Podcast Episode 6 with Steve Sanchez

The transcript is from an episode of the Bibles and Bullhorns podcast featuring Steve Sanchez, a pastor, evangelist, and author of the upcoming Poke in the Eye Devotional. Hosted by Jonathan Morris and John Neifert, the episode discusses evangelism, challenges in modern churches, and the personal journey of sharing the gospel.

Key Points:

Guest Introduction:

• Steve Sanchez is a pastor from Johnson City, Texas, evangelist, and creator of the blog Stone the Preacher.
• He is deeply passionate about evangelism, having shared his faith daily for 20 years.

Journey into Evangelism:

• Inspired by a sermon encouraging evangelism, Steve committed to sharing his faith daily, leading to life-transforming experiences.
• After hearing Hell’s Best Kept Secret by Ray Comfort, he became involved in Living Waters’ Ambassador’s Academy as a team leader, helping train others in evangelism.

Teaching Evangelism:

• Steve emphasizes simplicity, encouraging people to start by handing out gospel tracts and using approachable phrases like “Did you get one of these?”
• He believes every Christian is called to evangelize and notes the general neglect of the Great Commission in modern churches.

Challenges in the Modern Church:

• Steve critiques “me-centered” preaching and the lack of emphasis on biblical evangelism and discipleship.
• He argues that many churches focus on personal needs and social activities rather than biblical truth, contributing to cultural moral decline.

Personal and Cultural Challenges:

• Steve shares his experience being dismissed from a pastorate for prioritizing evangelism and sound doctrine.
• He remains committed to his calling and is planting a new church, Solid Rock Bible Church, while continuing his evangelistic outreach.

Encouragement to Evangelize:

• Steve encourages believers to overcome fear by starting with small steps, like distributing a single tract daily.
• He underscores the urgency of evangelism, referencing dwindling biblical literacy and spiritual apathy in America.

Evangelism Events:

• Steve highlights large-scale outreaches, such as the Texas State Fair, where his team shared the gospel with thousands through conversations and tracts.
• He notes the challenges of evangelism, likening it to farming where the results are often unseen but trusting in God for the harvest.

Advice for Aspiring Evangelists:

• Listen to foundational teachings like Hell’s Best Kept Secret.
• Partner with experienced evangelists to learn through observation and practice.
• Focus on obedience to Christ rather than visible results, trusting that God uses every effort for His glory.

The episode concludes with encouragement for listeners to engage in daily evangelism and trust God with the outcomes. Steve highlights the importance of boldness, perseverance, and reliance on scripture in fulfilling the Great Commission.