6 Habits for Love-Powered Evangelism

As we inhabit Christ and are lit up with His love, what does it look like to become Good-News people who sow gospel seeds into the hearts of others? Reflect on these six habits that will shift your motivation for evangelism from feeling guilty to being empowered by God’s love.

Love-powered evangelism could look like this. When you’re lit up with God’s love . . .

1. You reach out to others in love and confidence, recognizing that the results are up to God. As you join Jesus on His mission to reach lost people, He is the only One who saves. The triune God, the foundational missional community, allows you to participate in the process, but you are never responsible for the results.

Reflect: How do you feel about evangelism as you reflect on the truth that it is only God who saves?

2. You embrace evangelism as a process, not a one-time event. Generally, a person doesn’t just come to faith in Jesus after one conversation. For each new believer, the Holy Spirit may have used multiple people and conversations to help a person journey toward choosing to follow Jesus. No matter what part you play in this mysterious process, you are doing evangelism.

Reflect: Why is it important to understand evangelism as a process?

3. You see evangelism as an eternal investment. You realize that you only take the people you lead to Christ with you into the new heaven and new earth. The greatest investment you can make now is sharing the gospel.

Reflect: Consider your earthly investments and your eternal investments. Ask God for His wisdom on any adjustments you need to make.

4. You view evangelism as holistic. Through how He lived and what He preached, Jesus brought Good News that was a healing balm to both the physical and the spiritual. As followers of Jesus, we give hungry stomachs bread and hungry souls the Bread of Life.

Reflect: What could holistic evangelism look like in your community?

5. You know that evangelism and discipleship must be integrated. Jesus commanded His followers to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), not just converts. That means you don’t check a box off your to-do list and move on when someone makes a profession of faith. Our calling as Christians is to walk alongside others as they grow, helping them increasingly learn to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflect: Who in your life follows Jesus that you could invite to read the Bible or pray together?

6. You understand that evangelism is about playing the long game. It takes time for people to come to faith. Just because a person doesn’t believe today doesn’t mean they won’t believe in the future.

Pray: Father, open my eyes to the light of Christ. Holy Spirit, shine the light of Christ in me and through me so the Father in heaven will be glorified. King Jesus, in a world of darkness, may my love shine, attracting people to You. Give me the words to say. In Jesus’ name, Amen.