Evangelism Learning Plan
Evangelism is worth your investment
It fuels your intimacy with God
Every time we share the good news, we’re reminded of the ways this news has changed our own lives. We invite the Holy Spirit to do the impossible as we take risks. Witness becomes a cycle of discipleship: we tell the good news, we experience the good news, the Holy Spirit moves on our obedience with power, and we are encouraged again to tell more good news.
It is a relational gift for your friends
Our friends are thirsty for spiritual interaction, but often don't know where or how to get it. When we gather the courage to bring them good news about what Jesus has done, we unlock new layers of friendship and make space to care for them fully.
It grows your community
We all crave belonging. Sharing the love of God creates a community that invites everyone to feel safe and seen, grow, and celebrate being God’s beloved together.
What does Growing in Evangelism look like?
People aren’t projects. Our friends are on a spiritual journey, and we need to honor that to help them grow.
- Depending on the Holy Spirit. When someone comes into our lives, we should assume that the Holy Spirit is already at work to reveal himself to them. Our role in evangelism is to listen to the Spirit and join him in what he is doing.
- Friendship with Non-Christians. We can build trust by stoking curiosity instead of awkwardness, so we can meet our friends where they are and take the next step of faith.
- Inviting Response to God’s Love. Ultimately, we hope our friends encounter the love of Jesus and want to respond by following him. This is our opportunity to help make this invitation clear.
Leading in Evangelism. As we experience the joy of seeing our friends come to faith, we want other Christians to have this experience. We learn to teach others how to share their faith with friends.
Gen Z finds faith for the very first time.
Jesus inspires Kennedy to lead revival in her backyard.
Options for Growth
Personal Development
For personal development, we recommend setting goals like those below to help you stay accountable. The purpose is not only to read the content but learn the skills by integrating these evangelistic practices into your life. Please give yourself enough time!
Foundational (~8 Hours to Complete):
- Complete the 5T Training
- Complete 2 Basic Trainings in each category below.
Leveling Up (~8 Additional Hours to Complete):
In addition to your Foundational work:
- Complete the remaining 3 Foundational trainings
- Complete All 5 Leveling Up trainings
Leadership Development
For use in developing your leaders or chapter, here are some questions to help you discern where your leaders need to grow. Pick one or two questions and think through the best skills to teach them each semester.
What skills match your chapter evangelism goal for the year?
What skills match your chapter’s biggest felt need in evangelism?
Evangelism Learning Growth Plan
Starting Place
- 5 Thresholds Basics: Learn about the journey non-Christians take to faith, and teach students to do the same.
Depending on the Holy Spirit
Foundational
- Prayer Mapping: Learn to pray for those around you using the 2+ prayer card, and check in with your leaders about their friends.
- Create a communal prayer map and use it regularly for your personal intercession and chapter prayer.
- Listening Prayer: Seek Holy Spirit guidance in your evangelism using listening prayer.
- Prayer Walking: Prayer walk the campus looking for Holy Spirit breakthrough, even offering to pray for or engage people in spiritual conversations as prompted by the Spirit.
Leveling Up
- Holy Spirit Breakthrough: Grow in your spiritual authority and intimacy with God.
- Consider reading Longing for Revival to learn more about how to lead & pray for more than the chapter can humanly produce in its own strength.
Friendship with Non-Christians
Foundational
- Make Compelling Invitations: Invite non-Christians to Small Group (and other events).
- Evangelistic Bible Studies: Adapt the language and style of scripture study with non-Christians to address their questions
- Mentoring new Believers: Learn how to mentor new believers and solidify their discipleship.
Leveling Up
- Asking Questions (2nd Threshold): Grow in your ability to ask safe or brave questions that open the door to spiritual conversations.
- Storytelling (3rd Threshold): Grow in telling compelling stories of God moving in people's lives to stoke hope and expectancy for conversions.
Inviting Response to God's Love
Foundational
- Gospel Proclamation: Understand and articulate the basics of the gospel.
- Proxes: Guide spiritual conversations using a proxe, as well as plan the logistics and train students in the script.
- Small Group Invitation to Faith: Summarize the Gospel and invite people to follow Jesus both individually and in groups. Cast vision to SG leaders for SG invitations to faith.
Leveling Up
- Proxe Leadership: Build student ownership for proxe’s, coach the roles of Gatherer and Host, and develop effective follow-up habits and structures.
Evangelistic Leadership
Foundational
- Discipling Evangelistically: Incorporate witness into disciples conversations with students: including scripture, formation practices (overcoming fears, listening prayer), next steps in their 2+ relationships, and timely debriefs of both successes and flops.
Leveling Up
- Train the 5 Thresholds: Use the 5 Thresholds as a framework for training your students to think about their non-Christian friends.
