The best way to complete the Great Commission posted by John Sorensen on Oct 29, 2018

Have you ever wondered why Evangelism Explosion is called Evangelism Explosion?  The truth is that there are some places that we travel and minister where “explosions” are not that positive of an idea!  I’m sure you can imagine.

But the reason why the name is so critical is because, like it or not, there is a population explosion.  So then, the only way to keep up with this population explosion is to have an evangelism explosion.

It’s logical, really.  If we hope to fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus gave us, which is to “preach the Gospel to every creature” (according to Mark 16), we’re going to need a multiplication tool that will allow us to keep up with the population explosion and finish the task.  We call this Spiritual Multiplication.  And while you hear quite a lot of folks talk about spiritual multiplication, they don’t have a method to do it.

The Bible gives us a picture of this in 2 Timothy 2:2. In this one verse, there are four generations that are being reached and taught how to do the same.  If we look closely, we see how Paul was able to multiply.  In chapter 1, verse 13, we find the secret:  he says, “Hold fast to the pattern of sound words…”  You see it?  Paul had a pattern.  It’s what has led scholars like Michael Green, in his book Evangelism in the Early Church, to conclude that the Apostle Paul had an outline that he used when sharing the Gospel.

So, do you see the secret?  If we hope to fulfill the Great Commission, we need a pattern, a Gospel outline.  Without it, we will not be able to finish the task, plain and simple.

But here’s the problem:  Gospel outlines are generally seen as a bad thing in the modern day church!  We hear, many times, “Oh, that’s canned.  I’d never use that!”  Or “I’d sound like a robot!”  Or “I don’t need an outline to share the Gospel.  I just share what comes to mind.”

And, frankly, I meet some people who are good at sharing the Gospel one-on-one, without an outline.  But, you see, that’s not the point.  The point is that we can never finish the task of sharing the Gospel with everyone on earth without an outline.

And, it’s not hard to prove.  How come it is that you can go into a fast-food restaurant anywhere in the world and get a hamburger that is just like the one made at the original restaurant?  Answer?  They have a pattern that they insist staff use.

Or how are you able to go into a pharmacy anywhere on earth and get the exact same medicine?  Answer?  They have a formula or pattern that they follow exactly.

With the pattern, they can multiply.  Without one, they cannot.

So here’s the question for us:  What pattern do you use in order to multiply yourself into someone else?

Here’s some good news:  if you don’t have one, we can help.  One of the key things God has used EE for within the Church, is to bring a pattern for multiplying witnesses all over the world.  We’ve literally trained millions of Christians and given them a tool for multiplying themselves.

This is our focus this week at Evangelism Explosion through all our channels. We’re going to give you a pattern that you can use to multiply.  Visit ShareLife.Today to see our “Hand” Gospel presentation video and commit to start learning it this week.  Then share it with someone else!

With this tool, we can change the world!

May God richly bless you this week as you serve Him.

This is a transcript from Conversation with John Sorensen #13

Sources:

Evangelism in the Early Church by Michael Green. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing: Grand Rapids, MI (2003)