Welcome to Evangelism 101! I know that none of you signed up for this class and that if given the opportunity most of you would run away as quickly as you could from a class on Evangelism. But here you are in the Gospel writer of John’s class on THE “E” WORD. 

The “E” word strikes fear in the heart of most Christians.  When we hear others talk about Evangelism even the most extroverted in the room tend to find a spot on the floor at which to stare thereby avoiding contact with the speaker. We are ready and willing to put our hands and feet to work serving others, but ask us to actually speak about our faith and a knot begins to form in our stomachs – a knot that apparently extends clear up to our vocal cords leaving us speechless. What is it about Evangelism that so terrifies us? 

Perhaps it’s our perception of Evangelism that is the problem. I fear that most of us think of Evangelism as a bad word because we equate it with someone “getting in our face” and forcing faith issues on us. We equate Evangelism with men standing on the street corner holding a Bible above their heads and yelling out warnings about “do this” or burn in hell. 

It’s funny… but the writer of John’s gospel doesn’t present either of those things in his Evangelism 101 class. Instead in our Gospel reading for this morning – John’s Evangelism instruction – we learn about seeing, sharing, pointing and inviting. John sees, during Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and remaining on Jesus. He, sent by God to baptize with water, and instructed by this same Spirit to keep his eyes open for the one on whom you see the Spirit descend, sees God’s presence in this baptism. 

How often in the midst of our busy lives do we miss the one on whom the Spirit descended? How often do we pass by the presence of Christ in those around us because we just don’t have our eyes opened expecting to see God at work in the world? Having our eyes opened looking for the work of God’s Spirit in the world is the first step of Evangelism. This doesn’t have to be big things like world peace or the end of hunger in the world. In fact, this step of Evangelism really begins in our own lives. It begins with eyes opened to how God is working in our life or in the lives of those we encounter as we go about our daily routine. 

After seeing God’s presence, John doesn’t keep what he has seen to himself but instead shares it with others saying: “And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John doesn’t practice what many of us learned growing up “our faith is personal and not to be discussed.” Instead, John puts himself out there proclaiming not that someone told him this is the Son of God, not that he learned about this One in a book, but I have experienced this One to be the Son of God. My life has been touched by this One so much that I can’t help but share what I have experienced with others. 

But John doesn’t stop there. The next day as he stands talking to two of his disciples, Jesus walks by and John exclaims: “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” Still bubbling from his encounter with this One on whom the Spirit descended, John points to Jesus saying: Look, here is the One who has touched my life. 

As John’s disciples look to the One to whom he has pointed Jesus then invites them to “Come and see.” 

This is what God calls us to do. We are called to be those whose eyes are opened to the activity of the Spirit around us. We are called to share how God’s Spirit has touched our lives. We are those called to point to Jesus the most perfect revelation of our Loving God. We are called to invite others saying: Come and See! 

 This is Evangelism. Evangelism 101 according to the writer of the Gospel of John involves seeing, sharing, pointing and inviting.  We are intimated by the “E” Word because we make it more than it has to be. It’s not scary. Think of it like sharing about a great movie you saw and inviting others to see it as well. We don’t have to know our Bible inside out and upside down. We don’t have to be able to answer every question someone might have about Jesus. All we have to do is keep our eyes open to the ways God is working in our lives and in our world, share what we see with others, point to the One who is responsible for the work and then… what is perhaps the toughest part for most… invite them to Come and See for themselves. 

Certainly no Evangelism 101 class would be complete without an opportunity to put what we have learned into action. I know I am stretching you outside your comfort zones, but if it makes you feel any better Mark Stiles and I had many opportunities to practice Evangelism techniques at the Rethinking Evangelism conference we attended last summer so I have been in this place. In a moment I am going to ask you to turn to someone next to you, beside, in front, or behind. I want you to share with this person the answer to the following question: 

What is your favorite movie and why? 

Why are you here this morning? 

These were easy questions but Evangelism doesn’t have to be hard. It’s just about sharing what a difference God has made in your life. It’s that simple. Thank you for your attendance at John’s Evangelism 101 class. I hope you haven’t found the class requirements too demanding. Amen.