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LESSON 7

EVANGELISM ACCELERATION

Devotional Reading: Acts 21:1-8
Topic For Adults: Make Use Of Social Media For Evangelism Purpose
Topic For Youths: A More Profitable Way Of Engaging Social Media 
Topic For Intermediates: Learn To Use Social Media For Evangelism
Lesson Scriptures: Acts 21:1-8; Matt. 28:18-20; Phil. 1:1-7, 15; Rom. 1:8-13; 2 Tim. 4:3-5; Matt. 24:14

Memory Verse

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14) NKJV.

BACKGROUND

Several people, especially believers, see social media as a negative tool used by agents of the devil. The truth is, social media is neither evil nor good. It is available for anyone who cares to use it to advance his course: Researchers, academic, students etc. use social media. If the Church wants to achieve the Great Commission faster and have many people receive the gospel message, the tool of social media must be encouraged. Leaders, followers and everyone at all levels must make use of this tool to the glory of the Lord.

NOTES ON THE LESSON

PART 1: GLOBAL EVANGELISM MADE EASY - ACTS 21:1-8; MATT. 28:18-20

The Great Commission was the only responsibility given to the Church before Jesus departed. He asked us to ensure disciples are raised from all nations of the world, no matter how far or remote these nations are. This command shows Christ’s commitment to souls irrespective of race, colour, tongue, gender, age and social status. The Lord died for everyone and it is only fair for everyone to hear the gospel message. Everyone should be given the opportunity to hear the gospel and then make their choice. The book of Acts detailed stories of how early believers risked their lives to fulfil this mandate. Several of them went through untold hardship to see the gospel preached. With social media, the gospel message can easily travel to places and nations where people cannot easily access.

With the hostile and harsh policies and laws in several countries and corporate organisations against the sharing of the gospel, it is becoming more difficult to share the word without facing dire consequences. Social media is a major platform to explore if we must fulfil this mandate faster with little or no dire consequences.

It is also more cost-effective to engage social media as the gospel message is shared. Travel, logistics, venue etc. drive up the cost of preaching the gospel. Several people are not reached because of the associated cost. A lot of money is always needed to reach out and organise crusades. Though social media does not come free or cheap, it is cheaper in most cases to reach out to souls than to engage in traditional means of sharing the gospel.

When it, comes to reaching out to people from different locations en masse, the most viable avenue is social media. The teacher, the preacher or the discipler can be in a remote village and his audience is scattered everywhere in the world. Time, zone and distance are no barriers to the gospel.

PART 2: GOSPEL DOCUMENTS CAN BE ACCESSED SPEEDILY - PHILL. 1:1-7, 15

When Onesimus ran away from Philemon his master, he encountered Jesus through Paul who then sent him back to his master with an epistle (a letter). The Bible did not give us the time frame it took Onesimus to return to Philemon with this letter. The letter written by Paul to apologise on behalf of Onesimus became canonised as a part of the Bible today but this letter could have been lost or misplaced for several reasons.

Today, all that is needed to be done is to send the letter online and it will be received in seconds. Email and other platforms known to us will be used. There is also the option of video and audio communication that would have resolved the issue between Philemon and Onesimus faster. The danger of losing this vital document that seeks to resolve issue among the brethren would be avoided.

The Church must engage social media to ensure fast, secured and cost-effective delivery of important and sensitive documents. We cannot afford to keep losing important documents when we have better and easier options. The social media is for us. The Lord has allowed it to be invented so we can benefit tremendously from it.

PART 3: WALL OF DEMARCATION REMOVED - ROM. 1:8-13; 2 TIM. 4:3-5; MATT. 24:14

There are always barriers and walls that make reaching out to souls difficult. Distance, visa application, logistics cost etc. are part of the hurdles to cross. There are also different policies in different places that pose as danger to gospelers. Several have been killed or imprisoned just because they shared the good news with others. Some have lost their jobs and other juicy opportunities. With social media, some of these demarcations can be easily removed.

In our text, Paul desired to go to Rome and impart some spiritual gifts to the believers but he was hindered. This was majorly because social media was not present in his days. Paul’s excuse for not being able to visit Rome cannot be our excuse today. Social media has been invented to aid the spread of the gospel in this end time and to hasten the fulfilment of the Great Commission. Lastly, in Matt 24:14, one major factor identified by the Lord that will bring the end to this world is the preaching of the gospel everywhere in the world. While the devil is preventing that by mounting walls everywhere, God has allowed social media as a vehicle to aid the fulfilment of this verse. It is now left for us to make use of this wonderful provision.

CONCLUSION

When the Lord instructed the disciples to make disciples from all nations, He knew there would be tools to make it happen even if they were not available at that time. God has made knowledge to increase and as a result, technology has advanced. Communication has been made easy. We can now leverage on this advancement to ensure the Great Commission is fulfilled and the coming of the Lord is hastened.

SENTENCE SERMON

Social media is a major tool to fulfil the Great Commission.

MORAL LESSON

FOR ADULTS: Don’t leave social media for only the youths, adults can also learn to use it to the glory of God.

FOR YOUTHS: As you use social media for your daily activities, ensure evangelism is incorporated in the list.

FOR INTERMEDIATES: Don’t just learn to use social media, learn to use it to spread the gospel message.

QUESTIONS

  1. What was the Lord’s last instruction to the disciples before He was taken up?

  2. How does the Great Commission mandate relate to Matt. 24:14?

  3. Is there anyway social media can help in the fulfilment of 1 and 2 above?

  4. How does social media help in removing or reducing restrictions around the sharing of the gospel of Christ?

  5. Has social media helped you to share the gospel in the past?