Evangelism Mistakes to Avoid

As we seek to be faithful to the Lord and involved in the work of his church, none of us will ever be perfect. As forgiven and redeemed children of God, we are still fallible human beings. The good news is, as we step out in faith and do our imperfect best to engage in spiritual service, the Lord works with us and through us to accomplish his perfect will, despite our imperfections. Nonetheless, in carrying out our God-given ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21),¹ as we continue to learn and grow, there are some common mistakes to be aware of and avoid.

Church Attendance Conversions?

Inviting people to the services of the church and welcoming them into our assemblies is a good thing (cf. 1 Cor. 14:23). In fact, their attendance indicates spiritual interest. However, the assemblies of the church are not typically designed to convert the lost but to teach, challenge, and edify those already saved (cf. 1 Cor. 14:3-5, 12, 26). We should therefore consider any non-Christians in our midst as good prospects for evangelism. Don’t just assume they will learn all they need to know by listening to sermons geared toward members of the church. Proactively engage in spiritual conversations before and after church services. Get to know them outside the assemblies and develop relationships. Invite them to study the Bible in a more personal setting.

Immediate Goal is Baptism?

Our ultimate goal in evangelism is to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:18-20). While baptism is an essential part of the salvation process, it is not the end, sum total, or final aim. We do a grave disservice when we rush people into the baptistery who are insufficiently taught and not given the opportunity to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:28-33; Acts 2:40). While one cannot be a disciple of Jesus without baptism, it is possible to baptize a person prematurely without that person being discipled. This does not fulfill the great commission as the Lord intended, and our ministry of reconciliation is thus incomplete.² Ample follow up is also important (Acts 2:42; 14:22).

Personal Record Keeping of Conversions?

Missionary reports and church records notwithstanding, what would be the purpose of keeping a personal count of how many souls I have won to Christ? A successful evangelist like Paul refrained from doing this (1 Cor. 1:16b), consistently giving glory to God for any conversions made through his humble efforts (Acts 14:27; 15:4; 21:19; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; 3:5-7).³ We ought to habitually speak in the passive voice. Rather than “I taught and baptized so and so,” or “I have baptized this many ...” (or in veiled humility, “I had the privilege of ...”), why not simply share the encouraging news that “So and so was baptized,” or “This many have obeyed the gospel,” or “The Lord has added to his church ...”? In so doing, the spotlight is diverted from ourselves, we rejoice with the souls who are saved, and God gets the credit only he deserves.

Conclusion

We will never be perfect and will continually make mistakes. But let us learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others, keep trying to improve, and ever be grateful to the One who has invited us into his work and saves precious souls through us and in spite of us.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ See “Evangelism: What, Where, Whom, How?” Moore Perspective (30 Dec. 2025), <Link>.

     ² See “Where’s the Church in the Gospel Plan of Salvation?” Moore Perspective (16 Feb. 2016), <Link>.

     ³ See “Pauline Amnesia,” Moore Perspective (24 Feb. 2013), <Link>.

Related Posts: Practical Advice for Evangelism, Evangelistic Approaches for Everyone, Evangelistic Models, Methods, Tools, Evangelism for Introverts

 

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