Evangelism

Definition

The proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

Goal

The goal of evangelism is to participate in God’s work of bringing *salvation through *faith in Christ as enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Evangelism & Predestination

Traditionally, Reformed theologians see no contradiction between God’s *predestination of the elect and the necessity of sharing the gospel with unbelievers through *preaching, conversation and relationships. Reformed evangelism has historically emphasized God’s *sovereignty, the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit and the responsibility of God’s people to invite others to hear and respond to the call of the gospel.

The theology of evangelism must be derived from the original setting in which the word was used. The Gk. verb euangelizesthai means ‘to announce good news’, and is found 52 times in the NT. The noun euangelion means ‘good news’, and occurs 72 times, mostly in Paul. The noun euangelistēs, meaning ‘evangelist’, appears only three times (Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5).

Acts - Philip the Evangelist

Ephesians and 2 Timothy - noting that God appoints some to be evangelists.

Evangelism, then, is ‘to share or announce the good news’; and as such it is not to be defined in terms of particular methods.

Methods may vary widely, provided only that their style matches the message to be proclaimed (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2, 5). Nor should evangelism be defined in terms of successful results. The NT shows that wherever the good news is proclaimed some will respond with repentance and faith, while others will be indifferent and still others reject it (e.g. Acts 17:32–34; 2 Cor. 4:3–4).

2 Corinthians 2:17 CSB

For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

2 Corinthians 4:1–5 CSB

Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.

Acts 17:32–34 CSB

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” So Paul left their presence. However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 CSB

But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Motives for Evangelism

Identified in the Bible are 4 primary motives. There are numerous secondary motives.

Concern for God’s glory

obedience to the Great Commission

gratitude for God’s grace

concern for the fate of the unbeliever

Spiritual Gift

Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world.

When we think the Word Salvation, we tend to instantaneously think about winning the lost individual to Christ. Interestingly, in the Bible, the focus was on the proclamation that the Kingdom of God was coming.

So Methods may vary, and focus within evangelism may vary.

Go back to the Big 4:

Concern for God’s glory

Obedience to the Great Commission

Gratitude for God’s Grace

Concern for the fate of the unbeliever

The person with the gift for evangelism may have a specific burden related to one of these 4.

And the perosn with the SG seems to have a unique methodology to home in and articulate their ability to present the Gospel in a relevant and understandable manner. They have confidence.

Often times this method can be repeated.

Repeated by others is a key point. The evangelist cannot simply be an evangelist with the Spiritual gift of evangelism, unless they also have the ability to TEACH OTHERS, in at least some capacity, to evangelize. That would be missing the part of the edification of the church.