Methods of Evangelism: Part 5

One way to get God's word out is the Bible study, small groups dedicated to studying and teaching God's word in a practical way. Look at Acts chapter 2:

"And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Peter had just taught an awesome sermon and many people had come to a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, but the believers don't stop there.

"And awe came upon every soul" - These believers really understood the power of God and they treated the things of God with the reverence they were due. Awe wasn't just an unthinking response, it was a choice that showed their hearts. The Pharisees had seen many miracles but they felt no awe, in the Gospel of John we see that even the people fed by the miraculous bread were only waiting for Jesus to produce another miracle, but these people saw the God of the universe moving among them, they saw souls being saved. They saw God work - they couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

That sense of awe fed everything else that was done, because you don't feel a sense of awe about something unless you take it seriously. These people stopped living where they lived and moved in together. They stopped counting on their possessions and they sold what they had to help their fellow saints, people they may not have even known for more than a few days. These people were serious about what they were doing, they had the same attitude we must have if we want to have an effective bible study that turns souls towards Christ and the church.

Bible studies allow people to question what they hear, they allow real dialogue and discussion - often times bible study is the place where the seeds of growth are actually sown. People hear the word powerfully delivered by the pastor and elders of the church, but afterwards they have questions: do these people really believe this? Do they live this or do they just talk it? What do these things mean? How am I to live this way?

Answering these questions is the essence of ministry. When saints join together to simply enjoy the extra fellowship of studying the word the unbeliever not only gets to hear the truth of God's word, he gets to see the communion of the saints. He gets to see that love that separates the saved from the unsaved. He gets to see what unity means up close.

Paul says:

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

And the more the unbeliever sees this scripture lived out before them, the more they see the word of God inhabiting our lives the more effective our witness will be.

So let's encourage bible study, let's make that extra effort to meet and take time out of our day to study the scriptures. Let's be wherever God's word is taught and let's bring our friends along with us. With God's blessing they will see the power of the word at work in our lives and they'll see what the love of Christ really means.