4 Ways Coffee Can (Help) Fuel Your Evangelism

A Lot Of People Think Evangelism Is Hard

For many people, evangelism is one of the most intimidating facets of being a Christian. Some view it as an unhelpful condition tacked onto their walk with God. Michael Reeve's says in the book God Shines Forth, "Every Christian knows we're meant to share the Gospel and look for opportunities to witness to Christ, yet almost all of us find it a genuine struggle, if not a gloomy discouragement."

Evangelism Can Be Easy

Evangelism doesn't have to be hard, complicated, or awkward. You can make evangelism a natural part of your relationship with Jesus by taking a few simple steps. (Coffee does play into them all)

4 Simple Steps

1. Spend time with Jesus

Empty Christians have nothing to give. It is hard to spread the joy of following Jesus when you don't enjoy following Jesus. Spending time with God is without doubt the most important aspect of your life.

Without experiencing his fullness and drawing close to Him, you will not make a very good evangelist. Christians who never spend time with Jesus aren't very good at talking about Jesus. Christians who do can't help but talk about Him.

Making It Happen

Set aside time every day to be with Jesus. If possible, set aside several times a day. I find this most helpful in the morning. I make my coffee, go to my desk, and spend time reading my Bible and praying. I also try to meditate on the Gospel in some way at least once a day. I find my morning coffee time is the best place to do that.

2. Go Out And Meet People

This is where evangelism gets intimidating for most people. Spending time with Jesus is one thing. The thought of "starting something awkward" is a real turn off. 

The good news is, we don't "start" anything when we share the Gospel. The Most High God has shaped history so that each person you interact with has an opportunity to hear the Gospel from you!

I love how David Platt put it, "How do you know God is working in someone's life, when you are thinking about sharing the Gospel with them? You know God is working in their life because you are in their life!"

Making It Happen

This may seem crazy to you, but next time you are out (in a coffee shop for example), start up a conversation with someone with the goal of telling them the Gospel. Trust that if it goes nowhere, that was God's divine appointment, and if it does, then thank God for giving you courage and giving that person an opportunity to repent.

3. Follow Up With People

If you really want to make connections with people to share the Gospel, it's essential to maintain an ongoing relationship. People can see through shallow attempts at evangelism when you make no effort to know who they are. One way to do that is by inviting them out (or into your home) for coffee.

Why does this work? It's one thing to meet a random person and tell them the Gospel; It's another thing to tell a friend or family member. These people are often the hardest to share with, because of the ongoing relationship.

This is good because people listen better and ask questions when they have a relationship with you. God has also given you a measure of care and love for the people you know which encourages you to share.

Making It Happen

Write down a list of 3 friends or family members who are not followers of Jesus. It's good to start small. Then, begin praying for these people every time you pray. 

Next, invite one of them for coffee, with the intention of sharing the Gospel. Don’t be afraid to share your experience believing the Gospel and following Jesus. Do this with all three people on your list.

4. Go To Your Neighbors.

Yep, that’s right. Probably the scariest, yet simplest group of people to introduce Jesus to are your neighbors. This could be the easiest way to spread the Gospel, especially in suburban areas. According to current religious polls, 10% of people who claimed to be followers of Jesus in the US could share the Gospel with a quarter of the population by sharing with only 4 unbelieving neighbors. 

Making It Happen

This is tough, but a story from John Piper is helpful. (Watch the full story here) He shares that it took him 18 MONTHS to overcome his fear of sharing with his neighbor. One of the pivotal moments in his story is bringing a gift of a New Testament and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

If you’re looking for a good gift for a neighbor, buy them a bag of coffee, bring them a new testament, and a simple book like “What Is The Gospel?” by Greg Gilbert or “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis. (I’d also recommend if the person comes from a Christian background, and struggle with God’s character, get them “The Heart Of Jesus” by Dane Ortlund). 

Bring over these gifts, share the Gospel and your testimony with them, and follow-up with them after a week.

Final Thoughts

Taking these steps will prepare you and give you a plan. But you have to do them. If you want to introduce people to Jesus, you must spend time with Him. If you want to share the Gospel with people who need to hear it, you may have to expand your friend group by meeting some people. If you want to see them believe it, you’ll probably have to follow-up and have more than one conversation with them. And if you want to follow Jesus and be His witness, one of your best opportunities is going to your neighbor.

The important thing to remember is you don’t make belief in the Gospel happen, God does. And you don’t have to start anything, you get to join Jesus and follow Him as He reaches and saves the lost. You’re just the steward of the Gospel, and you simply have to be faithful to share it.