Evangelism by J. Mack Stiles includes my favorite definition of evangelism.
Definition
Evangelism — Teaching or preaching the gospel with the aim to persuade or convert
This definition has three key components: 1. Teaching/Preaching: Evangelism involves words. We must speak the message. 2. The Gospel: There is specific content—good news—that must be communicated. 3. Aim to Persuade: We don't just inform; we seek a response.
A Gospel Explanation
Our Creator God is holy, just, and loving. We are his people, made in his image. Though we were once in fellowship with God and loved by him, we are now cut off from him. That separation started with a rebellion by our ancestors. Our sin nature makes it impossible for anyone to earn his way back to God.
But even though we are unable to buy or earn our way out of the curse, God in his love provided a way of escape. The entire Bible prophesies, records, and explains the coming of a Savior to do that: God's Son, Jesus.
Jesus paid the penalty for our sins through his death on the cross. He rose from the grave, conquering death and proving that what he said was true.
Anyone who hears this message of good news and responds to Jesus will not be turned away.
Key Definitions
Gospel — The joyful message from God that leads us to salvation. It is news, not advice. It is about what God has done, not what we must do.
Sin — A state of rebellion against God characterized by self-centeredness and unbelief. It is not merely bad behavior, but a heart condition.
Sins — The specific thoughts, words, and actions that flow from our sinful nature. These are symptoms of the deeper disease of sin.
Repentance — Turning from a life of unbelief. It involves a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. True repentance turns from sin and toward God.
Conversion — The moment when a person passes from spiritual death to spiritual life, from being an enemy of God to being His child. It includes both repentance and belief.
Belief — Complete trust in and reliance upon God and his saving grace through Christ. It is not mere intellectual assent, but wholehearted trust.
Scripture Passages By Category
GOD - "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) - "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103:8) - "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 6:3)
MAN - "So God created mankind in his own image." (Genesis 1:27) - "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) - "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a)
CHRIST - "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10) - "Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18) - "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
RESPONSE - "Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15) - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) - "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)
COST - "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) - "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) - "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mark 8:36)
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Who in your life needs to hear this glorious good news (gospel)?
