by Evangelism should be viewed as one of the highest priorities of a Christian and the Body of Christ. Within the class article, there is a mention that evangelism is not a choice. The article states, “One of the contributing factors is that evangelism is taught as an individual choice rather than a biblical command.”[1] I have observed this in several different churches in my life. We are given the gospel but not always told to give the gospel or trained how to give the gospel. Fortunately, my current church takes evangelism seriously and makes it a priority. At our last annual men’s retreat, we had a training session on giving the gospel. A lot of Christians know that gospel means good news, but what is within the good news is exciting.
A misunderstanding I had prior to this week was that evangelism is not optional. “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isa. 43:7, NIV). It is the Great Commission and needs to be followed no matter the reasons we give. Early states, “The real business of life is glorifying God and being used by him to transform unbelievers into people whose great delight in life is to know and trust him.”[2] For many years I worked in the corporate world successfully when evaluated on corporate world measurements. Where I failed was being able to use that success as a platform to help cultivate the salvation of souls.[3]
I do agree that evangelism is joyful. Early mentions, “Evangelism, helping people get saved, is deeply rewarding because it fulfills the reason for our existence. Evangelism is why you are here. You will never be fulfilled until you live for the glory of God. You cannot glorify God unless you live a lifestyle of evangelism.”[4] Research has shown that there is a negative attitude towards life in a young person when he or she has not adopted a Christian belief system.[5]
There are many verses that make up the gospel but the one I like the most is John 3:16 as it encompasses a lot of the gospel within it. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and Luke 24:45-49 are also good references. McRaney states, “The Gospel is not only the Good News about Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Gospel.”[6] The different pieces of the gospel include:
- We all have sinned and need forgiveness. God loves us and sent his son to us.
- Jesus is the Christ, our savior. We completely surrender everything to him as he is in charge.
- The penalty of our sin is death, and Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we will have everlasting life.
- Jesus rose again on the third day with witnesses, in accordance with the Scriptures. This validates Jesus Christ as our savior.
- We respond through repentance.
- We are born again with a spiritual rebirth as the Holy Spirit enters us and helps us mature in our faith.
Christians know that it is important to receive Christ, but McRaney explains, “Receiving Christ seems to have three facets. They are all sides of the same diamond but reflect the light in a little different manner. . .Those three facets are (1) surrender, (2) repentance, and (3) faith.”[7]
Bibliography
Earley, Dave. “The Real Business of Life.” in Everyday Evangelism: Sharing the Christian Faith. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010.
Earley, Dave and David Wheeler. “The Supreme Challenge of This Generation.” in Everyday Evangelism: Sharing the Christian Faith. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010.
McRaney, Will. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2003.
“What Evangelism Is Not.” Class handout in EVAN 525 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, January 19, 2023.
[1] “What Evangelism Is Not” (class handout in EVAN 525 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, January 19, 2023).
[2] Dave Earley, “The Real Business of Life,” in Everyday Evangelism: Sharing the Christian Faith (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010), 13.
[3] Ibid., 14.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Dave Earley and David Wheeler, “The Supreme Challenge of This Generation,” in Everyday Evangelism: Sharing the Christian Faith (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010), 27.
[6] Will McRaney, The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2003), 98.
[7] Ibid., 91.