What is Evangelism?

Welcome to our lesson in this series on Evangelism. We propose in this

lesson, to discussing the various ramifications of Evangelism…..and we want to do that

under 10 Headings:

1. What Is Our Definition of Evangelism?

In response to the question, WHAT IS EVANGELISM, we like this answer: “Evangelism

is the process of influencing others in such a way that the Christ who lives in Christians

and in their message is formed in the lives of other people.” This will be our working

definition throughout this course.

We need, however, to further define the word because there is such a widespread

confusion about evangelism. Many cannot agree on a precise definition of

Evangelism. Hence, our question is: What is it?

Evangelism must be understood in terms of not only proclamation, but also in term

of results and methods. AND….AS WE ARE STRESSING IN THIS COURSE…IT

ALSO INVOLVES THE MESSENGER! Evangelism cannot be fully effective

unless the Messenger is qualified. Practicing what we preach is very important.

Evangelism has often been used interchangeably with the word “missions” — AND

MAYBE THIS POINT WILL HELP OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT

EVANGELISM IS. Missions and Evangelism are interchangeable words! It is said

that MISSIONS is everything God sent His People into the world to do…..SO IS

EVANGELISM!

There are Two Greek words that gave us our word EVANGELISM:EUANGELION

AND EUANGELIZOMAI.

EUANGELION means “good news” and is the noun form of the word, it appears 75

times in the New Testament. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS ITSELF!

EUANGELIZOMAI means “to publish good news” and is the verb form.

It appears 24 times in the New Testament and is simply the ACT OF

PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS.

And so, we are saying that Evangelism is proclamation of The Good News of the

Kingdom in such a way as to produce Disciples or Followers of Christ who are

devoted to the idea of being just like Him.

 

The Evangelist himself is….. “ANY SINCERE, OUT-SPOKEN, CONTAGIOUS,

FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN WHOSE HEART IS ON FIRE FOR CHRIST.”

2. What Is The Message We Proclaim?

We have already called this Message “The Good News.” And it is exactly that! It

should be noted that the gospel has ONLY ONE MESSAGE, but there are several

METHODS OF PROCLAIMING IT. We don’t want to get the Message and the

Method mixed up or confused. The message is always the same but the methods

(presentation) can, and often do, vary.

Paul has this to say about his own methods: 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not

to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

The manner or method of proclaiming the Good News may vary….but Jesus is the

only message in Christianity! When asked, what does Christianity have that

Hinduism does not have, E. Stanley Jones replied: “JESUS CHRIST.”

Christianity centers around the UNIQUENESS OF JESUS! He is Deity who

walked in human flesh and bore our sins on the cross. Take Him away and there is

nothing left but AN ETHICAL SYSTEM! Other religions have CODIFIED

ETHICS….but only Christianity has CHRIST!

Hence, JESUS CHRIST must be our central focus! It’s not WHAT DO YOU

THINK OF MOHAMMED, OR BUDDHA, OR KRISHNA? IT’S “WHAT DO

YOU THINK OF CHRIST?” Matthew 16:13-19

Out eternal salvation depends on how we answer: “What think ye of Christ…Whose

Son is He?”

The Gospel is CHRISTO-CENTRIC in two ways: It pertains to Christ’s Person and

His Work. The Early Church believed that Jesus was A UNIQUE PERSON….The

Incarnate Word…Son of God….Sovereign of the Universe. And, they believed that

THE WORKS OF CHRIST form the heart of the Gospel! We are here for no other

reason but to carry on THE WORKS OF CHRIST. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul

itemizes the Death, Burial and Resurrection as the heart of the Gospel…the essence

of the matter.

CHRIST’S PERSON AND HIS WORK ARE UNIQUE! He didn’t die only as a

Prophet, or a Reformer, or just a Martyr…HE DIED AS A SAVIOR! HE IS THE

ONLY LORD!

1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,

that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by

the Spirit:”

And so we maintain that JESUS OCCUPIES A SOLITARY THRONE! HE IS THE

ONE TRUE LORD! Hence…when we say “Gospel” – we do not means “some good

 

news,” WE MEAN “THE ONLY GOOD NEWS.” IT’S THE UNIQUENESS OF

JESUS THAT COUNTS.

2 Corinthians 5:19 – “That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,

not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message

of reconciliation.”

Someone might ask: “Exactly what are we to share with the World?” Here’s

something that concerns me. We too often give people THEOLOGY before we

present them the GOSPEL – THE GOOD NEWS – they need to know of the love

of God and of the Salvation that is ONLY in His Son!

3. Is There A Purpose Attached To This Assignment Called Evangelism?

In many places there is still an emphasis on “the Social Gospel.” On the surface this

has sounded good because it claims to serve the total needs of people, but there is

something obviously wrong with this approach. The term Social Gospel indicates

that we are here to “make this world a better place for all people, that we are here

to change the Social Order.” This is not what Jesus commissioned!

This Social Gospel approach would deny that evangelismis paramount in our Work.

Here is the point we want to make: EVANGELISM IS THE SOLE TASK OF THE

CHURCHANDWHENWECARRYOUTTHATASSIGNMENTEVERYTHING

ELSE WILL FALL INTO PLACE.

A close study of the New Testament makes it impossible to accept the view that

“evangelism is simply one of many tasks assigned to the Church, and that it is no

more important than the others.” The New Testament agrees with the view that

Evangelism is the sole task of the Church!

We must therefore present Jesus as the only hope of Mankind. The greatest thing we

can do for another human being is to introduce him/her to Jesus Christ!

John 14:6 –

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto

the Father, but by me.”

Evangelism is simply God using us with our own unique personality to influence

others for the cause of Jesus by sharing with others the story of the Cross.

Ephesians 3:9-10 –

“And to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for

ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be

made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”

Now, Evangelism as a process goes far beyond the initial conversion….it goes

 

beyond the New Birth (the birthing itself)….the new convert does not remain in

isolation….he must be incorporated into a local body of believers and further

deciplized. This is the second phase of conversion! Evangelism in it fullest meaning

is “converting a person to be a follower of Jesus Christ and bringing them into a

relationship with the Godhead through spiritual understanding and growth.” The

Great Commission says we are to further teach the convert to “observe all that Jesus

has commanded.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

4. What are the various kinds of evangelism?

There are three kinds of evangelism:

1. One can Evangelize by EXAMPLE – This is where the example set by believers

in Christ draws people to Him. Unfortunately, instead of being drawn to Christ

by the example of His followers, many have been turned off!

Fredrick Nietzsche, the German philosopher and atheist said: “I could more

readily believe in your Savior if I could find more people who had been saved

by Him.” Those who proclaim the transforming power of the gospel ought

themselves to be changed by it and live by it!

1. One can Evangelize by PROCLAMATION – This form of evangelism is what

we mean by the word “PREACHING.” It is to proclaim the Word of God the

way The Prophets, Jesus Himself and The Apostles did.

1 Cor 1:17 – “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the

gospel – not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be

emptied of its power.”

1 Cor 9:16 – “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am

compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

What is involved in this? It is the setting forth of certain propositional truths

(documented historical facts) – which if acted upon is called “saving faith.”

These truths center upon the Scriptures. This is just old-fashioned preaching!

The Old Jerusalem Gospel! Plain Vanilla Truth!

1. One can Evangelize by PERSUASION – This takes evangelism beyond the

point of proclamation, it is aimed at inducing people to believe and act upon the

message! Much of the persuasion has gone out of our preaching!! While it is

possible to overstep the bounds of propriety, and take persuasion to the point of

duress, we are today in little danger of being OVER-PERSUASIVE!!

2 Corinthians 5:11 –

“Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade

men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience”

 

5. Are There Different Methods of Evangelism?

Yes, but let us not enter into a long discussion of Methodology. There are many

methods which are perfectly acceptable, but there are some more useful than others.

**Mass evangelism is not possible among Muslims!

**Saturation evangelism will not work well in sparsely populated areas.

**Literature evangelism is of no use among illiterates!!

Methodology has a lot to do with COMMON SENSE! Personal Evangelism is just

one person sharing Christ with another. It is the most common kind of evangelism

found in the New Testament. Jesus was a personal worker! D.T. Niles stated: “It is

one beggar telling another beggar where he can find bread.”

It should be natural and spontaneous. It requires no organization, no equipment, and

no expense. It requires no special preparation! JUST DO IT!

Perhaps we from time to time need to re-examine the Book of Acts. It reveals that

the Gospel was not spread by a professional group of men….it was spread

throughout the Roman Kingdom by ordinary men and women….people like us.

Acts 8:4 – “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where

preaching the word.”

It was the personal witness of individual Christians that made the greatest impact on

the world of the first century! (Please do not be alarmed by that word “WITNESS,”

by it I do not mean to give eye-witness testimony about Jesus….today we can’t do

that…but we can tell people what Jesus means to us!)

Here are the various forms evangelism might take on:

Gospel meetings

Campaigns

Crusades

Newspaper blitz

Literature distribution

Radio/television preaching

Cassettes/videos

Films

Bible correspondence courses

For some because of choice and for others because of necessity – SMALL GROUP

EVANGELISM is fast becoming the most common form of Evangelism being done

today. This method is fast proving itself to be THE most effective way of reaching

 

out and converting people to Christ. It is particularly effective in the large urban

areas of the World. This method is more fully discussing in another

course…..Evangelism III.

6. How Can We Add Appeal To Our Evangelistic Efforts?

The Gospel, if it is properly presented, will appeal to the intellect and emotions of

people. If the Gospel is to do what it is designed to do it must appeal to both. Too

often the message of Christ has been presented in a way that it appeals only to the

emotional side of people. To appeal only to the heart usually creates a subjective

based faith. Before the heart can be warmed, the mind must be informed!! Mental

understanding must proceed belief (faith). In Acts 8:30 we read, “And Philip ran to

him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you Understand what you

are reading?” (not, do you believe what you are reading?)

The FACTS of the Gospel become internalized…believed. This is where the one

being taught comes to trust in Jesus as his Lord. The tragedy is that so many have

endorsed Christianity who have never engaged their hearts in it!

Mark 7:6 –

“He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it

is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from

me.’”

After both the Mind and the Heart have responded to the Gospel Message, then one

can commit himself to Christ….of his own volition.

7. What Is The Proper Response To Evangelism?

The proper response to the Gospel results in one having these five things:

• Faith,
• Repenting of Sin,
• Confessing Christ as Lord,
• Put Christ on in Baptism and
• Life-Long Obedience.

FAITH — “the act of trusting based on evidence.”

Heb 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not

seen.”

REPENTANCE — “a change of mind and heart, resulting in a change in lifestyle.”

METANOIA (Greek) meaning “a change of mind.”

CONFESSION OF JESUS’ LORDSHIP.

As a result of all this one will be BAPTIZED in obedience to Christ’s command.

Mark 16:16)

8. Is There A Continuing Need of Evangelism?

Yes, absolutely! Since Christians are not BORN, but rather BORN-AGAIN, the

need for evangelism must continue from generation to generation. Each new

generation must be evangelized! Our on-going studies in the field of

DEMOGRAPHICS — The study of World Populations – tell us that the Human Race

is growing at about 2% per year. We are already at the 6 BILLION mark and still

growing.

9. What are the true dynamics behind evangelism?

The Bible shows that in order for effective world evangelism to take place we

Christians must be willing to suffer. This is certainly not a popular theme! However,

we must address this issue. What will it take for us to recapture the dynamics of

New Testament Evangelism?

Herein I believe is the SECRET for rediscovering THE DYNAMICS OF N.T.

EVANGELISM!

1 Pet 2:20-24 says: “Christ suffered….you must follow in His steps….”

2 Timothy 2:11 – “It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we

shall also live with Him.”

The true POWER behind Effective Evangelismis our willingness to Suffer and even

Die with Him if it’s called for — The Bible teaches that Jesus had to suffer while

doing God’s Will….and so must his followers!

10. Which methods of evangelism are most effective?

PERSONAL EVANGELISM – Door to door, following up on contacts and leads,

personal contact with people….

FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM – Get to know people, take the time to establish

close relationships, share Christ with them…

BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES/LITERATURE –Advertise for students

and mail out courses and literature, follow-up….

As we continue our study we’ll find that Evangelism is all this and so much more.