The First Step in Evangelism (It Might not be What You Think)

Oh no, you are thinking. It’s an evangelism article. Every time I hear a sermon or read an article about evangelism, I feel guilty.

Join the crowd! Even those who are deeply evangelistic often feel guilty about this subject, simply because every Christian knows someone else with whom we have not shared the Gospel.

However, this is not a guilt-trip article. Instead, it is a post written for me. In other words, this is a post that I need as much as anyone else (and I need it more than a lot of folks).

If you have read this far, I am assuming that you are a Christian. In reality, that is the first step in evangelism: being fully committed to Christ yourself.

Knowing that, however, what is the first step to reaching out to others with the saving message of Jesus? What is the first step to evangelism?

Is it some innovative program?

Is it some great invitation technique?

Is it memorizing just the right set of Scriptures?

Is it forming some questions to ask people around us?

Nope. It is none of these. In fact, the first step is even more basic than these things, and it is so obvious that we often overlook it.

The first step to reaching others is to see each individual person as a soul headed for eternity.

That’s it.

What about the person who regularly scans your groceries at the store? She will stand in judgment one day.

How about the teacher you’ve got who is a bit nerdy and out of touch with technology? That teacher will meet their Maker at the end of time.

You know that restaurant manager that everyone says is gruff? He has a soul that needs to be touched.

Your new neighbors who everyone is worried will bring down property values because they don’t seem to take care of their stuff? They won’t spend eternity in that neighborhood; they will spend it in either heaven or hell.

The first step is not to try to devise some “catch all” strategy. The first step is to remember that everyone needs “catching” in the first place!

What can you do today to open your eyes to the souls around you? Who do you see on a regular basis that needs to be treated in a little kinder way? Who have you failed to befriend simply based on rumor or perception? What person could you speak to instead of shuffling by today?

In our splintered, self-centered world, just seeing other people as–to borrow from C.S. Lewis–souls with a body instead of bodies with a soul is the first step to reaching each person for Christ.

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