Evangelism - Quanity vs Quality

[Salty]

There have been discussions on this board about passing out Bible tracts non-stop.

I am not saying that this is a bad thing,
but IMHO - this is no longer a very effective tract.

If you pass out 10,000 tracts -on the street - without actually getting into a conversation with the individual - how many salvation decisions could we realistically expect to see. And just as important - if there is no local church listed on the tract - what then.

all this VS QUALITY.

I'm sure you have seen this before.

In 2014 you disciple one convert - now there are 2
In 2015 you both disciple one convert = 4
In 2016 all 4 disciple... = 8
... 8= 16
16= 32
32= 64
64 = 128
128 = 256
256= 512
512= 1,024
1,024= 2,048
2,048= 4,096
4,096= 8,192
8,192=16,384
16,384=32,768
32,768=65,536
IN the year 2030 65,536 = 131,072

Open for Discusiion

 

[preachinjesus]

True evangelism requires relationship.

Otherwise, its not disciple-making...its convert-producing.

 

[Salty]

True evangelism requires relationship.

Otherwise, its not disciple-making...its convert-producing.

The point is: which is more effective?

 

[Pastor_Bob]

True evangelism requires relationship.

Otherwise, its not disciple-making...its convert-producing.

This doesn't have to be an "either/or" issue. The Word of God commands us to do both. We are to "preach the gospel to every creature;" and, we are to "teach them..."

Mass tract distribution is an effective way to get the gospel message in the hands of multitudes of people at once. I was once part of an effort to pass out tracts at the St. Patrick's Day parade in NYC one year. The group I was with passed out 40,000 tracts in one day. You could literally stay in one spot on a busy corner and give out tracts as fast as you could put your hand out.

Were they all read? More than likely not all of them. Were some read? I'm sure that they were. Our job that day was not to bring in the harvest; our job that day was to sow the Seed. God Himself will see to the harvest.

The goal is that, at some point, someone will come along and water that seed. Perhaps another individual will then reap where they haven't sown.

I Corinthians 3:6 [Paul said] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (KJV)

 

[JonC]

Hey Salty.

One can pass out tracts at a ratio that staggers any attempt at genuine evangelism. It seems that your post implies quality in genuine communication of the gospel. The great commission is to disciple. I don't think that one can be disciple by a tract (not that God cannot or does not use tracts, but to me this is not the definition of evangelism). Pastor Bob indicates that it may not be "either or" ...I agree. I tend to think it is most effective when it is both (especially when the "tract" is a Bible).

 

[Salty]

...Pastor Bob indicates that it may not be "either or" ...I agree. I tend to think it is most effective when it is both (especially when the "tract" is a Bible).

I agree with this!

I get the impression however, that there are those who only consider quantity.

We need a balance approach of both.

 

[gb93433]

I see evangelism much like making babies and discipleship like making mature adults who are capable of raising children to be mature adults. One cannot make mature adults without first having children. So which is more important/ Neither, both are important.

 

[JamesL]

So far, the answers have been out of context of the op - Evangelism

Maturity is not in the context of evangelism.
Training is not in the context of evangelism.
Discipleship is not in the context of evangelism.

As it relates specifically to evangelism, quality is paramount. The gospel has only one measure of quality - true vs. false. If you have the wrong quality, then all the quantity in the world is for nothing.

However, method should not be mistaken for quality. Many methods are effective in sharing a quality gospel message.

As for tracts, I have seen only one in my whole life which has the right quality. It can be done, but often times isn't.

 

[evangelist6589]

There have been discussions on this board about passing out Bible tracts non-stop.

I am not saying that this is a bad thing,
but IMHO - this is no longer a very effective tract.

If you pass out 10,000 tracts -on the street - without actually getting into a conversation with the individual - how many salvation decisions could we realistically expect to see. And just as important - if there is no local church listed on the tract - what then.

all this VS QUALITY.

I'm sure you have seen this before.

In 2014 you disciple one convert - now there are 2
In 2015 you both disciple one convert = 4
In 2016 all 4 disciple... = 8
... 8= 16
16= 32
32= 64
64 = 128
128 = 256
256= 512
512= 1,024
1,024= 2,048
2,048= 4,096
4,096= 8,192
8,192=16,384
16,384=32,768
32,768=65,536
IN the year 2030 65,536 = 131,072

Open for Discusiion

I suggest you read a verse in the book of Acts that speak of The Lord opening the heart of Lydia in response to Paul's preaching. This says solely that God grants salvation to his elect.

I pass out thousands of tracts and have had MANY conversations with souls over the years. I suggest people talk with lost people over a tract, but if not possible (such as with parked cars) than place the tract on the car.

 

[evangelist6589]

So far, the answers have been out of context of the op - Evangelism



Maturity is not in the context of evangelism.

Training is not in the context of evangelism.

Discipleship is not in the context of evangelism.



As it relates specifically to evangelism, quality is paramount. The gospel has only one measure of quality - true vs. false. If you have the wrong quality, then all the quantity in the world is for nothing.



However, method should not be mistaken for quality. Many methods are effective in sharing a quality gospel message.



As for tracts, I have seen only one in my whole life which has the right quality. It can be done, but often times isn't.

Which one? I would say that the John MacArthur and Mike Gendron tracts are perhaps the best written. WOTM and other tracts are good as well.

 

[gb93433]

As for tracts, I have seen only one in my whole life which has the right quality. It can be done, but often times isn't.

Do you mean scripture?

 

[JamesL]

Do you mean scripture?

No, I mean a tract as a way of conveying the gospel message.