4 Examples of Everyday Evangelism
What do you think about when you hear the word “evangelism”? Really, what pops into your mind? For many, the image is one of daring bravery doing something that is really scary but shouldn’t be – approaching someone I don’t know and sharing the gospel.
I’ve been part of encounters like this and, for the most part, I always come away feeling bad about myself because I couldn’t measure up. Fear was a big part of it, and my personality isn’t bent toward “confrontation”. And because I hated it, I felt like I was a failure or just didn’t measure up, or maybe I’m not a strong enough Christian.
While there surely are gifted and loving Christians the have been lead to share the gospel by connecting with complete strangers at the mall or on the street corner, if this is a primary definition of what evangelism looks like, I’m in trouble.
However, there is real hope for us because, while the Bible does show us the traveling evangelist and a robust defense of the gospel, it also shows us how God uses ordinary people in ordinary situations to advance the good news. Here are a few examples:
Have you heard about Naaman’s servant girl in 2 Kings chapter 5? She was an unnamed Israelite slave girl, who was the catalyst for a military commander’s healing by simply telling her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
Her words set in motion Naaman’s transformational encounter with Elisha, culminating in his confession, “Now I know there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” This illustrates how God can use marginalized believers—even children—through compassionate truth-telling amid hostile environments.
And what about Lydia? In Acts chapter 16 we see this businesswoman who dealt in the sale of purple cloth. She heard Paul’s message while at a riverside prayer meeting. When the Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message she immediately leveraged her influence, hosting the apostolic team and establishing Philippi’s first house church.
And then there is the Samaritan Woman in John 4. She avoided people because of her messy past. But after talking to Jesus at a well, she ran back to town yelling, “Come meet someone who knows everything about me—and still cares!” Her honesty made everyone curious, and many believed because of her.
Like this woman, you don’t need all the answers. Just share what Jesus has done for you. Say something like, “God helped me through a tough time—want me to tell you about it?”
And then there was a whole group of new Christians who were “forced” out of Jerusalem because of their faith in Jesus. These ordinary refugees proclaimed the good news wherever they went. Their exile became God’s strategy for cross-cultural missions.
In the end the message here is sort of like how spiritual gifts operate. There are a multitude of gifts that are supposed to be exercised to accomplish God’s plan for the church and bringing people into the church and serving and growing them.
And if you don’t understand that every gift is essential you might think that the pastor/teacher is on one level and everyone else is secondary. And that would be wrong.
The same with evangelism. The “street preacher” is great but if you think everyone else is secondary, you have it wrong. God has put you where you are to shine for Jesus where you are. So, relax a bit. Strive to deepen your relationship with Jesus. Pray that he would cause you to see more of the gospel along with the open doors in your relationships. Pray for help. Care for your neighbors. Stop talking about yourself and find out about your neighbor’s needs.
The same God who used a shepherd boy’s sling and a widow’s flour jar and a fisherman’s net will use your ordinary life. So text that struggling friend. Invite the new family at church over for pizza. Post a verse that encouraged you.
Jesus, you are the one who orchestrates witness and salvation. I’m sorry for thinking I need to take things into my own hands. Thank you for finding me. Please cause me to see the opportunities in front of me and image your goodness.
I’ve found 2 Cor 12:10 helpful because it speaks of faith in the midst of fear: