That All May Know Christ

Surveying The Land, Preparing and Repairing the Way

When we consider the work of the church there are two primary functions. One of them is the core work done internally which focuses on the church internally. These function to build up, exhort, and engage those who are saved. Here we see the Apostle, Prophet, Shepherd and Teacher hard at work to ensure the body is growing properly.

The second serves the core work done eternally of the church and focuses on reaching the lost and unsaved. The Evangelist goes wherever they must to ensure the lost are being reached, and their is unity in the body.

1. William Seymour founder of

-the Azusa Street Revival

2. Aimee Semple McPherson Founder of

- the Four Square Movement

3. Chuck Smith founder of

- Calvary Chapel

4. Billy Graham who led some of the most prominent

- Evangelistic Crusades

All have a commonality, these were prominent evangelist whose movements led to some of the greatest evangelistic efforts of our times. In fact their work has had such an impact that their work supersedes their lives.

The evangelist have an intrinsic calling to the lost. They are driven to the bringing as many people home as possible.

Today in a quick survey of pulpits and in our area, we note something of a strange occurrence, we have pulpits filled with evangelist dealing with the work of the saved while the lost go unattended.

Academies teach the work of evangelism is the work of planting churches, not going out to engage the lost. But if we note something interesting happens when the evangelist is locked into the pulpit… churches begin to fight over (here in Maricopa) the same 1500 people instead of engaging the remaining 63000 plus that either (a) do not believe in God or (b) have been hurt to the point they do not want to attend church

What remains is we look at the spectacular evangelist of the past and wonder if it is possible for us to engage the same missional effort. However, those called to the office of evangelism

The evangelist have an intrinsic calling to the lost. They prepare the way for the lost to come home and repair the way for the wanderer to return.

Mark 1:1–5 ESV

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 16:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

The Gospel of Mark Opens with the Work of Evangelism and Ends with Evangelism

Without overtly stating it this is the work of the Evangelist

Be a messenger

Prepare the way (For the Lost)

Make Straight the path (For the wanderer)

In Matthew and Acts

Evangelist is exhorted to go into all the world, to all places at all times until the end of time

They have a charisma that draws people to them

people were leaving their homes to see JTB

JTB’s Message was repent and be saved which is the start not the end of what we are to teach.

Evangelists Model the Evangelist’s Example of Compassion

Evangelist with No Boundaries

Matthew 9:35 ESV

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

Jesus models every aspect of the Gifts APEST He has left for us

He goes into all cities and villages… there are no boundaries for the evangelist…

This section of scripture tells us that “yes” they will even be found in the church

The evangelist will go where they need to engage those who are lost and those are wandering.

Teach and Proclaim as the main function

Gospel of the Kingdom of God

Gospel is the Evangelion

Presents the good news of the Kingdom

Evangelist See the Work Ahead

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Jesus References the Amount of Work He Sees from the Kingdom

There is not just a few that need the help, it is too much for just one

The Evangelist intently is seeking more laborers for the kingdom

many disqualify themselves and do not think they can or are worthy to serve as evangelist

they do not know or believe the gospel is reduced to just one question (if you were to die today would you do you know where you’re going?)

They have a God-perspective that allows them to see God’s people as He wants to use them.

Evangelist are Defender of the Defenseless

Matthew 9:36 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus makes note of how wayward the vast amount of people were

Maricopa has a church attendance of less than 15% so many are lost or have abandoned the church

The evangelist is their first line of defense,

Evangelist in Action

Acts 8:4–8 ESV

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

In the Face of Adversity, the Evangelist Proclaims the Good News

Philip goes to Samaria where others did not want to go

Especially after the church was being decimated

The Evangelist Operates with Grace

People pay attention to them

They teach the Gospel not just repeat

The Evangelist Operates in Power

Healing (Healing tents)

Exorcism (Spiritual Warfare Camps)

Filled with signs and wonders

They tend to be the catalysts for massive revivals

The apostles assigned Philip as one of the seven that would allow them to focus on the word.

If you continue to read the work Philip engaged with you will note that his focus was on the right teaching of the gospel and the work of making a way for people to come to the Lord. They may not see the need to engage with deep theology simply they want to just see people come to the Lord

Philip as an evangelist operates with divine favor and power, this is why evangelist find it so easy to set up shop and initiate a massive revival, or conference, or whatever it takes to bring many to the Lord.

Brief Amy Semple-Mcpherson holds hand up always had an apron

The Evangelist desires the Lost to come home the wayward to return they engage all of culture to ensure that anyone who is near them and any area they can engage would com to know Jesus Christ.