Church Health Indicator #5: Understanding and Participating in Evangelism
Notes
Transcript
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
What is Evangelism?
What is Evangelism?
It is not:
Imposition
imposition is working or manipulating people to buy into your preferences. When we evangelize we are telling verifiable facts about God, humanity, and the Savior.
A Personal Testimony
When you are asked if you know for sure that you are saved how do you respond? Most people respond with a testimony of events that lead you to the knowledge of Christ. Your testimony is not the message we are to tell the world, the factual message of Jesus’ sacrificial death, His burial, and His resurrection.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Social Action or Political Involvement
When we stop looking to and praising God, we can replace the problem of sin with social ills. Believers are not called to fix society, we are called to love God and love our neighbors. Reaching into the fire of hell and pulling them out with the Gospel message. Jesus did not leave us here to fix nations he left us here to save sinners.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Apologetics
Apologetics is the process of answering questions and objections people may have about the Christian faith. Defending the veracity of the Word of God and the reality of the virgin birth are important and may come up while we are endeavoring to share the Gospel message. It is not to replace evangelism. The sharing of the Gospel should be our primary goal, the questions that follow will be a result of evangelism.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
The Results
What people do with the Gospel message is not up to us. If we evangelize only to see the results we will soon become, and we have become, discouraged. The results should not sway us in our obedience to God’s command. We should obey because we love Him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
To evangelize is to spread the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that as the reigning Lord he now offers the forgiveness of sins and the liberating gift of the Spirit to all who repent and believe. - Dever, Mark. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (3rd Edition) (9Marks) . Crossway. Kindle Edition.
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Who Should Evangelize?
Who Should Evangelize?
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The message is the power, not the messenger. Yet the New Testament is clear that the disciple of Jesus is to be the one evangelizing the world. The one who knows and learns of Christ.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Not just the paid staff of the churches, every believer went out and preached the word.
Why Should We Evangelize?
Why Should We Evangelize?
It will show obedience to the Savior.
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
A love for God will lead us to share the powerful message of the Gospel.
How Should We Evangelize?
How Should We Evangelize?
Honestly
Honestly
Tell people that believing in Christ will save them, but it will be costly.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
With Urgency
With Urgency
Boast not thyself of to morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Salvation is Worth it
Salvation is Worth it
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot
Use The Bible
Use The Bible
Remember to Pray
Remember to Pray
Build Relationships with non-believers
Build Relationships with non-believers
Work Together With Others
Work Together With Others