An evangelist who is wise, careful, patient, and loving—a faithful representative of Jesus Christ will have those outward skills and inward attributes.

This list effectively separates outward skills (how we communicate) from inward attributes (who we are as we communicate). The Bible places greater emphasis on the attributes, as they are the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work, which makes the skills effective.

Part 1: Important Skills

1. Analytical 
Being analytical means thinking carefully,discerning truth from error, and understanding the core of someone's question or objection.

· Acts 17:2-3: Paul, in Thessalonica, "reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead." This is a prime example of analytical evangelism.
· 1 Peter 3:15: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." The Greek word for "answer" is apologia, meaning a reasoned defense or argument. This requires analytical thought.
· Proverbs 14:15: "The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps." An effective evangelist must be prudent, not simple.

2. Meticulous

Being meticulous means being careful with the truth,handling the Word of God accurately, and paying attention to details to avoid misrepresentation.

· 2 Timothy 2:15: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." This is the cornerstone verse for meticulousness in gospel ministry.
· Titus 1:9: An elder must "hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." Holding firmly and teaching sound doctrine requires meticulous care.

3. Slow to Speak 
This is perhaps the most crucial skill.It prioritizes listening over talking, understanding a person's heart before presenting a solution.

· James 1:19: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." This is directly commanded and is essential for effective, non-confrontational communication.
· Proverbs 18:13: "To answer before listening— that is folly and shame." An evangelist who doesn't listen first will likely answer the wrong question.
· Proverbs 10:19: "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." Being slow to speak minimizes the risk of saying something foolish or damaging.

Part 2: Important Attributes

1. Maturity 
Spiritual maturity provides stability,wisdom, and perspective, preventing the evangelist from being tossed about by arguments or discouragement.

· Ephesians 4:14-15: "Then we will no longer be infants... Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Maturity is the goal, enabling us to speak "truth in love."
· 1 Corinthians 13:11: "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." Maturity moves us from simplistic to effective reasoning.

2. Self-Control 
This is a fruit of the Spirit(Galatians 5:22-23) essential for evangelism. It controls the tongue, emotions, and reactions during difficult conversations.

· 2 Timothy 1:7: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." Self-discipline (or self-control) is a divine enablement for gospel work.
· Proverbs 16:32: "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." This highlights the immense power of self-control.

3. Long-Suffering 
Also translated as patience or forbearance,this is the ability to endure opposition, misunderstanding, and slow progress without becoming angry or giving up.

· 2 Timothy 4:2: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." Patience is explicitly tied to the teaching of the gospel.
· 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." We are called to mirror God's patient character in our evangelism.
· 1 Corinthians 13:4: "Love is patient..." Since all evangelism must be motivated by love, it must be characterized by patience.

4. A Good Heart
This summarizes the inner character from which everything else flows—a heart of love,compassion, and sincerity.

· Matthew 12:34-35: "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him..." The quality of our speech is determined by the condition of our heart.
· Luke 6:45: Similarly, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart... For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." The message is only as good as the heart from which it comes.
· 1 Peter 4:8-10: Instructions for service, including speaking, are grounded in "love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." A heart transformed by God's love is essential.