Some Thoughts On Evangelizing The World

After being a member of the Lord's church since January, 1960, I have seen a slowly spiritually declining membership. It's to the point now where some churches are no longer desiring to convert the world to Christ, but to simply maintain the status quo, sitting on laurels of ease in the midst of great prosperity (Amos 6:1-6).

Conversely, I see the future of the Lord's church as being bright, but that brightness will only come when we are shaken out of our present-day spiritual lethargy (Acts 8:1-4) and are willing to "put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:11-12; cf. Ephesians 6:13-18).

In listening to some Christians, I am hearing between the lines, that they are relatively satisfied here in this present world, and because of their present prosperity, they seemingly want to live here on earth forever, not looking forward to that heavenly home which will be much "better" (Hebrews 11:13-16). We need to realize that this present deteriorating world will one day be "burned up" and no longer exist (2 Peter 3:7-13). We must change our mindset from this physical existence to the spiritual existence, where our Lord and Savior will be (Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; cf. John 17:20-24).

Evangelizing a world lost in sin should be among our first priorities (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16), being underscored with a sense of urgency as Christians displayed in the first century (Acts 16:6-10; note the word, "immediately" in verse 10), because the time for working in the Lord's kingdom will soon draw to a close (John 9:4).

There is much to be done in converting the world to Christ, but we must first come "out of the world" before we can achieve this goal (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). "The fields are already white for harvest" (John 4:35). Those first century Christians realized this fact and took immediate action (Acts 8:4-5), and as a result, the church grew because God's powerful word was being proclaimed (Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20; cf. Acts 6:7).

Dear fellow member of the Lord's church. Let us seriously ponder the above thoughts and Scriptures, and be willing to take immediate action in converting the world to Christ, one soul at a time. Let's be found "sowing the seed" of God's word so God can give the increase (1  Corinthians 3:6-7) and we can "receive our own reward according to our own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:8). May God richly bless us as we go forward sowing the seed (Matthew 13:3; Luke 8:5).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets