Evangelism & the Scripture
EVANGELISM & THE SCRIPTURE
Understanding the Gospel, Studying the Word, Communicating Biblical Truth & Reaching People With the Message of Jesus Christ
Course Description
The Evangelism & the Scripture course is designed to equip students with a strong biblical foundation for understanding and practicing evangelism.
Evangelism is the responsibility of communicating the good news of Jesus Christ and inviting people to respond to the message of the Gospel. Effective evangelism requires more than enthusiasm or public speaking. It requires a clear understanding of Scripture, the Gospel message, compassion for people, wisdom, courage, humility, and the ability to communicate biblical truth clearly and appropriately.
This course brings together two essential areas of Christian ministry:
THE SCRIPTURE
and
THE MISSION OF EVANGELISM.
Students will learn how Scripture provides the foundation, message, authority, and content of Christian evangelism. They will study how Jesus and the early Church communicated the Gospel and explore practical ways believers can share their faith in everyday life.
The course is designed to help students move from simply knowing Bible verses to understanding how the biblical story communicates God's redemptive message through Jesus Christ.
UNDERSTANDING EVANGELISM
The course begins by examining the biblical meaning of evangelism.
Students will explore what it means to proclaim the Gospel and why evangelism is an important part of Christian discipleship.
The course will address questions such as:
What is evangelism?
What is the Gospel?
Why should Christians share their faith?
What does Scripture teach about the Great Commission?
Who is called to participate in evangelism?
What is the relationship between evangelism and discipleship?
How should Christians communicate the Gospel responsibly?
Students will learn that evangelism is not simply an activity performed by pastors, missionaries, or church leaders.
Every believer can participate in sharing the message of Christ through words, actions, service, testimony, and relationships.
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
Students will develop a clear understanding of the Gospel.
The course will explore the biblical story of:
CREATION → SIN → BROKENNESS → GOD'S REDEMPTIVE PLAN → JESUS CHRIST → CROSS → RESURRECTION → REPENTANCE & FAITH → NEW LIFE → KINGDOM OF GOD
Students will study key biblical passages that explain:
Humanity's need for salvation
Sin and its consequences
God's love and grace
Jesus Christ
The death of Christ
The resurrection
Repentance
Faith
Forgiveness
Salvation
New life
The Kingdom of God
Christian discipleship
Students will learn how to communicate the Gospel without reducing it to a slogan or presenting only one aspect of the biblical message.
SCRIPTURE AS THE FOUNDATION OF EVANGELISM
A central principle of this course is that evangelism should be grounded in Scripture.
Students will learn how to use Scripture accurately and responsibly when communicating the Gospel.
The course will teach students how to:
Locate relevant passages
Understand biblical context
Explain Scripture clearly
Avoid taking verses out of context
Connect individual passages to the larger biblical story
Answer common questions using Scripture
Distinguish biblical teaching from personal opinion
Students will be encouraged to develop confidence in Scripture so that their evangelism is based on biblical truth rather than personal speculation.
JESUS AS THE MODEL EVANGELIST
Students will study how Jesus communicated with different people throughout the Gospels.
Jesus interacted with:
Religious leaders
Ordinary workers
The poor
The wealthy
Outsiders
Foreigners
People who were rejected by society
People who were searching for truth
People who opposed Him
Students will examine how Jesus used:
Questions
Stories
Parables
Scripture
Direct teaching
Personal conversations
Compassion
Correction
Invitations
Demonstrations of love and service
The purpose is to help students understand that effective evangelism requires understanding the person and communicating appropriately.
THE EARLY CHURCH AND EVANGELISM
Students will study evangelism in the Book of Acts and examine how the early Christians communicated the Gospel.
They will explore examples involving:
Peter
Stephen
Philip
Paul
Barnabas
The early Christian community
Students will examine different evangelistic approaches and consider how the early Church responded to different cultures, audiences, and circumstances.
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
One of the most practical forms of evangelism is sharing one's testimony.
Students will learn how to develop and communicate a personal testimony clearly.
A testimony may include:
LIFE BEFORE CHRIST
What was the person's life, understanding, or spiritual condition before encountering the Gospel?
ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
How did the person come to understand or respond to the message of Jesus?
TRANSFORMATION
What difference did faith in Christ make?
LIFE AFTERWARD
How is the person continuing to grow?
Students will learn how to share their testimony without exaggeration and without making personal experience more authoritative than Scripture.
EVANGELISM THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS
The course will explore relational evangelism.
Students will learn how ordinary relationships can create opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith.
These relationships may include:
Family
Friends
Neighbors
Coworkers
Classmates
Community members
Online relationships
Students will learn how to recognize opportunities for spiritual conversations while respecting people's boundaries and individual circumstances.
The goal is not to pressure people.
The goal is to build genuine relationships and communicate the Gospel faithfully.
EVANGELISM AND COMPASSION
Effective evangelism should involve genuine concern for people.
Students will explore the connection between proclaiming the Gospel and demonstrating Christlike love.
This may include:
Helping people in need
Visiting people
Encouraging others
Serving communities
Supporting families
Praying for people
Listening to people's concerns
Showing kindness
Meeting appropriate practical needs
Students will learn that Christian witness involves both what believers say and how they live.
SHARING THE GOSPEL CLEARLY
Students will practice explaining the Gospel in simple language.
They will learn how to communicate biblical concepts without unnecessarily complicated theological terminology.
Students will practice answering questions such as:
Who is Jesus?
Why did Jesus die?
What does the resurrection mean?
What is sin?
What does repentance mean?
What is faith?
What does salvation mean?
Why does Christianity say that Jesus is the way to God?
The objective is to help students communicate clearly without sacrificing biblical accuracy.
EVANGELISM AND DIFFERENT AUDIENCES
Not everyone understands Christianity in the same way.
Students will learn how to communicate with people who may be:
New to Christianity
Raised in another religious tradition
Nonreligious
Skeptical
Curious
Hostile toward Christianity
Familiar with Christianity but disconnected from church
Searching for spiritual answers
Students will learn that the Gospel message remains rooted in Scripture while the communication approach may need to be adapted to the audience.
ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIONS
Evangelism often involves questions.
Students will learn how to respond when people ask difficult questions about Christianity.
Possible topics include:
Why does God allow suffering?
Why do Christians believe the Bible?
Who is Jesus?
Why is salvation necessary?
What about people who have never heard the Gospel?
Why are there different Christian denominations?
How can someone know that God exists?
Why should I believe in the resurrection?
Why does Christianity teach repentance?
Students will learn that they do not need to have an immediate answer to every question.
A responsible response can sometimes be:
“I don't know, but I can study that question with you.”
Humility and honesty are important parts of Christian witness.
EVANGELISM AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
Students will explore how culture affects communication.
The course will encourage students to understand the cultural background, language, experiences, and worldview of the people they are trying to reach.
Students will learn to distinguish between:
THE GOSPEL
and
PERSONAL CULTURAL PREFERENCES.
This distinction can help students communicate the biblical message without unnecessarily creating barriers through cultural assumptions.
EVANGELISM WITHOUT MANIPULATION
The Gospel should never be communicated through manipulation, intimidation, or unnecessary fear.
Students will learn to avoid:
Emotional manipulation
False promises
Financial pressure
Threats
Misrepresenting Scripture
Exaggerated claims
Public humiliation
Pressuring people into immediate decisions
Students will learn that people should be treated with dignity and allowed to consider the message responsibly.
THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN EVANGELISM
Students will study the biblical relationship between the Holy Spirit and Christian witness.
They will examine passages concerning:
Empowerment
Guidance
Conviction
Spiritual gifts
Courage
Prayer
Witness
The course will emphasize that evangelism is not simply a human communication exercise.
Students will be encouraged to pray for wisdom and guidance while also preparing themselves through Scripture and practical training.
PRAYER AND EVANGELISM
Prayer is an important part of evangelistic ministry.
Students will learn how to pray for:
Opportunities
Wisdom
Courage
People seeking God
Families
Communities
Missionaries
Churches
Those who are struggling spiritually
Students will also learn the importance of praying for people without treating prayer as a substitute for appropriate action.
EVANGELISM IN THE COMMUNITY
Students will explore practical community-based evangelism.
Possible activities include:
Community outreach
Church invitations
Service projects
Street ministry where appropriate
Personal evangelism
Neighborhood outreach
Hospital or care visits where permitted
Prison ministry where authorized
Community events
Digital outreach
Students will learn the importance of following local laws, organizational policies, and appropriate boundaries when participating in outreach activities.
DIGITAL EVANGELISM
Modern communication provides opportunities to share the Gospel through digital platforms.
Students will explore:
YouTube
Social media
Podcasts
Livestreams
Short-form videos
Christian blogs
Online Bible studies
Digital testimonies
Online discussion groups
Students will learn how to communicate biblical truth responsibly in digital spaces.
The course will also address the importance of avoiding online arguments, misinformation, harassment, and unnecessary conflict.
EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP
Evangelism and discipleship are closely connected but are not identical.
Evangelism communicates the Gospel and invites people to respond.
Discipleship helps believers grow in their relationship with Christ and understanding of Scripture.
Students will learn how to help new believers take appropriate next steps, such as:
Reading Scripture
Prayer
Fellowship
Baptism
Church participation
Christian service
Spiritual growth
Learning biblical doctrine
The objective is to understand evangelism as part of a larger journey of Christian discipleship.
FOLLOW-UP AFTER EVANGELISM
Students will learn that the conversation should not necessarily end after someone responds positively to the Gospel.
Follow-up may include:
Checking on the person
Providing Scripture
Inviting them to Bible study
Connecting them with a local church
Answering questions
Encouraging prayer
Helping them develop healthy Christian relationships
Students will learn that responsible evangelism includes caring about the person's continued spiritual development.
EVANGELISM AND THE GREAT COMMISSION
The course will examine the Great Commission and its significance for Christian mission.
Students will study:
Matthew 28:18–20
and related passages concerning Christian witness and mission.
The course will explore what it means to:
Go
Make disciples
Teach
Baptize
Witness
Serve
Proclaim the Gospel
Students will examine how the Great Commission applies to both individual believers and the Church.
PRACTICAL EVANGELISM ACTIVATION
Students will participate in practical exercises designed to develop confidence and communication skills.
Activities may include:
Gospel Presentation
Students practice explaining the Gospel in a short, clear format.
Personal Testimony
Students prepare a three-to-five-minute testimony.
Scripture Explanation
Students practice explaining a selected Gospel passage.
Question & Answer
Students practice responding to common questions.
Role-Playing
Students participate in simulated evangelistic conversations.
Listening Exercise
Students practice listening before responding.
Community Outreach
Where appropriate, students participate in supervised outreach.
Digital Evangelism
Students develop a short piece of Gospel-centered content for an online audience.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
Define evangelism from a biblical perspective.
Explain the central message of the Gospel.
Identify key Scriptures concerning salvation and Christian witness.
Explain the importance of Scripture in evangelism.
Communicate the Gospel clearly and accurately.
Prepare and share a personal testimony.
Engage in respectful spiritual conversations.
Listen carefully to people's questions and concerns.
Respond appropriately when they do not know an answer.
Avoid manipulation and pressure.
Understand the role of prayer and the Holy Spirit in evangelism.
Practice relational evangelism.
Understand evangelism across different cultures and audiences.
Use digital platforms responsibly for Gospel communication.
Understand the relationship between evangelism and discipleship.
Develop a personal evangelism strategy.
Participate responsibly in community outreach.
Encourage new believers toward continued discipleship.
THE EVANGELISM MODEL
Students will be encouraged to remember a simple framework:
PRAY
Ask God for wisdom, courage, compassion, and opportunities.
CONNECT
Build genuine relationships and listen to people.
SHARE
Communicate the Gospel clearly and faithfully.
EXPLAIN
Use Scripture to answer questions and clarify the message.
INVITE
Give people an opportunity to consider and respond to the Gospel without manipulation.
FOLLOW UP
Help those who respond continue growing in faith and Scripture.
DISCIPLE
Encourage continued learning, fellowship, service, and spiritual maturity.
FINAL COURSE EMPHASIS
Evangelism & the Scripture teaches students that effective evangelism begins with a clear understanding of the biblical Gospel.
The evangelist is not simply trying to win an argument.
The purpose is to faithfully communicate the message of Jesus Christ, demonstrate genuine love toward people, answer questions honestly, and point people toward Scripture.
Students will learn that evangelism requires:
TRUTH + LOVE
SCRIPTURE + COMPASSION
COURAGE + HUMILITY
KNOWLEDGE + WISDOM
PROCLAMATION + SERVICE
The course will challenge students to move beyond simply knowing the Gospel to becoming people who can communicate it clearly in everyday life.
Whether speaking with one person, sharing a testimony with a small group, preaching to a congregation, serving in a community outreach, or creating Christian content online, students will learn how to communicate biblical truth with clarity, integrity, compassion, and respect.
KEY PRINCIPLE
We do not evangelize merely to speak; we evangelize to faithfully communicate the Gospel and point people to Jesus Christ through Scripture, love, truth, and genuine Christian witness.
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15
The ultimate goal of this course is to prepare students to become faithful witnesses who know the Scripture, understand the Gospel, love people, communicate truth responsibly, and participate actively in the mission of making disciples.
