Why Do We Suck at Evangelism? It’s Not What You Think…

Kent Murawski

Evangelism continues to be one of the most difficult things for Christians and churches to engage in and sustain. Why is that?

Photo by bandita via Flickr

 

In my last post, how Lady Gaga helped me with evangelism , I shared some insightful research from the Barna Research Group. It states that nearly one-half (47%) of Millennials feel it is “somewhat wrong to share their personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will someday share the same faith.”

This is despite the fact that they feel knowing Jesus is the best thing that could ever happen to someone (94-97%).

What is going on?

What Is Evangelism?

Before we go too far, it’s important to define evangelism as there is much confusion over the word. In his article, What Is Evangelism, Jeremy Bouma (Th.M.) explains. The word “evangelism” actually doesn’t exist in the Bible but comes from a few different Greek words. The best one to describe it is euangelizo — “to proclaim the gospel”—to describe the activity of telling the gospel (Rom. 10:15). Evangelism is the English term for the act of communicating the gospel. It’s the message that Jesus Christ is Lord. He goes on to say, “ The essence of evangelism is the gospel , which is the good news of Jesus—not methods or the kinds and sizes of audiences.”

The Harvest is Great, but are the Workers Still Few?

Jesus told His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few” (see Matt. 9:37). When He said this, He was looking at a small group of disciples but had the bigger picture in mind: scores upon scores, indeed the whole world, of people whom He wanted to welcome into the kingdom of God.

Is that statement still accurate? I’m not saying Jesus was lying. It was accurate and true in that moment. Jesus was stating a time-bound fact. The harvest is still great, but are the workers still few? At present, there are around 7.53 billion people in the world. Of that number, 2.18 billion of those are said to be Christians. That leaves 5.35 billion people who don’t know Christ, including 3.14 billion that belong to unreached people groups. 1

If the 2.18 billion Christians in the world each led just one person to Christ each year, the whole world would know Him within three years.

The harvest is still great, and the workers are many! So, why aren’t we turning the world upside down?

Turning the World Upside Down

In the early days of Christianity, with only a small but growing number of disciples throughout the known world, it was said, “Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (see Acts 17:6).

2000 years later, can you say that in your context?

I personally don’t know anyone in my Western context who would say they are turning the world upside down.

Why We Suck at Evangelism

Let’s move backwards from the outside to the inside to find out why…

1) We must plead with God to launch us into the harvest.

So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. (Matthew 9:38 NLT, emphasis added)

From Jesus’ words, we learn we are to “pray” and ask him to “send” more workers (starting with yourself) into his fields to harvest. But it’s not what you think.

Pray is the Greek word “ dĕŏmai ( deh´-om-ahee) and it means to beg or plead.

Send is the Greek word “ĕkballō” (ek-bal´-lo) and it means to eject, to drive (out), expel. 2

When is the last time you begged and pleaded with God to drive you into the harvest?

When is the last time you begged and pleaded with God to drive you into the harvest?
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Let me give some context for this. In his book, Letters to the Church , Francis Chan shares a about a time when he visited an underground church gathering in China. The believers all shared stories about the persecution they had endured: being shot at or hiding in the walls to avoid capture. The thing is, everyone was laughing like it was a party! They just expected persecution.

Francis went on to tell about the prayer meeting.

“In their prayers they were screaming out to God to take them to the most dangerous places. ‘I want to suffer for You. I don’t want to go to the safe place. Please! I want to be counted worthy to die in Your name.’ That’s the way they prayed.” 3

We treat Jesus’ words like they are a good suggestion when they are actually a command. We pray passively, like it applies to someone else, removing ourselves from the equation. But Matthew 9:38 is anything but passive.

When the prophet Isaiah encountered God, God asked a question. “Who will for for us? Whom shall I send?” Isaiah’s response was not, “God, I’m going to pray so you will find someone who will go. Send someone, Lord!” No, Isaiah said, “Here I am! Send me!” (see Isaiah 6:8)

We know we should go into the sea of lost humanity that needs a Savior, so why don’t we? It has to do with compassion.

2) Compassion is what drives us into the harvest.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless , like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36 NLT, empahasis added)

Jesus didn’t just see the crowd, He saw people. He discerned clearly their state of being, and when He saw their condition – confused, sick, helpless, tossed around, and scattered without protection or care – His heart broke with compassion.

Compassion is not just feelings of sympathy and pity. Compassion is a deep sympathy that drives us to action!

Jesus couldn’t possibly see the state people were in and leave them there. That’s why He healed them, cast out demons, and delivered them.

Compassion or a lack thereof is either a fruit or a symptom. When we have it, something is right on the inside, when we don’t have it, something is off.

If that’s the case, how do we get it and why don’t we have it – the way Jesus did?

3) We don’t have a compassion problem, we have a connection problem.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 ESV)

Compassion comes from being connected to the Vine, Jesus. 

Compassion comes from being connected to the Vine, Jesus. 
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Let me prove it to you.

Jesus said, “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35 NLT)

In other words, you keep putting off the harvest saying, it won’t be ready for four more months, but I say it’s ready now! That statement came directly following the greatest revelation of worship in the New Testament. After running into a Samaritan woman at a well, Jesus taught her about living water (the Holy Spirit) and true worship. He told her true worshipers worship in Spirit and truth, and the Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way (see John 4:23). Living Water (the person and power of the Holy Spirit) flows when we worship in Spirit and truth.

As pastor Bill Johnson says, “The purest evangelism flows from worship.”

When the connection part is right, it births true compassion and enables you to see people the way the Father sees them – like sheep without a shepherd. It’s the Father’s compassion that drives us into the harvest, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The secret to evangelism is the secret place.

The secret to evangelism is the secret place.
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Let’s Recap

Connection with Christ >>> births compassion >>> that drives us into the harvest.

What Now?

We can either ask God for compassion (which is the equivalent of a booster shot that only lasts for so long), or we can ask Him for the grace to abide with Him in connection both personally and as the body of Christ. 

Where does training come in? Once we begin abiding in Christ and compassion is birthed, we are not only driven into the harvest but we are driven to seek out the equipping we need in order to learn how to evangelize. Here are a few resources that come highly recommended by many (I have read a few of them):

You are the Plan!

I have a sticky note hanging up in my study/prayer room that says, “I am revival.” Revival starts with me, in the secret place. I can have a continuous revival in me. And if I get that right it will spread to others because what’s gained in the secret place will never be kept secret!

I am revival.
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Two thousand years after His death and resurrection, Jesus’ compassion hasn’t lessened but His method has changed. Jesus left and gave us the authority to do the same things He did. He has entrusted us with His mission, “Go into every nation and make disciples” (see Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus also said,

Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 20:21).

You are the plan. There is no plan “B”. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. (see Matthew 5:14)

Your joy depends on it!

Did you know part of your joy as a follower of Jesus depends upon you sharing your faith?

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10:1, 17 ESV)

Maybe the reason so many Christians are miserable is because they aren’t giving out in this way. Instead of a flowing river, you’ve become a stagnant pond.

Go!

Start in the secret place. Prioritize your daily time with God. Let Him birth compassion in your heart as you worship and adore Him.

Churches must do the same. Notice the pattern in the book of Acts: over and over, they were found in prayer and in one accord (or of one mind). God would pour out His love and compassion upon them and they would go out into the harvest with boldness.

Don’t wait another moment. Get in the secret place and let compassion drive you into the harvest. The world is waiting!

Rest Assured: Seven Days to Stillness, Sanity and the Sabbath You Need

True rest is something that we all desperately need but can’t seem to find. It’s not just sleep and down time we need, although that is important, but rest for our souls. In the words of the early church father, Augustine of Hippo, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

True rest can only be found in a relationship with God.

*This e-book and downloadable PDF is available for pre-order now! Launching 5-15-19.

Footnotes

1 – https://joshuaproject.net/

2 – Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 1, p. 26). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

3 – Chan, Francis (2018). Letters to the Church. David C. Cook. 4050 Lee Vance Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

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3 Ways to Master Summer Without Burning Out

By Kent Murawski • July 28, 2025
When was the last time you ended a summer feeling more energized than when it started? ​​Summer brings changes for many of us—minimizing our motivation to work, disrupting work routines, and altering schedules. With summertime often comes a desire to slow down, and yet, we're not always sure how to do that. This week is my last new post for a little while (though I may resend some popular posts from the 2024-2025 season). I’m pressing pause to create space and pour my energy into finishing my new book. But stay tuned—when I’m back in six weeks, the newsletter will be refreshed with some exciting updates you won’t want to miss! Read to the end to find out more. In this week's edition of Catalyst, I want to share 3 ideas to help you effectively navigate summer. 3 Ways to Master Summer Without Burning Out 1) Stop and Think (Reflect) Socrates famously said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." For Socrates, life was more than pursuing the things that most men occupy themselves with, things like wealth, household affairs, status and position, and political clubs and factions. He believed that life only has value and meaning when we question what we think and know, and by more deeply understanding ourselves and others. The beginning of summer is an ideal time for reflection, and we all tend to occupy ourselves with the things Socrates talked about more than we probably care to admit. Taking a reflection day at the end of each quarter (consider removing "or trimester" for conciseness) can be an effective way to navigate seasonal changes. Finding a place far enough removed from your normal day-to-day life will help you get into a different headspace. A friend of mine often says: Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. I've used hotels, monasteries, or even a beautiful outdoor location if the weather permits. Here are a few questions you might want to ask: How am I feeling spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically? How are my closest relationships doing? Am I living out my core values? Is my life moving in a direction I feel good about? What do I need to change or adjust? Here are a few ideas for how to conduct a reflection day: Prayer, meditation, or silence Review your biggest wins and assess your goals from the previous quarter Work on high-impact projects that require focus Preview the upcoming quarter and set your Big 3 goals: personal, marriage/family, work/business 2) Cut the Non-Essentials (Reevaluate) Both my wife and I work, so when summer arrives, we need to re-evaluate our schedules to accommodate our twelve-year-old son. In the past, I've made the mistake of trying to keep the same workload despite being home with him two days a week. I ended up frustrated all summer long, living in the tension of wanting to spend more time with him while trying to carry the same workload. Summer requires me to pare down my work roles to the essentials: Writing (currently working on a new book) Executive coaching (6-8 coaching clients) Relationship building and outreach Necessary administration (keeping this to 30% or less of my responsibilities) Moving forward, I will probably keep things this way. It feels more sustainable than the unrealistic expectations I previously held myself to. Once you define your key roles and responsibilities, the question becomes how to achieve better work-life integration not work-life balance. I use the Big 3 System. Choose only three big things to focus on at one time—quarterly, weekly, and daily. That's right, just three. Those three things are usually a combination of personal, marriage/family, and work. Each quarter, I typically choose 1 personal goal, 1 marriage and family goal, and 1-3 work goals, depending on the quarter. Here are a few questions to consider. If you have a partner, discuss them together: How does your schedule change in the summer? What work-related responsibilities and expectations do you need to adjust? What are 3 things you want to do this summer? What do you NOT want to do? 3) Choose What Matters Most (Rest) Paring down expectations isn't only for work, it applies to rest, too. Because it's summer, there is the temptation to want to fit in everything (—vacation, visit family, trips, fun, etc). In the past, we would try to do so much that by the time fall rolled around, we were exhausted. Last year, out of necessity, we planned a staycation instead of going away. It was one of the best vacations we've had in a long time. And besides, summers in New England are gorgeous! We went to see a movie, ate out, went to Six Flags, had a beach day, and took days in between just to relax. We loved it so much, we're doing a staycation again this year! Write down your list of summer expectations and plans. Now, cross out everything that feels exhausting and unfun. Don't try to fit everything in this summer. Pick a couple of things that feel life-giving and focus on those. Your Move Reflect. Re-evaluate. Rest. Choose one of the three and work on it in the next 24 hours. Plan a day of reflection. Have a conversation with your spouse. Choose how you're going to rest this summer. I don't care which one it is, just take action. Here’s one question to consider: What would you stop doing this summer if no one was watching? Most people think summer is about maximizing experiences and fitting everything in, but the truth is that the most productive leaders use summer to strategically subtract, not add. They understand that rest isn't what you do after the work is done—it's what makes the work sustainable in the first place. You've got this.

Why you're exhausted before fall even arrives...

By Kent Murawski • July 23, 2025
When was the last time you ended a summer feeling more energized than when it started? ​​Summer brings changes for many of us—minimizing our motivation to work, disrupting work routines, and altering schedules. With summertime often comes a desire to slow down, and yet, we're not always sure how to do that. This week is my last new post for a little while (though I may resend some popular posts from the 2024-2025 season). I’m pressing pause to create space and pour my energy into finishing my new book. But stay tuned—when I’m back in six weeks, the newsletter will be refreshed with some exciting updates you won’t want to miss! Read to the end to find out more. In this week's edition of Catalyst, I want to share 3 ideas to help you effectively navigate summer. 3 Ways to Master Summer Without Burning Out 1) Stop and Think (Reflect) Socrates famously said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." For Socrates, life was more than pursuing the things that most men occupy themselves with, things like wealth, household affairs, status and position, and political clubs and factions. He believed that life only has value and meaning when we question what we think and know, and by more deeply understanding ourselves and others. The beginning of summer is an ideal time for reflection, and we all tend to occupy ourselves with the things Socrates talked about more than we probably care to admit. Taking a reflection day at the end of each quarter (consider removing "or trimester" for conciseness) can be an effective way to navigate seasonal changes. Finding a place far enough removed from your normal day-to-day life will help you get into a different headspace. A friend of mine often says: Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. I've used hotels, monasteries, or even a beautiful outdoor location if the weather permits. Here are a few questions you might want to ask: How am I feeling spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically? How are my closest relationships doing? Am I living out my core values? Is my life moving in a direction I feel good about? What do I need to change or adjust? Here are a few ideas for how to conduct a reflection day: Prayer, meditation, or silence Review your biggest wins and assess your goals from the previous quarter Work on high-impact projects that require focus Preview the upcoming quarter and set your Big 3 goals: personal, marriage/family, work/business 2) Cut the Non-Essentials (Reevaluate) Both my wife and I work, so when summer arrives, we need to re-evaluate our schedules to accommodate our twelve-year-old son. In the past, I've made the mistake of trying to keep the same workload despite being home with him two days a week. I ended up frustrated all summer long, living in the tension of wanting to spend more time with him while trying to carry the same workload. Summer requires me to pare down my work roles to the essentials: Writing (currently working on a new book) Executive coaching (6-8 coaching clients) Relationship building and outreach Necessary administration (keeping this to 30% or less of my responsibilities) Moving forward, I will probably keep things this way. It feels more sustainable than the unrealistic expectations I previously held myself to. Once you define your key roles and responsibilities, the question becomes how to achieve better work-life integration not work-life balance. I use the Big 3 System. Choose only three big things to focus on at one time—quarterly, weekly, and daily. That's right, just three. Those three things are usually a combination of personal, marriage/family, and work. Each quarter, I typically choose 1 personal goal, 1 marriage and family goal, and 1-3 work goals, depending on the quarter. Here are a few questions to consider. If you have a partner, discuss them together: How does your schedule change in the summer? What work-related responsibilities and expectations do you need to adjust? What are 3 things you want to do this summer? What do you NOT want to do? 3) Choose What Matters Most (Rest) Paring down expectations isn't only for work, it applies to rest, too. Because it's summer, there is the temptation to want to fit in everything (—vacation, visit family, trips, fun, etc). In the past, we would try to do so much that by the time fall rolled around, we were exhausted. Last year, out of necessity, we planned a staycation instead of going away. It was one of the best vacations we've had in a long time. And besides, summers in New England are gorgeous! We went to see a movie, ate out, went to Six Flags, had a beach day, and took days in between just to relax. We loved it so much, we're doing a staycation again this year! Write down your list of summer expectations and plans. Now, cross out everything that feels exhausting and unfun. Don't try to fit everything in this summer. Pick a couple of things that feel life-giving and focus on those. Your Move Reflect. Re-evaluate. Rest. Choose one of the three and work on it in the next 24 hours. Plan a day of reflection. Have a conversation with your spouse. Choose how you're going to rest this summer. I don't care which one it is, just take action. Here’s one question to consider: What would you stop doing this summer if no one was watching? Most people think summer is about maximizing experiences and fitting everything in, but the truth is that the most productive leaders use summer to strategically subtract, not add. They understand that rest isn't what you do after the work is done—it's what makes the work sustainable in the first place. You've got this.

Crisis Creates Clarity

By Kent Murawski • May 26, 2025
“Should I end this?” were the last words I said before collapsing to the ground in excruciating pain. The only thing I ended that day was my basketball career ⛹️! On Sunday, May 18, 2025, I ruptured my patella tendon playing basketball with my boys. We were playing a game of P.I.G., and it was […]

‘When You Hurry, You No Longer Care’: A Wake-Up Call from the Monastery

By Kent Murawski • May 16, 2025
“You’re not going to become a monk, are you?”  My wife asked me this after I excitedly returned from a week-long retreat to a Trappist monastery and my growing fascination with monastic rhythms.  The obvious answer is no, since I’m neither single nor celibate It began the previous week when my twelve-year-old son and I […]

The View from 50

By Kent Murawski • May 7, 2025
I always thought the big decisions were what shaped my life trajectory, but my 50th birthday celebration revealed something way more interesting—it’s actually the tiny, everyday choices that determine where you ultimately end up. It was the most meaningful birthday I’ve ever had.  Fair warning, this is a long one, but it will be worth […]

The Productive Power of Strategic Pauses

By Kent Murawski • March 19, 2025
Your capacity to recognize when to pause may be more valuable than knowing when to push. Lately, I haven’t had anything to write, which is a rare occurrence. Sure, I could try to pound something out or pull some unused content out of the archives (which I have tons of), but here’s what I’ve discovered: […]

How Are You? (The Success Predictor)

By Kent Murawski • March 6, 2025
How are you? Your answer to this question reveals more about your future success and well-being than any strategic plan. We often wear busyness as a badge of honor. Ask ten people how they are doing, and nine out of ten times the answer will be, “busy.” That’s not the way things ought to be. […]

The Hidden Cost of Being Too Hard On Yourself

By Kent Murawski • January 30, 2025
The weight of unrealistic self-expectations can feel crushing, especially at the start of a new year. January is not even over, and I’m already feeling overwhelmed.  It’s often said that we can be our own worst bosses or that the most challenging person to lead is the person in the mirror.  What do you do […]

The Missed Opportunity in Failed Dreams

By Kent Murawski • January 16, 2025
Failed dreams can become your greatest victories. While dreams are essential for hope and growth, unfulfilled dreams can breed disillusionment. Yet what appears to be a “failed” dream often reveals itself as an opportunity. Barbara Corcoran, the renowned Shark Tank Investor, once said, “All my best successes came on the heels of failure.” This wisdom […]

Less Is More (Why Resolutions Don’t Work)

By Kent Murawski • January 4, 2025
Did you know that 92% of people give up on their goals by January 12th? Pretty shocking, right? I used to be part of that statistic. Every year, I’d write down my goals with excitement, only to find them collecting dust by February. It was frustrating and, honestly, a bit embarrassing. But then I discovered […]