Message
When Jesus called His first disciples in , He compared evangelism to fishing. Every good fisherman understands that a successful fishing exercise depends on more than just throwing a net into the water; it is also about knowing the right bait to use and the right fishing method for the kind of fish that he or she desires to catch. In the same vein, winning souls into God’s Kingdom requires more than just opening your mouth to preach the gospel to unbelievers – it also requires wisdom and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Many Christians rush into preaching the gospel to the lost without first seeking to establish a natural, flowing conversation with them. If you approach unbelievers abruptly, saying, “I’ve come to preach to you,” they might immediately become defensive. However, if you begin conversing with them from an area that genuinely interests them, it will cause their hearts to open naturally, and the gospel can penetrate. Apostle Paul demonstrated this principle perfectly in Athens, as we see in today’s Bible reading. When he noticed an altar bearing the inscription, ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD’, he began his message from that point of connection. Rather than condemning their ignorance, he used their existing curiosity to reveal the true God. In doing so, he gained their attention and won some souls:
Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Beloved, when you engage people during soul-winning outreaches, always seek to connect with them based on their interests. For example, a businessperson will be more interested in listening to you when you speak to him or her using business terms, a farmer will understand the gospel more when you talk about the God who causes seeds to grow, and an artist will reason with you when you explain that every creation must have a creator. Once the hearts of the people you want to preach to are open, you can then introduce them to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Child of God, evangelism is not about speeches and arguments – it is about the divine power, wisdom, and love of God. When you take time to study and understand the people you want to reach and start conversations with them based on their interests, the Holy Spirit will use your words as bait to draw their hearts to Christ.