August through September Reading. One Chapter a week.
The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever: (Amazon link)
Why Don’t We Evangelize? – Chapter 1 Overview
Summary
Chapter 1 asks the probing question: If the gospel is the best news in the world, why do we so often fail to share it? Mark Dever identifies the common excuses Christians hide behind—fear, lack of preparation, shyness, apathy, laziness, or assuming evangelism is someone else’s job.
Instead of leaving us in guilt, Dever offers encouragement. We are called to pray for boldness, plan for intentional conversations, and remember that evangelism is the joyful duty of every believer. Evangelism is not about results—it’s about faithfulness to proclaim the good news of Christ.
Thoughts & Application
“Evangelism is not something we can delegate only to pastors or missionaries. It is the privilege and duty of every follower of Christ.”
- Don’t wait for someone else—God has placed people in your life that only you can reach.
Our silence is often driven more by fear of man than fear of God.”
- Ask yourself: Am I more concerned with someone’s opinion of me or their standing before God?
“God’s sovereignty in salvation should encourage us to share the gospel, not excuse us from it.”
- Because God saves, our role is to be faithful in proclaiming—He will bring fruit in His time.
“Evangelism is not about eloquence or persuasion. It is about faithfully speaking the truth of Christ crucified.”
- Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Speak clearly about Christ and trust God with the results.
Closing Challenge
This week, identify one excuse that most often silences you. Confess it before the Lord. Pray for boldness, and intentionally step into one gospel conversation. Faithfulness is the measure—not results.
Written by Pastor Jon Beck (and fine-tuned by “Ezra,” my AI scribe).