans Road
- Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
- Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
- Romans 10:10 – For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.
- 1 John 5:12,13 — And he that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God.
You can point out to them that this last scripture makes it plain that it is possible to know that you have eternal life, and that you can “know for sure.” It was written to believers, and they were not sure, but God wanted them to know beyond any shadow of a doubt.
It is an awesome thing to see someone changed and transformed by the power and love of God. I have seen the hardest hearts melt, and everything changes in an instant. Only God can do that, but nothing is too hard for our God! It was for this reason that Jesus came to this earth, lived, died and rose from the grave, to destroy and make of no effect, every work of the devil and to restore mankind to Himself.