Effective evangelism faithfully delivers “the word of Christ.” While on earth, Jesus Himself was the best sower of “the good seed” (Matthew 13:37). Yet the people who heard Him reacted in different ways. Some accepted His message immediately. With others, the seed germinated over time. Many rejected His message, even to the point of killing Him. The same message had very different results. Yet Jesus was completely effective. Why? Because He delivered the right message in the right way.
Later, as the apostles continued to spread the Gospel, some who heard thought they smelled beautiful, like fragrant perfume. Others, hearing the same teaching, thought they smelled like death, like a decaying corpse (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Same message, different results. Yet, even when the apostles seemed to fail, they were effective. Why? Because they delivered the right message in the right way.