I’ve just finished reading Mark Dever’s The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. What a great book. He has a chapter in that book that deals with closing the sale in evangelism. Basically, he comes to the conclusion that it is not our responsibility to create converts, but rather to be obedient in evangelism and to call sinners to repentence and faith.
Sometimes, that which we consider evangelism falls far short by not calling for a response from the sinner. As pastors, we can run the risk of preaching solid biblical sermons but never calling for the hearers of the message to respond to the gospel that has been preached. I believe in strong biblical exposition. I believe in preaching the word of God with passion and vigor, but I also beleive that proclamation demands an invitation to relationship with Christ.
To tell the good news without inviting your hearers into the family as co-heirs of that good news is something less than preaching and evangelism. Sharing a testimony about God’s goodness is good, but it is not evangelism if it does not share the gospel message and invite the hearers of that message to respond. That response doesn’t have to be a card with checkboxes or an alter call, but it does need to be a response.
Jesus said, “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Notice, there is the the proclamation that Christ will give rest, but there is also the invitation to come. We need to heed Christ’s example and invite our hearers to respond to the proclamation of Christ.
