QUOTE ON EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS

 

“Before Jesus said go ye, he said wait for the power and first witness in your home, family, environment and then to the world. Evangelism must start inward and move out outward, otherwise one run the risk of being a hypocrite.”

• Ezra Aniebue

 

We believe that Evangelism is the proclamation of GOD’s judgment on sin and of the Gospel (Good News) of GOD’s grace in Jesus Christ. Evangelism is the response of Christians to persons in the bondage of evil and to the charge of Christ that His followers are to be His witnesses to all people. It declares that the gospel and the gospel alone is the power of GOD for salvation. The task of evangelism is primary in the mission of the church and is the vocation of every Christian.

 

New Testament evangelism is evangelism by means of the gospel and by the power of the Spirit. It aims at the saving of the whole person. It confronts the lost with the cost of discipleship and the claims of The Lordship of Christ. It magnifies divine grace, voluntariness of faith, and reality in the experience of conversion.

The constraining love of Christ, the doom of the unsaved, and the strength of sin constitute a compelling urgency.

 

Personal and mass evangelism, church-centered evangelism, the use of sound methods and every worthy medium, the witness of personal piety and a Christlike spirit, agonizing intercession for the mercy and power of GOD, and utter dependence on the Holy Spirit point the way to the kind of evangelism desperately needed for this critical time.

 

Evangelism which is primary in the mission of the church and the vocation of every Christian, is the proclamation of GOD’s judgment and grace in Jesus Christ and the call to accept and follow Him as Lord.

 

Missions, as we use the term, is the extension of GOD’s redemptive purpose through evangelism, education, and Christian service beyond the local church. The lost masses of the world constitute a stirring challenge to Christian churches.

 

Since Christians believe in the freedom and competence of each person to make his or her own decisions in matters of religion, it is our responsibility under GOD to see that each individual has the knowledge and opportunity to make the right decision. We are under the compulsion of the divine commission to proclaim the gospel to every person of every race and nation. The urgency of the present world situation, the aggressive appeal of competing faiths and ideologies, and our concern for the lost, call us to dedicate our utmost in people and money to proclaim the redemption of Christ to the world.

 

We must use every means at our disposal, including the modern media of mass communication, to give Christ to the world. We cannot rely exclusively on a small, specially trained and dedicated group of missionaries. Every Christian is a missionary, no matter where he or she lives or what their position or vocation may be. Our attitudes toward those of other nations, races, and religions are part of our testimony for Christ. Our witness in every realm and relationship of life must lend credence to our proclamation that Jesus is Lord of all.

 

Missions seek the extension of GOD’s redemptive purpose in all the world through evangelism, and Christian service, and call for the utmost dedication on the part of Christians to this task.

 

 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES ON EVANGELISM

 

Read each of the Scripture verses cited. For your own benefit, on a separate paper, write notes and insights you receive from reading these verses and parallel them with the stated statement of faith.

 

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from                      thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make  thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:1).

 

• Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the    earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy   These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel (Exodus 19:5-6).

 

• Then said I, Woe is me!for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in themidstof apeopleof uncleanlips:for mineeyes haveseenthe King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a livecoal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 

 

 

And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine           iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:1-8).

 

• Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).

 

• These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the  lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for  your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in                  the day of judgment, than for that city (Matthew 10:5-15).

 

• Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the house.  holder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, an enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn (Matthew 13:18- 30).

 

• He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that  sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that off end, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 13:37-43).

 

• And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19).

 

• Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests (Matthew 22:9-10).

 

• And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).

 

• And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in

 

• 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 always, even unto the end of the Amen (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

• After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

 

 

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, the kingdom of GOD is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of GOD is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre, and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Luke 10:1-18).

 

• And said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ tosuffer,andto risefromthe deadthethirdday:Andthatrepentanceandremissionofsinsshouldbepreachedinhisnameamongallnations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, Isend the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city ofJerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led themout as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. Andit came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, andcarried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned toJerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising andblessingAmen(Luke24:46-53).

 

• Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:11-12).

 

NOTES ON STATEMENT OF FAITH ARTICLE IX

 

Evangelism and missions are saturated throughout the Gospels and the Book of Acts. This calling is best summed up in these two Scriptures:

 

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matt 28:18-20).

 

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be +witnessestoMeinJerusalem,andinallJudeaandSamaria,andto theendoftheearth” (Acts1:8). ThefirstScriptureisknownastheGreatCommission.Itistheultimatepurposeofthe church. Jesus delegated authority to the church to go. As someone has said,“Jesus’lastcommandisourfirstpriority.”TheoriginalGreekstatesitthisway,“Asyouaregoing,thereforemakedisciples…”Whereverweare,aswearegoing,wesharetheGospel.Andnoticethatthisisnotmerelyevangelism—itisdiscipleship.Jesusdoesnotsay,“Goandmakeconverts”but“Goandmakedisciples.” Discipleshipincludesevangelismbutgoesbeyondit.Discipleshipinvolves groundingapersoninthefaithandintheWordofGOD:“AsyouthereforehavereceivedChristJesus theLord,sowalkinHim,rootedandbuilt upinHimand establishedinthefaith,asyouhavebeentaught,aboundinginitwith thanksgiving”(Col2:6-7).

 

When it comes right down to it, there is no evangelism without discipleship. Discipleship is best summed up in the word of the Apostle Paul: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2).

 

The second Scripture Jesus spoke to them had a caveat, “Wait until you are clothed with power from on high.” We don’t go out on our own—not our own methods, not our own ideas, not our own timing, not our own power—but wait. Without the power of the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. Then the anointing of the Holy Spirit comes upon us and we go—beginning in our Jerusalem, then surrounding areas, then to the ends of the earth. Pray for the power, receive, then go!

 

 

ASSIGNMENT: PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

 

True and False: Write a “T” for true or an “F” for false for each of the following statements.

 

1. Evangelism and missions are the
2. Evangelism and discipleship are the
3. Evangelism and missions are for all believers, not just preachers and

      missionaries.

4. We should evangelize by every means